Why Central Asia?

​

Our 2019 Russia, Mongolia and Central Asia overland journey proved a surprisingly powerful life experience, even for us!  Despite already being experienced world travellers, having previously undertaken 4wd expeditions through dozens of countries on different continents, something about Russia, Mongolia and all the countries of Central Asia (the ...stan's) tantalised us in ways that exceeded our expectations.  Our eyes were opened all over again to the wonders of this world, the different ways people around the globe live, and the joys of 4wd-based travel! 

 

Still largely unknown, undeveloped (by Western standards) and not yet a mainstream tourist destination, joining our next independently guided, self-drive 4wd journey across Central Asia could well prove ‘THE EXPERIENCE’ of your lifetime.  From Mongolia's wide open steppe and the vast isolation of the Gobi Desert, to visiting bazaars in Central Asian cities that have traded daily in the same location for 3,000 years.  From following ancient Silk Roads through the 7,500 metre high mountains of Tajikistan, to receiving the warmest welcomes you've ever known as we arrive in remote villages, tracing the Afghanistan border but safely inside Tajikistan military controlled border zones and under our expert guidance.  We’ll navigate around the rusting hulks of ships embedded in the floor of the former Aral Sea, now one of this planet’s newest deserts.  We’ll explore fascinating ancient Islamic cities in Uzbekistan and venture out into the desert in search of fortresses abandoned more than 2,000 years ago by past civilisations; still well preserved by Uzbekistan’s desert climate.  You’ll experience first hand how the still nomadic peoples of Mongolia and Central Asia live, and the traditional values they live by.  We’ll see how they make their yurt’s, hunt with eagles and on horseback and live with a degree of self-sufficiency largely unknown to us in the developed Western world.  We’ll visit former Silk Road cities in Uzbekistan's deserts, where until relatively recent times human slaves continued to be traded at the local market.  

 

Sadly, we'll also see how climate change is impacting this world region and putting strain on traditional nomadic ways of life.  We'll learn how the natural resources needed by self-sufficient families and communities living in remote, mountainous parts of Central Asia will come under increasing pressure in the years ahead, as Central Asian glaciers that are their water source in this part of the world retreat.  Whilst we'll marvel at the opportunity to pose with our 4wd's next to the rusty hulk of a ship when we drive the former seabed of the Aral Sea... you'll also learn first-hand just what a tragedy it is that the Aral Sea has become the Aralkum Desert.  The local Uzbek and Kazakh communities would have been much better off had those rusty old fishing fleet shipwrecks still been trawling the now vanished Aral Sea! 

 

This journey will be a very real life experience.  For those ready for an experience like this, our journey is capable of opening your eyes in ways you might not yet fully envisage.  You are likely to return home feeling enriched by the experience of your lifetime.  This is not an opportunity likely to persist forever.  As soon as the Covid situation sufficiently abates will be the best time there will ever be to discover Central Asia.  The world really is changing... it's now or never! 

​

It is important to appreciate that this is not a mainstream tourism undertaking.  No special skills or experience is needed – that’s our job!  But whilst we make it possible for nearly anyone to undertake this, it doesn't mean everyone should.  This is also not a journey aimed purely at 4wd enthusiasts (though those that are will no doubt love the off-road sections - and those that initially weren't might find a new enthusiasm developing!).  This is primarily intended to be a unique travel experience, where our 4wd fleet is the tool that enables us to comfortably access the most fascinating and authentic destinations, on a continent where the road infrastructure is often too poor for conventional vehicles.  Unlike mainstream tourism travel tours into Central Asia that are restricted to areas a tourist coach can access, our tours are designed to access all the best and most authentic places, wherever they are.  And to accomplish this in safety and comfort we require well prepared 4wd vehicles.  This allows us the freedom to venture out into the sands of the Gobi Desert when it suits us.  Many other fascinating destinations in Central Asia have no road access suitable for regular cars.  Equally, roads in Central Asia that locals do drive in regular cars can be very poor and you’ll be thankful for the ample suspension on our 4wd vehicle fleet.  Your guide has 'bush mechanic' skills and the guide vehicle is packed with mechanical tools and a range of spare parts for our 4wd fleet.  As such, we are mostly capable of being self-sufficient.  This is important, because we are going to cross two of Earth's continents, all by land and largely under our own resource.  Admittedly the motorways of Europe pose no serious challenge, but the majority of our time will be spent traversing the Russian Far East, Mongolia and the countries of Central Asia - that will be a serious adventure and rightly something for you to boast about with friends, grandchildren etc long after the journey ends.

 

No prior knowledge with 4wd’s, off-road driving or adventure travel is assumed or required.  For those in New Zealand and nervous about the idea of driving a 4wd in off-road situations, or just wishing to gain familiarity with the vehicle you will drive for nearly four months, you are welcome to join us for a familiarisation event in our local South Island wilderness before the vehicles are packed into containers for shipping to the Russian Far East/Siberia.  We can offer this in small groups, or one on one.  

 

Again, though we make it possible for nearly anyone to undertake this, it's not for everyone.  It's not a mainstream tourism offering.  This unique opportunity is best suited to those who have reached a stage in life where they're ready for a real adventure capable of being the experience of their lifetime, yet also appreciate that such a journey depends on participants with the right attitude, understanding and commitment.  Things go right and wrong on trips like this and we may need to flex and adapt.  The vehicles will work hard in rugged conditions regularly - we expect some mechanical issues to arise.  Other unplanned things will happen and require resolution.  Participants are welcome to be guests, and enjoy each destination as we experience it while your guides do all the hard work.  But, from time to time everyone may need to pitch in, or at least display understanding of the nature of these special journeys.

 

At times the accommodation provided is a 5 Star... and at other times it's 1 Star!  When we spend time in Central Asian capital cities we'll stay in super luxury 5 Star hotels.  But really, you'll deserve these occasional luxury interludes to recover from the heat and dust of the places where the only accommodation option is, say, a yurt camp in the sands of the Gobi Desert, or some equally fascinating, hidden away corner of Kyrgyzstan.  If we were to put together a trip offering continual access to 5 Star luxury all the way, then it wouldn't be a trip that took you anywhere near the truly authentic parts of Central Asia.  In fact it would barely depart a Russian motorway.  There are mainstream tourism offerings available for those not ready for a trip like this, which is most people.  It won't be a night spent in a 5 star hotel that will be your most memorable from this journey, but it may well be a night you spent in a yurt in the Gobi Desert, or at a rudimentary hotel or guest house/home stay high up in Tajikistan's Pamirs etc.