Why should you choose Koryo Tours?
Choosing to travel to unusual destinations such as North Korea is a big decision, and choosing the right people to take you is an incredibly important part of that. Learn about how we facilitate tourism responsibly in some of the most interesting and unique destinations on our planet, and at the same time ensure you get the most out of your once-in-a-lifetime experience.
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We will take you on an unbelievable trip across eastern Kazakhstan.
From the new capital (Astana) to the old capital (Almaty) and everywhere between. This tour is an epic adventure through industrial cities, endless steppe, abandoned gulags and memorials to their victims. We will also see lakes formed by atomic weapons, the sinister and evocative Semipalatinsk Nuclear Polygon (where the nuclear arms race began), mesmerising scenery, and quirky architecture from various eras.
Plus, you'll have the great chance to mix with local people, find out about their lives, enjoy nights out... And even visit a chocolate factory to round it all off!
Book your Kazakhstan Tour now!
For more on Kazakhstan, visit our Kazakhstan Travel Guide page.
Astana, Kazakhstan
Chagan Abandoned Air Base
Nuclear Test Site - The Polygon
Semey/Semipalatinsk
Alzhir Memorial
Note: We require all travellers on international and North Korea tours to have valid travel insurance.
Visit vibrant multi-cultural Kazakhstan and eclectic Turkmenistan.
Ticking off all the highlights as well as getting off the beaten
path!
From 4900 USD per person
Please apply by 1st September, 2024.
Visit vibrant multi-cultural Kazakhstan and
eclectic Turkmenistan. Ticking off all the
highlights as well as getting off the beaten
path!
From 4900 USD per person
On our most adventurous 20-night adventure, we will start in the new capital of Kazakhstan, Astana and finish in the ostentatious city of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
In between these two fascinating cities, we will travel by road, rail, and air as we adventure and explore parts of Kazakhstan only a few have seen before.
This tour will be heading to the industrial base of Karaganda, the infamous Semipalatinsk (gulags and nukes, in two words), and Kurchatov, the Los Alamos of the USSR where the Red Bomb was developed and tested.
To make our adventure complete, we will even visit ‘The Polygon’. The vast nuclear testing range in Kazakhstan, full of abandoned measuring platforms, bunkers, craters, buried machinery, and the scenic yet chilling ‘Atomic Lake’.
In Turkmenistan, our tour pays visits to the main sites, such as Ashgabat and the Darvaza Gas Crater (Gates of Hell).
But, we will also take you off the beaten path to really experience and understand Turkmenistan.
Meet local people, and learn about their lives and history. Their differences and commonalities.
Dates don't suit? Check out our Explore Kazakhstan | Astana to Almaty September Tour, or contact us for more information on private tours.
All hotel rooms on our all-inclusive group tours to Kazakhstan feature twin beds, and will be shared. If you'd like a room to yourself then you can upgrade for an extra $50 USD per night
The default rooming option for this tour is shared hotel room or tent (one night). Each hotel room on tour has two separate beds. If you'd like a room to yourself then you can upgrade for an extra $50 USD per night
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Simply click on the application button listed with this tour and fill out the online form. Upload a passport copy and photo (or send it to us by email) and you can consider yourself booked on this adventure!
For any questions or comments about this trip get in touch with Rich Beal at [email protected].
We ask for applications to be completed a minimum of one month in advance of the tour, ideally six weeks or more if possible.
Please note that you must apply at least 4 weeks before the tour departure date as the Letter of Invitation (LOI) that we need to obtain in order to facilitate the visa can take several days to be issued by the Turkmenistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Please also indicate where you plan to join the tour from and where you are headed after the tour. We can offer advice on this. Drop us a line to discuss.
We also require a deposit to be paid at this time as we start taking on administrative costs as well as an obligation to pay for the visa invitation as soon as we send off an application.
We ask for a deposit of 50% of the tour fee.
Most nationals can travel to Kazakhstan without a visa. However, please note that if you require a visa, you will need to pay this fee yourself.
To check whether you need a visa or not, please visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Please note that for this tour you are required to pay the fee for the issuance of the visa yourself.
Koryo Tours will provide you with a Letter of Invitation (LOI) which acts as a guarantee of a visa and the actual issuance of the visa itself is a matter of procedure from this point on.
Due to the extended amount of time that it takes to have a visa authorized and sent to an Embassy of Turkmenistan, it is much simpler to collect the visa on arrival at Ashgabat Airport or any other point of entry to the country.
The fee payable on arrival varies according to your nationality. It ranges between $50-$150 USD.
Visa on arrival is payable in cash only.
