silk road tours central asia

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Best of the Stans and Silk Road adventures

Uncover central asia's past and present.

Since the collapse of the USSR, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are emerging one by one as promising destinations for off-the-beaten track adventures, and World Expeditions offers more Central Asia and Silk Road tours than ever before. These five former Soviet republics of Central Asia, collectively known as the ‘Five Stans’, are one of the most diverse parts of the world, entwined with history and legacies that forged their civilisation as we know it today.

Central Asia consists of a spectacular sweep of mountains, deserts, valleys and steppe; from ancient towns to oases of modern cities. The entanglement of ancient trade routes, popularly known as the Silk Road, were corridors for cultural, economic, intellectual and religious exchange that became the rich tapestry which connected the Orient to the Mediterranean, and the past to the present.

Weave your way through these historic trails on the Silk Road – including Tashkent's famous museums of Tashkent, the fabled city of Samarkand, Merv's sprawling archaeological site, the magnificent Summer Palace of Bukhara and Kashgar's colourful markets. Or, trek or bike deep in the mysterious lands of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, complete with high mountain sceneries and alpine meadows, few have traversed.

Silk Road Journeys

Trekking in Central Asia

Cycling in central Asia

Mountaineering in Central Asia

Popular Silk Road Trips & Central Asia Tours

Ancient Silk Road Cities - The Five Stans

Discover the five former Soviet republics of Central Asia

Silk Road to Samarkand via Kashgar

An extraordinary journey following the ancient Silk Road from China to Uzbekistan

Peak Lenin Expedition with Soren Kruse Ledet

A high altitude expedition to Peak Lenin (7134m/23,405ft) in the Pamirs, considered one of the world's most achievable 7000m mountains

Peak Lenin and Khan Tengri Expedition with Soren Kruse Ledet

A superb high altitude expedition to Peak Lenin (7134m/23,405ft) in the Pamirs and Khan Tengri (7010m/22,999ft) in the Tian Shan range led by Soren Kruse Ledet

Fann Mountains Trek & Silk Road Cities

We combine a trek in the impressive Pamirs Fann Mountains with the fabled Silk Road cities of Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara

Singing and Walking in Georgia

Join Stuart Davis on a singing adventure into the scenic, mysterious and fascinating lands of Georgia

Transcaucasian Trail Hike Armenia

Experience the historical sites and scenic beauty of the Caucasian Silk route in Armenia

Transcaucasian Trail Hike Georgia

Adventure into the scenic, mysterious and fascinating lands of Georgia

Popular Silk Road Countries

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The 11 Best Central Asia and Silk Road Tours & How to Choose

April 4, 2017 by Silvia 27 Comments

I’ve written a lot about my time exploring Central Asia and traveling along the Silk Road, and something people always ask me is if I can recommend some good tours for the region. Now, I traveled through Central Asia independently, but I also met a lot of travelers on tour groups, I’ve since heard from readers who chose to join a tour, and I’ve done a  lot of research into Central Asia and Silk Road tours.

Why? My trip through Central Asia and the Silk Road was life-changing and I want everyone to be able to experience the area. I even convinced some family members to do a tour through Uzbekistan and Tajikistan and they loved it. Y A Y !

Should you travel Central Asia and the Silk Road independently or as part of a tour?

This was a question I had to ask myself when planning my own journey through China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. I ultimately decided to do the trip independently because I had a lot of time (four months), two of my friends wanted to do the same trip with me, and – this is a big one – I speak some Russian.

The four months I spent traveling through China , Kyrgyzstan , Kazakhstan , Tajikistan , and Uzbekistan are filled with some of the greatest memories of my life. In fact, I kind of can’t imagine what my life would have been like if I hadn’t gone on that backpacking trip. Fun fact: I started travel blogging in Central Asia, so I might not otherwise have become a full-time blogger.

It was also really, really difficult. I’m not saying this to discourage you from going – like I said, I’m so glad I did! – but if you’re going to do Central Asia independently, you should also be prepared. Kyrgyzstan is set up quite well for tourism now, but the other countries we visited were pretty crazy.

The three of us hitchhiked crammed into the back of trucks, knocked on random doors hoping for a home stay in places with no hotels, and my friends actually learned a lot of Russian, thanks to the lack of English anywhere.

It was incredibly fun, but also maybe not for everyone.

I would consider doing a tour of Central Asia and/or the Silk Road if any of the following apply to you:

• You’re on a tight schedule and have specific sites you want to see
• You don’t speak any Russian/won’t be able to learn any Russian before your trip
• You prefer organized transport and accommodation over hitchhiking and finding your own home stays
• You’re planning this trip solo but want to travel with a group
• You want to see or do things that would be hard to organize on your own
• You work a lot and don’t want the added work of planning this trip yourself
• You have a specific budget in mind that you want to stick to

I remember meeting a couple in Kyrgyzstan who had just finished a tour of the region and were then taking the time to explore a bit on their own afterwards, which I think can also be a really good idea. The tour took them to all the hard to reach, off the beaten track places and gave them a sort of crash course on Central Asia, but then afterwards they were able to experience a bit of independent travel in Central Asia as well. Win win!

The Best Central Asia and Silk Road Tours

So, I don’t know if you’ve already done a lot of research into Central Asia and Silk Road tours, but there are a lot of options out there. That being said, I’d say there are two obvious front runners in the business: Intrepid Travel and G Adventures.

These are big name tour companies, which means they’re incredibly reliable. So if you sign up with them you know you aren’t going to get scammed (something that ugh, is all too common), your guides are going to be professional, and everything is going to run smoothly.

Both Intrepid Travel and G Adventures boast:

• a strong commitment to sustainable travel
• high safety standards
• flexible schedules so you can have free time during your days or add optional activities to your tour
• off the beaten path adventures (perfect for Central Asia!)
• nearly 30 years of experience

Intrepid and G Adventures also both offer a nice variety of tour itineraries (suitable for different budgets and timeframes) for Central Asia and the Silk Road. In fact after hearing about people’s experiences on some of their Central Asia tours, especially some of the off the beaten path places they were able to visit, I’m dying to do them myself!

Intrepid Travel vs. G Adventures for a Central Asia or Silk Road tour

Okay, so you’ve narrowed down your preferred Central Asia tour operators to Intrepid Travel and G Adventures – which one do you choose?

You’ll hear a lot of opinions on which of the two tour companies is better (often depending on which company a person is working for/getting a bigger commission from) but to be perfectly honest, I’ve heard amazing things about both companies in Central Asia.

The general consensus is that G Adventures’ tours are slightly cheaper, while Intrepid Travel has somewhat smaller groups and a more consistent quality level across the board. But when looking specifically at their Central Asia tours the quality and prices are quite similar. I would recommend reading through all the itineraries and choosing based on which tour description and departure dates appeal most to you.

Intrepid Travel and G Adventures Central Asia and Silk Road Tours

Now for the fun part: choosing your tour!

There are a lot of options out there, but I’m going to list my top choices below. I’ll order these according to length, because that’s usually the biggest factor when choosing a tour.

Here are Intrepid Travel and G Adventures top Central Asia and Silk Road tours, ordered from longest down to shortest duration:

80 Days: Xi’an to Istanbul with Intrepid Travel

This is the ultimate Central Asia tour. If you have the time and the money to dedicate to this one, please, please do it!

This tour starts in Xi’an, China and finishes in Istanbul, Turkey, while passing through Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. It gets you truly off the beaten path in these places for some once in a lifetime experiences.

Click here for the full itinerary, prices, and start dates

29 Days: The Great Silk Road with Intrepid Travel

Again, this is a long tour, but that also means that you will experience SO much on this journey.

This tour starts in Beijing, China, and continues through Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan before finishing in Tashkent. It covers all of the main Silk Road sites while also including some remote, lesser-known locations as well. If you’re into the Silk Road, this is the tour for you.

23 Days: Central Asia – Multi-Stan Adventure with G Adventures

This incredibly comprehensive tour will give you all of the top experiences of a Central Asia trip – from sleeping in yurts to staying in home stays to mountain and desert landscapes to exploring stunning Silk Road buildings. With this tour you can experience it all on a relatively short time frame and surprisingly small budget.

If you want to truly get to know Central Asia in just a few weeks, this is the tour for you.

Click here for the full itinerary, prices, and start dates

16 Days: Central Asia Explorer with Intrepid Travel

I’m fairly obsessed with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, and this tour takes you through all of my favorite locations in both countries. It begins in Bishkek and ends in Tashkent, while taking you through some of the region’s most stunning landscapes and villages.

15 Days: Best of Tajikistan & Uzbekistan with G Adventures

I would say that Tajikistan and Uzbekistan were the two most challenging countries to travel to, so this tour is perfect for anyone who wants to leave the organizing up to someone else!

I also think that seeing Uzbekistan and Tajikistan together is a really good combination, as Tajikistan will give you those amazing mountain landscapes and off the beaten path experiences with locals, whereas Uzbekistan is rich in its Silk Road history and amazing buildings, as well as yurts in the desert.

14 Days: Central Asia Adventure – Almaty to Tashkent with G Adventures

This two week tour shows you the very best of this remote region. It does an impressive job of covering all the must-see sites of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan while also taking you off the beaten path to some places that would be hard to reach independently. If you want to see a variety of Central Asia, this is the perfect tour.

13 Days: Tajikistan Discovery with Intrepid Travel

Tajikistan was my favorite country in Central Asia (I mean, that landscape!), so I’m definitely a bit partial to this tour, which takes you through all of the country’s amazing sites and scenery. It starts in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and finishes in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, while taking you up over the Pamir Highway (over 5,000 meters high!) and right along the Afghan border so you can see right into Afghanistan.

I particularly love that this tour includes five nights of home stays in Tajikistan, as my best experiences in the country were of staying with local families.

10 Days: Expedition – Baikonur & Kazakhstan with Intrepid Travel

This is hands down one of the coolest and most unique tours ever.

It takes you through Kazakhstan, way off the beaten path to corners few people in the world have explored, and it includes a visit to the Russian spaceport of Baikonur , the seat of the Russian space program, where you’ll even get to see a rocket launch!

10 Days: The Best of Uzbekistan with G Adventures

To be honest, I’m more of a mountain person, so Uzbekistan wasn’t my favorite country in Central Asia, but my friend I traveled with is obsessed with history and architecture and it was her favorite! This tour includes visits to Uzbekistan’s main Silk Road cities, as well as nights spent in desert yurt camps and riding camels. I love the variety here, and that it covers so much in just 10 days.

9 Days: Best of Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan with G Adventures

This tour includes the perfect miss of cities and must-see sites with some truly off the beaten path adventures into the countryside. It’s also surprisingly cheap, and might actually be one of the most cost-effective ways to see the region.

6 Days: Highlights of Tajikistan with G Adventures

Tajikistan was my favorite country I visited in Central Asia, but it was also the most difficult and expensive to travel through. And that’s what makes this tour so perfect – it takes you to those remote, hard to get to locations and is actually surprisingly cheap.

You could either do this tour as a quick taster trip of Tajikistan, or include it as part of a bigger journey through Central Asia.

If you do decide to book a tour through Intrepid Travel or G Adventures, please consider starting the booking process by clicking on one of my links. The price will remain the same for you, but I’ll earn a small commission which will help cover the cost of running my site. Thanks a billion!

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Jordan says

April 4, 2017 at 8:09 pm

How cool, I’d love to travel through Central Asia! Now I need to go back and read some of your older posts 🙂

Silvia says

April 9, 2017 at 7:37 am

Yesss I think you would love it!

October 8, 2017 at 12:25 pm

Hi, I think you forgot a very important of Silk Road ” Persia” which connects East Asia to Europe !!!!!

Marianne - Glimt av verden says

April 4, 2017 at 10:27 pm

What a great guide! I did the 14 days Central Asia Adventure with G Adventures in June last year. It was the second time they ran that tour. I chose a tour mainly because I had limited time and wanted to make the most out of it. But we (me and my sister) travelled to Samarkand independently. I absolutely LOVED the region! I want to see more!

April 9, 2017 at 7:36 am

Oh no way, I know a couple who did that same tour, but I think it was actually the first time they ran it! I really want to see more of Central Asia too – I feel like I’ll be returning there over and over, haha.

Annika says

April 5, 2017 at 7:33 am

Cool! I’ve been wanting to visit Uzbekistan for a long time and might be able to next year. I’ll bookmark this page. I love your blog – you always have excellent advice for the (more or less) average traveller!

April 9, 2017 at 7:35 am

Oooh I hope you do – Uzbekistan is amazing!

April 25, 2017 at 10:20 pm

I’d love to get the chance to explore this part of the world. I much prefer independent travel, but I can see how a tour here might be a good idea. Especially if time is limited.

