The Central Asian region, comprised of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, is the least popular region in my country. There are no direct flights, not much inter-country business deals, embassy presence from the Philippines. It doesn’t mean though this region is not worth to explore. In fact, the Central Asian region has been an active passageways of the well-known ancient Silk Road.
We are citing at least 20 important international airports in Northeast Asia for you so you can have more idea on how these airports look like and what are the tourist spots you can visit near these airports once the COVID lockdown is lifted. Unfortunately, wikipedia only gives you the list of airports. It does not show you recent pictures about the airport nor advice places you can visit after landing in that airport. We merged sources we got from wikipedia, instagram and tripadvisor making this blog unique. This will be a digital tour and I hope you enjoy the content we worked on a day. We cannot travel physically right now due to the COVID pandemic but we can definitely travel digitally!
1.) Almaty International Airport
Located in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Places to visit are Big Almaty Lake, Medeo, Shymbulak and Kok Tobe.
2.) Shymkent International Airport
Located in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. Places to visit are Shymkent zoo, Dendropark and Garden, Abay Park and Garden.
3.) Navoi International Airport
Located in Navoi, Uzbekistan. Places to visit are Sarmish-say Petroglyphs, Karmana, Aidarkul Lake Yurt Camps, Ruins of Aksikent.
4.) Ashgabat International Airport
Located in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Places to visit are Independence Monument, Monument of Neutrality, Ertugrul Gazi Mosque, Turkmen Carpet Museum, Alem Center, National Museum of Turkmenistan, Oguzhan Palace, Turkmenistan TV Tower, World of Turkmenbashi Tales, Ruhyýet Palace.
5.) Dushanbe International Airport
Located in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Places to visit are The National Museum of Tajikistan, Rudaki Park, Museum of National Antiquities, Kokhi Navruz, Haji Yaqub Mosque.
6.) Zvartnots International Airport
Located in Yerevan, Armenia. Places to visit are Republic Square, Matenadaran, Cascade Complex, Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex, Armenian Opera Theatre and Cafesjian Center for the Arts.
7.) Samarkand International Airport
Located in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Places to visit are Cafesjian Center for the Arts, Gur-e Amir Сomplex, Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Shah-i-Zinda Ensemble, Observatory of Ulugbek Samarkand.
8.) Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport
Located in Nur-Sultan City, Akmola Region, Kazakhstan. Places to visit are National Park Burabay, Boroboye, Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve, Zerenda.
9.) Lankaran International Airport
Located in Lankaran, Azerbaijan. Places to visit are Lankaran Fortress, Mirakhmad Khan House, Khanega, Hirkan National Park, Lankaran Bazaar, Azerbaijan / Iran Border, and Ballabur Castle.
10.) Issyk-Kul International Airport
Located near Tamchy, Issykul District, Kyrgyzstan.
11.) Urgench Airport
Located in Urgench, Uzbekistan. Places to visit are Avesto Monument, Urgench Youth Lake Complex, Monument to Jalal ad-Din Mingburnu, Iova Mnogostradalnogo Church, Memorial Complex Al Beruniy, Trolleybuses , Al Khorezmi Memorial Complex, and Shavat Canal.
12.) Tashkent International Airport
Located in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Places to visit are Chorsu Market, Amir Timur Museum, Museum of Applied Arts, Ko’kaldosh Madrasasi, Alisher Navoï Opera, Skver Im. Amira Temura, Tashkent Tower, State Museum of History of Uzbekistan, Mustaqillik Maydoni.
13.) Tbilisi International Airport
Located in Tbilisi, Georgia. Places to visit are Narikala Fortress, Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, The Bridge Of Peace, Jvari Monastery of Mtskheta, Shota Rustaveli Avenue, Mtatsminda Park, Sioni Cathedral.
14.) Heydar Aliyev International Airport
Located in Baku, Azerbaijan. It was named after the third President of Azerbaijan. Places to visit are Maiden Tower, Icherisheher, Palace of The Shirvanshahs, Heydar Aliyev Centre, Yanar Dag, Dənizkənarı Milli Park, Flame Towers, Azerbaijan Carpet Museum, Atashgah Zoroastrian Fire Temple.
15.) Manas International Airport
Located in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Places to visit are Osh Bazaar, Ala Archa National Park, Ala Too Square, Burana Tower, Dordoy Bazaar, Panfilov Park, Victory Square, National Museum of Fine Arts named after Gapar Aitiev.
16.) Batumi International Airport
Located in Batumi, Georgia. Places to visit are Batumi Botanical Garden, Gonio Apsaros Fortress, Batumi Boulevard, Ali & Nino Statue, Europe Square, Alphabetic tower, Batumi Piazza, Batumi Archaeological Museum, Batumi Lighthouse.
17.) Hamid Karzai International Airport
Located in Kabul, Afghanistan. It was named in honor of the former President Hamid Karzai. Places to visit are BAGH BABUR, The Afghanistan national museum, The Afghanistan national museum, ARG Presidential Office, Tajbik palace, Qale’H-Ye-Balahissar, Shah Du Shamshira Mosque, Kabul Zoo, Abdul Rahman Mosque, Pul-e Kheshti Mosque, Mes Aynak, Qargha Reservoir, Museum OMAR.
18.) Kandahar International Airport
Located in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Places to visit are the Red Mosque,Mosque of the Sacred Cloak, The Forty Steps, Baba Wali Shrine, Eid Gah Mosque, Kandahar University.
19.) Mazar-i-Sharif International Airport
Located in Mazar-i-Sharif , Afghanistan. Places to visit are the Blue Mosque and Buzkashi Stadium.
20.) Herat International Airport
Located in Herat, Afghanistan. Places to visit are Herat Central Blue Mosque, Herat Citadel, Herat National Museum, Khwaja ‘Abd Allah Ansari shrine, and Minarets of Herat.
There are a number of other international airports located in Central Asia which are serving minimal number of international flights/ routes. There are also a number of international airports soon to rise. We haven’t included those yet. The 20 airports on the list are a good start to start your adventure in Central Asia. Please let us know any suggestions that you may have for this lovely blog. Please also follow us on IG: travellingpeoplesdotcom, Facebook: Travellingpeoples, and Youtube: Nathanael Nunag. We aim to provide games monthly to our followers/ subscribers giving them a chance to win free plane tickets, tours, accommodations, and other travel products. Keep safe everyone! Next blog would be airports in South Asia.