Michael leads like minded singles or couples to fabulous unique destinations and we all love travel
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Exciting update -
For those that have committed to the Stans tour in May 2025. We booked today and your deposit of $350pp have been paid to hold your spot.
Balance is due 90 days prior to departure.
Are you still contemplating then please get in touch so we can help you with any questions you may have.
Thankyou
6 seats left!!!
Mk1Travel is based in Australia 🇦🇺, Michael leads the group made up of people he sees as friends.
Couples, singles, people who have a partner that doesn’t want to travel anymore, but all like minded people who may be well traveled or inexperienced making it a wonderful combination to see the world one trip at a time.
We look forward to welcoming you to our small group (12) to The Stans.
Please enjoy discovering our website www.mk1travel.com.au and we have featured each of our destinations on our instagram and pages to wet your appetite on what will be a great trip thanks to Gadventures who have great guides that we utilise.
Join us in May 2025.
6 seats left!!!
Thankyou for all the messages, emails and comments, we hope that we have answered your questions and you have been able to learn more from the website www.mk1travel.com.au and from reading the posts we have done, on Instagram and Facebook, giving some great details about each country we will visit in May 2025.
Based in Australia 🇦🇺, Michael leads the group made up of people he sees as friends.
Couples, singles, people who have a partner that doesn’t want to travel anymore, but all like minded people who may be well traveled or inexperienced making it a wonderful combination to see the world one trip at a time.
We look forward to welcoming you to our small group (12) to The Stan’s.
Update …… 13/5/24
6 seats left!!!!
7 seats left!!!
Join us in May 2025 as we explore the 5 Stans!
Previous posts give you a little insight into each of the countries we will visit.
To know more get in touch with Michael via website, Direct Message (DM) or email.
Having travelled to more than 50 countries and having a change in career Michael created for those that love an adventure but don’t want a big tour bus experience.
Michael sees the group as friends and so joining 10 like minded people who may be well traveled or inexperienced is a wonderful combination of people to see the world, one trip at a time.
We employ local knowledgable guides, ensure there is free time available and always include unique experiences.
We originally developed all inclusive trips but with the event of Covid and the many changes with travel since we continue to tailor the tours based on the destinations and group joining us and are happy to assist with flights and travel requirements.
Previous groups have included singles, persons whose partners don’t wish to travel anymore and couples.
We look forward to meeting you and learning about your journey while we travel with friends.
The 5th and final “Stan” we will be discovering is ........
Kyrgyzstan, officially the Kyrgyz Republic, another landlocked country in Central Asia, lying in the Tian Shan and Pamir mountain ranges.
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Fun facts …….
· Bishkek is the capital and largest city of the country with a population of 1.2 million out of a total population of 6.8million people.
· It is farther from the sea than any other individual country, and all its rivers flow into closed drainage systems which do not reach the sea.
· Often referred to as “the Switzerland of Central Asia”, due to mountainous region of the Tian Shan covering over 80% of the country
· Issyk-Kul Lake, or Ysyk-Köl in Kyrgyz, in the north-eastern Tian Shan is the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan and the second largest mountain lake in the world after Titicaca.
· The lowest point is in Kara-Daryya (Karadar’ya) at 132 metres and the highest peaks are in the Kakshaal-Too range, forming the Chinese border.
· Peak Jengish Chokusu, at 7,439 m is the highest point and is considered by geologists to be the northernmost peak over 7,000 m in the world.
· Kyrgyzstan gets its name from the Turkic words “kyrg” (forty) and “-yz” (tribes) with the Persian suffix “-stan” (country). Together, the name means “Land of the Forty Tribes” referring to the 40 clans united by the mythic Kyrgyz hero, Manas.
· The Kyrgyz epic poem, Epic of Manas, at 500,000 lines, is 20 times longer than Homer’s Odyssey. The poem is about the formation of the Kyrgyz people.
We hope this has whet your appetite to want to travel to the Stans.
If you would like to join a group of travellers who love to discover different places, mix with locals and get off the beaten track then joining MK1Travel for our next adventure would be fabulous.
Michael is your group leader and we are guided by local well informed guides.
There is free time for you to immerse yourself locally or test for the next days adventure.
Turkmenistan is a country in Central Asia bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest and the Caspian Sea to the west.
Ashgabat is the capital and largest city.