May 1, 2017 at 11:07 am

Yeah I think of all the places I’ve traveled to Central Asia would be the one I would most recommend taking a tour through.

May 29, 2017 at 8:00 pm

This was a fantastic read. Thank you for publishing. Am currently reading a book on the silk roads and thought Central Asia would be a great place to visit. Thanks fir the travel advice.

May 30, 2017 at 4:20 pm

It really is such an amazing place to visit!

Lis Sowerbutts says

July 6, 2017 at 1:19 pm

We leave in under 3 weeks -taking over 3 months to travel from Shanghai to Istanbul! I couldn’t find a tour that would combine a trip along the Pamir Highway and a launch from Baikonur! I think you’ve missed the obvious compromise. We travel independently – but we use agents when we need to – but we use locals. So we’ve used a company to buy our Chinese train tickets, and we’ll use a local driver for the Pamir Highway, and a Kazakhstan based company to arrange the permits for the Cosmodrome. And yes I’m learning some Russian!

Luca Laesser says

October 14, 2017 at 1:22 am

Hi Lis Sowerbutts, I would be interested to hear how your two tours turned out, especially the Baikonur one? Which company in Kazakhstan did you use? Thank you! Luca

January 1, 2018 at 12:46 pm

Brilliant! Great photographs, fascinating travel destinations. I’d love to travel more in that part of the world some day. Thank you for sharing the tips and ideas.

January 3, 2018 at 6:09 pm

It really is such an interesting area – I hope you make it there eventually!

February 5, 2018 at 8:05 pm

Great blog! What time of year did you do your Central Asia trip? My boyfriend and I are planning to do the Silk Road on our own but curious what month did you travel? Thank you and I enjoyed your blog!

Kanika Bakshi says

March 1, 2018 at 12:28 pm

Hey Silvia, Thanks for sharing such an awesome for post about these lesser known road trips loved it.

Agness of Etramping says

March 7, 2018 at 3:32 pm

Exploring Central Asia and traveling along the Silk Road seems like an awesome recommendation, Silvia. These tours seem so worth considering and I would definitely choose one of those Silk Road tours when in Central Asia! Thanks for the suggestions!

Vinodh says

April 23, 2018 at 11:49 pm

Hi. Loved reading your blog. I live in India and my wife and I would like to travel through all the five ‘stans’. We can spare about 4 to 5 weeks and would like to do the highlights of each country. Could one of these companies organise a customised itinerary for us? Thank you.

April 24, 2018 at 7:08 pm

Hm, I’m not sure – you could try getting in touch with them.

May 4, 2018 at 9:28 pm

Hi,Vinodh! My name is Nazo, born and raised in Samarkand. I am working as trip leader for foreigner groups throughout Uzbekistan. I am also working at the travel agency, EWES (East West Elite Service), as an out of office product manager. I would like to explain you about Uzbekistan travel market a little more & give you and idea of the trips I could help in organizing for you.

May 4, 2018 at 10:09 pm

Hi Silvia, I like your stylish, bright blog. You are surprising person! All information is provided unostentatiously, interestingly. You are very interesting person also do very necessary serious work.

September 1, 2018 at 12:55 pm

India is one of the best countries one can visit and explore some many histories with a lot of amazing facts India is a budgeted country you can spend money and satisfy your needs you can visit India just to see how colorful it is and it is the country of joy this is such a comprehensive and helpful article for someone just starting to plan a trip to Asia, and with so many useful links. Thank you so so much!

Michelle says

October 16, 2018 at 10:30 am

Hi Silvia! I am so glad I found your blog! I love the photos – Central Asia is so beautiful!

My husband and I are just starting to toy with the idea of taking 3.5 months to travel through Central Asia. We have used Intrepid Travel a few times before and they are a good company, but we do like independent travel which gives us more flexibility to explore the place a bit more rather than being dictated by a group itinerary. However, there is one aspect of using a tour group that I really like – the opportunity to go to places that are a bit off-the-beaten-track and have experiences that I may not have necessarily known about / been exposed to if not for a tour guide telling me about it. (An example is on our recent trip to India with Intrepid where we visited a Sikh temple and were guided to the community kitchen where we sat with the locals rolling out dough for chapatti – without the guide, we would probably have just walked around the temple, not knowing about the community kitchen, or known that we could partake in making chapatti, and left).

You mentioned in your blog: “In fact after hearing about people’s experiences on some of their Central Asia tours, especially some of the off the beaten path places they were able to visit, I’m dying to do them myself!” Would you mind being more specific about the off the beaten path experiences you are wanting to try after hearing other people’s experiences? Are these things you could have done if you had known at the time?

Thank you for writing this blog – it answers exactly what I was asking!

October 16, 2018 at 12:43 pm

That sounds like it will be an amazing trip! I would say if you are able to rent a car and speak pretty good Russian then you should be fine on your own. The main things I missed out on were going to the really random small towns or scenic spots, because I was hitchhiking so couldn’t just drive myself wherever I wanted. And then the same goes for meeting people – my Russian is pretty good so it wasn’t too much of a problem, but if I had been able to communicate fluently like the guides then I think I could have had much more meaningful conversations with people and more local experiences. Ideally I would have started with a tour and then afterwards continued to explore independently, as by then I’d have had a good feel for the countries.

Hope that’s helpful – and have fun!

Paul Hardyman says

July 3, 2021 at 6:23 am

Hi Silvia, Im in Australia and planning a post Covid self drive trip through central asia with friends (ideally camping on the roof of a 4×4 Land Cruiser for example). Ive done a similar thing twice in southern africa and intend to take the back roads and dirt tracks into the remotest areas of Central Asia if we can. We would take maybe 3-4 months. Im having difficulty finding anywhere in eastern europe or central asia to rent off road vehicles for our trip. Are you able to steer me towards any. Maybe in Turkey or ??? to start our trip.

Hi Silvia, Im in Australia and planning a post Covid self drive trip through central asia with friends (ideally camping on the roof of a 4×4 Land Cruiser for example). Ive done a similar thing twice in southern africa and intend to take the back roads and dirt tracks into the remotest areas of Central Asia if we can. We would take maybe 3-4 months. Im having difficulty finding anywhere in eastern europe or central asia to rent off road vehicles for our trip. Are you able to steer me towards any. Maybe in Turkey or ??? to start our trip. Thanks Silvia

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Silk Road Tours 2024/25; China & Central Asia Exploration

As the world's oldest trade route, the Silk Road serves not only as a conduit for commerce but also as a vibrant pathway for art and culture. Our carefully curated private Silk Road tours offer an accessible and flexible pace, enabling participants of all backgrounds to immerse themselves in the rich history, cultural relics, ethnic minorities, stunning landscapes, and local interactions found along this legendary route.

Accompanied by our expert local tour guides and exclusively tailored arrangements, you'll follow in the footsteps of ancient caravans as you traverse the incredible countries and areas bordering the Silk Road such as China, the five Stans and Caucasus , and delve deep into the very heartbeat of this historic and enthralling region.

Silk Road Tours in China and Staring from China

The following routes are examples to help you tailor your own Silk Road tour. Remember all these tour packages can be changed according to your needs.

• Best choice for a bucket list trip
• Panorama of the Silk Road
• Throughout the Silk Road
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• Best for retired couples
• Main cities and core destinations of Silk Road
• Islamic and Buddhist culture interact
• Local interaction
• Uyghur culture
• Rainbow mountains
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• Special caves reservation opportunity
• Paint your exclusive mural

China Silk Road Tours with the Extensions

The following itinerary are recommended for those who wish to combine the China Silk Road tour with major cities or less-traveled neighboring areas.

• 1st time visit China
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• Picturesque Wild Beauty
• Silk Road Culture
• Golden Poplar Forests
• Rainbow Mountains
• Tibetan Culture Outside Tibet
• Stunning View of Plateau

Silk Road Tours in Central Asia and Caucasus

The following private tours of the Caucasus and Central Asia have been designed to cover landscapes of natural beauty and the unique mix of cultures and history along the Ancient Silk Road. All can be tailor-made for your own private travel schedule and interests in this region.

• Exotic Islamic culture and unique lifestyle
• A time-smart choice
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• Best choice for first-timers
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• Best choice for a in-depth visit
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Highlights along the Silk Road route are listed as below. Please inquire if you have any questions and our professtional travel consultant will reply within 1 working day.

The best time to travel is from May to October. Weather conditions are pleasant from late spring to early autumn, with an average temperature of 15 °C. Although summer weather can be scorching, the heat is dry and more comfortable than in the humid tropics. The scenery is ideal when the fruits ripen, the flowers are in full bloom, and green grass covers grassland areas.

Bring warm clothing even in the hot summer, as the temperature can change greatly between day and night in some places along the route.

Bring shoes suitable for walking.

Use sunscreen, sunglasses, and lip creams to protect your eyes and skin from the sun. Also consider bringing a moisturizer because the air is very dry in the desert areas.

Bring some medicine for diarrhea and heat stroke.

When visiting religious sites such as mosques, women should wear long–sleeve clothes. At certain times women are not allowed to enter mosques. Taking photos at some attractions is forbidden; please follow your tour guide's lead. When you shop at the market, bargaining is taboo if you do not intend to make the purchase.

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Along Central Asia’s Silk Road

Traveling the ancient Silk Road route connecting East and West, we encounter a mélange of culture and religion, art and architecture that conjures tales of trade and treasure, intrigue and empire. On this exciting small group journey, we relish the unfamiliar – and embrace the humanity we share with the people of Central Asia.

Tour Details

From $7,194

Small Group Highlights

• Bishkek yurt-making demonstration
• Tamgaly Petroglyphs UNESCO site
• Russian-accented Almaty
• Falconry demonstration
• Tashkent touring, including world’s oldest Quran
• Historic Silk Road gem of Khiva
• Visits with local artisans
• Uzbek folklore performance
• UNESCO site of Bukhara
• Lunches with local families
• Legendary Samarkand
• Visits to Central Asian bazaars
• Regal Registan Square

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Ranking as Bishkek’s first five-star hotel, the Hyatt Regency Bishkek occupies an ideal location in the center of the Kyrgyz capital, allowing guests to experience everything that this city has to offer. This well-appointed hotel offers two restaurants, a bar, lounge, bakery, fitness center, outdoor swimming pool, spa and sauna (some treatments for a fee), laundry and dry-cleaning services (for a fee), and complimentary Wi-Fi internet access. All guest rooms have individual climate controls and include private bath with hair dryer, tea- and coffee-making facilities, in-room safe, TV, and phone.

Set in the heart of Almaty opposite the Presidential Palace, the InterContinental Almaty provides top-notch service and amenities in a luxurious setting. The common areas offer a range of places to relax and enjoy yourself, including a lofted, 10-story central lobby; indoor swimming pool; hot tub; spa; and outdoor garden with ample seating areas. The InterContinental also boasts a wide range of dining options, full fitness center, tennis court, laundry and dry-cleaning service (for a fee), and complimentary Wi-Fi internet access. Air-conditioned guest rooms have private marble bath with hair dryer, minibar, TV, and phone.

One of the finest hotels in the city, the Hyatt Regency Tashkent occupies an ideal location in the center of Uzbekistan’s capital and offers a superb guest experience. The hotel offers an abundance of world-class amenities, including an Uzbek restaurant, Italian restaurant and bar, lobby lounge with tea and bar service, 20-meter indoor swimming pool, hot tub, full 24-hour fitness center, spa with a range of treatments, laundry and dry cleaning services (for a fee), and complimentary Wi-Fi internet access. Each air-conditioned guest room has floor-to-ceiling windows and offers private bath with hair dryer, walk-in rainfall shower, separate bathtub, in-room safe, minibar, tea- and coffee-making facilities, TV, and phone.

The Hotel Asia Khiva sits in close proximity to Khiva’s historic Old Town, and its traditional Uzbek style is right at home amid this timeless city. The hotel’s amenities include a restaurant and bar, outdoor swimming pool with lounge area and poolside bar, laundry service (for a fee), sauna with steam room and massage (for a fee), and complimentary Wi-Fi internet access. Air-conditioned guest rooms have private bath with hair dryer, minibar, TV, and phone (for internal use only). Please note: While this hotel represents the best of accommodations in the region, you may find the level of quality and service here somewhat lower than at other sites on your tour. In addition, this hotel does not have an elevator.

Ideally located in the center of Bukhara, Hotel Minorai Kalon sits just steps from the Poi Kalyan religious complex. This boutique, 30-room property offers classic Central Asian design with tilework and white stone throughout, and has a restaurant, bar, outdoor rooftop terrace, sauna, gift shop, laundry and dry-cleaning service (for a fee), and complimentary Wi-Fi internet access. Climate-controlled guest rooms have private bath with hair dryer, in-room safe, TV, and phone. Please note: The hotel does not have an elevator.

