Since 2016, we’ve been producing increasingly more qualitative videos that provide insight way beyond the headlines from both news hotspots (Ukraine, Israel, Zimbabwe) and places ignored by the Western media but have various (geo)political relevance (Cambodia, Laos, Albania) or have political lessons to teach (Sweden, Moldova, Jordan). You can see all of them here. The catalogue is updated regularly.
In 2022, we hit three countries of Central Asia (a series postponed by the pandemic project and multiple subsequent issues). The series got probably the best feedback of all, but it also left some questions unanswered. That tour ran on a budget thought of in 2019 which led to multiple constraints.
So, in these conditions, we submit to y’all the proposal to wrap it up via a second Central Asia visit – this time in Tadjikistan as well as the parts of Uzbekistan for which there was no time left three years ago.
In the years that have passed since the last visit, the (geo)politics of the region changed significantly. Oftentimes in ways we predicted they would. This is a good time to test those hypotheses against the new realities.
The video above goes a bit into the itinerary and the minimum things to expect from this tour.
This article is focused on the financial details. Not all expenses are thoroughly detailed – only those funded through the fundraiser.
So, without further ado…
For consistency, all expenses are converted in USD at the median exchange rate for the period between December 23 to 27, 2024. This is also because all donations are converted to USD as it’s the working currency for almost all operations of this Network. Uzbekistan has a very poor currency but increasingly free-floating. Tadjikistan however has an artificially strong currency with state-controlled exchange. So variations in exchange costs are to be expected.
In places where there is price variation (e.g. internal flights) – the maximal option is listed. The rest of the list represents the median/most likely costs.
1. Flights
Cluj Napoca – Toshkent: $900 (round trip)
Landing in Tadjikistan increases the price by more than 120%, in addition to a lot less schedule flexibility.
2. Housing
~$22/night on average, no more than 30 nights, no less than 26 nights [to be decided depending on flight availability if the first goal is reached in time]
As such, the budget for housing is to be presumed $660.
3. Inter-city transport
Toshkent – Namangan: $15
Namangan – Andijon: $10
Andijon – Khiva: $100 1
Khiva – Nukus (round trip): $50 2
Khiva – Samarqand: $25 3
Samarqand – Dushanbe: $120 (round trip)
Dushanbe – Bokhtar: $35 (round trip)4
Samarqand – Toshkent: $25
1Getting by train from Khiva to Nukus is a huge pain so taxi will be used if decent enough marshrutkas aren’t available.
2There is a cheaper (but harsher) way of getting from Andijon to Khiva – by way of a 22hr train ride. For health reasons, that won’t happen.
3The closest, easiest and most convenient way to cross into Tadjikiston is by the newly (re)opened railway.
4The road is terrible and the only civilized way to access the city is by taxi.
Inter-city transport: $380
4. Intra-city/public transport
Metro in Toshkent: $21
Taxi budget: $1002
Public transport Samarqand: $3
Public transport Dushanbe: $103
1A ride is 1400 som (~11 cents)
2Taxi rides are more than affordable in both countries (by Western standards). The most expensive fare expected to pay will be around $8 round-trip from Toshkent Airport to city center. However, to save on time, there will be many taxi fares of $1 and $2. This budget line is for all cities in the tour.
3Dushanbe’s public transport practices differential fares though on average it’s 2.50 somoni (~23 cents) per ride.
Intra-city transport: $115
5. Food and drink
Food budget: $360 [$12/day x 30 days]
Coffee budget: $90 [$3/day x 30 days]
5. Fees, books, tickets, etc.
In 2022, Uzbekistan’s intelligentsia was working at writing the new story of the country. Three years later… are they done? We’ll find out.
Budget for books: $100
Museum tickets: $20
Other video fees: $10
6. Miscellaneous
Cigarettes in Tadjikistan are about $2.2/pack and in Uzbekistan about $1/pack. The biggest problem is quality. But that’s way outside of the purpose of this post.
Telecommunications are similarly priced as Romania, albeit nowhere near as reliable.
Telecommunications budget: $15
Cigarettes budget: $66 [$2.2/pack times 30]
7. Other
Health insurance: $50
Equipment insurance: $40
On-the-fly consumables (batteries, memory cards, etc): $80
Exchange rate fees: $120 (maximum)
Unexpected expenses: $450 (minimum)
Total: $3456
This number represents the optimal in order for the tour to take place. The total cost may be higher, but not by much. The upper threshold will be placed at $3500.
Any excess will be redirected towards fulfilling the wishlist or towards funding another project in 2026.
Other clarifications
Unlike previous years, the fundraiser does start from nominal zero. However, this is also the second cheapest fundraiser for a tour in the last decade.
Minimums and deadlines
The tour is due to take place sometime between in the month September and October and it will last no more than 30 days. This means that plane tickets should be purchased no later than July 1, 2025.
As such, if the fundraiser doesn’t reach to at least $1500 by May 25, 2025, the tour is cancelled and all collected funds redirected to other projects.
If the fundraiser doesn’t reach at least $2500 by June 25, 2025, the tour is cancelled and all collected funds redirected to other projects. Of course, if it will be $2415 on June 25th or something similar, it will be fine. But too much leeway downwards will lead to cancellation – because by June 25, The expensive flights must be paid for already.
Anything beyond $3500, as well as any remaining shekel after the tour, will be redirected towards other projects or to fulfilling the wishlist.
The state of the fundraiser will be updated regularly on the main page of the website and semi-regularly on the Youtube channels.
If this convinces you, head over to the Donate page and pitch in. Every dollar counts!