It is one of the six independent Turkic states. With a population of 6.5 million, Turkmenistan is the 35th most-populous country in Asia and has the lowest population of the Central Asian republics while being one of the most sparsely populated nations on the Asian continent.
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Fun facts about Turkmenistan
· Turkmenistan has long served as a thoroughfare for several empires and cultures.
· Merv is one of the oldest oasis-cities in Central Asia, and was once among the biggest cities in the world. It was also one of the great cities of the Islamic world and an important stop on the Silk Road.
· Turkmenistan possesses the world’s fifth largest reserves of natural gas.
· Most of the country is covered by the Karakum Desert.
· From 1993 to 2019, citizens received government-provided electricity, water and natural gas free of charge.
shows our Silk Road path for our May2025 adventure
Tajikistan, 🇹🇯 officially the Republic of Tajikistan, Dushanbe is the capital and most populous city.
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Fun facts about Tajikistan
· Tajikistan is landlocked, and is the smallest nation in Central Asia by area. Over 90% of Tajikistan is upland and at least 50% of the country has an elevation of more than 3000 m (9842 ft) above sea level.
· The Pamir Mountains are over 7,000 m (22,965 ft) high and widely known as the ‘Roof of the World’.
It is part of the UNESCO-listed Tajik National Park.
· In ancient times, the territory of Tajikistan sat on the most important routes on the Silk Road, which connected the East and the West.
· The Fedchenko Glacier is the longest glacier outside the Polar Regions. It stretches 77 km across an area of 700 sq. km. These snow and glacier-covered mountains provide nearly 90% of the Central Eurasian population’s water for energy, agriculture and drinking.
· The capital Dushanbe, means Monday in Persian. The city once sat at the crossroads of a large market that took place every Monday. Dushanbe is a fascinating city built around picturesque parklands and has the world’s second-tallest flagpole, the Dushanbe, which soars 164 metres high.
·Tajikistan is already home to the world’s second-highest dam. The Nurek, which stretches across the 70km Nurek Reservoir on the Vakhsh River, is 300 metres high. It was built to generate hydroelectricity and was the world’s tallest dam until 2013. Work has begun on what will become the world’s tallest dam.
To find out more about our next adventure….. go to website in bio or send a dm to keep updated.
Next in our meet the “Stan’s”
Uzbekistan is a country located in Central Asia. It is surrounded by five countries: Kazakhstan to the north, Kyrgyzstan to the northeast, Tajikistan to the southeast, Afghanistan to the south, and Turkmenistan to the southwest.
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Fun facts about Kazakhstan:
· Uzbekistan is one of 45 landlocked countries in the world but not only is it landlocked, but it’s also one of only two doubly-landlocked nations in the world ie each of its neighbouring countries is landlocked too. The only other doubly-landlocked country in the world is Liechtenstein.
Alexander the Great once occupied Uzbekistan which was once part of the powerful Persian Empire, which Alexander the Great conquered in the 4th century BC.
Samarkand - The historic city is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and became an important crossroads on the Silk Routes cutting through Central Asia and soon became renowned for its craft production and strong fortifications. It’s now home to one of the country’s most famous sites – the Registan Mosque.
Russia ruled Uzbekistan for nearly two centuries - Russia conquered the whole of Central Asia in the second half of the nineteenth century.
The country gained independence in 1991.
Cotton is known as ‘white gold’ in Uzbekistan - 8th largest producer and 11th largest cotton exporter in the world.
It’s home to one of the world’s largest open-pit gold mines – The Muruntau Gold Mine in the Qizilqum Desert.
One of the world’s worst environmental disasters happened in Uzbekistan.
To find out more …….
Join us May 2025 for a tour that will involve travelling with friends and seeing sites not seen by many, meeting locals, hiking, yurt accomodation and more…..
Let’s look at the Stans starting with -
Kazakhstan 🇰🇿
A landlocked country mostly in Central Asia and partially in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the north and west, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the southeast, Uzbekistan to the south, Turkmenistan to the southwest with a coastline along the Caspian Sea.
Its capital is Astana (meaning “capital city”) whilst the largest city and leading cultural and commercial hub is Almaty.
Kazakh means “wanderer” or “independent”; and, in addition,
Kazakhstan has a wonderful and very memorable emblem and flag.
The emblem depicts two mythical winged horses (Tulpar) and the upper vaulted domed part of the yurt (a portable frame dwelling of nomads), which symbolizes the common home of all peoples living in Kazakhstan. And on the sky blue flag of Kazakhstan, you can see the Sun with 32 rays in the centre, under which there is a soaring golden eagle.