The Hotel Grand Samarkand Superior sits in the heart of the ancient city of Samarkand, and boasts an upscale atmosphere with chandeliers, inlaid wall tiling, and exposed wooden ceiling beams. The hotel’s restaurant serves both European and Uzbek cuisine, and other amenities include a bar, small rooftop swimming pool, sauna with indoor pool, fitness center, laundry service (for a fee), and complimentary Wi-Fi internet access. Air-conditioned guest rooms have white brick walls and elegant, warm-colored décor, and offer private bath with hair dryer, TV, and phone. Please note: The hotel does not have an elevator.

Tour Price Includes

• Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; all flights within itinerary
• 14 nights’ accommodations in Superior First Class and First Class hotels
• 36 meals: 15 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 10 dinners
• Extensive sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees
• Services of local Odysseys Unlimited Tour Directors
• Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip
• Luggage handling for one bag per person
• Gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers
• $100 frequent traveler credit towards your next Odysseys Unlimited tour ($200 after 3 tours; $300 after 10 tours)

Average Daily High by Month (°F )

Average temperature (°f ), dates & prices.

Business Class upgrade (subject to availability; pricing subject to change) on round-trip Trans-Atlantic flight: $4,995 per person

A visa is required for the Uzbekistan portion of this tour for travelers under the age of 55. Odysseys Unlimited will provide information about entry requirements upon reservation.

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Tour Directors

“Absolutely the best. We felt safe and cared for at all times. He handled the group masterfully, his knowledge of the long history, culture, farming, museums – every aspect of life – amazing.”

Ann Bagley Tampa, FL

“Shira is your best advertisement and best director for her knowledge, experience and professional communications.”

David & Gail Baruch Forest Hills, NY

“Our tour director was just marvelous: careful, very knowledgeable, informative, and a sense of humor.”

Timothy McNally Pomfret Center, CT

“Farrukh and his narrative insights [helped make] the tour amazing!“

Dr. Matthew Alfano Denver, CO

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Physical Activity Level

• Walk 1-3 miles per day, often on uneven terrain
• Western-style toilets not always available outside of hotels and restaurants
• Several long days of travel via motorcoach (most notably between Khiva and Bukhara)
• Some hotels do not have elevators

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Central Asia Tours

Adventures along the silk road & himalayas.

Stretching from the Caspian Sea to China, Central Asia is home to the five “Stans,” where adventurers find high mountain trails, sublime lakes, traditional nomad culture, Silk Road monuments, and a warm welcome.

All Trips to Central Asia

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Central Asia Explorer

Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan

Call for Pricing

Kyrgyzstan: Hiking in the Celestial Mountains

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The Great Game

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The Silk Road

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Ultimate Uzbekistan

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Pakistan: Hiking the Hunza Valley

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Cruise Collection

Republics of the Silk Road Rail Journey

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Caspian Odyssey

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From $28,095

Treasures of Uzbekistan Rail Journey

From $17,595

Everything You Need to Know

The same topography that makes this region spectacular—from perennial snow-capped peaks to boundless deserts—also creates its weather patterns. Temperatures in summer and winter can be extreme, so WT operates trips during spring and fall, from March to June and September to October. During these months, expect temperatures that average between the low 50s to high 70s. Still, be prepared for temperatures to vary according to topography and altitude.

Each time of year is unique and offers its own attractions. See below to understand the differences between seasons and what to expect with each.

Experience Central Asia

REVIEWS FROM OUR CLIENTS

Excellent exposure to the heart of Central Asia. I really got a feel for the culture, people, and environment.

One of the most pleasurable and interesting trips I have been on. It is a part of the world that I have been interested in for a long time. The various opportunities to explore local culture through the food, felt making, yurt construction, and eagle hunting were exceptionally good. The walking allowed us all to enjoy the spectacular landscape at our own pace.

The history, culture, and sights on this journey are amazing and the pace of our trip allowed time to enjoy it.

Kyrgyzstan is a beautiful country and each area we visited was a unique experience. I enjoyed the added cultural and historical additions to our hiking days. The felt demonstration, yurt building, home visit, eagle hunters, and boat ride added much to our adventure.

Each day was a new adventure. We felt as though we were totally in another world, especially in the mountain communities of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Talk to an Expert

Our Asia Specialists know every detail about our Central Asia trips. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!

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Central Asia Silk Road Tour of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan

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• September 17 - October 3, 2024
• $9895.00 + air
• Single Supplement: $995.00

Embark on a Legendary Silk Road Tour: Explore the Ancient Wonders of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan

‘Silk Road’ – this evocative phrase paints a vivid picture of camel caravans laden with luxurious goods traversing the arid expanses along barely visible trails. These lands (modern-day Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan) are etched into the annals of history through the conquests of famous historical figures like Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and Tamerlane; they are the bedrock upon which empires were once forged.

But the Silk Road was not only a strategically important trade route but a cultural superhighway. Along this path, merchants, missionaries, and warriors exchanged goods and spread the major religions of the era – Zoroastrianism, one of the world’s most ancient faiths, Buddhism, Christianity, Manicheaism, and Islam.

Join Far Horizons for an enchanting Silk Road tour, journeying through Central Asian countries still shaped by a storied past stretching back millennia. As we navigate this historic route, you’ll visit the legendary cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Nisa, Merv, and Dushanbe, each a testament to the grandeur of bygone eras.

This Central Asia tour explores the history, religion, and culture that combined to form the legendary Silk Road. Join our expert-led Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan tour to piece together the history of this ancient trade route and enjoy the architectural marvels that stand as grand tributes to the profound belief systems the travelers of the past once held.

Continue reading for a full day-by-day outline of our Silk Road tour itinerary. If you have any questions, please get in touch .

(If you’re still undecided about where to travel for your next adventure, be sure to explore our calendar of Archaeology Tours . From our Japan in Bloom Tour to an Archaeological Tour of Ancient Greece , we have a year of amazing journeys ahead of us.)

Silk Road Tour Led by:

Dr Jenny Rose

Claremont Graduate University Zoroastrian Studies of Ancient Iran

Why Take this Archaeology Tour of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan?

• Led by world religions specialist, Dr. Jenny Rose
• Traverse Central Asia with a tour of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan
• Tour all UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Turkmenistan: Merv, Nisa and Kunya-Urgench
• Tour all UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Uzbekistan: Bukhara, Khiva, Samarkand, Shakrisabz
• Spend a full day in the old walled city of Khiva
• Limited to a maximum of 14 participants

Itinerary of your Central Asia Silk Road Trip

Day 1 depart for turkmenistan.

Depart on a flight bound for Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

Day 2 Arrive in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Nisa

Arrive in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, in the early morning. Transfer to the hotel with time to rest. After a late lunch, drive to nearby Nisa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This huge mudbrick city, still enclosed within an imposing wall, was one of the earliest and most important cities of the Parthian Empire, a major power that dominated this region from the 3 rd century BCE to the 3 rd century CE. Overnight for three nights at the Grand Turkmen Hotel in Ashgabat. (B/L/D)

Day 3 Anua, National Museum

Our drive through the Kara Kum Desert takes us to Anau, a settlement, dating back seven thousand years, with evidence of a Bronze Age walled city. The city rose and fell over the millennia. In the 15 th  century the shrine complex of Shaykh Jamal al-Din was created. The building is unusual as it has two minarets and two domes, and above the entrance there was intricate mosaic work depicting two large yellow dragons against a blue background. Return in the afternoon for a city tour of Ashgabat, newly built after the 1948 earthquake.  We will visit the National Museum and, time permitting, the Wheat Museum. (B/L/D)

Day 4 Fly to Mary, Merv

An early morning flight takes us to the city of Mary, from where we drive to Merv, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Across the vast flat landscape stretch the remains of an array of towns whose city walls enclose nearly 2,500 acres. There have been many incarnations of Merv.  Archaeological surveys have shown that a village existed here as far back as the 3rd millennium BCE. The Ancient Persians developed the city in the 6th century BCE and, under Alexander the Great, it was renamed Alexandria. This was the Silk Road’s main trading route between Bukhara in the 12 th  century, before the Mongol invasion, was reputed to be the world’s largest city. After exploring the extensive remains, walk through the museum that exhibits archaeological finds from sites excavated in the Mary oasis, including material from the Bronze Age sites of  Gonur Depe  and  Togoluk , along with ancient Merv.  Return to Mary for the evening flight back to Ashgabat and the Grand Turkmen Hotel. (B/L/D)

Day 5 Fly to Dashoguz, Konye Urgench, Cross into Uzbekistan

Fly to Dashoguz and drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Konye Urgench (Köneürgençin Turkmen), once the capital of the Khorezm region and part of the Achaemenid Empire. A major trade center on the Silk Road from the 10 th  – 14 th centuries, the old town contains a fascinating series of monuments including a mosque, the still standing gates of a  caravanserai  (an ‘inn’ for caravans), fortresses and fortification walls, several graceful mausoleums, and a brick minaret with delicate geometric designs towering almost 200 feet into the sky. After exploring this magnificent city, drive across the border into Uzbekistan and on to Khiva. Overnight for two nights in the Malika Kheivak Hotel located inside the old town city walls. (B/L/D)

Day 6 Toprak Kala, Kyzyl Kala, Ayaz Kala

Khorezm is a large region where oases once dotted the Kyzyl Kum (red) and Kara Kum (black) Deserts with the Aral Sea on the northern edge. Spreading across today’s borders of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, the area has been occupied since the Bronze Age and is dotted with ancient remains of settlements, some more than 5,000 years old. Fed by the fabled Oxus River, these fortified towns thrived on lush agriculture and were important stops for traders and caravans that crisscrossed this land for thousands of years.  Today’s all day excursion takes us to three captivating Silk Road centers. Dating back to the 1st millennium, the impressive ruins of the fortified capital of Toprak Kala covers more than 42 acres and is encircled by mighty adobe brick fortifications topped by protective towers. It also contained a Fire Temple with a sanctuary. Towering over the city is the 2 nd  century palace-stronghold of the local Khorezm rulers, once containing more than one hundred rooms. It is one of the most remarkable architectural constructions of Oriental antiquity.  Nearby Kyzyl Kala, or Red Fortress, was a defensive stronghold in the line of battlements created to protect the north-eastern borders of Khorezm.  Lunch today will be in a yurt camp next to Ayaz Kala, a site consisting of three fortresses built between the 4 th  century BC and 7 th  century AD. Return to Khiva in the late afternoon. (B/L/D)

Day 7 Khiva, Fly to Bukhara

Spend today exploring the old walled city of Khiva, once the capital of the kingdom of Khorezm and the last resting-place for caravans before crossing the desert towards Iran. Founded about 900 AD, it was conquered by Mongols in the early 13th century, invaded by Turks in the 1400s, and became part of Russia in the 1800s.  Khiva’s outer city, Dishan Kala, was once protected by earthworks with eleven gates, and Ichan Kala, the inner section, still retains its enormous enclosure wall.  With wealth derived from the Silk Road trade and now a remarkable open-air museum of history and architecture, Khiva was the first site in Uzbekistan to be placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The historic district contains over fifty monuments as well as many traditional houses. Djuma Mosque, originally built in the 10th century was rebuilt later using over one hundred exquisitely-carved wooden columns. Sheikh Mukhtar-Vali Complex, a mausoleum built in the 16 th  century, is famous for its beautiful incised wooden doors. Kunya Ark was the stronghold-palace where the Khans lived from the 17 th  -19 th  centuries and housed the harem. The magnificent 19 th century Tash-Hauli Palace was constructed around three courtyards with walls covered with striking azure tiles and brightly painted ceilings. Spend the day exploring this fascinating town and in the evening fly from Khiva to Bukhara.  Overnight for three nights in the Lyabi House Hotel, housed within a former mansion conveniently located within the historic area of the city.  (B/L/D)

Days 8 & 9 Bukhara

Located on the Silk Road and more than 2,000 years old, fabled Bukhara has long been a focal point of trade, learning, culture, and religion. The most complete example of a medieval city in Central Asia, this breathtakingly beautiful city is like a whimsy from the Tales of Arabian Nights. We spend two full days exploring this UNESCO World Heritage site and will seldom be out of sight of ever more stunning monuments.  The famous tomb of Ismail Samani is a masterpiece of 10th-century Muslim architecture. Built for the founder of the Samanid dynasty, has graceful terracotta brickwork disguising walls that are six feet thick and has not needed restoration in almost one thousand years.  The city’s citadel, known as the Ark, was the palace of the ruler and his family.  More than 500 years old, Balyand Mosque is filled with elaborate mosaics and gilded, vibrant paintings. One of the most impressive sights in Bukhara, the 12 th -century Kalon Minaret, was probably the tallest building in Central Asia when it was first constructed. Standing almost 150 feet tall, it is a masterpiece of design with deep foundations cushioned with reeds to prevent destruction by an earthquake. Dating from the 12 th  century, Maghoki-Attar Mosque is thought to cover the remains of a 5 th -century Zoroastrian temple. Built in 1417, the Ulugh Beg Madrasa is the oldest religious school in Central Asia and is decorated with sparkling azure tiles.  (B/L/D)

Day 10 Train to Samarkand, Bibi-Khanum Mosque

This morning, travel by train to Samarkand, surely one of the most mythical cities in Central Asia, and the magnificence of its architecture lives up to the legend. Founded in the 7 th  century BCE, in the 14 th  century CE it became the capital of the empire of Tamerlane and is the site of his mausoleum. In the afternoon, visit Bibi-Khanum Mosque, which commemorates Tamerlane’s wife and was originally built using wealth seized during his conquest of India.  Overnight for three nights in the Malika Prime Hotel in Samarkand. (B/L/D)

Day 11 Samarkand

Today will be spent exploring Samarkand, a UNESCO World Heritage city. Begin in the fabled Registan Square, dominated by three imposing monuments that are masterpieces of Islamic Architecture. The Ulug Beg Madrasa, built by the peaceful ruler for which it was named, was a famous theological school for the sons of wealthy families. Over the entrance way arch is a mosaic panel decorated with stylized geometric forms. The imposing entrance portal of the 17 th century Shir Dor Madrasa depicts lion-like tigers pursuing gazelles below human-faced rising suns, a zoomorphic motif that mysteriously violates orthodox Islamic conventions. The Tilla Kari Madrasa and Mosque was conceived as the last, largest, and most embellished structure of Registan Square and encompasses extravagant gilt decoration in the mosque’s domed chamber. 

