Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan in $800s-$990s RT

The "Stans" of Central Asia can sometimes feel like one big open-air museum. The region's history is closely tied to the ancient Silk Road and great care has been taken to preserve those gorgeous monuments and architecture. Outside the cities, the region is filled with wide open valleys, steppes, and mountains.

The ancient hub of Samarkand is considered the main must-see in Uzbekistan, but Khiva's stunning inner city is one of the few places in the world where cars are banned, making it a paradise for pedestrian explorers. And it's not just the old stuff that's beautiful, either. Even the Tashkent subway takes your breath away.

While they're all enviably packed with natural beauty, Kyrgyzstan might be the wildest of the Stans. Just ask our Canadian team lead Kristi, who spent nine days riding horses through some of the most untouched landscapes on Earth. You don't even have to go that far, though — Ala Archa is right outside Bishkek, is almost as rugged, and looks especially lovely with a dusting of snow. 

Kazakhstan is the largest of the bunch, so you'll have even more room to stretch out up there. Most folks stick around the southern Almaty region, using the busy city as a hub and spiraling out to red deserts and verdant valleys, but you've definitely never been anywhere like Astana!

P.S. Some of these routes have spring dates for $50-$90 RT extra.