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A fun fact -
The border between Russia and Kazakhstan is the longest continuous land border in the world at @ 7600 kilometres;
More fun facts to follow
Join us May 2025 for a tour that will involve some hiking 🥾, free time, meeting and staying with locals, even staying in yurts 🛖, hotels and home stays.
Spread the word and travel with friends.
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Why the “Stans”?
There are 7 countries in Central Asia ending in “stan” – Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan – the “stan” suffix derives from the Persian root word istan or “land” meaning the “land of the Afghans” etc.
The 5 countries often referred to as “The Stans” comprise Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan and are home to diverse ancient sites, Silk Road cities, endless deserts and incredible mountains.
They are the homes of myths and legends surrounding Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and the Indus civilisations.
Being bounded by China, Russia, the Caucasus and the Middle East, “The Stans” are often overlooked and a lot of people will have some difficulty placing them on a map. Indeed, at some point most of us have probably flown over them and have been blissfully unaware.
Does this peak your interest?
Would you like to join us?
Are you an available in May 2025?
Michael leads the tour of 12 and the guides are knowledgable locals.
We have 7 seats available!!
Send us a DM, email or visit the website and contact us and we will put your name on the waiting list and will be in contact.
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Have you thought of exploring the 5 Stans of Central Asia!
Want to explore the heart of the Silk Road?
Follow the footsteps of Ghengis Khan?
Join us as we lead our small group of 12 to -
🛫Kazakhstan
🛫Kyrgyzstan
🛫Uzbekistan
🛫Tajikistan
🛫Turkmenistan
Send Michael an email or DM to be added to our wait list for April/May 2025 and we will contact you as details are finalised.
Some inclusions -
👍 Assistance with flights to/from
👍 English speaking guides
👍 Air Conditioned transport
👍 Train travel
👍 Domestic Air travel
👍 Entrance fees to sites
👍 Breakfasts and some meals but freedom to explore and enjoy local food 🥘
Baku is unique for many reasons - the largest city in the Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan & Georgia), the only Muslim country in the Caucasus, the world's lowest capital (28metres below sea level) and, possibly, the most accurate pedigree for the origin of it's name - either the "City of God" or "the place where the winds blow".
We have found Baku to be one of the more interesting places we have visited, a place that, for us, is a mix between Antalya, Turkey (amazing waterfront location, incredible history, fabulous food & a great place to explore), Abu Dhabi with its lawns, gardens, amazing architecture and "edge of the desert" existence and with a little bit of Ho Chi Min City thrown in for good measure (mainly because of the seemingly chaotic traffic that actually flows quite well).
Baku is a friendly, safe and welcoming city and we have been delighted with the interest of the Azeri's when they discover we have travelled 'such a long way" from Australia (although something did get lost in translation last night when they started playing Austrian "om-pah" music instead of Midnight Oil!
The tour begins.
Our first time in Baku Azerbaijan🇦🇿and after a 14 hour flight to Doha with Qatar, 2 hour layover then a quick 2.5 flight to Baku, our driver eventually arrived to take us to our hotel where we were greeted with great smiles and the question everyone asks where are you from.
“Australia 🇦🇺 you need a sleep it’s a long way “
Yes we needed sleep but we fought through the heat outside (33) and urges to sleep by walking the city, getting Michael his obligatory haircut ( always a hair cut in a new city) and our first meal was delicious, and we are sure it will not be our last.
We slept between 8-12 hours and awoke to our first breakfast at our hotel AU ROOM HOTEL. ✅ very good.
A feast for the eyes 👀
Today being Wednesday we have a cuisine tour that starts down town and we are unsure what to expect but that’s what travel is all about.
Walked the city
Enjoyed a tea fest near the water. $25m for a pot of tea for 2 and choice of any 2 items on the display plate. Michael chose a coconut dessert (coconut with what tasted like condensed milk) and the white cherry jam. Jam is served with tea locally and you take a spoon of jam into your mouth followed by a sip of tea.
Another hot 🥵 day.
Waiting to board our 10.40pm flight on Qatar Airways to Baku with a quick transit in Doha.
Are you ready!
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Türkiye & Syria after the horrific earthquake that has caused so much destruction and taken so many lives.
Having travelled to these areas, with our tour groups, the devastation is felt by all who know this area.
