March 4, 2021 · 1 min read
Before you go, make sure that your passport does not expire within 6 months from the end of your travels.
Take your insurance, vaccinations record, and medical prescription from your doctor for needed drugs.
Make sure that you have the right visa, for the right period of time, and a number of entries. Have a digital copy of your important documents on your phone and in your email box.
Take enough cash for your trip and possibly even an emergency fund of US $500, but make sure to hide it separately from your main funds.
Have the contact number of your bank to block your cards in case of loss or theft. To keep all your money safe, we recommend using a money belt during the whole journey.
Take all your prescribed medicine with you
Take your prescription from a doctor – necessary to show on the border. (Basically, any drug containing morphine is prohibited or can be imported in a limited amount.)
Pack a full personal medical kit after consulting with your doctor.
Do not forget good earplugs!
Central Asia is very photogenic so take your camera, enough memory cards, as well as batteries and chargers.
Prepare good music, movies, and audiobooks to listen to during long car rides. The audio entertainment can be a better choice for Central Asia, rather than reading books as it is not very convenient and healthy for your eyes to read on a shaky road for several hours.
You'll be surprised at the number of mosquitos in Central Asia, so don't forget to pack insect repellent. Insect bite cream is also very practical to pack for your trip.
Also, pack sunscreen with at least 30 SPF as well as a lip balm with SPF protection. summers in Central Asia are very dry and using creams and balms are recommended.
All Central Asian cities get very hot in the summer, so be aware of heat stroke. Take headwear and sunglasses with the best UV protection.
Try to avoid over-packing and take high quality, comfortable clothes. In bazaars you can get a variety of cheap clothes, however, quality clothing might be more difficult to find and can be slightly more expensive than you would get at home.
Take a good rain/wind/fleece jacket with you to the mountains, along with a warm sweater and good shoes.
Pack swimwear as you will encounter some hotels with pools and swimmable lakes
Flip flops or other rubber shoes are perfect for hot weather, swimming, and showering in hostels or guesthouses.
Good hiking shoes are essential for outdoor activities in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
Central Asia has a continental climate and generally has cold winters with hot summers. In the mountainous regions of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan it can get quite cold, even in summer. It is best to take a water/windproof jacket, and a down/fleece jacket for these hikes. Hand warmers are also practical for spending nights in tents at high altitude.
In religious places, women and men are expected to cover their shoulders and legs. As you will need to take off your shoes, it is handy to have a pair of socks in your backpack. Bring a scarf- for women it is necessary to cover head Wear pants
Take a scarf to cover your shoulders or head when entering religious places, you can also use them as a blanket during long rides and flights.
You also might want to consider packing a long skirt, as it will cover your legs from the sun, be perfect for visiting religious architectural monuments, and will feel airy in hot summer days in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
Most local women living outside bigger cities dress pretty conservatively, whereas, in cities, especially Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, women dress fancier.
As a tourist, you can wear everywhere your normal clothes that you feel most comfortable in, not being obliged to follow local dress style.
Let us know if you have any further questions or if you would like to add some items to the list. Just drop a line in our live chat or send us an email
