Simple stays with essential amenities. Typically guesthouses, hostels or hotels rated below 3 stars — clean, no-frills, and great for value-conscious travelers.
Comfortable and reliable 3-star stays. Expect private rooms, en-suite bathrooms, and solid amenities — a great balance between comfort and cost.
Upscale 4-5 star hotels and lodges. Enjoy high-end service, refined comfort, and premium locations — ideal for travelers seeking extra indulgence.
Uncover the rich heritage of Central Asia on a journey through Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan — a region shaped for centuries by Silk Road trade, spiritual traditions, and sweeping cultural exchange. Wander the ancient streets of Khiva, Samarkand, and Bukhara, where history echoes through turquoise-tiled mosques and bustling bazaars. Marvel at natural wonders like Kaindy Lake’s sunken forest and the red rock cliffs of Charyn Canyon. Explore sacred sites and architectural marvels that reveal the region’s religious diversity and deep historical roots. Along the way, connect with nomadic herders in Kyrgyzstan, break bread with Tajik families, and experience the warmth of rural hospitality in Kazakhstan. This is your window into one of the most captivating, and often overlooked, corners of the world.
Explorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Trace the ancient Silk Road through the heart of Central Asia, where sweeping landscapes and centuries-old traditions collide in breathtaking fashion. Journey through Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, discovering a region where nomadic heritage still shapes everyday life. Share home-cooked meals with Kyrgyz and Cossack families, explore surreal wonders like the sunken forest of Kaindy Lake and the towering cliffs of Charyn Canyon, and connect with locals whose stories bring the past vividly to life. With National Geographic Journeys, you’ll experience this remote crossroads of cultures through immersive encounters, expert insight and unforgettable moments that reveal the true spirit of the Silk Road.
Explorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Trace the footsteps of traders, poets, and pilgrims along one of the most storied routes in history — the Silk Road. This immersive journey through Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan reveals ancient cities, towering mosques, and lively bazaars where cultures once converged. Explore the remarkable ruins of Old Nisa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former Parthian capital. In Khiva, walk through perfectly preserved streets that feel frozen in time. Along the way, connect with welcoming locals, uncover enduring traditions, and gain deeper insight into the spiritual and cultural diversity that shaped these crossroads of civilization.
Explorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Ready for a wild ride through Central Asia? This 12-day adventure through Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan is the perfect mashup of jaw-dropping landscapes and deep cultural dives. Hike through canyons that look like they belong on another planet, listen to the desert sing beneath your feet, and learn how to build a yurt like the nomads do. From village stays and yurt workshops to city streets buzzing with history in Bishkek and Almaty — this is one epic journey where nature stuns, culture shines, and every day brings something totally unexpected.
Explorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Guest House, Home-stay, Hostel
Age Range
18-39 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Bishkek, Almaty, Chon Kemin , Ta
Bishkek, Almaty, Chon Kemin , Tamga Village, Karakol, Saty Village, Altyn-Emel National Park
10% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Pack your bags and a serious sense of adventure — you’re about to blaze across four of Central Asia’s wildest and most underrated countries. This 26-day epic takes you deep into ancient cities and windswept canyons across Uzbekistan Tajikistan Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. One minute you’re wandering centuries-old Silk Road streets the next you’re hiking to neon-blue lakes or helping build a nomadic yurt. It’s gritty it’s gorgeous and totally unforgettable.
Explorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Guest House, Home-stay, Hostel, Hotel
Age Range
18-39 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Tashkent, Almaty, Samarkand, Shy
Tashkent, Almaty, Samarkand, Shymkent, Taraz, Bishkek, Chon Kemin , Tamga Village, Khiva, Karakol, Saty Village, Altyn-Emel National Park, Bukhara, Marguzor
10% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Once the epicentre of global trade, Central Asia’s Silk Road is now one of the world’s best-kept travel secrets — and it’s calling your name. On this epic journey through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, you’ll roam ancient towns older than most countries, trek to turquoise alpine lakes, and dive into vibrant cultures where past and present collide. Expect camel caravan vibes by day and bustling bazaars by night. If you’ve ever dreamed of stepping back in time, this is your chance. Let’s go.
Explorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Get a taste of Central Asia's charm on this 16-day trip through ancient silk road towns and bustling bazaars. Visit four out of the five Stans as you travel the Kazak steppe and Uzbek Silk Road towns by train. Starting in Bishkek, visit the clear waters of Issyk-kul Lake, cross the border to the charming Almaty, catch an overnight train to Uzbekistan and seek out the delicious plov, then explore the white marbled capital of Ashgabat. Spend a night in a traditional yurt camp near Issyk-kul Lake, hike the flaming red rocks at Jety Ogus, toast with locally produced wine to a Kazak home-cooked feast and learn about the full Silk Road history in the blue-hued mosques, madrasas and ruins in Samarkand, Bukhara and Merv.
Explorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Journey back to the days of the Great Silk Road on a 18-day Premium adventure through Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Explore the cosmopolitan capital of Tashkent, marvel at the glorious architecture in Samarkand, discover the holy sites of Bukhara and visit the ancient monuments of Khiva. Join a local family for a traditional cooking class and get to know the ins and outs of an Uzbek village. Visit Sharyn Canyon, Skazka Canyon and Jety Oguz Valley and take hikes to soak up the scenery. Spend a night in a traditional yurt camp alongside the massive alpine lake of Issyk Kul. See the monuments, learn the histories and dive into the local cultures of main cities like Bishkek and Almaty. Visit a family-owned winery for a tasting, head to a small local village for a traditional lunch and enjoy a masterclass of local cuisine from a Dungan family. With all this and more, what’s holding you back from your next adventure?
Explorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Follow one of the world's most well renowned highways; the Silk Road. This expedition will take you through some of the oldest cities in the world, discover the ancient trading routes through the 'Stan's' starting in the Turkmenistan capital, Ashgabat, which holds the Guinness world record for the most-white marble on Earth. We'll also stop off in splendored Old Registan in Uzbekistan. Once we reach Tajikistan there will be the chance to hike in the Fann Mountains and visit the tallest waterfall in the country before we drive along the spectacular Pamir Highway between Dushanbe and Osh. Our tour ends in the City of Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan.
Join this overland adventure through Turkey, the Caucasus states of Georgia and Armenia before travelling across the Caspian Sea and ending in the isolated desert country of Turkmenistan. From Istanbul to Ashgabat, this trip is full of fascinating and varied history, demonstrating the contested and often turbulent past of this relatively unknown region. Those who do travel here are rewarded with breathtaking scenery from stunning snowy mountains to seemingly endless desert, ancient and medieval sites that rival and often outdo any found in Europe, and a wide array of eclectic cultures, with consistently friendly and welcoming locals.
Explorer
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Camping, Hotel
Age Range
18-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Istanbul, Ashgabat, Cappadocia
Istanbul, Ashgabat, Cappadocia, Tbilisi, Yerevan, Baku
Follow one of the world's most well renowned highways; the Silk Road. This fantastic expedition will take you through some of the oldest cities and ancient trading routes in the world, you will also discover the stunning scenery as you get off the beaten track and into the wilderness of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Explorer
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Camping, Home-stay, Hostel, Hotel, Resort
Age Range
18-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Ashgabat, Bishkek, Charyn Canyon
Ashgabat, Bishkek, Charyn Canyon National Park, Issyk Kul, Kunye Urgench, Bukhara, Samarkand, Dushanbe
A sweeping and varied expedition that has it all - majestic vistas with snow-capped mountains and crystal clear lakes, buzzing modern cities, ancient sites embedded in the history of Central Asia and a mixture of cultures, flavours and sights that will constantly surprise you. Follow the ancient traders of the Silk Road and through the heart of Asia on this once in a lifetime overland adventure!
Beginning in the cosmopolitan and multicultural capital of Georgia, travel south through the Lower Caucasus to Yerevan. From here we will either enter Azerbaijan and cross the Caspian Sea to Turkmenistan, or, take the southern route through Iran. From Ashgabat we embark on a journey through The 'Stans', including a drive on the iconic Pamir Highway before ending at the foothills of High Asia in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. This overland adventure offers the very best of Central Asia: be it stunning mountain scenery, vast desert landscapes, or ancient historic sites, there is something for everyone.
Note: The land borders to Azerbaijan are currently closed and so we cannot operate this trip via that route. Instead we are currently taking our Iranian route. We will make a final decision on which route each departure takes a few months before it leaves, based on the current situation with border closures, the schedules & reliability of the Caspian Sea ferries, and the regional security situation.
Join this challenging expedition along ancient trading routes, following in the tracks of the old Silk Road. Discover some of the oldest cities in the world steeped in history and legend. Visit the legendary 'Stan's' taking in the bizarre city of Ashgabat and the splendour of the Old Registan in Uzbekistan. Get outdoors in Tajikistan and hike in the Fann Mountains. Kyrgyzstan amazes with it's deep mountain lakes and perennially snow-capped peaks, before crossing the mighty Torugat Pass and traversing the whole of China. Pandas, Terracotta Warriors and the Great Wall all await! We travel on one of our overland trucks as far as Kyrgyzstan and then by trains and local transport through China.