Caravanistan

I'm not sure if this is a sacrilegious question to ask on a dedicated travelers website, but which country/city will have the best mainstream shopping in the Stans. Im not talking about craft markets and local artisanal stuff. Im talking about malls or outlets that sell everyday items like electronics, sportsware, fashionware etc.

Forgive us but we don't have access to good shopping where we live in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

On our trip we will be passing through:

- Turkmenistan (Ashgabat, Mary)
- Uzbekistan (Nukus, Urgency, Bukhara, Samarkand, Tashkent, Andijon)
- Kyrgyzstan (Osh, Bishkek)
- Tajikistan (Dushanbe)
- Kazakhstan (Almaty, Astana)

Are there any fancy shopping malls where we could do a good refresh?

Also interested if there are "pirate markets" that sell rip off underpants and polos and the like. I stockpiled underwear which I am still wearing 5yrs later on our Morocco trip. $2 for a pair CK boxers. Holy moly! Actually they are getting a bit holy which is why i need some new ones

Thanks for the info guys!

Seysearles

I believe holy is spelled with an extra e somewhere

The Eurasian Union has made everything more expensive in Kyrgyzstan - it used to have an enormous amount of cheap Chinese consumer goods in Bishkek's Dordoi Bazaar. It was a sight to behold, but many containers have now gone.

Astana is one big shopping mall, Almaty a bit less but the Mega shopping mall will have all your usual global brands that you know like Zara, h&m etc. I would recommend those 2 cities if you are not going to China. I have not been to Khorgos yet - that is where a lot of Kazakhs are now going shopping. It's inside China, but I am not sure if you need a visa as a foreigner - I think not - for sure Kazakhs do not. It's like a mini-Urumqi-shopping-heaven.

Lots and lots of luxury shopping in Kazakhstan as well.

Resuscitating this thread for a quick question: I was wondering if there are places, in Almaty, to buy local sports teams' t-shirts and other paraphernalia. I tried (and failed) to purchase the Buxoro PFC home kit when in Bukhara but I'd love to lay my dirty hands on a FC Kairat jersey or, failing that, the (awesomely named) Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk or Almaty's own. Thanks in advance!

FC Kairat will be easy to buy at the stadium, they have a fan shop.

Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk..not sure if they are easily found.

Astana might become a collector's item soon now they will have to change their name.

steven wrote:FC Kairat will be easy to buy at the stadium, they have a fan shop.

Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk..not sure if they are easily found.

Astana might become a collector's item soon now they will have to change their name.

Great news about FC Kairat! With regards to the others... usually, over here, one can go to places like JD Sports or Sports direct and might find something... is there something along those lines in Almaty too? Thanks Steven.

You can buy a Barcelona shirt in those places, maybe an Astana shirt, but a Torpedo UK shirt...?