Located directly behind Shir Dar, Chorsu was the medieval commercial center. Nearby Gur-Emir Mausoleum was built for Tamerlane’s beloved grandson, Muhammad Sultan. When he died at an early age, Tamerlane ordered this mausoleum built for his burial. In 1405 Tamerlane died in a nearby city and his body was brought here since it was closer than his mausoleum at Skakhrisabz. Ulug Beg was Tamerlane’s grandson; he was an astronomer and a prince, the governor of Samarkand. This intellectual ruler created an amazing observatory in 1428 that housed the largest 90 degree quadrant the world had ever seen, and he constructed a three-story building to support and house it. His observatory influenced subsequent Islamic astronomy, and his star atlas, constructed from observations at Samarkand, was the first original astronomical publication since Ptolemy. It survives today as one of the great artifacts of astronomy and culture, not just of Central Asia but of the world. We will view this and the excellent onsite museum.  (B/L/D)

Day 12 Shakhrisabz

Today we venture outside of Samarkand and drive to Shakhrisabz, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, the 14 th  century conqueror Timur, known in the west as Tamerlane, took forty years to construct his palace. The exquisite beauty of the enormous  iwan , or monumental entryway, is all that remains of the once huge Ak Saray Palace, but still broadcasts the wealth and power of the ruler.  Return to Samarkand in the afternoon and visit the sprawling Urgut Bazaar. (B/L/D)

Day 13 Shah-i-Zinda, Train to Tashkent

Begin today at Shah-i Zinda, located just outside Samarkand and built into an ancient tell.  This street of extraordinary tombs belonged to Timur and his family and are richly adorned with the finest of majolica tile-work.  After lunch, we board a train to Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.  Overnight for two nights at the Tashkent Palace Hotel. (B/L/D)

Day 14 Tashkent

Tashkent is often called the cultural capital of the Islamic world because of its many historic monuments. Our explorations begin in Independence Square, the largest city quadrangle in the former Soviet Union. Its most prominent feature is a globe with a map of Uzbekistan that replaces a 30-meter-tall statue of Lenin, a poetic expression of the birth of the nation. Next visit Navoi Theatre Square, where the opera house was built by the same architect who designed  Lenin’s Tomb  in Moscow. Then see the Crafts Center, where traders have plied their goods for centuries, and the Abdul Kassim Madrasa. Enter the Russian Orthodox Church that is over 135 years old, and the oldest in Central Asia. End today’s tour at one of the most remarkable medieval architectural monuments, the Barak Khan Madrasa, richly decorated with engravings, gilt, and glazed mosaic. (B/L/D)

Day 15 Khujand

This morning we leave Tashkent for Tajikistan and on to Khujand, the site of another Ancient Persian city, dating back about 2,500 years. It was conquered by the Arabs in the 8th century CE, and was besieged and then destroyed by the army of Genghis Khan in the 13th century. Located on the Great Silk Road, and connecting Samarkand with the Fergana Valley, Khujand enjoyed a favorable geopolitical location and significant transport importance. Here we will visit the Historical Museum of Sughd, next to a restored portion of the Khujand Fortress, and the Muslihhiddin Medressa.  Continue on to Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan.  Overnight for two nights at the Serena Hotel.  (B/L/D)

Day 16 Dushanbe

Dushanbe, which means “Monday” in Tajik, developed on the site of a Monday marketplace village. Today it is a rapidly-developing metropolis.  Our tour of the city this morning includes the Tajikistan National Museum, the Museum of Ethnography, Shohmansur Bazaar,and the Gurminj Musical Instrument Museum. In the afternoon, we travel outside the city to see Hissar Fortress, the remains of an 18 th  century fort occupied until 1924.  Return to Dushanbe for our farewell dinner. (B/L/D)

Day 17 Depart Tajikistan for home

Transfer to the airport for your early morning flight from Dushanbe back home. (B)

Tour Information

Tour cost & inclusions.

Price is based on double occupancy and includes:

• Internal flights during the trip (if applicable)
• The accompaniment of your scholar throughout the entire trip
• Local English-speaking guide
• Hotel accommodations (3 or 4 stars; or best available based in the area)
• Ground transportation
• Airport transfers for arrivals and departures
• Most meals as noted in the itinerary
• Entry fees to all included sites and museums
• Gratuities to guides, drivers, and restaurant and hotel staff
• Coordination for any private presentations or tours

Trip prices are based on a minimum number of participants. If this minimum number is not met, trip prices are subject to change. Should the prices need to change, Far Horizons will reach out to registered guests to discuss directly.

Single Supplement

Should a roommate be requested and one not be available, the single supplement must be charged.

• International round trip airfare
• A separate donation check of $150.00 per person to a designated donation project
• Passport or visa fees
• Required vaccines or tests
• Airport or departure taxes
• Alcoholic drinks, beverages or food not included on set menus
• Excess baggage charges
• Personal tips and hotel incidental expenses
• Laundry or other items of a personal nature

Donation Checks

As a tour company that benefits from the cultural and natural riches of our destinations, we have a policy of donating to the scientific and cultural sites and projects which we visit. This has created a bond between Far Horizons and the academic and local communities that has helped us establish an extensive list of lecturers and contacts in each of our destinations. We ask that each participant donate to the noteworthy project we designate. The donation amount is $150.00 per person. Note that the donation is required as part of your registration for the trip and that it is non-refundable.

Exchange Rate Fluctuations

Prices are based on currency exchange rates keeping below a projected level. While it is unlikely, if the exchange rates should change substantially, Far Horizons reserves the right to charge an additional amount to the trip cost.

Registration

A deposit of $1000 per person is required along with your registration & health forms, which will be linked in the email confirmation you receive once you pay your deposit on our booking platform. Final payment is due 120 days before departure. Prior to departure, you will be sent a reading list and a tour bulletin containing travel information.

Cancellation

Cancellations received in writing at least 120 days before departure will receive a refund less a $500 per person administrative fee. Cancellations received less than 120 days before the departure date will not receive a refund. If for any reason you are unable to complete the trip, Far Horizons will not reimburse any fees. Upon registering for the tour, the purchase of travel protection with both trip cancellation and emergency evacuation is strongly advised. Links to recommended insurance policies will be included in the email you receive confirming receipt of your deposit.

Air Ticketing

International round trip flights are not included in the cost of the trip. If Far Horizons must change the trip dates or cancel the trip for any reason, Far Horizons is not responsible for any air ticket you may have purchased. Please send your complete air schedule as soon as you have it. NOTE: Please contact Far Horizons if you would like for us to handle your air ticketing.

Private Tours and Talks

The private tours of archaeological sites and talks by specialists are scheduled in advance and include a donation to each. Specialists working at these sites are excited about showing their work to interested enthusiasts. However, please be aware that there may be times when the director or a member of the staff may not be on site when our groups arrive due to other commitments.

Walking and Standing

Far Horizons expects all participants to be physically active and able to walk and climb independently throughout the full touring days. This includes walking over uneven terrain (uphill and downhill) for 2 miles or more at each site. You should expect to be on your feet for much of each day, averaging as much as 5 miles of walking per day. As such, each participant should be able to walk unaided at a pace of 3 miles per hour for at least an hour at a time, and to stand unsupported for at least 60 minutes. Bearing this in mind, we suggest that, if you have not already done so, you begin walking several miles every day, ideally including stairs and hills. If you have questions about your ability to keep up with the group or the strenuous nature of this trip, please contact the Far Horizons staff.

Expectations During Travel

This tour is designed for flexible, energetic people who like to be active, have a spirit of adventure and a positive attitude. We have designed this trip to be as comfortable as possible, while also aiming to visit some remote or unique sites that other companies do not attempt to include in their itineraries. There may be days where we have very long drives and the conditions of the roads may vary. Hotels and transportation in some remote areas may not be up to western standards. There may be times when no bellhops are available; please pack with the understanding that you need to be able to handle your own luggage at times. Sometimes we may be walking over uneven trails for a mile or more; hiking boots are strongly recommended. Not every meal will be haute cuisine and several lunches may be picnics or box lunches. By maintaining a flexible attitude we will soon be captivated by the beauty of the natural scenery, the hospitality of the local people, and the fascinating sites we will see. Your flexibility and patience will be appreciated.

Itinerary Changes

Changes in our itinerary, accommodations, and transportation schedules may occur. While we are committed to keeping as close to the published details as possible, sometimes it is simply not possible. Weather events, government affairs, or other factors out of our control sometimes come into play. A good book to read as well as patience, flexible attitude, and a sense of humor are essential.

Travel Insurance

Travel in central asia.

This trip is for the hardy! Fairly recently opened to tourists, infrastructure of these countries is immature. The itinerary has been designed for adventure loving travelers and may involve schedule changes, unusual foods, poor roads, and local staff not used to groups of tourists. Guides may not be as knowledgeable or educated as we would like. Most of the so-called 4- and 5-star hotels were built in the 60s and 70s by the Soviets and are run by the government; they have not been maintained well and generally are not up to American standards. Recently small hotels in several cities have been built using private money, several in historic buildings. When possible, we will stay in these hotels, though they are sometimes simple. If you have questions about your ability to handle this sort of challenge, please call us.

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Great Silk Road – 39 Days

Day 1 – Urumqi (China)

This is the starting point of your Silk Road Journey! We will tour China, Central Asia, Iran and Caucasus. A truly fascinating discovery which many memorable and happy days ahead, we’ll start this travel. Upon arrival in Urumqi we’ll be transported to our hotel accommodation to rest after the flight. We will begin with a welcome dinner at one of the local restaurants. We will stay overnight in the hotel in Urumqi.

Day 2 – Urumqi (China)

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll start with an excursion to the Xingjian Regional Museum to see archeological treasures from the famous Silk Road and the minority cultures of Xingjian. Part of the exhibit is well-preserved 3000 year- old mummies excavated from the Loulan-a Takla Maka desert. We will have lunch and dinner at local restaurants and stay overnight in Urumqi.

Day 3 – Urumqi-Turpan -125 mi. (China)

Today after breakfast at the hotel we’ll be transported to Turpan for a full day of sightseeing. In the picturesque ancient village of Tuyoq we will visit the oldest Buddhist caves in the area, dating back to the fourth century. We will visit some local Uygur families while enjoying the lovely grapes and mountain scenery. After taking a lunch break, we will continue with a visit to the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves on the flanks of the Flaming Mountains and Grape Valley. We will dine at a local restaurant for dinner, and stay overnight in Turpan at a hotel.

Day 4 – Turpan – Urumqi -125 mi. (China)

After having breakfast at the hotel, we will start sightseeing with a visit to the Karez system, a remarkable ancient engineering system designed to carry water to the dry desert town. This system is 2000 years old! Afterwards we will have lunch, followed by visiting the Emin Minaret and Mosque, a 145- foot high spectacle built in 1778. We will wind up our sightseeing for the day with an excursion to the ancient city of Jiao- he to see the ruins. We will return to Urumqi in time for a short rest before having dinner at one of the local restaurants. We will spend the night in the hotel in Urumqi.