Sad for so many xx
Off we go again and this time we travelled to Ciao Belli located in Lismore Central, on the street level across from Keysies Meats and next door to Run by Daniella and Sabrina the girls had a cafe in Nimbin prior to opening a cafe closer to their home of Lismore NSW. Open 730am - 3.30 Monday - Friday and until 2ish on Saturday. There is a breakfast and lunch menu as well as a cabinet full of impressive Panini, home made lasagna & Cannelloni, house made cakes, biscuits and some pastries from . We enjoyed our poached egg breakfast and added sides of their delicious spinach, mushrooms and caramelised onions, feta avocado tomato and you must try their house made tapenade. Sabrina use to sell kilos of this enjoyable spread at the markets in Sydney. The pasta dishes are freshly made to order ( allow 25 minutes or order ahead ) as are the chicken burgers (real chicken) beef burger (patty made at time of order) steak sandwich ( cooked to your liking). Happy to speak to you in English or Italian and their Italian spirit shows through in the generosity of their servings. A beautiful marriage between Australia and Italian flavours. ❤️ 🇮🇹 # 🇮🇹
Today we travelled to where you will find a beautiful combination of the gorgeous hosts, relaxing decor and real food making use of beautiful local produce. Everything we chose took us on a journey and we were reminiscing about our previous travels and the last time we actually got to enjoy a beautiful lunch together. We are already planning our next visit. With some of the menu being changed every couple of weeks, we just had to get in before something disappeared on the menu which had sparked our interest 2 weeks ago when they opened. ❤️ ❤️ 🍄 😍
we have been grounded for some time now, like all who love to travel overseas from Australia. We do look forward to taking tours again when we are able.
The freedom of travelling that we have all enjoyed is still a while away but living where we do in the Northern Rivers of NSW, has allowed us to enjoy our area even more.
We are so grateful to the rich soils and lands that allow talented land carers and artisan food businesses to grow or prepare delicious food for us to enjoy.
Whether it is at a farmers markets to name our favourites or the many restaurants and cafes that we have that offer unique menus there is a lot to enjoy about our area and enables us to travel locally with all the wonderful influences from our multi cultural Australia.
So we would like to share the food we discover during our travels in our beautiful area.
Thankyou
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Today we travel to Russia 🇷🇺 to try their infamous Pelmeni! are located in Cherry 🍒 Street Ballina with parking available out the front.
The staff are very welcoming and helpful. There is a small outside area to sit and enjoy this specialty or takeaway.
You can choose between the various Pelmeni ( ) and they serve them with a side salad of choice.
We chose 9 fish Pelmeni and potato salad. (You can choose between 9 or 12)
The fish Pelmeni were delicious.
Generous amount of filling and you could taste the fish and dill which were packaged in the special pastry that is Pelmeni.
Best eaten hot or warm or you can opt to purchase a take home pack to cook yourself.
We also purchased the cherry 🍒 Pelmeni frozen to cook for 3 minutes later that day and were given a container with marinated cherries 🍒to put with the Pelmeni and they suggested yoghurt or ice cream.
The potato salad was also delicious and prepared with care but for me there were too many peas for a potato salad.
So do yourself a favour and support this local business who make Pelmeni and have opened a Pelmeni Bar that operates 11.30 -4.30 Mon - Fri .
| Monday | 06:00 - 19:00 |
| Tuesday | 06:00 - 19:00 |
| Wednesday | 06:00 - 19:00 |
| Thursday | 06:00 - 19:00 |
| Friday | 06:00 - 19:00 |
| Saturday | 09:00 - 19:00 |
| Sunday | 10:00 - 19:00 |
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Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! Kellie Donna, Shirley Stahnke
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Hello I am Michael Knock, your Tour Leader and owner of MK1Travel who offers fully escorted and fully inclusive small group tours to amazing destinations. Join a maximum of 12 fellow travellers exploring emerging and interesting countries. Our fully inclusive touring takes any hassle out of organising a journey - we look after all flights, accommodation, touring, visas, transfers and travel insurance. We use ethical and sustainable travel arrangements and provide re-useable water bottles with free daily refills. MK1Travel specialises in Eastern Turkey, Georgia, Germany, English Gardens, Italy, Azerbaijan, Balkans. MK1 Travel is your one stop shop for an experience you will treasure forever.
Visit us @mk1travel www.mk1travel.com.au
