Many countries in Central Asia have opened up recently and no longer require visas for certain nationalities. For Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Georgia, Armenia and Turkey you should check with your nearest consulate.

For Turkmenistan we are given a group visa which is payable locally. The cost of this is included in the trip price, however, we may need to reach out to you for additional details to assist in obtaining this on your behalf.

If you would like to check visa requirements for tours to Central Asia you can do so at the Visalink website.

Yes. For services you undertake independently such as a meal in a restaurant you should budget roughly a 10% tip. Tipping is of course discretionary and should be in line with the quality of service received.

Your Inverted Atlas Trip leader will make a suggestion in regard to tipping for local guides, drivers and other providers whose services are listed on the itinerary for tours to Central Asia.

In Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan cash is king. You should bring enough US Dollars with you to change into local currency once on the ground in your destination. Your trip leader will make stops at banks or money exchanges frequently for the group to exchange money. ATM’s in these countries do not work with foreign cards. Credit cards are accepted in large cities.
In Georgia, Armenia and Turkey ATM’s work with foreign cards and credit cards are widely accepted.

You should check with your local provider if coverage is provided in Central Asian countries prior to departure. Make sure you are also aware their of international roaming charges for tours to Central Asia.

Local SIM cards are not easily obtainable in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. In many of these countries SIM cards are not obtainable by foreigners and locals need to show proof of residency in order to get a SIM card.

Local SIM cards are easily obtainable in major cities in Armenia, Georgia and Turkey. If you are arriving into any of these countries by air, we suggest you pick up a tourist SIM prior to leaving the airport.

If you wish to use a local SIM you will need to ensure your phone is unlocked prior to departure from your home country.

We won’t lie. It’s not great and patience is required. Even in hotels in major cities the internet will be much slower or drop out a lot more than what you’re used to.
WiFi is much better and more readily available in Armenia, Georgia and Turkey.

Toilets – All hotels in Central Asia have clean, upright western toilets. Public toilets you encounter could be of the eastern squat variety.
Pharmacies – Pharmacies are readily available in major cities, although it is unlikely that the pharmacist will speak English. If you require medication from a pharmacy, please let your trip leader know as far in advance as possible. They will be able to arrange your local guide to go with you to collect what you need or the local guide may be able to pick up what you require on your behalf.
Hospitals – Hospitals are generally of a good standard, however, locations with hospitals can be somewhat spread out. We ask that if you are feeling unwell that you let your trip leader know as soon as possible and consider their advice when it comes to hospital admission. Trip Leaders have the discretion to remove someone from the trip if they feel that continuing would endanger their health.
Please ensure you purchase adequate travel insurance that includes repatriation to your home country in the event of a medical emergency.

For all medication it is a good idea to carry a note from your GP detailing what medication you are on and why you are taking it.

You should be aware that if you take anti-depressants or prescription pain medication that these are illegal in some Central Asian countries like Uzbekistan and could be confiscated on arrival.

Unfortunately, it is also the case that legal medication could be confiscated through lack of education or because the official is simply being overzealous.

Absolutely not. Drinking the water in Central Asia, with the exception of Turkey, will likely make you so sick you will end up in hospital. Please do not even brush your teeth with it. Many hotels provide bottled water for this purpose.
In Turkey the water is quite clean, however different minerals are used to purify the water and it could still upset your stomach. For this reason, we would still recommend bottled water while in Turkey.

Food in Central Asia consists mostly of grilled meats, fresh vegetables (the tomatoes are to die for!) and rice dishes.

Absolutely. Please disclose these when you secure your place on the trip so that we can make our local providers aware. Your trip leader will not be able to accommodate any dietary requirements that have not been disclosed in advance.
If you have a gluten free, vegan or vegetarian diet consider bringing some snack food from home. There will be plenty of fresh fruit in local markets, however, beyond that you may find that variety in snack foods for these diets may be somewhat lacking.

Women are required to cover their hair in religious institutions throughout Central Asia and may be required to wear a long skirt or cover their arms. Your trip leader will let you know in advance exactly where these places are, but please bring these items along on with you.
Please be aware that you are travelling through largely Islamic and/or conservative countries (with the exception of Georgia) while not illegal please consider whether items such as short shorts and mid-drift tops are culturally sensitive.
Men may be required to wear long pants in some mosques.