Day 5 – Urumqi - Kashgar – 1200 mi. (China)

After breakfast at the hotel we will be transported to the airport for a morning flight to Kashgar. There we will start our sightseeing with a visit to the colorful and delightfully chaotic Great Sunday Bazaar, where we can view a dazzling array of merchandise such as silk, cotton, carpets, jewelry, hats, knives, pots and pans, and fresh local vegetables and fruit. After lunch at a local restaurant we will visit the largest Mosque in China, the Idkah Mosque built in 1442. We will also see Apak Khoja’s tomb, the holiest place in Xingjian for Sufis, built in 1640. After dining at a local restaurant we will stay overnight in Kashgar.

Day 6 – Kashgar – Urumqi – Almaty - 2000 mi. (China/Kazakhstan)

Today we will have breakfast at the hotel, and then begin our day with an excursion to the remains of a grand Buddhist temple, Mor Stupa. After viewing the temple we will visit the nearby village of Atush, where we will have lunch. From there we will be transported to the airport to catch a flight to Urumqi, where we will take a connecting flight to Almaty… Welcome to Central Asia travel, the crossroad of the Silk Road Tours! First stop of our 5 Stans Tour, is Kazakhstan! We will transport you from the Almaty airport to a hotel about twenty minutes away, where after checking in you will have time for a short rest before dinner. We will have dinner at a local restaurant. During dinner we will give a brief presentation about Kazakhstan, the largest country in Central Asia. Kazakhstan is rich in both natural beauty and ancient history, and is home to stunning landscapes and ancient shrines and monuments from here we will start the travel of 5 Stans. We will spend the night at the Almaty hotel.

Day 7 – Almaty (Kazakhstan)

Enjoy a good breakfast at the hotel today, because we have an exciting, full day of sightseeing planned! We will visit Panfilov Park, Zenkov Wooden Cathedral, St. Nicholas Cathedral, the National Musical Instruments Museum, the Central State Museum, Almaty’s Green Bazaar, and an observatory with a fantastic panoramic view. We will be able to admire ancient archeological artifacts, beautiful cathedrals and experience the excitement, color and energy of a true Asian Bazaar. We finish the day with dinner at a local restaurant, and will spend the night at the hotel in Almaty.

Day 8 - Almaty – Bishkek – 170 mi. (Kazakhstan/Kyrgyzstan)

We will leave Almaty after breakfast at the hotel, driving to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on the newly built highway. During the four-hour drive we will enjoy gorgeous scenery, and we’ll tell you some interesting facts about this republic, a land of majestic mountains. At 350 meters above sea level, 93 % of Kyrgyzstan is covered by mountains! We will check into a hotel in the capital city of Bishkek for a short rest before having lunch at a local restaurant. Then we’ll do some more sightseeing, have dinner at a local restaurant, and spend the night in Bishkek.

Day 9 -Bishkek – Issyk Kul – 165 mi. (Kyrgyzstan)

After breakfast at the hotel we will visit the lovely Issyk Kul Lake, one of the largest mountain lakes in the world. Issyk Kul Lake is so beautiful that it is known as the pearl of Kyrgyzstan. This lake is well over 1600 miles above sea level. On the way there we will first stop to visit Burana Tower, located in the city of Tokmok, where we will enjoy lunch with a local Kyrgyz family. Among other things, sightseeing today will also include ancient exhibits at a museum. We will check into a local hotel and then dine at one of the local restaurants. We will spend the night in a hotel at Issyk Kul Lake.

Day 10 – Issyk Kul Chopon Ata - Grigorevka Gorge – Bishkek - 160 mi. (Kyrgyzstan)

We will have breakfast at the hotel, and then go to Grigorevka Gorge, located 45 miles from the city of Cholpon-Ata. This is a land of gently sloping valleys and dense fir forests. We will spend the day relaxing among the picturesque scenery enjoying the beauty of nature. We’ll lunch at a local restaurant, then return to Bishkek where you will have some free time before dinner. We’ll spend the night in Bishkek.

Day 11 – Bishkek – Tashkent (Kyrgyzstan/Uzbekistan)

We will have breakfast at the hotel, and then go to the airport to take a flight to Tashkent…Welcome to Uzbekistan! This is a fascinating country full of contrasts and surprises so have your cameras ready and prepare to be amazed. You will be transferred from the airport in Tashkent to a hotel, and on the way to the hotel you will be given a short summary describing Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan is a major part of Central Asia Tour. Once we have checked into the hotel, we will have a full day of sightseeing in the historical city of Tashkent. First we will explore the oldest part of the city, where you will see vividly colorful and eclectic bazaars, as well as spectacular architectural wonders. After lunch we will continue on to the modern part of the city, where you will see beautiful contemporary buildings flanked by walls of fountains. We will visit the Amir Timur museum and a museum of Handcrafted Art, and then have dinner at a local restaurant before spending the night in Tashkent.

Day 12 – Tashkent – Samarkand – 190 mi. (Uzbekistan)

After breakfast we will take a train to world famous Samarkand located 190 mi from Tashkent. The road to Samarkand is via Syrdarya and Jizzakh provinces and takes approximately 3 hours. We will arrive to Samarkand in the afternoon, check in to hotel and have lunch. After short rest we’ll start our excursion of Samarkand by visiting Paper Mills Factory where we’ll have a presentation of paper production from mulberry tree, Afrasiyob Museum, Ulugbek’s observatory – dated to 1428 - 1429 – known as biggest observatory of the East with best equipment to the time. After dinner at one of the local restaurants we’ll transfer to hotel for overnight in Samarkand.

Day 13 – Samarkand (Uzbekistan)

After breakfast at the hotel today we’ll have a full day sightseeing of Samarkand. Visit heart of the city – Registan Square which played great role in commercial and scientific life of the time. Gur Emir Mausoleum - mausoleum for the males of Temurid’s dynasty, real masterpiece of Central Asian architecture. Shaki Zinda Necropolis in the northern outskirts of Samarkand. Bibi – Khanum Mosque construction of which started in 1399 after Victorian campaign of Temur to India. Central bazaar of Samarkand- Siyobian where we’ll taste famous round bread (non) made only in Samarkand. After this long day, we’ll have dinner at one of the local restaurants and overnight in Samarkand.

Day 14 – Samarkand – Bukhara – 172 mi. (Uzbekistan)

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart Samarkand for Bukhara. Stop on the way at the ruins of medieval monument Caravanserai Rabat-i-Malik. Continue driving to Bukhara via Gijduvan where we’ll visit Abdulla’s pottery house where we’ll be offered short presentation and a cup of tea. Upon arrival to Bukhara, we’ll accommodate at the hotel. Visit Chor Minor memorial. Today we’ll dinner in one of the local restaurants and will overnight in Bukhara.

Day 15 – Bukhara (Uzbekistan)

After breakfast we’ll have a full day of sightseeing of this ancient city. Bukhara is one of most historically rich cities on the Great Silk Road attracting attention of thousands of people with its unique heritage. Today we’ll visit: Samanid’s dynasty mausoleum known to be one of the best architectural samples of the Samanids period (875 - 999). Chashma Ayub Mausoleum – legend say is it of Prophet Jove. Bolo – Khauz Mosque. The Ark Forteress – Citadel is the most ancient memorial of Bukhara, on archeological matter dated to the 3rd century B.C. Kalon Complex – consists of minaret, Mosque and Madrasah both of which are still active. Magoki Attori Mosque. Ulugbek and Abdulazizi Khan madrasahs. Next we’ll visit most popular place of Bukhara – reservoir Lyabi Khauz complex built in 1620 by khans’ dignitary Nodir Devan Begi. We’ll end the day with a dinner at the local restaurant followed by a show program. Today we’ll overnight in Bukhara.

Day 16 – Bukhara (Uzbekistan)

After breakfast we’ll continue second full day of sightseeing in Bukhara: former summer palace of Bukhara Emir Said Olimkhan – last Emir of Bukhara, Sitora – iMokhi – Khosa, Museum of Decorative Applied Art. We’ll be back to Bukhara in time for dinner and have another overnight in Bukhara.

Day 17 - Bukhara – Khiva - 315 mi. (Uzbekistan)

We will start the day with breakfast at the hotel, and then begin a long drive making our way through the Kyzyl Kum Desert on our way to Khiva. We will break up the long drive, which is the only way to reach Khiva from Bukhara, by stopping along the way to visit the ancient ruins Ayaz Kala and Toprak Kala. We will also stop for a picnic lunch along the way to Khiva. Upon our arrival in Khiva we will check-in to our hotel accommodation and have time for some rest and relaxation. We can explore this fascinating place and walk through the old walled city of Khiva, called Ichan Kala. We will have dinner at a local restaurant followed by a show program. The Khiva hotel is where we will spend the night.

Day 18 – Khiva (Uzbekistan)

After having breakfast at the hotel we will spend the day sightseeing in Khiva. We will see the Ichan Kala, an official UNESCO World Heritage Site, including the madrasah of Muhammad Amin Khan. Lunch will be at a local restaurant, after which we will continue our tour of Khiva visiting mausoleums, minarets and mosques. We’ll also include viewing the Tash Hovli Palace. We will have dinner at a local restaurant before turning in for the night at our hotel in Khiva.

Day 19 - Khiva – Dashoguz - Kunya-Urgench - Ashgabat – 200 mi. (Uzbekistan/Turkmenistan)

Today we’ll continue our Silk Road – Central Asia Tour to Turkmenistan. After our hotel breakfast we will be transported 40 miles to the border of Shavat-Dashoguz. There we will proceed through passport control and customs procedures before entering Turkmenistan. One we get through border formalities on both sides we will continue to Dashoguz for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch we will drive another 75 miles to Koneurgench, the capital of Khorezmshahs. There we will spend half the day exploring the Old City by visiting such places as: the Portal of Caravansary, Mamun Minaret, the Sultan Tekesh Mausoleum, and the Kutlug Timur Minaret (one of the tallest minarets in all of Central Asia). After our excursion we will drive back to Dashoguz, where we will have dinner at a restaurant. After dinner we’ll go to the airport for our flight from Dashoguz to Ashgabat. Upon arrival in Ashgabat we will check in to our hotel for the night.

Day 20 – Ashgabat –Mary – Ashgabat (Turkmenistan)

Right after breakfast we will go to the Ashgabat airport for our flight to Mary. There we will visit “Old Merv”, which was located at the road crossing of the Great Silk Road, and was one of the largest and most important cities of the ancient world. There are many wonderful historic sights to see before returning to Ashgabat in the evening for dinner at a local restaurant. We will spend the night at the hotel in Ashgabat.

Day 21 – Ashgabat – Nissa -Ashgabat (Turkmenistan)

After we have breakfast we will be sightseeing in one of the most beautiful cities on earth-recently added to the Guinness Book as “the Most-White Marble City in the World”! We’ll visit the Complex of Monuments of Oguz Han and Sons, a magnificent structure that is surrounded by fountains. We’ll explore Old Nissa-the capital of the Parthian Empire for 600 years and the greatest enemy of the Roman Empire. Next we’ll visit the newer part of Ashgabat, viewing beautiful modern buildings, monuments and parks. We will see the Monument of Constitution, which at 600 feet is the tallest building in Turkmenistan. In the afternoon we will check in to our hotel, and then enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch we will continue our sightseeing in Ashgabat, viewing several mosques and monuments. We’ll also visit the gorgeous Museum of Turkmen Carpets, as well as a lovely park dedicated to the pride of the Turkmen, their beautiful horses. After dinner at a local restaurant we will go for a night tour, driving along the main streets of Ashgabat and stopping to see the incredible Palace of Happiness. At the end of the night we will return to our hotel for the evening.

Day 22 – Ashgabat –Mashhad – 170 mi. (Turkmenistan/Iran)

After our breakfast we will do a bit more sightseeing in Ashgabat by going to the National Museum of History. This site is highly recommended as one of the biggest museums in Central Asia. Our next stop will be the exciting Arch of Neutrality, a very famous rocket and tripod style building symbolizing the neutral status of Turkmenistan. This building is over 300 feet tall with a 40-foot rotating statue of the first President of Turkmenistan, Saparmyrat Nyyazow (Turkmen -ashy). We will enjoy a short walking tour in the Park of Independency, viewing hundreds of fountains and statues. After lunch we will have a 3-hour drive going from Ashgabat to Mashhad, where we will catch a flight to Tehran. We will check in to a hotel in Tehran and have time to rest before dinner. After dinner we’ll spend the night in Tehran.

