Caravanistan

Good Kazakhstan guide, the Tajikistan one leaves something to be desired. An email received: " A message to Bradt customers – we need you now! We wanted to reach out to all those who have bought a Bradt guide from our website in the past. If you receive our newsletter, you will know the thrust of wh...

I meant if you could kick the staff out and ask the hostel to rent the whole property. The reason is because most housing here is in apartment blocks, and hostels may be more likely to have some kind of larger common or outdoor area. I'm not sure where you would find a house unfortunately, hopefully...

I wonder if you could take over a small hostel, there seems to be an overabundance of them maybe one without any bookings for the time period you're looking at.

The share taxi to the lakes leaves in the afternoon, plus getting there in one day already involves a long day (from Samarkand, across the border, etc.). You can do it if you hire your own transport to the lake. Alternatively you can take the share taxi in the afternoon, spend the night at the lake,...

Can I get way with not bringing a tent and sleeping bag on the 6-day trek? Debating doing this after nearly a month in Uzbekistan and would rather not haul it around. Are there enough yurts and homestays along the way? I see some indicated on the GPS tracks but still some gaps.

Realize this is old but just want to revive the topic. I've started to notice that marshrutkas are mostly women and older people. It seems as if hitchhiking is a preferred method of travel for long distances. And why wouldn't it be? No going to the bus station and waiting for the thing to fill up, a...

Timatic confirmed "BELARUS AND RUSSIAN FED., 15 May 2nd European Games: - From 20 May to 10 July 2019, participants and organizers of the 2nd European Games with an accreditation card will not require a visa to enter Belarus or the Russian Fed. They must depart no later than 10 July 2019. - From 10 ...

I hope we can get some clarity re: when and how Russia will allow visitors, as that prevents me from actually buying plane tickets and whatnot. I got a $10 ticket to a 3x3 basketball game, hope to fly in to Minsk and then have a trip through Russia after that. So far I have only seen confirmation fr...

Vaude Taurus II Tent - $109 Thule Versant 60L backpack (yellow, size adjustable) - $185 Petzl Corax climbing harness (never used) - $50 Petzl Panga helmet (never used) - $65 I live in Almaty so these items will be available indefinitely until sold +7 775 334 6117 Hey I'm interested in the tent hows...

I got around to attempting this trip. Marshrutka at Sayakhat bus terminal in Almaty to Kegen is 3000 tenge per person. Ask to be dropped off at Charyn canyon turn (use a map or your best Russian, they understood well enough). This leaves you 10km to the canyon. On a Sunday we got a ride within 5 min...