The visa is stamped in your passport and is the same as it would be if issued at a Turkmen Embassy.
If you would prefer to have it issued at the Turkmenistan Embassy in your home country or have any questions at all about the visa process, please contact us early!
The LOI will be issued to coordinate as closely as possible with the tour dates.
If you need extra days at each end of your journey, please do let us know in advance of your application.
To read in detail about the Turkmenistan visa-issuing process and its complexities, please read our blog post on Turkmen visas here.
Currently, there are no direct flights between Almaty and Ashgabat. You will need to transfer via Istanbul on Turkish Airlines, or Dubai on flydubai.
A range of exit methods are available to those joining this tour.
The deposit is non-refundable if the tourist cancels himself.
If however, we cannot arrange visas or for whatever reason, it is not possible to travel at the specified time and you cannot make rescheduled dates, a full refund will be made.
Should the client wish to cancel after the visa application has been made, charges imposed on us will be paid out of the 50% deposit with the balance being returned to the client.
If you have paid in full we will return 50% plus the balance of what is left after the cancellation fee we pay to our partners in Turkmenistan.
If you book and cancel a plane ticket through us, we charge only the airline’s cancellation fee.
In all cases, we return as much as we can and we do not take a fee for client's cancellation.
Please be sure that you will definitely be joining the tour when you send all application details.
Please note that we can not accept any liability for delayed flights and any issues associated with times in relation to Letters of Invitations.
The situation vis-a-vis access to the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Polygon is very much changeable with no notice.
While we do intend to run the tour as scheduled here there is a chance that things may change and we have to adjust to which areas we visit, where we stay overnight, and so on.
We have explored this area thoroughly and have redundancies and backup plans in place.
We can assure all visitors that they will experience as much access to the site as possible when they visit with Koryo Tours.
Please apply by 1st September, 2024.
Kazakhstan is where a vibrant multi-cultural society
meets the dark legacy of deportations, gulags, and nuclear
weapons.
From 2500 USD per person
Please apply by 1st September, 2024.
Kazakhstan is where a vibrant multi-cultural
society meets the dark legacy of deportations,
gulags, and nuclear weapons.
From 2500 USD per person
Our incredible Kazakhstan Tour is new and improved for 2024. This 10-night adventure will start in the new capital of Kazakhstan, Astana and finish in the old, Almaty.
In between these two fascinating cities, we will travel by road, rail, and air as we adventure and explore parts of Kazakhstan only a few have seen before.
We will be heading to the industrial base of Karaganda and the infamous Semipalatinsk. In two words, Gulags and Nukes. We will also visit Kurchatov. This is the Los Alamos of the USSR, where the Red Bomb was developed and tested.
Plus, we will even visit ‘The Polygon’. This vast nuclear testing range is full of abandoned measuring platforms, bunkers, craters, buried machinery, and the scenic yet chilling ‘Atomic Lake’.
We’ll get a history lesson on the darker side of this little-known land. Plus, updates on what's been going on in the cities and countryside as we pass between them seeing local life, industry, and so much more.
Combining our expertise working in the country, contacts, and in-depth research, we’ve put together a tour that is like no other to offer you the best in Kazakhstan tourism.
Dates don’t suit? Check out our Explore Kazakhstan in May tour, or consider combining your tour with Turkmenistan. Contact us for details on private tours.
Scroll down for an overview of our Explore Kazakhstan September tour highlights, tour itinerary, transport options, visa information, and extra add-ons.
⬇⬇⬇
Koryo Tours International Tours
Mongolia | Turkmenistan | Kazakhstan | Bhutan | Russia | Tajikistan
All hotel rooms on our all-inclusive group tours to Kazakhstan feature twin beds, and will be shared. If you'd like a room to yourself then you can upgrade for an extra $50 USD per night
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Simply click on the application button listed with this tour and fill out the online form, upload a passport copy and photo (or send to us by email) and you can consider yourself to be booked on this adventure!
For any questions or comments about this trip get in touch with Simon Cockerell at [email protected].
We ask for applications to be completed a minimum of one month in advance of the tour, ideally six weeks or more if possible.
Please also indicate where you plan to join the tour from and where you are headed after the tour (we can offer advice on this, drop us a line to discuss).
We also require a deposit to be paid at this time as we start taking on administrative costs as well as an obligation to pay for the visa invitation as soon as we send off an application. We ask for a deposit of 50% of the tour fee.
Most nationals can travel to Kazakhstan without a visa. However, please note that if you require a visa, you will need to pay this fee yourself.
To check whether you need a visa or not, please visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
We practice the same cancellation policy with this tour as we do with our DPRK tours. Please check our Terms and Conditions for further details.
