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
Vast deserts, rolling steppe, fertile valleys and majestic mountains form the backdrop to the five former Soviet republics of Central Asia, which are commonly known as the Five Stans. Among this changing and varied landscape are traditional villages, ancient towns and modern cities, which tell a tale of advancing Greek and Persian armies, marauding Mongolian hordes, traders selling wares along the Silk Road, philosophers, astronomers, Communist experiments and post-Soviet eccentrics. Journey past giant burning gas pits, intricately tiled mosques, alpine lakes bordered by yurt camps, grand monuments, rural villages and colourful markets on this epic trip through the heart of Central Asia.
About this trip: We have two versions of this trip. One starts in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, and ends in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and the other runs in reverse. Apart from the direction of travel, the two itineraries are similar - the main difference is the route taken through Kyrgyzstan and the accommodation there. This itinerary runs from Almaty, Kazakhstan, to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, includes Chon-Kemin and Bishkek and stays in guesthouses and hotels rather than yurts. The other itinerary runs from Turkmenistan to Kazakhstan, includes Son Kul Lake and there are three nights staying in yurts in Kyrgyzstan.
Both itineraries include a night in a yurt in Turkmenistan.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
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
Starting in the heart of Asia you will feel as if you have almost returned to Europe. You will encounter friendly locals, a diverse and long history, a unique and varied culture, lively and cosmopolitan cities, and vast, stunning landscapes that range from arid desert to rugged mountains, with dense forests and snow-capped peaks as we reach the Caucus states of Armenia and Georgia.
Note: We have two options for our route on this trip, either travelling through Azerbaijan or through Iran to get from Turkmenistan to Georgia and Armenia. Which we take depends on whether Azerbaijan's land borders are open are not, the operating schedule and reliability of the Caspian Sea ferry, and the overall regional security situation. We will make a final decision on the route a few months before departure.
Travel along the Silk Road from the foothills of High Asia, through the historic cities of Uzbekistan and cross the deserts of Turkmenistan, taking a ferry journey across the Caspian Sea to the Lower Caucasus countries of Armenia and Georgia. Tick off the iconic highlights of Central Asia and experience the varied landscapes, rich history, diverse cultures and warm hospitality of one of the world's most intriguing and unique regions.
Journey overland from the snow-capped peaks of High Asia and follow the path beaten by centuries of traders along the Silk Road through the heart of Central Asia to the edge of Europe and the foothills of the Caucasus. This varied adventure offers something for everyone with stunning alpine landscapes, vast deserts, countless historic sites and modern cosmopolitan cities, and throughout you can't avoid the cultural diversity that shows this region's importance as a global crossroads since time immemorial.
Explorer
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Camping, Home-stay, Hotel, Resort
Age Range
18-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Tbilisi, Bishkek, Charyn Canyon
Tbilisi, Bishkek, Charyn Canyon National Park, Bukhara, Ashgabat, Turkmenbashi, Sheki, Yerevan, Issyk Kul, Osh, Dushanbe, Samarkand
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
Join this overland adventure starting in the isolated desert country of Turkmenistan, travelling through Iran or across the Caspian Sea to the Caucasus states of Georgia and Armenia before continuing to Turkey. From Ashgabat to Istanbul, 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.
Discover some of the oldest cities in the world steeped in history and legend, from Troy in Turkey, Baku - the largest City on the Caspian Sea, to the legendary 'Stans'. Experience the incredibly diverse landscapes from the baron desert in Turkmenistan to the high mountain passes in Tajikistan.
Take on the great outdoors in this epic journey across the expanse of Kyrgyzstan and up into the Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan. Visit one of the oldest Bazaar's on the Silk Road in Osh. Venture on the Pamir Highway and follow the border of Afghanistan, before arriving in Dushanbe.
Discover some of the oldest cities in the world steeped in history and legend, Samarkand in Uzbekistan to Baku - the largest City on the Caspian Sea or beautiful Esfahan in Iran, and on to Istanbul in Turkey. Travel through the legendary '5 Stans'. Experience the incredibly diverse landscapes from the barren desert in Turkmenistan to the high mountain passes and Pamir Highway in Tajikistan.
Explorer
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Camping, Home-stay, Hotel, Resort
Age Range
1-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Istanbul, Bishkek, Charyn Canyon
Istanbul, Bishkek, Charyn Canyon National Park, Khiva, Ashgabat, Sheki, Yerevan, Tbilisi, Batumi, Cappadocia, Issyk-Kul Lake, Osh, Dushanbe, Samarkand, Bukhara
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, Resort, Hotel
Age Range
18-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Ashgabat, Bishkek, Charyn Canyon
Ashgabat, Bishkek, Charyn Canyon National Park, Khiva, Issyk Kul, Osh, Dushanbe, Samarkand, Bukhara
Join this Overland Expedition and venture off the tourist trail throughout Kyrgyzstan and follow the ancient trading routes along the Silk Road to Beijing. Discover stunning scenery and some of the oldest cities in the world steeped in history and legend from Lake IssyKul to Xi'an and its Terracotta Warriors. We travel on one of our overland trucks in Kyrgyzstan and then by trains and buses through China.
Explorer
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Camping, Home-stay, Hotel, Resort, Sleeper Train
Age Range
1-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Beijing, Bishkek, Charyn Canyon
Beijing, Bishkek, Charyn Canyon National Park, Issyk Kul, Tash Rabat, Kashgar, Lhasa, Lhasa, Xian
