Caravanistan

If you go to the starting point for Panjakent trips -- the Cement Factory on the north side of Dushanbe -- then it is about 100 per seat to the border. So you could get a whole car for 400. But many cars already have a passenger or two waiting in them, and some have 6 passenger seats. People will c...

Hi all--

A simple question: my wife and I may want to reserve an entire shared taxi to get from Dushanbe to Penjikent (from there, we need to cross the border into Samarkand). What's a reasonable price to do this?

Thanks, in advance, for your help.

My wife and I are big hikers, but we may run into some scheduling issues where we might need to choose between the Pamirs from Osh to Dushanbe vs. treks among Song Kul, Sary Chelek, and Arslanbob. I'm hoping those in the know might be able to give some advice about where they might put their energie...

I think this depends on two things: 1. From where in NA are you coming: it's a difference between Flagstaff or Estes Park vs. NYC or LA. 2. Where are you staying in KYZ? Per altitude, fitness doesn't necessarily correspond to altitude. I was able to hike Whitney w/out too much trouble. My wife, on t...

Thanks so much for the info, AWTY. This is really helpful. May I ask, how did you get a driver through Iron Horse and what was the going rate? I have a quote from them for $225 per day w/ $35 per person extra if we want them to take care of our housing and food, but on first blush, it appears attach...

My wife and I are going to be in CA for a couple months next year and part of the trip will be from Almaty to Altyn Emel, Charin, and Kolsai. We then want to cross over to Karakol and spend a day or two in town before doing a three day trek to Alton Aroshon via Alokol. We then want to go back to Kar...

Thanks, Carol: this seems to be the advice I've seen here and elsewhere. We actually have gotten a quote for Pamir from one of the tour people we contacted through Carivanistan, but if for some reason that doesn't work out, I'll definitely drop you a line and ask for a recommendation!

Thanks, Steven. This is very helpful. I tend to be somehow who plans way in advance as opposed to on the spot, but a few months out is a very happy medium.

My wife and I are planning to travel to CA in June and July 2020; we're both Americans. We're both pretty ardent planners, so we're wondering how far (and if) people reserve homestays, hotels, trains, drivers, etc. before arriving? We plan to arrive in Tashket, go to Samarakand, and from there, cros...