’Stans tour
This item appears on page 30 of the March 2013 issue.
My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of our private tour of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan arranged by Aba Sayyoh Tour, Ltd. (M. Usuf st., office 6, 100077, Tashkent, Uzbekistan; phone +998 91 1632452, fax +998 71 2581686), whom we contacted six months before.
The land price for our 20-day trip, Sept. 12-Oct. 3, 2012, was $3,135 per person and included our accommodations, breakfasts, car with driver, English-speaking guides and entrance fees. I recommend Aba Sayyoh.
While the border crossing from Kyrgyzstan into Kazakhstan is relatively easy for residents of either country, the crossing out of Uzbekistan into Kyrgyzstan is difficult for residents, and local guides generally do not cross over, relying on local partners to meet the travelers on the other side of the border.
One of the partners Aba Sayyoh engaged was Ramil Samatkulov, General Director of East Wind Tour Company (114 Chui Ave., Room 427, Bishkek City 720001, Kyrgyz Republic; phone +996 312 901 957 or [cell] +996 555 515 975). Ramil was our guide from Sept. 27, when we crossed the border from Uzbekistan into Kyrgyzstan, until Oct. 3 when we left Almaty, Kazakhstan.
In Kyrgyzstan, Ramil traveled with us by private car to Osh, around Lake Issyk-Kul and to Bishkek. Thereafter, we crossed the border into Kazakhstan, touring Almaty before heading to Istanbul.
Attentive, knowledgeable and fully conversant in English, Ramil was very good company. He is young and active and can arrange more adventurous tours that include whitewater rafting, fishing and bicycling as well as a tour of the four countries. I recommend him.
JOHN M. YEAGER
Boulder, CO
ITN e-mailed Ramil Samatkolov (eastwindtravel@gmail.com) for example rates. He replied, “I founded my own tour company in Kyrgyzstan in October 2011. We have cooperation with local tour companies as well as tour companies in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China. For two people, a 9-day tour of Kyrgyzstan with a private car, driver and English-speaking guide would cost $1,620 per person (June to mid September), including accommodations, meals and admissions.”