North Caspian Caravan - Kazakhstan

• Accommodations as noted in itinerary. In the larger cities in Kazakhstan four- and five-star hotels are used. The single night in the Boszhira Valley is spent in tents with very rustic, camping conditions. The three nights at the Kogez Ethnic Village are spent in traditional Kazakh yurts with shared facilities.
• Most meals, as noted in the itinerary: 12 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 10 dinners.
• A daily supply of bottled water.
• Arrival/departure airport transfers on the tour start/end date. MIR will arrange for all travelers to be met upon arrival and seen off upon departure whether or not we make your flight arrangements.
• Ground transportation throughout tour by private mini-coach, jeep, or van. (Type of vehicle depends on group size and terrain, and will vary from country to country.)
• Services of experienced, English-speaking local guides, drivers.
• Guided sightseeing tours and entrance fees as outlined in the itinerary.
• Special events, excursions, and cultural performances, as outlined in the itinerary.
• Complete pre-departure electronic document that includes detailed packing suggestions, reading list links, country-specific information, maps, travel tips and more.
• Electronic final update bulletin, with any late news, updates and important information.
• Customized visa information and instructions. (Please note, visa fees are not included in the tour price. However, visas are not required for U.S. and many other passport holders visiting Kazakhstan.)
• Assistance booking your custom flight arrangements, on request. (Please note, international airfare is not included in the land tour cost.)

• International airfare and taxes/fuel surcharges.
• Meals and drinks not specified as included in the itinerary.
• Single supplement (or partial single supplement where applicable), if requested or required.
• Gratuities to local guides & drivers.
• Expenses incurred as a result of delay, modification, or extension of a tour due to causes beyond MIR’s control.
• Travel insurance, including cancellation, medical, and evacuation insurance.
• Visa and/or passport fees, excess-baggage charges, airport departure taxes, vaccination and other medical costs.
• Baggage handling.
• Items of a personal nature, such as phone calls, email, laundry, and alcohol.
• Optional pre- or post-tour extensions.

Level 4: Rigorous

This Explorer Series program, by nature, is designed to be comfortable for western travelers, but is a very adventurous program to a rustic part of the world. Accommodations will vary widely with a four-star hotel in Aktau – collectively 3 nights – and much more rustic lodging elsewhere. The single night in the Boszhira Valley is spent in tents with very rustic, camping conditions. The three nights at the Kogez Ethnic Village are spent in traditional Kazakh yurts with shared facilities. Yurts, and especially tents, can be cold at night, and hot water and/or showers are often unavailable.

Services are improving in the region; however, you may encounter problems with plumbing, bureaucratic service, road conditions, unpaved sidewalks, uneven surfaces and steps, and availability and quality of public restrooms. In some places, established public restrooms will be Eastern-style. In other places where there are no restrooms, the group will make “bush stops.” Hot running water is not a constant in this part of the world, as municipal water systems are sometimes under repair in the warmer months and some guesthouses or yurt camps do not offer running hot water.  We are traveling in some areas which, relatively speaking, have seen few travelers, and the infrastructure is not yet fully developed. Air conditioning is a luxury and not available in facilities outside capital cities.

This program is rated as rigorous touring due to the daily walking involved (with some hiking), extended travel in very remote areas, several very long driving days, and the overall shortcomings of the tourism infrastructure – particularly in the Mangystau Region. This itinerary features a significant amount of touring on foot, and long days of driving – required to experience some of the spectacular scenery.

This program makes use of yurts and tents in the Mangystau Region. These accommodations are extremely basic – toilets are often shared among all group members as are showers, and they may not have electricity. If you rely on electricity for a CPAP machine, or for any other reason, you must have your own battery or other back-up, or please reconsider participation.

Those with a history of medical problems, particularly cardiac or respiratory, must consult a doctor before considering this trip. Some drives will be more than four hours and have significant segments along dirt roads, unpaved roads, or poorly maintained and therefore very bumpy asphalt. Expect rough, dusty roads, for long periods of time. To reap the full rewards of this adventure, travelers must be able to walk at least four miles a day, keeping up with fellow travelers, and must enjoy the sense of adventure that comes with overland travel over dusty, rough roads. Flexibility, a sense of humor and a willingness to accept local standards of amenities and services are essential components to the enjoyment of this trip.

Every effort has been made to make the information in this schedule accurate. However, trip itineraries are always subject to change. We will do our best to inform you in advance of any changes, but due to the nature of travel in Central Asia, this may not always be possible. This tour maintains a focus on cultural interaction and we will be visiting private homes and sharing meals with local residents. It is therefore important that participating travelers have a desire to involve themselves in the local culture in order to fully enjoy this trip. If you are looking for a less adventurous experience, MIR offers other scheduled small group tour options featuring more comfortable accommodation and which do not venture into the remote and undeveloped Mangystau Region. Please ask for details on these tours (including Journey Through Central Asia: The 5 ‘Stans) as well as a custom private journey which may be a better match for your interests and physical capabilities.