TURKMENISTAN KARAKALPAKISTAN UZBEKISTAN
THE SILK ROAD

Frequently Asked Questions

• VISA INFORMATION

• POSTAL SERVICE

• TELEPHONES

• POWER SUPPLY

• WATER

• SHOPPING

• CREDIT CARDS

• WHAT TO WEAR

• GIFTS TO BRING

• BOOKS TO READ

VISA INFORMATION
THE PROCEDURE OF GETTING A VISA

The US Citizens do not need a visa support number to get visa from Uzbekistan
But US citizens will need a visa support number from Turkmenistan.
Canadians need visa support number from both Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

1. YOU WILL GIVE MELITOUR YOUR INFO FOR VISA

• DATE OF PASSPORT ISSUE
• DATE OF PASSPORT EXPIRATION
•  CITIZENSHIP
• PASSPORT NUMBER
• NAME AS SEEN ON YOUR PASSPORT
• DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH
• ADDRESS
• OCCUPATION
• PHONE  & FAX NUMBER ( FAX OPTIONAL)

2.MELITOUR WILL SEND THE INFO TO THE LOCAL PASSPORT AGENCIES IN TURKMENISTAN AND UZBEKISTAN

3.FROM EACH ONE OF THESE COUNTRIES WE WILL RECEIVE A FORM WITH A VISA SUPPORT NUMBER

4. MELITOUR WILL SEND YOU THESE OFFICIAL PAPERS.

5.IN THE MEAN TIME YOU CAN REQUEST FROM THE EMBASSIES VISA APPLICATION FORMS (Check the chart below)

6.WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE LETTER FROM MELITOUR YOU WILL ATTACH THAT LETTER YOU HAD RECEIVED FROM MELITOUR TO YOUR APLICATION FORM AND WITH YOUR PASSPORT YOU WILL MAIL THEM TO THE PROPER CONSULATE OR EMBASSY.

In order to get the VISA SUPPORT NUMBER we have to submit as a group
So the sooner you all give us the information the faster we can finalize the paper work

IMPORTANT NOTE
  Make sure they give the visa for the   correct dates
       
        SO WHEN YOU RECEIVE YOUR PASSPORT BACK FROM THE EMBASSY
MAKE SURE THE FIRST DATE ON YOUR VISA MATCHES
THE DATE OF ENTRY TO THAT PARTICULAR COUNTRY.

You will need this info for the visa application Form : The Inviting Party  in each country

CANCELLATION INSURANCE
Please buy a trip insurance if you might cancel the tour then trip insurance can pay you backall the non refundables of the tour quotation there are probably many insurance companies which will offer you the cancellation insurance but this one had worked well for many tour members http://www.tripinsuranceusa.com/index.html 

POSTAL SERVICE
Lobby counters of  hotels provide guests with postal services which includes a post box. 
They sell stamps  and accept postcards ,letters and parcels. Post offices in various places providee EMS and  24-hour telecommunications. Business hours of post offices are 08:00-19:00.

The services of international shipping agencies like DHL and Federal Express are available but extremely expensive

TELEPHONES
It is easy to    make international or  domestic calls in the big cities. Internet Cafee's are available every where
You will not feel disconnected

For emergency please make sure you leave MELITOUR phone and e mail back at home. Meli will have her cellular phone for emergency contact. 
 

POWER SUPPLY
220 Volt  AC current.  Many middle and high classes hotel washrooms have transformers plugs for electric shavers and dryers , but it is better to be prepared with an adapter plug. Especially if you depend on charging your batteries for your camaras, please make sure you bring your own adopter.

WATER
Bottled water is available through out the tour.

SHOPPING
Embroideries and brocades and silk woven handcrafts will not take too much space. Calligraphy and painting will be also tempting. Ceramics, traditional medicins, carving and sculpture , filigree enamel might become good Christmas presents. Traditional stationeries and baskets will make inexpensive but excellent gifts. Wood boxes, carpets,wall hangings,jewelery
Bright paintings and cashmere sweater, local ethnic dresses, chess sets make almost just the beginning of the shopping list in these countries.
                 IMPORTANT NOTE!!
                  YOUR AIR LINE LUGGAGE ALLOWANCE IS ONLY 20 KGS ( 45Pounds) PER PERSON
                  THE AIRLINES ARE VERY VERY SERIOUS ABOUT THE WEIGHT OF THE LUGGAGE.
                  COME AS LIGHT AS YOU CAN!! so you can have place in your bags

WHAT TO WEAR
The temperature will vary between the evening and the day. The change in the altitude will also make the temperature variation quite big. We recommend you to check the weather page . Make sure you have a warm jacket for the first week of the tour. Shorts are OK. Since some of the bathroom stops where the bathroom is nothing more than a hole in the ground will be a memorable experience, skirts for the ladies will be best.
 

BRING 
  * Your own TP
  * Snacks
  * more film than you plan to use 
  * batteries for your camera
 

MONEY
Bring LOTS of US $ cash , five dollars and tens...they prefer that but cannot make much change if larger bills. Practically impossible to change traveler's checks anywhere (despite what the travel books say) as hotels do not want them and stores  won't accept them nor will individuals.
More and more places accept credit cards in these countries but we will stay away from most of the tourist shopping areas so you better NOT count on your credit card. 
Changing US$ to the local currencies is easy. You do not need to buy the local currencies in the USA.
 

GIFTS TO BRING
On MELITOUR tours we DO  NOT LIKE   giving little trinkets to the children not to create beggers out of them. We do ,however, like to give gifts to the schools that we visit. Few simple school supplies will be appreciated.
 

In our previous experiences with the children, we have seen that the kids enjoy breaking the ice with the visitors by drawing pictures or blowing bubbles. If you want to bring little play items such as a little puppet, crayon and paper to draw pictures or a bottle or two of bubble , you can have a lot of fun and you can eas'ly become center of attention among the local children.

Pictures of your home and your family  is another good way of connecting with the people
 

LIST OF BOOKS TO READ 

ARRIVAL INFO / CLIMATE/ HOTEL INFO / THE  ITINERARY / THE MAP / FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS /  PHRASES