Five Stans of the Silk Road with Istanbul City Stay

The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. The schedules of the domestic airlines in country are subject to frequent changes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. Some road construction &/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.

If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of €324.50pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.

Kazakhstan visa requirements To enter Kazakhstan, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the date you arrive and at least one blank page. British Citizens do not require a visa to visit Kazakhstan.

Kyrgyzstan visa requirements To enter Kyrgyzstan, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and at least two blank pages. British Citizens not require a visa to visit Kyrgyzstan.

Tajikistan visa requirements If you’re visiting Tajikistan, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the date you arrive and have two blank pages. British Citizens require a visa for Tajikistan but Mercury Holidays will obtain it for you, as long as we have a photocopy of your passport minimum 45 days prior to departure.

Uzbekistan visa requirements To enter Uzbekistan, your passport should have an ‘expiry date’ at least three months from the day you arrive and at least two blank pages. British Citizens not require a visa to visit Uzbekistan. You must register with the local district OVIR (Department of Foreign Travel and Exit) within three days of your arrival. Saturdays and Sundays count as part of the three-day period. If you’re staying in a hotel, you’ll be asked for your passport at check-in. Hotel staff will complete the registration paperwork and return your passport. If you do not register within 3 days of arrival in the country, you get fined for each day you are late so it is important to ensure that it is done to avoid any issues when leaving the country

Turkmenistan visa requirements To enter Turkmenistan, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ more than six months after the end-date on your visa and at least two blank pages. British Citizens require a letter of introduction is required to get a visa for Turkmenistan. Mercury Holidays need a photocopy of your passport and a passport photo to get this for you, minimum 45 days prior to departure. You can then apply for a visa in advance or at the border. A total of $137 (subject to change) will be required to enter Turkmenistan, this includes the visa, admin fee, migration tax, PCR test and the bus through the neutral zone.

Further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries. We strongly advise you check your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding passport validity.

You will be given proof of stay at each hotel that you visit during your tour. Please keep these forms together with your passport should immigration control want to see these on departure.

Border Crossing:

Kyrgyzstan-Kazakhstan Should take approximately 30 minutes though delays do occur. You will need to exit the bus with your bags for passport control. The driver may not be allowed to exit the bus or assist. -Tajikistan-Uzbekistan Border crossing should take under an hour though delays can occur. You will need to walk approximately 500 meters with your bags. Your Tajik guide will be able to accompany you to passport control

Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan There is a 1km neutral zone between the borders which passengers will be ferried across in 8 person minibuses. The cost of the transfer is not fixed but will be approximately $1. You will need to pay the migration tax and present a physical copy of your Letter of Introduction, if you do not already have it you will need to pay for your visa. Your Turkmenistan guide will join you at the Uzbekistan border to assist you in crossing. There are no western style toilets available at the border crossing.

Turkey visa requirements British Citizens travelling to Turkey for tourist or business purposes are able to travel without a visa for visits of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. We recommend you check with your destination's tourist board or embassy prior to departure for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding visas and passport validity.

Please note that final flight details will be confirmed on your e-ticket and final documentation which will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Weight restrictions will be finalized on your final documentation. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in. Check-in should be at least 3 hours before departure. If you wish to arrange Airport car parking or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras on 0871 360 2000, quoting HX313.

IMPORTANT: A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you. Please note that you should carry your invoice with flight details on it as you will need to show this at the airport.

We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras. To arrange your travel insurance with Holiday Extras, please call 0800 781 4237 and quote 'WK830' for preferential rates. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Sunspot Tours will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.

It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, www.travelhealthpro.org.uk, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.

This tour is accessible to most people with a good level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves climbing of steep stairs and getting on and off coaches. It reaches an altitude of 1700 meters above sea level in Kyrgyzstan. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties. All our tours feature a "Tour Pace" to help find the right holiday for you. The tour pace for The Five Stans of the Silk Route is intermediate. A good level of fitness is required as you may be on your feet for approximately four hours in a day, though this will be interspersed with regular breaks and will vary from day to day.

Kazakhstan: The currency in Kazakhstan is the Kazakhstani tenge (KZT). We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK but cash machines are available in all the major cities to withdraw money in the local currency. Credit and debit cards are accepted in major cities and hotels, but smaller establishments tend to only take cash. Make sure to have small bills as change is not always available.

Kyrgyzstan: The currency in Kyrgyzstan is the Kyrgyzstani som (KGS). We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK but cash machines are available in Bishek to withdraw money in the local currency. Credit and debit cards are accepted but only at some of the larger hotels, shops and restaurants in Bishek as the country is predominantly a cash economy.

Tajikistan: The currency in Tajikistan is the Tajik Somoni (TJS). We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK but there are a limited number of cash machines available in Dushanbe to withdraw money in the local currency. Credit and debit cards are accepted but only at some of the larger hotels, shops and restaurants in Dushanbe as the country is predominantly a cash economy.