Day 23 – Tehran (Iran)

After breakfast at the hotel we will spend the day sightseeing in Tehran. We will visit the Museum of the Islamic Period, Golestan Palace, and Old Bazaar before stopping for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch we’ll visit the Saad Abad Complex, Niavaran Museum and the Darake Rural Area. We will wind up the day with dinner at a local restaurant and a late driving tour of the city. Tonight we will stay at the hotel in Tehran.

Day 24 - Tehran – Shiraz (Iran)

This morning after breakfast we will go to the airport in Tehran for a short flight to Shiraz. After we check in at the hotel we will have a morning excursion to Persepolis, once the capital of the Achaemenes Empire. We will visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sights, Naghesh-e-Rajab and Naghesh-e-Rostam. After breaking for lunch we will continue sightseeing at the Eram Garden, also called the Garden of Paradise. We will also see a palace and the tombs of famous Persian poets of the medieval period. We’ll have dinner at a local restaurant and spend the night in Shiraz.

Day 25 - Shiraz – Isfahan – 300 mi. (Iran)

After breakfast today we will spend about six hours driving the 300 miles to the fascinating city of Isfahan. Along the way we will stop in the ancient Persian city of Pasargadae and see the tomb of Cyrus the Great, founder of the Persian Empire. This is an archaeological and UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will also stop for lunch before going on to Isfahan, where we check in to a hotel and have dinner at a local restaurant. We will stay in Isfahan overnight.

Day 26 – Isfahan – Tehran (Iran)

We will have breakfast at the hotel before beginning our sightseeing in Isfahan. Today we will visit the Imam, Sheikh and Lotfollah Mosques, as well as the Aliqapou Palace, Vanack Church, Shaking Minarets and the Fire Temple. We will break for lunch before continuing our sightseeing, visiting the Friday Mosque and several palaces. In the evening we will fly back to Tehran for a farewell dinner, and we will spend the night in Tehran.

Day 27 – Tehran – Baku (Iran/Azerbaijan)

We will fly from Tehran to Baku after breakfast today to begin the Caucasus part of our tour. Welcome to Azerbaijan! You will be transported form the airport to your hotel to check in and rest. We will have a welcome dinner at 7:00 PM with a short introduction about Azerbaijan, located on the shores of the Caspian Sea and one of the most economically developed states of the Caucasus region. This region is rich in deposits of oil and gas. Tonight we will stay overnight at the hotel in Baku.

Day 28 – Baku – Gobustan – Baku (Azerbaijan)

After breakfast at the hotel we spend the day exploring Gobustan, where you will see more than 4000 rock carvings depicting the lifestyle of the ancient inhabitants of the area near the Caspian Sea. After lunch we’ll visit the Museum of Art. Then if the weather permits, we will take a forty- minute cruise of the Caspian Sea. We will have dinner at a local restaurant followed by a colorful folk show, and then spend the night at the hotel in Baku.

Day 29 – Baku – Absheron Peninsula – Baku (Azerbaijan)

Today after breakfast we will explore Baku, the capitol city of Azerbaijan. We will see a magnificent panoramic view of the city, and visit the Shirvan Shahs Palace and a twelfth-century architectural monument called Caravanserai. After lunch we’ll visit the Absheron Peninsula and see the Fire Worshippers Temple and historical monuments and fortresses. We will have dinner at a local restaurant and retire for the night in the hotel in Baku.

Day 30 – Baku – Shamakha – Maraza – Sheki (Azerbaijan)

We will have breakfast at the hotel before driving to Sheki, about a four-hour drive. En route we will visit mud volcanoes, The Diri Baba Mausoleum, and some mosques. We will stop for lunch at a restaurant along the way. When we arrive in Sheki we will check in to the hotel, and have time to rest before heading for dinner. We will spend the night at the hotel in Sheki.

Day 31 – Sheki – Georgia border – Telavi (Azerbaijan/Georgia)

After breakfast we will have a half –day excursion visiting Khan’s Palace and Museum of History. We will have lunch at a local restaurant and then be transported to Lagodekhi, the border between Azerbaijan and Georgia. After passing through border formalities we will begin sightseeing in Georgia. We will see the Gremi Complex, once the capitol of the Kakheti province, and visit a local family to observe the baking of Shoti, Georgian bread. We’ll be offered samples of fresh baked bread with local cheese and a cup of coffee before moving on to Telavi. There we will have dinner at a local restaurant and spend the night in a hotel in Telavi.

Day 32 – Telavi – Sighnaghi – Tbilisi (Georgia)

After breakfast at the hotel we’ll we will begin sightseeing in the Kakheti region, known for its production of wine. We will also see the Great Caucasus Mountains and the valleys of Kakheti, and have the opportunity to observe the culture and traditions of the country. We’ll visit an eleventh-century church/monastery, explore the estate of a nineteenth-century Georgian Duke, and sample a glass of wine made in a very unique and unusual method -quite different form the European method. When we continue on to Sighnaghi, the Fortified Town of Love, we’ll leisurely walk the grounds and enjoy some more wine tasting at a winery established by an American painter. Afterwards we will make our way to Tbilisi, stopping for lunch and dinner at restaurants along the way. We’ll stay overnight at a hotel in Tbilisi.

Day 33 – Tbilisi – Mtskheta – Gori – Gudauri (Georgia)

After breakfast we’ll visit the ancient capital and religious center of Georgia, Mtskheta. Mtskheta dates back over 3000 years! We will visit the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the place where the Robe of Christ is buried. Later we will go to Gori, the heart of the Kartli region, and see the Stalin Museum. We will visit a town that the Great Silk Road once passed, called the Uplistsikhe Cave Town, which dates all the way back to the first millennium BC. During the day we will stop for lunch and dinner at restaurants along the way. We’ll spend the night at a hotel in Gudauri, Georgia.

Day 34 – Gudauri – Kazbegi – Tbilisi (Georgia)

Today after breakfast we will have a stunning drive along the Tergi River traveling from Gudauri to Kazbegi. When we arrive in Kazbegi we’ll take a leisurely two-hour stroll through beautiful valleys and woodlands leading to the Gergeti Trinity Church. If the weather is clear enough we may catch a glimpse of one of the highest glaciers in the Caucasus on Mt. Kazbegi-16500 feet high. On our way back we’ll stop for lunch at a local cafe’, then walk to our vehicle and drive to Tbilisi. After checking in to our hotel accommodation we will have time for a short rest before going out to dinner at a local restaurant. After dinner we will be treated to a folk show, and then retire for the night at the hotel in Tbilisi.

Day 35 – Tbilisi-Georgia - Armenia “Sedakhlo” – Sevan-Dilijan (Georgia/Armenia)

After we have breakfast at the hotel we will embark on a walking tour of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. We’ll see churches, a synagogue and interesting nineteenth-century buildings. We’ll also view exhibits in the Georgian History Museum and walk along the main street of Tbilisi, Rustaveli Avenue. We’ll stop for lunch before driving to the Georgia/Armenia border, known as “Sedakhlo”. Once we get through border formalities we will begin getting acquainted with Armenia with visits to historic sites. We will visit the Monastic Complex, an outstanding example of medieval Armenian architecture that is included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. During the middle ages this complex served as the primary educational center for Armenian scholars and scientists. We will then drive to Dilijan, where we will check in to our hotel and have dinner at a local restaurant. We will stay overnight in Dilijan.

Day 36 – Sevan Diligan – Noravank – Khor Virap –Yerevan (Armenia)

After our hotel breakfast we will begin with a tour of Lake Sevan, the Emerald of Armenia. This is the second largest alpine fresh- water lake in the world, and the biggest in Caucasus. We will also visit the peninsula of the Sevan Monastery. Later we will drive to Selimcaravanserai, built in 1332 by Prince Orbelian. Before having lunch in a local cave café we will visit a monastery and a wine factory. We will end the day with a visit to the famous biblical Ararat Mountain, where Noah cast the anchor of his ark. We will have dinner at a restaurant and see a folk show, then spend the night in a hotel in Yerevan.

Day 37 – Yerevan – Garni –Geghard - Yerevan (Armenia)

After breakfast today we’ll drive to the Geghard Monastery, a magnificent monument of medieval Armenian architecture that is partly carved out of a mountain. From there we will continue on to Garni Temple, a citadel and pagan temple of Garni. We will enjoy lunch at a local home, where you will have the opportunity to watch the baking of “lavash”, the Armenian national bread. You will also get to observe a barbeque making process that takes place in an underground stove called a “tonir”. We will then have lunch before returning to Yerevan. Sightseeing during the latter half of our day will include visiting the depositary of ancient manuscripts called Matenadaran. Matenadaran contains historical documents of Europe and Asia that are many centuries old. We will end our day with dinner and an overnight stay in Yerevan.

Day 38 – Yerevan – Etchmiatsin – Zvartnots – Yerevan (Armenia)

This morning we will have our breakfast at the hotel and then drive to Etchmiatsin. On the way we’ll visit the St. Hripsime Church. We will have lunch in a local community, where we will taste a variety of local homemade dishes. Afterwards we will drive back to Yerevan, stopping at the ruins of the Zvartnots Temple, a great example of seventh -century architecture. For the second part of the day our main attraction will be the Armenian History Museum. Then we’ll visit the Tsitsernakeberd Memorial and Museum of Victims of Genocide. We will have a farewell dinner at a local restaurant, and spend the night in a hotel in Yerevan.

Day 39 – Departure (Armenia)

This is the last day of the tour. We will have breakfast at the hotel, and then arrange transportation to the airport for your flight home. We hope you have enjoyed your time with us and made many cherished memories!

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Republics of the Silk Road

Travel by Luxury Train to Discover Central Asia's Treasures

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Home » Trips » Luxury Group Travel » Republics of the Silk Road

Luxury Group Travel | 14 Days

• Immerse yourself in the region’s lively bazaars and engage with locals as they shop for fresh produce, artisanal bread, fragrant spices, and colorful textiles
• Visit Lake Issyk-Kul, its turquoise waters ringed by snowcapped peaks, and witness the 4,000-year-old art of golden eagle hunting alongside traditional nomads
• Enjoy tea and local delicacies at the opulent, intricately designed Kohi Nayruz Palace in little-visited Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan
• Delve into Kyrgyz cuisine at a hands-on bread making class and learn about the varied shapes and flavors this food staple has throughout the country

An arresting tapestry of cultures, landscapes, religions, and ideas, the storied Silk Road has captivated intrepid travelers for millennia and continues to capture our imaginations today. With a thoughtful blend of luxury and adventure, you discover this iconic thoroughfare, journeying to five unique countries and traversing thousands of picturesque miles in supreme comfort and style aboard the luxurious Golden Eagle train. From the alpine wonder of Kyrgyzstan and the UNESCO-listed gems of Khiva, Samarkand, and Bukhara, to the extravagance of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, and verdant, little-known Tajikistan, this epic, 14-day Central Asia travel odyssey will deliver you home transformed by the treasures you encounter in this matchless region.

Trip Overview

1 – 2.

Arrive in Almaty, Kazakhstan Stroll through Panfilov Park and visit kaleidoscopic Zenkhov Cathedral Board the elegantly appointed Golden Eagle 

3 – 4

Travel by train to Lake Issyk-Kul where you witness the ancient art of golden eagle hunting Cross the border into Kyrgyzstan and visit its charming capital city Continue west to arrive in Tashkent (Uzbekistan's capital city).

5 – 6

The Golden Eagle rolls onward to Bukhara, once Central Asia’s holiest Muslim city and its richest bazaar Time and weather permitting, enjoy an evening barbecue on the station platform Onwards to UNESCO-listed Merv, thought to have been the world's largest city in the 12th century.

7 – 8

Next, cross the border to Turkmenistan and visit the white-marble opulence of capital Ashgabat Make a stop in Ichoguz where you can view Darvaza’s famous burning gas crater Continue to the ancient city of Khiva, a World Heritage Site.

9 – 10

The UNESCO-honored statue of Amir Timur and his Ak-Saray Palace await in Shahrisabz Cross into Tajikistan and visit its capital city Dushanbe On a guided exploration of Kohi Navruz Palace, learn the fascinating history of this teahouse-turned-palace.

11 – 14

In the cultural crossroads of Samarkand, behold its numerous sensational sites, including the Registan by day and night Visit a silk factory in Margilan and a ceramics workshop in Rishtan Your final day aboard the train brings you to Kokand, site of the intricately decorated Khudayar Khan Fortress Enjoy a farewell meal aboard the Golden Eagle Arrive in Tashkent, Uzbekistan; depart.

