Five Stans of the Silk Road

The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. The schedules of the domestic airlines in country are subject to frequent changes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.

If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.

Further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries. We strongly advise you check your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding passport validity.

Please ensure your passport contains at least four blank pages. Both the Turkmenistan and Tajikistan visas require two full pages each. Verify that your passport meets this requirement before proceeding with your visa applications.

Kazakhstan visa requirements

To enter Kazakhstan, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the date you arrive and at least one blank page. British Citizens do not require a visa to visit Kazakhstan.

Kyrgyzstan visa requirements

To enter Kyrgyzstan, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and at least two blank pages. British Citizens not require a visa to visit Kyrgyzstan.

Tajikistan visa requirements

Your passport must have an expiry date of at least six months after the date you arrive into Tajikistan. British Citizens require a visa for Tajikistan but Mercury Holidays will obtain it for you. We require a colour copy of your passport page containing your passport number and picture in either a JPEG or PDF format to be emailed to mypassport@mercuryholidays.com a minimum of 45 days prior to departure. Failure to send us this information on time could result in you not being able to travel on your holiday and Mercury Holidays will not be liable for your lost holiday.

Our guide in Kazakhstan will provide you with your visa to Tajikistan.

Uzbekistan visa requirements

To enter Uzbekistan, your passport should have an ‘expiry date’ at least three months from the day you arrive and at least two blank pages.

A visa is not required for entry into Uzbekistan. However, all foreign visitors must present a valid passport upon check-in at their accommodation. Hotel staff will use your passport details to complete mandatory registration with the local authorities. You may also be asked to present proof of registration upon departure, so please keep your registration slip safe.

Turkmenistan visa requirements

Your passport must have an expiry date of at least six months after the date you arrive into Turkmenistan. British Citizens will need a letter of introduction which is required to get a visa for Turkmenistan. We require a colour copy of your passport page containing your passport number and picture in either a JPEG or PDF format to be emailed to mypassport@mercuryholidays.com a minimum of 45 days prior to departure. In addition we require the following information to be emailed with your passport photo:

• Middle Names (if applicable)
• Has the passenger been known by any other name?
• Occupation
• Place of work
• Previous visits to Turkmenistan. If so, dates and purpose
• Marital Status
• Full name, date of birth and citizenship of spouse
• Full name, date of birth and citizenship of any children

Failure to send us this information on time could result in you not being able to travel on your holiday and Mercury Holidays will not be liable for your lost holiday.

Your letter of introduction will be emailed to you by Mercury Holidays before you travel. Once you have received this you can then apply for a visa before you travel or on arrival at Turkmenistan at the border. A total of $137 (subject to change) will be required to enter Turkmenistan, this includes the visa, admin fee, migration tax, PCR test and the bus through the neutral zone.

Border Crossing:

Kyrgyzstan-Kazakhstan

Should take approximately 30 minutes though delays do occur. You will need to exit the bus with your bags for passport control. The driver may not be allowed to exit the bus or assist. -Tajikistan-Uzbekistan Border crossing should take under an hour though delays can occur. You will need to walk approximately 500 metres with your bags. Your Tajik guide will be able to accompany you to passport control

Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan

There is a 1km neutral zone between the borders which passengers will be ferried across in 8 person minibuses. The cost of the transfer is not fixed but will be approximately $1. You will need to pay the migration tax and present a physical copy of your Letter of Introduction, if you do not already have it you will need to pay for your visa. Your Turkmenistan guide will join you at the Uzbekistan border to assist you in crossing. There are no western style toilets available at the border crossing.

You will be given proof of stay at each hotel that you visit during your tour. Please keep these forms together with your passport should immigration control want to see these on departure.

Please note your final documentation will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Check in baggage is included with your flight. Weight restrictions will be finalised on your final documentation. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in. Check-in should be at least 3 hours before departure. If you wish to arrange Airport car parking or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras on 0333 188 0407, quoting HX313.

IMPORTANT: A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you. Please note that you should carry your invoice with flight details on it as you will need to show this at the airport.

We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.

It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, www.travelhealthpro.org.uk, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.

This tour is accessible to most people with a good level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves climbing of steep stairs and getting on and off coaches. It reaches an altitude of 1700 metres above sea level in Kyrgyzstan. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties. All our tours feature a "Tour Pace" to help find the right holiday for you. The tour pace for The Five Stans of the Silk Route is Challenging. A good level of fitness is required as you may be on your feet for approximately four hours in a day, though this will be interspersed with regular breaks and will vary from day to day.

Kazakhstan: The currency in Kazakhstan is the Kazakhstani tenge (KZT). We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK but cash machines are available in all the major cities to withdraw money in the local currency. Credit and debit cards are accepted in major cities and hotels, but smaller establishments tend to only take cash. Make sure to have small bills as change is not always available.

Kyrgyzstan: The currency in Kyrgyzstan is the Kyrgyzstani som (KGS). We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK but cash machines are available in Bishek to withdraw money in the local currency. Credit and debit cards are accepted but only at some of the larger hotels, shops and restaurants in Bishek as the country is predominantly a cash economy.