Uzbekistan: The currency in Uzbekistan is the Uzbekistani Som (UZS). We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK. Visa and Mastercard, debit and credit card are accepted in main tourist areas but are not always reliable and smaller areas and establishments only accept local currency in cash. ATM’s are also available in large cities and tourist areas. All foreign currencies can be exchanged in major banks, but the preferred currencies are US Dollars and Euros (new dated notes in best condition).

Turkmenistan: The local currency is the Turkmen manat (TMT). You can convert US dollars (clean, undamaged, non-ruptured and unwritten banknotes printed on or after 1996) into the local currency manat (TMT) at banks, and in exchange offices. We do not recommend you exchange money by local people at the bazaars, hotel staff, or on the streets. It is impossible to change TMT back into foreign currency, so do not change too much money as you may be stuck with Manat upon leaving Turkmenistan. Cash machines are rare and card payments are rarely accepted so it is best to carry cash.

Turkey/Istanbul: The currency in Turkey is the Turkish Lira (TRY). Cash machines are available in Istanbul to withdraw money in the local currency and card payments are widely accepted.

As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels as well as American Express.

You will need to take money with you to cover any personal purchases such as souvenirs, laundry, any meals not included in the itinerary as well as drinks and any additional snacks. Approximately £700-£800 per person will be sufficient for the duration of the tour.

Tipping It is at your customary to tip both your driver and guide. We would recommend to tip your guide approximately $8 per day and your driver approximately $4 per day. Tips are accepted in the local currency, however it is asked that if you do not tip in the local currency that you only pay with notes, as coins cannot be exchanged.

The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 8, and the maximum will be 35. If in the unlikely event there are less than 8 people booked on your tour date, we will endeavour to reduce any disruption to your holiday and try to operate your tour with lower passenger numbers. If we are not able to operate your departure date, then you may be asked to change to a different date and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.

There is no minimum number of travellers for this extension however the main tour passenger numbers will apply for the main part of the tour. If in the unlikely event there are less than the required number of people booked on your main tour date then you may be asked to change to a different date. A full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.

This is an escorted tour, meaning you will have the services of an English speaking guide throughout your tour ensuring that you have first-hand knowledge at all times.

For Private Tours or groups 4 and lower, you will be accompanied by a Driver and Local Guides on excursions. These Local Guides will be available to you during all scheduled sightseeing.

Private Tour: If you have booked a private tour then you will be accompanied by a Driver Guide or a Driver and Local Guides. These will be available to you during all scheduled sightseeing. Private Tours can depart on any day of the week depending on flight and train schedules and the opening days of the attractions. They will follow the itinerary as described in the brochure unless you have been advised otherwise and you will still have all of the same meals, sightseeing and local excursions included.

Your stay in Istanbul is not escorted by a tour guide. You will have a driver for your airport transfers.

Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character, and can range from business hotels to leisure hotels. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist compared to what you might expect in the UK. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.

Breakfast is always western style and served in the hotel each morning. Lunch and Dinner (when included) will be taken in local restaurants or at the hotel. A variety of restaurants are visited giving you the chance to experience a range of dishes and flavours. Vegetarian and Vegan options available, please request prior to departure. Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information.

It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way. Bottled water will be available at shops and hotels

The countries you travel through are predominantly Muslim countries and very conservative. It is expected for everyone to dress modestly. Woman – cover shoulders, midriff and legs to below the knees. Men – shorts are acceptable but working around shirtless is not. When visiting mosques, mausoleums, and other religious sites avoid revealing or tight fitting clothes, covering shoulders and knees and women may consider brining a scarf to cover your heads. Comfortable slip-on shoes are ideal for easy removal when entering religious buildings.

On arrival in Bishkek, you will be met by a Tour Guide from our local agent, Dolores Travel Group, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/Dolores Travel Group representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your national guide will be on hand 24 hours a day in case of emergency.

On arrival in Istanbul, you will be met by the representative from our local agent, Libero Tours. Please follow these instructions when exiting arrival terminal at the airport; exit at gate number 14 and meet the local guide waiting at the Q7 meeting point.

If you need to contact your representative during your stay the details are:

Dolores Travel Group 104A, Kichik Beshagach str. Tashkent, 100025, Uzbekistan Telephone Number (office): 00998 78 1208883

Please find below the emergency contact details:

Uzbekistan: Ms Ann: 00998 99 858 8894 Anna Vishnevskaya: avishnevskaya@dolorestravel.com

Kazakhstan: Mariya Pyanykh - Mobile: 007 701 736 0941

Kyrgyzstan: Irina Komissarova: 00996772400767

Turkmenistan: Office: 00993 12 95 76 73 (Mon-Sat 0900h-1800h) Mrs. Elena Trofimova mobile: 00993 64 98 43 32 (emergency contact, and after office hours) 14 Rudaki Avenue, 734013 Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Tajikistan: Office: 00992 92 8350504/00992 92 9410767 Umed Ashurov Tel: 00992 92 835 0404

Istanbul Emergency Contact Information: Telephone number - +9 0541 455 86 83