We do not seek profit from people who cannot go on tours but we do make arrangements and commit to payments in good faith once a booking is received and payment is made.
We always try to refund more than the minimum. As with any trip it is best to be as sure as possible that you will be able to attend the trip when making the final booking.
If the tour is cancelled by Koryo Tours for any reason then a full refund is made.
In all cases, we return as much as we can and we do not take a fee for client's cancellation.
Please be sure that you will be joining the tour when you send all application details.
Please apply by 1st September, 2024.
A 21-Day Odyssey across Central Asia following the ancient
Silk Road; Exploring highlights & getting off the beaten
path!
From 5450 USD per person
Please apply by 1st October, 2024.
A 21-Day Odyssey across Central Asia
following the ancient Silk Road; Exploring
highlights & getting off the beaten
path!
From 5450 USD per person
Spend 3 weeks ticking off all 5 of the 'Stan Countries'!
This trip, curated and led by our expert tour leaders and in-country partners, is designed to show you the best of Central Asia in the limited time we have. All with a special Koryo-Twist that makes all of our tours so unique.
It will take you from the mountainous republic of Kyrgyzstan on a 3-week adventure. You'll walk the path of the ancient Silk Road, as we wind between vast mountain ranges, cross stunning rivers, traverse great deserts, and rub shoulders with local people from across Central Asia.
Having worked in Central Asia for over two decades, Koryo Tours are extremely happy to be able to announce this trip that has been years in the making. Truly the ultimate trip for those travellers wishing to get a thorough insight into Central Asia from those who know and love it best. Crossing multiple borders by land can be tricky... Sit back and let us do all the hard work and planning - leaving you more time for enjoying!
Let's take a look at an introduction to what you can expect from each of these unique countries.
This journey begins in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, known for its incredible mountain ranges and ancient history.
We’ll spend a couple of days in the country, both in the capital and in the surrounding region, exploring the beauty and history of this great country.
No true adventure to this region would be complete without a visit to Almaty, Kazakhstan.
This ancient city is still a thriving hub in this intriguing and enigmatic country, and also the perfect gateway from which to fly into the heart of Central Asia.
Another great mountainous republic, Tajikistan is home to a handful of incredible cities. We’ll begin in Dushanbe. Perhaps the most laid-back, and beautiful capital in the region.
Home to ancient cultural traditions, and the more modern trappings of the Soviet Union.
Once home to ancient Persian capitals.
Uzbekistan is where we transition from towering mountains to blistering deserts as we journey to explore what remains of Samarkand and Bukhara. Once a hub of Islamic culture and architecture, and still home to some of the most beautiful sites in Asia.
One of the strangest offerings from this adventure.
Whether you’re looking to marvel at ancient cities in Merv & Mary, stare into the gateway to hell at the Darvaza Gas Crater, or wonder at the pure white marble capital, Turkmenistan has something for everyone!
Looking for something shorter? We run individual and combo tours to all of the above countries, as well as private tours for those travellers looking for something more flexible.
Please apply by 1st October, 2024.
Kazakhstan is where a vibrant multi-cultural society
meets the dark legacy of deportations, gulags, and nuclear
weapons.
From 2500 USD per person
Please apply by 20th March, 2025.
Kazakhstan is where a vibrant multi-cultural
society meets the dark legacy of deportations,
gulags, and nuclear weapons.
From 2500 USD per person
On this incredible 10-night adventure, we will start in the new capital of Kazakhstan, Astana and finish in the old, Almaty.
In between these two fascinating cities, we will travel by road, rail, and air as we adventure and explore parts of Kazakhstan only a few have seen before. We will be heading to the industrial base of Karaganda, the infamous Semipalatinsk (in two words; Gulags and Nukes), and Kurchatov - the Los Alamos of the USSR, where the Red Bomb was developed and tested. Plus, we will even visit ‘The Polygon’; the vast nuclear testing range full of abandoned measuring platforms, bunkers, craters, buried machinery, and the scenic yet chilling ‘Atomic Lake’.
We’ll get a history lesson on the darker side of this little-known land, as well as updates on what’s been going on in the cities and countryside as we pass between them seeing local life, industry, and so much more. Combining our expertise working in the country, contacts, and in-depth research, we’ve put together a tour that is like no other to offer you the best in Kazakhstan tourism.
Please Note: the situation vis-a-vis access to the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Polygon is very much changeable with no notice. So while we do intend to run the tour as scheduled here there is a chance that things may change and we have to adjust to which areas we visit, where we stay overnight, and so on. We have explored this area thoroughly though and have redundancies and backup plans in place, so we can still assure all visitors that they will experience as much access to the site as possible when they visit with Koryo Tours.
