Visa Policies in Central Asia

The times during which already the visa application process for a trip to Central Asia was an adventure in itself are luckily over and getting all the visas you need for the Central Asia Rally is now easier than ever!

In Kyrgyzstan, most countries of the EU, as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, US and many others, are visa-exempt, which means that you just show up at the border, get a stamp and are good to stay for up to 60 days.

Tajikistan has launched an e-visa system already back in 2016, which is quick and reliable. Just enter your data, pay the visa fee (50 USD) and it will be approved within a few days. Just don’t forget to bring a printed copy of it with you on the trip. We have tested it twice and even in the remotest border stations there were no problems.

And in July 2018 finally also Uzbekistan has followed suit, giving visa-free entry for 30 days to EU citizens, Canada and Australia and introducing an e-visa for US citizens and several others.

The only one which still remains a bit difficult is Russia, where the Central Asia Rally starts. You’ll still need to apply for a visa well in advance and you’ll also need an invitation letter, but we can help you with that. Just drop us an email to [email protected] if you need any advice about this!

Now that you know that the visa policies in Central Asia will not be standing between you and your epic road trip rally adventure anymore, what’s keeping you from signing up for the Central Asia Rally?

 

Liked this story? Are you getting that itch to travel and go on an adventure? Then join us on the next Central Asia Rally. Find a team of like-minded crazies and we’ll see you at the starting line. If you want to join us in the virtual world then drop us a like on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram to keep up with our latest antics.

Reasons to Sign-up for the Central Asia Rally

The Central Asia Rally is one of the last true adventures you can find out there. If the bragging rights that come with that are not yet enough reason to apply for a spot, here are some more absolutely objective reasons why you should come with us in 2020!

Break Down in the Middle of Nowhere

Breaking down somewhere in the no-man’s-land in the border region of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan is a reason to sign up? Well, admittedly you need to be a special kind of crazy to enjoy a forced 3 hour break in the hot desert sun because of a disconnected car battery on an already long day – but hey, if you want everything go according to plan, you might be better off with road trip on a well maintained German autobahn anyhow.

The Most Spectacular Lunch Breaks

What they may lack in culinary refinement, they make up with a view.  Who cares about the freezing temperatures and the biting wind at almost 4000m above sea level, when you get to eat with a background like this? At Karakul in Tajikistan the air is clear and the colours are brighter than anything you’ve ever seen on your HD flat screen TV  back home. Surely one of the most memorably lunch breaks you’ll ever have.

Markets – What the Silk Road Stands For

Spices, dried fruits, hats, shoes, shovels – If you won’t find what you need at Samarkand’s great market, then you probably haven’t been looking properly. But even more fun are the markets of the smaller towns along the way, where you get a real impression of daily life in Uzbekistan. With a great selection and even better prices you might well end up buying enough nuts to start an export business – no shame in that, we’ve all been there.

The Humbling Architecture of the Ancient Silk Road Cities

Be it Khiva, Bukhara or legendary Samarkand, the cities of the Silk Road never fail to impress. If you always wanted to try time travel, this is probably the closest you’ll ever get to it. Watch the evening sun set behind century old buildings with its rays reflecting in the elaborate blue tiles which decorate the facades and you might hear ghosts of the past whispering in your ear about life along the Silk Road a thousand years ago.

No Traffic Jam

After your daily rush hour morning commute to the office empty roads sound like your personal heaven? Sign up for the Central Asia Rally and join us on some of the emptiest roads you can find in the world. Here you could be driving all day and the only other cars you will see are the ones of your fellow teams. Occasional herds of goats don’t count as traffic, do they?

The 2018 Songkul World Nomad Games

2018 has seen a new format of sports competition with outstanding athletes from all over the world. Alright, alright. We had two participants, one from the US and one from Tajikistan, nevertheless it was a tough fight with contests in tug of war, push-ups and many more. In the end, of course, there were only winners.

A Work-out (almost) in the Clouds

Ak-Baital pass is with 4655 m the highest pass of the Pamir Highway. Breathing gets a bit difficult up here, for you as well as for your engine. But driving among the snow-capped mountain peaks of the Pamir and being closer to them than you’ll ever be again is well worth the effort. Some brave ones even challenge each other for who can do the most push-ups, but that usually ends a bit embarrassing, so we only show you the pretty ‘before the gym-selfie.’

New Friendships and Great Food

In extreme situations, bonding with each other happens much quicker than in normal live. And the Central Asia Rally is, in the most positive way, an extreme situation. So after the first evening (and the first vodka), expect to have a bunch of new besties to share the adventure with.

