Most Inspirational Moment
Uzbekistan was the best part of the trip, with an enormous amount of history and beautiful buildings. As a nation, they seem to have totally reclaimed their national identity following their independence. During our night in the mountains staying in a yurt, the magical, mesmerising Milky Way was also clearly visible (and even better with binoculars).
Thoughts on Group Leader
The group leaders really knew their stuff, and if they didn't know the answer to a question, they came back to us with it the next day. The leaders were willing to answer questions on social matters, like marriage, Russian influences/legacies, school, cotton picking. This gave us a better understanding of each country.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Make sure you buy your souvenirs in Uzbekistan (ikat prints, scarves, pottery, rugs) as there really is very little opportunity to buy anything worthwhile in either Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan. You'll regret it if you don't. Be prepared to haggle a little bit. The currency exchange app a fellow traveller told me about, XE Currency, was extremely useful for converting all currencies. Take a fork and spoon for picnic lunches, and socks for the night in the mountains. No medication containing Codeine is allowed in Uzbekistan.