Dates don't suit? Check out our Explore Kazakhstan | Astana to Almaty September Tour, or contact us for more information on private tours.
Scroll down for an overview of our Explore Kazakhstan - Astana to Almaty May tour highlights, tour itinerary, transport options, DPRK tourist visa information, and extra add-ons.
All hotel rooms on our all-inclusive group tours to Kazakhstan feature twin beds, and will be shared. If you'd like a room to yourself then you can upgrade for an extra $50 USD per night
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
How to Apply: To apply click on the application button listed with this tour and fill out the online form, upload a passport copy and photo (or send to us by email) and you can consider yourself to be booked on this adventure! For any questions, comments, etc. about this trip get in touch with Simon Cockerell at [email protected] We ask for an application to be complete a minimum of one month in advance of the tour, ideally, six weeks or more if possible: Please also indicate where you plan to join the tour from and finish the tour by going (we can offer advice on this, drop us a line to discuss it) We also require a deposit to be paid at this time as we start taking on administrative costs. We ask for a deposit of 50% of the tour fee. Cancellation & Refunds: Please note that if you require a visa for Kazakhstan, you will need to pay this fee yourself. Most visitors do not require visas, though. Check https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Kazakhstan
We practice the same cancellation policy with this tour as we do with our DPRK tours. This is listed on our website T&C. However, we do not seek profit from people who cannot go on tours but we do make arrangements and commit to payments in good faith once a booking is received and payment is made. So we always try to refund more than the minimum. If the tour is cancelled by Koryo Tours for any reason then a full refund (less bank charges) is of course made. Please be sure that you will definitely be joining the tour when you send all application details.
Please apply by 20th March, 2025.
A 21-Day Odyssey across Central Asia following the ancient
Silk Road; Exploring highlights & getting off the beaten
path!
From 5700 USD per person
Please apply by 30th August, 2025.
A 21-Day Odyssey across Central Asia
following the ancient Silk Road; Exploring
highlights & getting off the beaten
path!
From 5700 USD per person
Spend 3 weeks travelling to all the stans, ticking off all 5 of the 'Stan Countries'!
This trip, curated and led by our expert tour leaders and in-country partners, is designed to show you the best of Central Asia in the limited time we have. All with a special Koryo-Twist that makes all of our tours so unique.
It will take you from the mountainous republic of Kyrgyzstan on a 3-week adventure. You'll walk the path of the ancient Silk Road, as we wind between vast mountain ranges, cross stunning rivers, traverse great deserts, and rub shoulders with local people from across Central Asia.
Having worked in Central Asia for over two decades, Koryo Tours are extremely happy to be able to announce this trip that has been years in the making. Truly the ultimate trip for those travellers wishing to get a thorough insight into Central Asia from those who know and love it best. Crossing multiple borders by land can be tricky... Sit back and let us do all the hard work and planning - leaving you more time for enjoying!
Let's take a look at an introduction to what you can expect from each of these unique countries.
This journey begins in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, known for its incredible mountain ranges and ancient history.
We’ll spend a couple of days in the country, both in the capital and in the surrounding region, exploring the beauty and history of this great country.
No true adventure to this region would be complete without a visit to Almaty, Kazakhstan.
This ancient city is still a thriving hub in this intriguing and enigmatic country, and also the perfect gateway from which to fly into the heart of Central Asia.
Another great mountainous republic, Tajikistan is home to a handful of incredible cities. We’ll begin in Dushanbe. Perhaps the most laid-back, and beautiful capital in the region.
Home to ancient cultural traditions, and the more modern trappings of the Soviet Union.
Once home to ancient Persian capitals.
Uzbekistan is where we transition from towering mountains to blistering deserts as we journey to explore what remains of Samarkand and Bukhara. Once a hub of Islamic culture and architecture, and still home to some of the most beautiful sites in Asia.
One of the strangest offerings from this adventure.
Whether you’re looking to marvel at ancient cities in Merv & Mary, stare into the gateway to hell at the Darvaza Gas Crater, or wonder at the pure white marble capital, Turkmenistan has something for everyone!
Looking for something shorter? We run individual and combo tours to all of the above countries, as well as private tours for those travellers looking for something more flexible.
Please apply by 30th August, 2025.
My next tour will be to:
[email protected] | + 86 10 6416 7544
WhatsApp (message only): +44 7822 014058
Room A409, Jucai Building. No. 76 Caoyuan Hutong.
Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100027, PR China
中国北京市东城区草园胡同76号聚才大厦A 座409 室,
邮编:100027
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