Tajikistan: The currency in Tajikistan is the Tajik Somoni (TJS). We recommend exchanging your money before leaving the UK, as Tajikistan remains largely a cash‑based economy. Credit and debit cards are accepted in some larger hotels, shops, and restaurants, but they are not widely used elsewhere. Travellers should ensure they carry sufficient cash—preferably in a mix of smaller denominations—for the duration of their trip.

Uzbekistan: The currency in Uzbekistan is the Uzbekistani Som (UZS). You will need to exchange your money upon arrival in Uzbekistan, as it cannot be obtained or exchanged outside the country. You can convert your cash at banks, bureaux de change, hotels, and post offices, all of which offer the same government-fixed exchange rate. Visa and Mastercard, debit and credit card are accepted in main tourist areas but are not always reliable and smaller areas and establishments only accept local currency in cash. ATM’s are also available in large cities and tourist areas. All foreign currencies can be exchanged in major banks, but the preferred currencies are US Dollars and Euros (new dated notes in best condition).

Turkmenistan: The local currency is the Turkmen manat (TMT). US dollars can be exchanged for manat at banks or official exchange offices; however, only clean, undamaged, unmarked banknotes printed on or after 1996 are accepted. Please note that TMT cannot be converted back into foreign currency, so we recommend only exchanging the amount you expect to need. Cash machines are limited, and card payments are rarely accepted throughout the country. For this reason, travellers should ensure they carry sufficient cash for the duration of their stay.

As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels as well as American Express.

You will need to take money with you to cover any personal purchases such as souvenirs, laundry, any meals not included in the itinerary as well as drinks and any additional snacks. Approximately £700-£800 per person will be sufficient for the duration of the tour.

Tipping

It is at your customary to tip both your driver and guide. We would recommend to tip your guide approximately $8 per day and your driver approximately $4 per day. Tips are accepted in the local currency, however it is asked that if you do not tip in the local currency that you only pay with notes, as coins cannot be exchanged.

The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 8, and the maximum will be 35. If in the unlikely event there are less than 8 people booked on your tour date, we will endeavour to reduce any disruption to your holiday and try to operate your tour with lower passenger numbers. If we are not able to operate your departure date, then you may be asked to change to a different date and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.

This is an escorted tour, meaning you will have the services of an English speaking guide throughout your tour ensuring that you have first-hand knowledge at all times.

For Private Tours or groups 4 and lower, you will be accompanied by a Driver and Local Guides on excursions. These Local Guides will be available to you during all scheduled sightseeing.

Private Tour: If you have booked a private tour then you will be accompanied by a Driver Guide or a Driver and Local Guides. These will be available to you during all scheduled sightseeing. Private Tours can depart on any day of the week depending on flight and train schedules and the opening days of the attractions. They will follow the itinerary as described in the brochure unless you have been advised otherwise and you will still have all of the same meals, sightseeing and local excursions included.

Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character, and can range from business hotels to leisure hotels. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist compared to what you might expect in the UK. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.

Breakfast is always western style and served in the hotel each morning. Lunch and Dinner (when included) will be taken in local restaurants or at the hotel. A variety of restaurants are visited giving you the chance to experience a range of dishes and flavours.

Vegetarian and Vegan options are not always available, please request prior to departure and our suppliers will do our best to arrange this. Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information.

It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way. Bottled water will be available at shops and hotels.

The countries you travel through are predominantly Muslim countries, where modest dress is expected. Women should cover their shoulders, midriff, and legs below the knees, and may want to carry a scarf to cover their heads when visiting religious sites. Men can wear shorts, but going shirtless is not appropriate. When visiting mosques, mausoleums, and similar places, avoid tight or revealing clothing and ensure shoulders and knees are covered. Wearing comfortable slip-on shoes is recommended, as they are easy to remove when entering these sites.

On arrival in Bishkek, you will be met by a Tour Guide from our local agent, Dolores Travel Group, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/Dolores Travel Group representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your national guide will be on hand 24 hours a day in case of emergency.

If you need to contact your representative during your stay the details are:

Dolores Travel Group 104A, Kichik Beshagach str. Tashkent, 100025, Uzbekistan Telephone Number (office): 00998 55 515 8883 (working hours from 09:30-17:30).

Please find below the emergency contact details:

Uzbekistan: Ms Ann: 00998 99 858 8894 Anna Vishnevskaya: avishnevskaya@dolorestravel.com

Kazakhstan: Mariya Pyanykh - Mobile: 007 701 736 0941

Kyrgyzstan: Yana Kugatova: 00996 550 973 818

Turkmenistan: Office: 00993 12 95 76 73 (Mon-Sat 0900h-1800h) Mrs. Elena Trofimova mobile: 00993 64 98 43 32 (emergency contact, and after office hours) 14 Rudaki Avenue, 734013 Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Tajikistan: Office: 00992 92 8350504/00992 92 9410767 Umed Ashurov Tel: 00992 92 835 0404

• Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat in summer or cap
• Insect repellent & personal toiletries
• Antibacterial hand gel
• Warm clothing during the winter months
• Binoculars
• Waterproof, light poncho or rain jacket
• Small day pack for excursions
• Personal toiletries and first aid kit containing travel pills, rehydration powder, plasters, stomach settlers, antiseptic creams, aspirin etc
• Scarf (for women), clothing that covers arms and legs (men and women) to enter mosques and other religious places
• Travel plug adapter – the electricity supply is 220V and plug type F