Hear about travel to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and the annual Amateur Traveler trip as host Chris Christensen and guest Bill Abbott talk about a tour to 2 of the 5 'Stans in Central Asia.

This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help fr… Hear about travel to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and the annual Amateur Traveler trip as host Chris Christensen and guest Bill Abbott talk about a tour to 2 of the 5 'Stans in Central Asia.

This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Why should you go to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan?

Chris says, "In this area, you can stand in these beautiful cities that date back over two thousand years. This is a trip through some of the great crossroads of world history: Persian empires, Silk Road merchants, Turkic tribes, Mongol armies, Timurid architects, Russian generals, Soviet planners, and two very different modern countries. This is not the edge of the map as we tend to view it, but historically, it's the middle of the map."

In this episode of Amateur Traveler, we celebrate episode 1,000 with a trip through Central Asia to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. The episode follows a G Adventures trip, Best of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, with a small group of Amateur Traveler listeners.

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-uzbekistan-and-turkmenistan/
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This week on Drop A Pin we are joined by Doug Barnard, a fellow travel youtuber who helped Donnie when planning his trip to Iraq and the most recent season of Baldstool. Doug leads group tours to Iraq and is also a travel youtuber in his own right and is here to talk to us about his trip to Turkmeni… This week on Drop A Pin we are joined by Doug Barnard, a fellow travel youtuber who helped Donnie when planning his trip to Iraq and the most recent season of Baldstool. Doug leads group tours to Iraq and is also a travel youtuber in his own right and is here to talk to us about his trip to Turkmenistan which he says is the weirdest country on earth!

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Timestamps:
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(00:09:42) - Pre Boarding
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Hear about travel to Turkmenistan as the Amateur Traveler talks to Abdylla Geldiyev, Managing Director of Undiscovered Frontiers,  about an itinerary for one week in this seldom-visited country in Central Asia.

Turkmenistan remains one of the least explored destinations in the world. From Ashgabat,… Hear about travel to Turkmenistan as the Amateur Traveler talks to Abdylla Geldiyev, Managing Director of Undiscovered Frontiers,  about an itinerary for one week in this seldom-visited country in Central Asia.

Turkmenistan remains one of the least explored destinations in the world. From Ashgabat, a city of Guinness World Records and futuristic white marble architecture, to ancient Silk Road cities and surreal desert landscapes, this itinerary combines history, archaeology, and natural wonders.

Why Visit Turkmenistan?

Abdylla describes Turkmenistan as a country for seasoned travelers seeking the unusual:

Surreal landscapes like Yangykala Canyon and the burning Darvaza gas crater

Silk Road cities such as Merv and Konye-Urgench

A capital city (Ashgabat) filled with world-record-breaking monuments, the largest indoor Ferris wheel, and the world’s largest handmade carpet

Rich traditions of Turkmen carpets and the legendary Akhal-Teke horses

Sunday arrival in Ashgabat to experience the Tolkuchka-Basar, a sprawling Sunday market alive with carpets, animals, and handicrafts.

Suggested One-Week Itinerary in Turkmenistan

Days 1–3: Ashgabat and Surroundings

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-turkmenistan-2/
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