Salam! This is Sugi from ASHU TRAVEL, specialists in scenic horse riding trips in Central Asia.
TV programs, commercials, documentaries, or shoots for magazines and social media: when you want to capture “stunning footage and photos like nothing seen before,” Central Asia is one of the regions with the greatest potential in the world.
However, many production teams struggle with the “difficulty of obtaining filming permits” and “language barriers” that come with such remote destinations. As local professionals, we provide filming support to help creators bring their vision to life.
In this post, we’ll introduce what makes ASHU TRAVEL’s production coordination special, along with reviews from companies that have used our services.
Unknown Central Asia and Its Breathtaking “Shots”
Central Asia is full of filming locations that are still not widely known to the world.
- Kyrgyzstan: The spectacular Tian Shan mountains, known as “the Switzerland of Central Asia.” Remote areas reachable only on horseback, and authentic nomadic life that still continues today.
- Kazakhstan: The contrast of futuristic urban architecture, Mars-like reddish-brown canyons and vast grasslands.
- Uzbekistan: Mosques with beautiful blue tiles that convey the glory of the Silk Road, lively bazaars and traditional handicraft culture.
With ASHU TRAVEL, location scouting and filming across all these countries can be handled in one place.
First of All, What Is ASHU TRAVEL?
We are a local travel company based in Kyrgyzstan.
The company was founded by Nuriya, a Kyrgyz guide fluent in Japanese, with the wish that “people can experience Central Asia’s nature and nomadic culture more deeply and with peace of mind.”
We usually bring guests unforgettable experiences through our “scenic horse riding trips,” and the skills we’ve built along the way, such as “pioneering routes to places without roads” and “deep connections with local communities,” are actually our greatest assets for film shoots.
As “travel professionals,” we know the very best locations, and now we offer them in the form of “production coordination.”
Why Clients Choose ASHU
① The “Negotiating Power” of Nuriya, a Former Embassy Staff Member
In production coordination, the most important and difficult part is “official negotiations.” ASHU TRAVEL’s director, Nuriya, is not only fluent in Japanese but also has experience working at the Embassy of Japan in Kyrgyzstan. This experience is a major strength on location.
- Connections with key officials: She has a direct network with government officials and senior figures in local authorities, making applications for filming permits and negotiations for access to special locations very smooth.
- A cultural translator: Having lived in Japan for a long time, she knows the Japanese attention to detail and “particularity” very well. She conveys the production team’s intent (“this is the shot we want”) to the crew on site accurately, including not just the language but also the cultural nuances.
② A Local Network Covering All of Central Asia
We have a strong network not only in Kyrgyzstan but across all of Central Asia, including Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.
- Scheduling complex cross-border travel and location scouting
- Assigning experienced local drivers and specialist guides
- Managing logistics for equipment transport
Our strength is that we can flexibly handle ambitious projects such as “we want to tour several countries, not just one place, and capture footage from many angles.”
③ [Kyrgyzstan Only] A “Production Base” That Supports Demanding Shoots
Our own lodge, “Ashu Guesthouse,” in Chong-Kemin National Park is the perfect base for shoots in Kyrgyzstan.
- A strategic stopover Ideal as a “hub” on the way to Issyk-Kul Lake or Song-Kul Lake. It greatly reduces the burden of travel.
- The lodge itself is a stunning location Beautiful valleys, forests and clear streams unique to a national park are right in front of you. You can capture high-quality shots between moves.
- Focused on crew “recovery” Private rooms, a sauna and hot meals. We help crews worn out by demanding shoots recharge, raising the quality of the filming.
Coordination Services ASHU TRAVEL Can Provide
We provide end-to-end support, from research to on-site operations.
- Research and location scouting: Selecting and researching the best locations for your project.
- Permit applications: Handling filming permits with the government, local authorities, national parks and more.
- Equipment and staff arrangements: Arranging local crew, interpreters and transfer vehicles.
- Logistics and accommodation: Securing efficient travel routes and arranging comfortable accommodation.
- Special shoots: Arranging horses for mountain filming and drone pilots.
Reviews from Companies That Have Used Our Services
We received messages from production companies and media companies that have used ASHU TRAVEL’s production coordination.
Thank you again for arranging so many things for us on such short notice.
I heard that during the shoot both Ms. Sugiura and Nuriya took great care of the team, and Ms. Sugiura moved quickly on things like the filming permits, which made the shoot possible. Thank you very much.
For future shoots in Kyrgyzstan and elsewhere, we would like to consult Ms. Sugiura again about production coordination.
Creating Footage That Goes Beyond Sightseeing and Touches the Heart
Central Asia is a warm land that welcomes visitors like family. We combine that warmth with Japanese-style “attentiveness” and work as part of your production team to create the best possible project.
Feel free to contact us from the earliest stage, even just to ask, “Could we film something like this?”
▶︎ See our regular tours here https://ashu-travel.com/tour
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