Central Asia Travel: Things to Know and to Do Before You Visit
There are many places throughout the world that you can visit if you are looking for a unique and life-changing experience. However, one place that is often left out or forgotten about in these discussions is Central Asia.
Central Asia is made up of the countries of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. It is home to unique landscapes, incredible traditions, great scenery, and a ton of history to learn about and see.
But before you pack up our bags and head on a trip to Central Asia, there are a few things to keep in mind. So without any further ado, let’s go over a few things to know and do before you visit Central Asia.
Get to Know the Climate and Wildlife
One of the first things you should do is get to know the climate for the area you are traveling to. If you go without doing your research, you may be in for quite a surprise. In Central Asia, the temperatures are generally quite extreme, which can mean incredibly hot summers, and harsh winters. As a result, spring and autumn are normally the best times to visit, as temperatures are mild and you won’t need to deal with the extremes.
Also, if you are a nature lover, don’t forget to learn about wildlife. In this area (and the surrounding countries) you will see a variety of creatures. This includes antelope, a variety of birds, badgers, deer, bats, and several others that you will get to see on your trip. Near here is also the natural and native habitat of some lizards like leopard geckos, which have become popular pets around the world.
Plan Your Route and Get the Necessary Paperwork
On some vacations, you can get by not really having a plan and just winging it. But this is not the case in Central Asia. You need to carefully plan out your route, and have a pretty precise plan for what the trip is going to look like.
This is because there are likely to be strict entry and exit dates on your visas, so when you arrive and leave each country needs to be predetermined. If you want a little more freedom, write your exit date a few days later than when you were planning on leaving, just in case.
Speaking of this, make sure you have all of the right paperwork to enter the countries you intend. You may need different kinds of visas, permits, and other paperwork to gain lawful entry. Requirements change often, so be sure to keep up with any recent changes to ensure you get things right. It can be a bit of a nightmare to know the exact requirements, but with enough research and speaking to the right people, it can be done.
Consider Learning a Bit of the Language
Another good thing to do before your trip to make it as successful as possible is to learn a bit of the language. While the Russian language is still spoken widely throughout the area, its use has been declining recently. As a result, consider learning more about the local language of whichever area of Central Asia you want to visit.
By knowing a bit of the language, you will find it much easier to find things, buy things, and generally navigate your way through whichever country you decide to visit. Also, if you can speak some of the native language, it may help you appear less like a tourist, and could stop you from getting taken advantage of in some situations.
In conclusion, we hope that this article has helped you be able to prepare and be ready for your next trip to Central Asia.