Liked this story? Are you getting that itch to travel and go on an adventure? Then join us on the next Central Asia Rally. Find a team of like-minded crazies and we’ll see you at the starting line. If you want to join us in the virtual world then drop us a like on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagramto keep up with our latest antics.

Is It Safe to Travel in Central Asia?

Central Asia is surprisingly safe.

Of all the places in the world the Travel Scientists organize events, Central Asia is the greatest unknown for participants. The feeling of mystery and adventure is part of what makes the region so exciting. However, first-time visitors may naturally be concerned that Central Asia is safe to travel. The answer is yes, but — like anywhere — there are potential dangers to be aware of.
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Uzbekistan: One of Asia’s Finest Places

We always loved Uzbekistan.

Our stay in Uzbekistan is always one of the highlights on the Central Asia Rally. It’s a hub of Silk Road history, but there’s far more to the country than that. We’ve loved Uzbekistan for years, and it’s nice to hear that others agree: Lonely Planet have named the country the second most essential place to visit in Asia.
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Countries on the Central Asia Rally

 

Have you heard of all these countries?

The Central Asia Rally is an epic driving adventure, where you will journey to the heart of one of the world’s most remote and beautiful regions. In the course of two weeks we pass through six countries, each with their own unique highlights. These are the countries on the Central Asia Rally, from start to finish!
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Central Asia: More Fun with Friends

It’s easy to have a good time on the Central Asia Rally.

Participants on the Central Asia Rally tend to be adventurous, independent-minded, and capable. So, you might ask, why bother joining up with us, when they could make the journey themselves? Well, it turns out that there are plenty very good reasons, actually!
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Almaty: After the Event

 

Almaty is a worthwhile next stop after the Central Asia Rally.

Photo by Irene2005

The Central Asia Rally will test your patience, endurance, and your skills at the wheel. Driving 6500km in two weeks, visiting six countries ,and traversing countless roads of terrible quality, maybe you need to be a little bit crazy to do it. And it would be a little crazy, after you finally finish the event in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, to be tempted to immediately set-off to see somewhere new. If you were, though, we have the perfect place: only a few hours drive from Bishkek is Almaty, one of the largest cities in Central Asia.
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Plov: The Centerpiece of Central Asian Cuisine

 

Plov is central to Central Asian cuisine.

Photo by I. Ibrahimjon

Let’s be honest, food probably isn’t the reason you visit Central Asia. Participants on the Central Asia Rally are more likely to be excited about visiting Silk Road cities or driving the Pamir Highway. However, if there’s one meal that you can be sure to enjoy on your trip, it’s plov. Popular all over Central Asia (and beyond) this rice based dish has been feeding locals for centuries, and is at the heart of any Central Asian feast.
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Kyzylkum: The Desert of Red Sand

 

We drive through the Kyzylkum Desert on the Central Asia Rally.

Much of the Central Asia Rally is spent discovering the unexpected: glorious medieval cities, tranquil lakes, and incredible mountain passes. However, we also traverse less surprising Central Asian terrain: desert. The Kyzylkum, which in local Turkic languages means “red sand”, is one of the largest deserts on earth. We drive through each year on the Central Asia Rally and it’s more interesting than meets the eye.
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The Wakhan Corridor

 

The Wakhan Corridor could hardly be more remote

Photo via Flickr

The Central Asia Rally specialises in the discovery of remote places, and each year teams on our event see places that most travellers would never even dream of. Even for us, though, the Wakhan Corridor, a thin slice of Afghanistan than separates Tajikistan and Pakistan is remote. Here is everything you need to know about the Wakhan Corridor:
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The Volga: Ending Where Central Asia Begins

 

The Volga ends where the Central Asia Rally begins.

The Volga Delta, the point (or rather, points) where Europe’s largest river system drains into the Caspian Sea, is a fitting start point for the Central Asia Rally. It is here that Europe ends, and where we begin our journey from the Russian city of Astrakhan, first to Kazakhstan, and then onward to the heart of Central Asia. It is worth, though, admiring the ever-changing natural wonder of the Volga Delta.
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Why the Caspian Sea is a Lake

 

Is the Caspian Sea a Lake?

The Central Asia Rally begins in Astrakhan, Russia. This is where the Volga delta drains into the Caspian Sea, and we cross the northern shore as we pass through Kazakhstan on our way to the heart of Central Asia. We can see its waves, and if we took a dip, we’d notice the saltiness of the water. However, not is all as it seems: the Caspian Sea is in fact a lake, at least according to some. The complication arises due to politics; in particular, the politics, of fossil fuels.
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