THE GOOD ROAD has partnered with award winning journalist Autumn Phillips and UNTAMED BORDERS to create a once in a lifetime trip to the World Nomad Games in Kazakhstan, followed by Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan for a 19-day immersive experience.
If Central Asia has been on your list, this adventure trip will offer something you won’t find anywhere else.
While traveling in Kyrgyzstan, journalist Autumn Phillips met some of the top competitors in the World Nomad Games and the event captured her imagination. Our adventure begins there, watching people from all over the world compete in traditional nomadic sports and arts – archery, yurt building, horsemanship, and eagle hunting.
We will begin our Central Asian trip at the 5th annual World Nomad Games in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The Kazakhs are still firmly rooted to their nomadic beginnings and all the traditions that come with it.
We will continue on to Turkmenistan, little known internationally but at the crossroads of civilizations for centuries and an important trading point along the Silk Road.
The journey ends in Uzbekistan, a wonderland for those interested in art and design, and still ironing out its identity between its traditional Islamic past and its post-Soviet future.
By the end, you will have a deep understanding of the geographic, historical, cultural and political dynamics that have shaped this part of the world.
What makes this trip different
This trip is for people looking for a new way to travel. Autumn Phillips will teach travelers how to use writing to have a deeper experience – to see details that might have gone unnoticed, to tap into all the senses by trying to describe the way something smells or sounds and to find meaning.
Good traveling and good writing are the same. Writing is a way of seeing.
It’s also a great way to connect with other travelers. No one will be made to read their writing, but all will be welcome. Hear someone else describe something you saw from a different point of view.
Autumn Phillips will begin each morning with a creative talk to set the theme for the day. And each day will come with a writing prompt and some time to write.
This is not a class. There are no expectations or requirements. Participate as much as you like to absorb this new approach to travel.
Autumn Phillips bio
Autumn Phillips is an adventure traveler, newspaper editor and writing coach. She recently was named Journalist of the Year for her travel writing by the North American Travel Journalist Association for her stories on Sudan, Lebanon and Finnish Lapland.
She enjoys asking big questions and creating transformative social experiences.
Phillips found that writing adds depth during the journey. It lets her relive it when she gets home and examines the details and ideas one sentence at a time. And it allows her to connect to new people when the story publishes.
She is a beekeeper, kayaker and native of Wyoming. She has an MFA in creative writing from Goddard College. She lives in Charleston, South Carolina.
Autumn Phillips bio
Autumn Phillips is an adventure traveler, newspaper editor and writing coach. She recently was named Journalist of the Year for her travel writing by the North American Travel Journalist Association for her stories on Sudan, Lebanon and Finnish Lapland.
She enjoys asking big questions and creating transformative social experiences.
Phillips found that writing adds depth during the journey. It lets her relive it when she gets home and examines the details and ideas one sentence at a time. And it allows her to connect to new people when the story publishes.
She is a beekeeper, kayaker and native of Wyoming. She has an MFA in creative writing from Goddard College. She lives in Charleston, South Carolina.
Sept. 8-26, 2024
Start point – Astana, Kazakhstan | End point – Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Maximum number of people: 16
Astana
Attend World Nomad Games, watching events, socializing and celebrating nomadic traditions and history.
Tashkent
Visit places like the Khast-Imam complex to see the Osman’s Quran, the oldest surviving Quran in the world, the Barakhana Madrasah and the iconic Plov Center. Cisit the Chorsu market, which is the largest in Central Asia, the Museum of Stalinist Repression and Mustakillik Square.
Samarkand
The main attractions of Samarkand are the creations of Timur, his grandson Ulugbek and the Uzbek Sheibanids, including:
The Gur-Emir Mausoleum is the burial place of Timur, his sons and grandchildren.
The majestic Registan, the trading center of medieval Samarkand.
The Ulugbek observatory, you will see the remains of a huge astrolabe.
Bukhara
Buildings included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, with a thousand-year history: the Ark Citadel, which was the residence of the Bukhara khans, the Kalyan minaret, known as the Tower of Death (in the Middle Ages, criminals were thrown to their deaths from the top) and the Samanid mausoleum of the 9th century.
Merv
Visit the remains of the great city of Merv. A UNESCO world heritage site and in the 12th century probably the largest city in the world.
Darvaza Gas Crater
Drive across the desert stopping at the traditional oasis village of Erbent to arrive at Darvaza. You will be able to visit the craters at night and at dusk. Overnight in a yurt near the crater.
Aral Sea
Moynaq used to be a thriving lakeside town but with the disappearance of the Aral Sea it sits in the middle of the desert. Outside the town sits the remains of the fishing fleet sitting high and dry. Overnight camping in the Aral Sea.
Nukus
Visit the world-renowned Sabitsky Museum, home of the greatest collection of avant-garde Russian art in the world.
Khiva
The city of Khiva is a museum, which is surrounded by a fortress wall, and all historical monuments are compactly located inside the city. Due to the fact that Khiva is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, cars in the city is prohibited. Khiva retains the atmosphere of the Middle Ages.
Inclusions & Exclusions
The trip includes:
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All accommodation (based on twin occupancy)
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Breakfast
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All ground transportation
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English-speaking accompanying guide for each country (Kazakhstan / Uzbekistan / Turkmenistan)
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Local guiding in cities where applicable
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Train tickets (Tashkent-Samarkand)
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Internal flight (Khiva – Tashkent)
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International flight (Astana – Tashkent)
The trip does not include:
- International flights
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Any necessary visas
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Insurance
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International flights
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Entrance fees
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Lunch and dinner
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Drinks
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Filming and camera entrance fees
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Tips
Cost:
- Tour Package: $5,750 Per Person
- Single Supplement: $1,100.00 Per Single
If you would join Autumn Phillips, Earl Bridges of THE GOOD ROAD and the Untamed Borders team on this special trip to Central Asia, you can book now via the link below. You can also request more information by emailing below.
General Information
Flights:
We do not directly arrange international flights to Kazakhstan and/or Uzbekistan. We can suggest routes and operators.
Visas:
We do not arrange Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan visas directly. We will provide visa support in the form of letters of invitation to assist in your visa applications. Most nationalities get visa on arrival in some form.
Food:
Breakfasts are included as part of the trip; lunch and dinner are not. In our experience, people sometimes want to eat different things in different places at different times. We know some great places and will also happily show you some of our favorite restaurants and tea houses. Some are luxurious, some are earthier but all have character.
Accommodation:
We do not and cannot offer a uniform accommodation standard on our itineraries. We consider comfort, location, design, character, historical interest and whether the money we spend will go into the pockets of the local community when we make our choices of where to stay.
Guides:
There will be an accompanying and English speaking guide with you from each country, in each country (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan). You will also have local guides in certain areas.
* Photo Credits:
