Young Pioneer Tours
Central Asia Marathons Tour
Five marathons, five countries, nine days. Beginning in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, and ending in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, this tour visits all five post Soviet ‘Stans, and you can run a marathon in each one of them. Rest and travel days are built into the itinerary, so whilst there you’ll be able to take in some of what Central Asia has to offer, including the totally unique city of Ashgabat which has to be seen to be believed, and the Tien Shan mountains which are the northern most point of the Himalayas.
If you’d like to see more of Central Asia while you’re there, there are several extension options available, either before or after the tour.
Day 1 Saturday October 20th
- Arrive in Ashgabat, transfer to the hotel.
- Optional activities:
- Sight-seeing tour around Ashgabat.
- Trip to visit Nisa, Turkmenbashy Mosque and Kow Ata.
- Day trip to a horse farm outside of Ashgabat.
- Overnight in Ashgabat.
Day 2 Sunday October 21st
- Drive to the outskirts of Ashgabat to complete the Marathon track along the Kopetdag mountains or on the way to Gorge (few km track, to be completed several times).
- Transfer back to hotel in Ashgabat.
- Return to the hotel to freshen up. Check out15:30-16:00.
- Transfer to the airport. Fly to Almaty 21:00-00:50.
- Arrive in Almaty at 00:50 Sunday night/Monday morning.
- Transfer to the hotel and overnight in Almaty.
Day 3 Monday October 22nd
- Meet your guide and transfer to the marathon starting point in Shymbulak.
- Marathon route: Shymbulak to Mynzhylky – from 2220 to 3200 km high.
- After the marathon transfer back to Almaty.
- Dinner at a local restaurant.
- Overnight in Almaty.
Day 4 Tuesday October 23rd
- Free morning in Almaty.
- Optional activity:
- City tour of Almaty, inclduing Panfilov Park, Zhenkov Cathedral, the Green Bazaar, Old Square and Republic Square. Visit the State Museum, see the Presidential Palace and ride one of Central Asia’s only two metros.
- Drive to Bishkek in the afternoon.
- Meet at the border point Ak-Zhol in the afternoon and transfer to Bishkek.
- Dinner at a local restaurant.
- Overnight in Bishkek.
Day 5 Wednesday October 24th
- Transfer to the marathon starting point, around one hour from Bishkek.
- After the marathon transfer back to Bishkek.
- Farewell dinner at a traditional Kyrgyz restaurant.
- Overnight in Bishkek.
Day 6 Thursday October 25th
- Check out of the hotel in the morning. Free time.
- Optional activities:
- Half-day city tour visiting Ala-Too square and Independence Square, where you can watch the changing of the guard in front of the huge Kyrgyz flag.. Walking through the city center, you’ll go through small parks offering shady walkways and pass Parliament house, Statue of Lenin, Kyrgyz and Russian Drama Theaters, Ballet and Opera house, State Art Museum and Victory square.
- Transfer to Ala-Archa National Park, 45 km from Bishkek. The park was created in 1976 and occupies about 2 280 hectares just 45km from the capital. Ala-Archa is translated from Kyrgyz language as “motley (or bright) juniper”. Walk in the gorge. Picnic lunch en route. Drive to Ata Beyit Memorial Complex dedicated to the victims of Revolt against Tsarist Empire in 1916, victims of Stalin’s Repressions 1934-1938, and victims of 2010 Revolution.
- Return to Bishkek.
- Transfer to the airport at 16:00.
- Arrive at Tashkent airport at 19:00. Transfer to hotel.
- Dinner and overnight in Tashkent.
Day 7 Friday October 26th
- Run the marathon near Pakhtakor Stadium in Tashkent.
- Transfer to the Tajik border.
- Cross the border and meet your guide and driver.
- Overnight in Khujand.
Day 8 Saturday October 27th
- Run the marathon near Khujand.
- Cross the border back into Uzbekistan.
- Transfer to the hotel.
- Dinner and overnight in Tashkent.
Day 9 Sunday October 28th
- Transfers to the airport according to flight times.
Further Reading Contents Not Available.
Tour Extensions
Want to extend your YPT adventure? Join one of our great tour extensions