Dates & Prices

10/05/24 – 10/18/24  

04/20/25 – 05/03/25  

09/27/25 – 10/10/25  

From $23,495 per person

• All accommodations, ground transportation, airport transfers, and gratuities
• Sightseeing, events, visits, and entrance fees
• Services of an expedition leader, lecturers, and support staff during voyage
• Personal headsets on all off-train excursions
• Expertise of GeoEx travel specialists and in-house air reservations team
• Bottled or filtered water at included meals and while sightseeing
• Emergency evacuation services and secondary medical expense insurance

When to Start Planning Your Trip

A List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Places You May Never Have Heard Of

The Epic Allure of Central Asia

Memories from the Silk Road

Scenes from a Silk Road Odyssey

Weaving the Silk Road from Xian to Rome

Similar Trips

The Silk Road

Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan

Treasures of Uzbekistan

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At Caravanistan, we spend our waking hours to guide everyone to a more meaningful travel experience on the Silk Road.

We believe in going slow. A change of pace is often more important than a change of place. See less, and experience more.

Go beyond the guidebooks and the must-sees. We aim to guide you there.

Tailormade trips, at group tour prices

Use our expertise to design your unique adventure, whether it’s a 5-star trip along Uzbekistan’s culture cities, or a demanding hike in the Tien Shan mountains.

We evaluate your request and match you with the tour operators that suit your travel ideas best.

Why choose Caravanistan ?

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You deal directly with local tour operators. We don’t put anything on top.

Competing offers

Pick the one you like best.

Cherry-picked tour operators

We only work with a few tour operators that we know well, who understand how you like to travel.

We know Central Asia

Not only have we been everywhere, we also know how things work around here.

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We have got a decade of experience in getting visas for travelers of all passports.

Highly reliable, immensely helpful, and always inspiring. Kevin Kelly, founder Wired Magazine

Go further, go slower. Experience more.

Caravanistan is kept in the air since 2011 by Saule from Kazakhstan and Steven from Belgium. For travelers, by travelers.

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CENTRAL ASIA

Silk road & caucasus, central asia tours.

central asia & silk road TOURS FAQs

What countries do your central asia tours visit.

is central asia safe to visit?

When is the best time to travel the silk road, how do we get started organising a central asia tour.

SOPHIA HUNT

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JONATHAN HOLUBEKI-FRANCE

Central asia, silk & caucasus tour destinations, 🇺🇿 uzbekistan.

🇺🇿 SAMARKAND

🇺🇿 TASHKENT

🇰🇿 KAZAKHSTAN

🇰🇿 BAIKONUR

🇹🇲 turkmenistan.

🇹🇲 ASHGABAT

🇹🇯 TAJIKISTAN & 🇰🇬 KYRGYZSTAN

🇹🇯 DUSHANBE

🇰🇬 LAKE ISSYK-KUL

🇨🇳 DUNHUANG

🇨🇳 JIAYUGUAN

🇦🇿 AZERBAIJAN

CASPIAN SEA

Interested please complete the form below.

VELVET PHAM

FAIZUL HAQUE

Tour sections quick links, private & luxury train tours, public & private train tours by start city, other tour categories.

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• Information about Uzbekistan
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The Stans: Central Asian Quintet

Central Asia, our company is a namesake of, still remains terra incognita for many westerners. It consists of the five former USSR republics of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, also known as the Stans, which became independent countries only in 1991. Hidden behind the Soviet iron curtain for nearly the whole 20th century, they are now new, and so quite intriguing, tourism destinations to explore, promising enjoyable travel experiences.

DO NOT NEED PCR test and vaccination certificate for visiting Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

CENTRAL ASIA AND UZBEKISTAN TOURS & TRAVEL

The silk road travel packages and tours private and group tours.

Tour operator  Central Asia Travel  is one of the leading tour companies of Central Asia that offers various  Silk Road Travel and Tours : guided tour packages   ( holiday packages ) to Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and other Great Silk Route’s main attractions;  adventure holidays  in Pamir and Tien-Shan Mountains; M.I.C.E. and transport services. You can find the most popular package holidays and adventure trips below:

Heritage tours

Trip to the 3 Stans – in-depth of Central Asia ***

Heritage tour

Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan

4 scheduled departures 2024

15 days: from 2825 USD

The Five Stans ***

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan

5 guaranteed departures 2024

15 days: 3595 USD

UZBEKISTAN ECO-TOUR FOLKS & CRAFTS ***

Travel to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan

3 scheduled departures 2024

10 days: 1565 USD

To the Heart of Tamerlane`s Empire ***

Heritage Tour

Travel to Uzbekistan

5 scheduled departures 2024

8 days: 1050 USD

HIDDEN TREASURES OF CENTRAL ASIA ***

Travel to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

12 days: 2955 USD

M41 Road: Pamir Highway ***

Travel to Tadjikistan

1 guaranteed departures 2024

12 days: 2645 USD

Oriental Caravan ***

2 guaranteed departures 2023

8/10 days: 969 USD

Uzbekistan: Treasure Chest with Oriental Adventures ***

April - October 2023

10 days : from 995  USD

Classic Uzbekistan tour ***

7 days: from 665 USD

Nowruz – Oriental New Year Holiday ***

Festive tour

9 days: from 872 USD

WILDERNESS OF KYRGYZSTAN ***

June - September

8 days: 1099 USD

Pure Kazakhstan ***

Travel to Kazakhstan

7 days: 910 USD

Silk Road Treasures ***

Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan

16 days: from 1739 USD

The Pearls of the East: Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan ***

Travel to Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan

April - October

10 days: from 1477  USD

Tour to Ancient Sogdiana: Tajikistan & Uzbekistan ***

Travel to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan

12 days: from 1158  USD

Uzbekistan & Kyzylkum Desert ***

9 days: 783 USD

Classic Turkmenistan tour ***

Travel to Turkmenistan

15.09 - 22.09.2019

8 days: from 1540 USD

Dinosaurs on the Silk Road ***

6 days: from 1130 USD

Along the road of ancient caravans ***

Travel to Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan

15 days: from 1360 USD

Classic Kazakhstan Tour ***

8 days: from 830 USD

SHEHERAZADE’S TALES ***

1 guaranteed date 2023

1 guaranteed date 2024

7 days: 1095 USD

Winter Holidays on the Silk Road ***

New year tour

7 days: from 650 USD

to the top »»

Gastronomic tour

Oriental dastarkhan ***

25.09 - 04.10.2023

10 days: from 1205 USD

Bicycle tour

Uzbekistan cycle tour ***

9 days: 1390 USD : from 1200 USD

• Trekking tours

Adventure Vacations In The Pamirs ***

Family Vacations

Travel to Kyrgyzstan

8 Guaranteed departures 2024

7 days: 630 USD

Trekking to Lenin Peak, climbing Yukhin Peak ***

8 days: 670 USD

Trekking to lake Sary-Chelek ***

3 Guaranteed departures 2024

8/10 days: from 990 USD

To the toe of the Khan-Tengri peak ***

Trekking tour

14 days: 3200 USD

In Tian-Shan and Pamir mountains ***

15/17 days: from 1850 USD

Pamir Alay Mountains Trekking ***

3 guaranteed departures 2024

8/9/12/13 days: from 880 USD

Heartland of Fann mountains ***

Travel to Tajikistan

2 guaranteed departures 2024

10 days: 1445 USD

Trekking to the foot of Aksu peak ***

2 Guaranteed departures 2024

9/11 days: from 1150 USD

The Best Pamir Trekking ***

18/16 days: from 1750 USD

Mountaineering

Expedition to Lenin Peak ***

8 guaranteed departures 2024

20-22 days: 2000 USD

Pamirs` Summits ***

7 guaranteed departures 2024

12 days: 1225 USD

4WD jeep tours

12 days: 1795 USD

TO THE ARAL SEA VIA KYZYLKUM DESERT ***

Jeep tour and heritage tour

15 days from: 1339 USD

1 Guaranteed departures 2024

11 days: from 1710 USD

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The Five Stans of Central Asia is is amazing travel itinerary through the five former USSR republics of Turkmenistan –Uzbekistan – Tajikistan – Kyrgyzstan – Kazakhstan, also known as the Stans, includes the main tourist attractions and must-visit destinations at the centre of the Silk Road. This region is unified by the common past and a number of similar traditions; nevertheless, each of the countries is highly unique and characterized by a range of distinctive features. Explore the Best of Central Asia in 15 Days Tour. »»»

Trekking to the foot of Lenin Peak with climbing Yukhin Peak: enjoy majestic high mountain landscapes of Pamir mountains and comfortable staying in heated tents or in traditional Kyrgyz yurts on the territory of a well-equipped yurt campsite. »»»

Pamir Alay Mountains Trekking: trekking to the Lenin Peak via the picturesque Kozho-Kelen Valley. While moving along the Alay Range we will cross two high-mountain passes to reach the canyon with waterfall and red rocks forming the "Three Dragon Gorge". It’s an unbelievably beautiful hike in one of the most popular destinations for trekking in Kyrgyzstan, made better by a handful of cozy yurt camps and mountain glampings that provide comfort along the way. »»»

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Destination, "minzifa travel: № 1 international travel agent of central asia", our best sellers packages, central asia four stans tour – explore kazakhstan, kyrgyzstan, uzbekistan, tajikistan.

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Why book your tours with Minzifa Travel?

Book your tours with Minzifa Travel for unforgettable experiences. We offer a wide range of tours tailored to different interests and budgets. Here's why you should choose us:

• Expert local knowledge: Our experienced tour guides provide insider tips and recommendations for a special trip.
• Personalized service: We understand your unique preferences and create a customized itinerary just for you.
• Quality accommodations: From luxury hotels to cozy guesthouses, we have options to suit every taste and budget.
• Responsible tourism: We support local communities and the environment through our responsible tourism practices.
• Hassle-free booking: Our user-friendly website and helpful customer service make booking easy.

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Traveling with us through the ancient cities of this sunny region will be a fascinating and unforgettable adventure for you. MINZIFA is a division of MINZIFATRAVEL, tour operator in Uzbekistan. Our department specializes in tours around Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. For the guests who would love to go through The Great Silk Road Tours, we will offer the best option and develop a special route.

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Orient Silk Road Express & Silk Road Train Tour Packages

The Silk Road Express train provides the perfect way to visit Central Asia’s magnificent main features while being treated to spectacular scenery along the way. An Orient Express Silk Road holiday will give you a chance to take in some man-made wonders, such as the ancient cities of Bukhara and Samarkand, as the Silk Route Train wind’s its way from Almaty in Kazakhstan to Tashkent in Uzbekistan on one of The Luxury Train Travel Company’s Silk Road Train travel packages.

View the tours on offer below or explore the cabin classes, life on board and frequently asked questions sections using the buttons below.

Of course, if you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to contact us.

View all the Orient Silk Road Express tour to get your trip going.

Cabin Classes

Full details of the cabin classes on the Orient Silk Road Express.

Life On Board

Learn about life on board the Orient Silk Road Express.

Frequently asked questions on the Orient Silk Road Express.

Tours on The Orient Silk Road Express Train

Below are the rail tours we offer that use the Orient Silk Road Express. Just click on any tour to open a PDF containing all you need to know about the trip.

● Please remember that booking as far ahead as you can in advance is essential for these trains ●

14 Nights From UK £ 3,430 / US $ 4,460

Contact us for quotes in other currencies

Almaty ● Bishkek ● Tashkent ● Kokand ● Shahrizabz ● Samarkand ● Khiva ● Bukhara ● Tashkent

13 Nights From UK £ 3,520 ,/ US $ 4,580

Tashkent ● Khiva ● Bukhara ● Dushanbe ● Samarkand ● Bishkek ● Almaty

13 Nights From UK £ 3,520 / US $ 4,580

Almaty ● Bishkek ● Samarkand ● Dushanbe ● Bukhara ● Khiva ● Tashkent

Orient Silk Road Express Train Gallery

A selection of photos below give a flavour of life on board the Orient Silk Road Express Train.

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How Can We Reach You?

How can we help, which orient silk road express trips are you interested in, how did you hear about us, experience the silk road railway for a once in a lifetime central asia train tour.

Although Central Asia’s Silk Route railway and its destinations may not be as world-famous as other railway journeys, that by no means makes a Silk Road Train trip any less spectacular or memorable. Orient Express Silk Road holidays are a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for most travellers and will offer unforgettable and magical moments. From the vast steppes and desert landscapes between the cities, Silk Road rail tours allow one to take the past less trodden and step away from the already beaten track. These spectacular Central Asia rail tours provide an abundance of opportunities for passengers to explore ancient excavations, witness the manufacture of traditional silks and carpets, and immerse in the breathtaking natural wonders the region offers during an Orient Silk Road Express train tour.

Your Central Asia Silk Road rail tour could start in one of the five available classes of cabins and depart from either Almaty or Tashkent. Almaty is the largest city in Kazakhstan and is tucked neatly in the foothills of the Trans-lli mountains, making it a great starting point for your 13-14 night experience onboard the Silk Road luxury train. Or begin your Silk Road rail tour in Tashkent and leave Almaty as the final spectacular destination for your Orient Express Silk Road holiday. Whichever one of these Silk Road rail tours you decide to adventure on, you’re guaranteed to experience and see things that will leave an indelible impression in your memory that will keep you wanting to return to this provocative and intriguing part of the world for another Orient Express Silk Road holiday again in the future.

