Most Inspirational Moment
So many. Holding a golden eagle. Walking to a frozen waterfall (end April). Soviet memorials in Almaty. The Tashkent metro. The Samarkand necropolis. Climbing up to a desert castle in a sand storm!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Both guides were good, knew their stuff and were full of enthusiasm for their countries. Vitaliy has lots of experience with managing the days and groups on the Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan section. Driver Valerie was good too. Sergey has lots of experience as a guide in Uzbekistan. We were his first Exodus group so now he is 'blooded' for you!
Advice for Potential Travellers
It's a great trip - so many wonderful photos. But it's not an easy trip in terms of some of the logistics. It's a night flight to Bishkek - so we travelled a day early to be ready for the group and to see more of Bishkek (the parks were beautiful at the end of April; the state museum of history very worthwhile). Getting around is pretty easy in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan with the minibus. Uzbekistan is a bit harder as the distance travel is by train with some early starts and some late arrivals. But the trains are all part of the experience and basically you're getting to see four super cities in eight days. Compared with a longer trip to just Uzbekistan, which might be more relaxed, you've also experienced the scenery and mountains in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. So no pain no gain! Yes, there are a lot of mosques, madrasas and mausoleums but each Uzbek city is slightly different: Tashkent (the metro), Samarkand (the Registan and Necropolis), Bukhara (the Emir's palace) and Khiva (just the whole place as a unique restored city). And to get to Khiva you have a great afternoon seeing something quite different, the desert castles. We enjoyed the food, a little like Turkish. There's good beer and wine too!