Absorb Central Asian History, Culture And Cuisine From The World Famous Luxury Orient Silk Road Express Train

Central Asia has a vibrant history, with many of the region’s countries having a past steeped in yesteryear’s nomadic empires and tribes. Travelling through Central Asia on the Silkroad railway opens up a new world of cultural experiences you won’t find on more well-known train journeys. The options you’ll find for new and exciting cuisines are almost endless. Central Asian cuisine has seen a heavy influence from Turkish, Chinese, Mongol, African, Arab, Indian, and Persian cooking, all of which can be enjoyed onboard and during off-train excursions during your Silk Road Train trip. Many passengers boarding the Silk Road Train for a tour would be unfamiliar with much of the cuisine as the region is not renowned for its culinary delights. But, during your Silk Road rail tour, you’ll feast on many incredible culinary delicacies, including soups such as Laghman and Borscht and main courses like Plov, the national dish of Uzbekistan, made from rice, carrots, onions, and either mutton or beef, giving you a wonderfully unique insight into the history and culture of the people during your Orient Express Silk Road tour.

As well as being able to treat your palate to new tastes and flavours on your Central Asia train tour, the Central Asian region will flood your senses with incredible historical insights and cultural learnings. You’ll experience the excavations of the ancient Afrosiyob town in Samarkand, the Ulug Bek observatory in Bukhara, and visit Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan on your magical journey onboard our Central Asia train tours. You’ll have a truly unique opportunity to enjoy lunch with an Uzbek family during your Silk Road train trip and savour a traditional folk performance. Our Orient Express Silk Road tours will hand you plenty of liberty to explore off-train excursions that you won’t find anywhere else but on these superbly curated Central Asia train tours.

Our Silk Road Tours By Train Offer Exceptional Value With Jampacked Guided Itinerary Stops Throughout Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan And Uzbekistan

Whichever Silk Road Train trip you choose, you’ll have the vacation of a lifetime. Our options for Central Asia rail tours include 13-15 night trips on the Silk Route Railway departing from either the southeastern city of Almaty in Kazakhstan or Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan. Each Silk Route Train trip has an incredibly well-curated itinerary that allows passengers onboard the fabulous Silk Road Train to experience the best of Kazakhstan, Turkistan, and Uzbekistan. These countries are often forgotten when it comes to vacation destinations, but each of the itineraries offered by The Luxury Train Travel Company has been perfectly curated to allow passengers onboard these Central Asia rail tours to recognise and experience just how much they have to offer.

The Orient Silk Road Express journey through Central Asia lets you see the world’s second-largest mountain lake, meet local families, experience how traditional bread is baked, and enjoy local handicrafts. Silk Road rail tours also visit four UNESCO World Heritage Sites at Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, and Shakhrisabz. These Silk Road Train tours overflow with fabulous and exciting sights, experiences, and adventures, proving why Central Asia train holidays provide such great value. If you’ve ever been curious about this region of Central Asia, or if you’ve not previously considered Central Asia train tours, an Orient Silk Road Express Train tour in 2024 or 2025 could be a life-changing journey you wish you’d taken many years before.

Enjoy An Exceptional Dining Experience During Your Orient Express Silk Road Tour, Both On And Off The Train

Silk Route Train prices include all your meals onboard, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. During your Silk Route Train trip, you can order drinks from the dining car or one of the conductors in your carriage. You’ll run a tab throughout the Silk Road Train trip, which you can settle at the journey’s end by paying in USD or Euros. As well as the onboard dining, you’ll be spoilt for choice when visiting destinations. Central Asian cuisine tends to get overlooked by Indian, South East Asian, and Middle Eastern foods, but an Orient Express silk road tour will introduce you to some incredibly famous culinary delights you’ve probably heard of but didn’t know where they came from. You can try Uzbek’s shivit oshi, a green noodle dish, or obi non, wonderful flat Uzbek bread. Each Silk Road train tour and Silk Road train route will give you ample opportunity to indulge in some spectacular traditional Central Asian foods.

Heavily influenced by the culinary cultures of Russia, the Chinese, Indian, Persian, Mongol, Africa, Arab, and Turkish, you’ll find no shortage of new and exciting tastes and aromas on an Orient Silk Road Express Train. Central Asia train tours will introduce you to Uighur’s pulled noodle dish, Halva, and dessert made using flour, sugar, milk, and nuts, or Paklama, a localised version of Baklava that comes drenched in honey. There are no limits to the variety of provocative and breathtaking new culinary experiences on the Silk Road Train route. This part of Asia loves a sweet dessert as much as other parts of the globe, and you’ll be spoilt for choice in what to eat and what to take home from your Central Asian Silk Road Rail tour.

The Orient Silk Road Express Train is One of The Top Luxury Trains in The World, Making Your Silk Road Train Tour A Highly Memorable Experience!

Taking a luxury train tour is something that many people from all walks of life dream of doing at least once during their lifetime and slowly winding their way through stunning scenery, visiting incredible destinations on the route, and indulging in a feast of new culinary experiences. The Orient Silk Road Express provides passengers onboard to do all these things on our carefully curated Silk Road luxury train tours. Your first decision is which of the cabin classes you want to call home during your Silk Route Train trip. Silk Road tours by train are between 13 and 15 nights in duration and provide a wonderful level of comfort and relaxation during your Silk Road Train trip.

With five classes of accommodation available for your journey along the Silk Road Train route, you’re spoilt for choice, from the Habibi class cabin that sleeps four passengers and shared washroom facilities to the most luxurious cabin, the Kalif class. The Kalif class accommodation is the finest offered on the Orient Silk Road Express Train, and all four suites have their own bathroom facilities with separate showers. These Central Asia rail tours are incredible experiences, whichever cabin you frequent, and they all offer outstanding value to the passengers travelling on a Silk Road Train trip. If the Kalif class cabins are already fully booked by the time you register your interest in a Silk Road Train tour, each of the accommodations available onboard the Silk Road Train provide passengers with an incredible level of opulence and relaxation, allowing you to enjoy every second of your Central Asia train tour.

Explore Our Extensive Orient Silk Road Express Journey Options And Silk Road Train Tours Throughout 2024 And 2025

If you’ve always dreamt of taking a long-distance journey by rail or want to treat yourself as a retirement gift or give yourself and your significant other an unforgettable anniversary, these Orient Express Silk Road holidays provide the perfect way to enjoy rail travel to some fabulous destinations. When most people think of the Orient Express, they don’t think of Central Asia, which makes our Orient Express Silk Road tours all the more intriguing and exciting. When thinking about the Orient Express, most people would think about leaving from Paris, but Silk Road Train tours through Central Asia have grown remarkably in popularity as the destinations offer more intrigue and adventure than the more common European route.

We offer a selection of Central Asia train holidays that will travel through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, taking in some truly spectacular scenery between destinations. Silk Route train prices are incredibly competitive, and you’ll adventure on a less travelled path and create beautiful memories that will stand up to any trip on the Orient Express. Check out our Silk Road Train price list and itineraries for 2024 and 2025, and get your place booked for one of these Silk Road tours by train. The places available onboard Silk Road Train tours are very exclusive due to high demand and limited departures throughout the year. We suggest you book your Central Asia train tour onboard the Orient Express as far in advance as possible, especially for the high-level cabins, to avoid disappointment and missing out on an Orient Express Silk Road holiday.

Speak to Our Orient Express Silk Road Tour Experts Today!

If you’re considering hopping onboard the Orient Express Silk Road Train and heading off on a Central Asian adventure, contact our team of Silk Road railway experts and learn how we can help you accomplish the vacation of a lifetime. Along with providing a selection of Orient Silk Road Express Train itineraries for 2024 and 2025, departing from Almaty or Tashkent, The Luxury Train Travel Company’s in-house experts can assist you in organising and booking any off-train excursions that interest you. With our Silk Road train tours, you’ll never find yourself short of options concerning outings and jaunts you can enjoy along the Silk Road railway.

Off-train excursions could be visiting a cathedral, church, museum, or palace or spending time on a culinary adventure. Whatever you’d like to add to your Silk Road Train travel itinerary, our experienced and skilful team will do their best to accommodate your desires within the Orient Silk Road Express Train schedule. Contact our team today if you have any questions or queries or require more information regarding our Orient Silk Road Express holiday packages! Here at The Luxury Train Tavel Company, we endeavour to assist you in creating a unique experience when you book one of our Orient Express Silk Road tours. All the itineraries in our 2024/2025 Silk Road Rail tours are customisable, and our experienced Silk Road Railway experts are here to help.

THE MOST POPULAR QUESTIONS

Orient silk road express central asia tour faqs, what counties does the orient silk road express train tour travel through.

The Orient Silk Road Express travels through four countries in Central Asia during a Silkroad Railway tour. Depending on which Central Asia train tour itinerary you opt for, you could begin your vacation in Kazakhstan and then proceed to journey through Kyrgyzstan, Tadzhikistan, with and final destination of Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan.

How much do Orient Express Silk Road tours cost?

Silk Road Train prices will vary depending on the length of your Silk Road Rail tour and what class of cabin you choose to stay in. A 13-night stay onboard the Orient Silk Road Express departing from Almaty in Kazakhstan will cost less than £3700 as of May 2024. If you board the Orient Silk Road Express for a longer journey and want to stay in one of the top Kalif suites, your Silk Road train price will increase but still represent incredible value for a once-in-a-lifetime trip onboard the Orient Express.

Why does the Orient Silk Road Express offer the best Central Asia train tour?

The Orient Silk Road Express Train provides a beautiful blend of luxury and affordability for those looking to adventure in a less well-known setting. When most people think of the Orient Express, it’s fair to say that the majority would think of the Paris to Istanbul route. But going off the more familiar path and exploring Central Asia on the Silk Road Express Train makes for a wonderful variation on what has been done many times before. The Orient Silk Road Express is the most luxurious train that journeys the tracks of Central Asia, which is why it has become incredibly popular and regarded as the finest Central Asia train tour.

Do your Orient Silk Road Express holiday tours offer different Silk Road train route options?

Current 2024 Silk Road Express Train routes include 13-14 or 15-night Orient Express Silk Road holidays from Almaty to Tashkent or from Tashkent to Almaty. We can also offer a Silk Road Train route from Almaty with a final destination of Ashgabat in Turkmenistan for booking in 2024.

Which of your Silk Road Rail tours is the most popular?

All of the Silk Road Rail tours that we offer are favoured by passengers, and places onboard are at a premium and get booked quickly. The Legendary Silk Road tour from Almaty has proven to be a very popular choice among luxury Silk Road tour fans. This particular Silk Road Train trip takes in seven wonderful destinations across Uzbekistan, Kazakstan, and Kyrgyzstan. It gives the onboard guests a real insight into the culture of this beautiful region of Central Asia. As well as visiting incredible destinations, this Central Asia train tour introduces those onboard to the people who live there and the wonderfully diverse and rich culinary cultures. In truth, each of the Orient Express Silk Road tours that currently offer would provide an excellent opportunity to immerse in Central Asian culture that is often overlooked and ignored. We have curated each itinerary to allow passengers to soak up as much of each destination along the Silk Road Train route while maintaining a relaxed and laid-back pace.

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7 Amazing Stops To Experience Along The Silk Road

T he Silk Road is a legendary but very real 4,000-mile-plus-long trade route that connected Europe with China in a quest to not only buy silk but also shift plenty of other merchandise, such as spices and natural resources, along the way. Made up of many separate roads, including water routes across the Mediterranean from Venice or the Frankincense route from Oman, it used to take months and years to travel along the route. As a result, many cities and centers of learning sprang up along the way to help further the exchange, not only of goods but also knowledge.

I have been fascinated with the Silk Road ever since I read William Dalrymple’s In Xanadu: A Quest decades ago. But to travel along the many routes is not only extremely time-consuming but also a logistical nightmare due to conflicts, borders, difficulties obtaining visas, and a lack of connecting flights. So, instead, I bought a huge map and started to take shorter travels to some of the cities along the way, connecting the dots as I go.

I still have many places to see, some already booked, such as Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva in Uzbekistan later this year. Others are still in the planning stages, such as Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan, Xi’an in China, and the constant dream about visiting Iran one day. So, watch out for part II of this story.

In the meantime, here are some fabulous cities I have discovered so far — all offering a Silk Road connection and many legendary sights to see.

1. Istanbul, Turkiye

Istanbul , or Constantinople as it was then, was the official endpoint of the Silk Road, but I started my quest from Europe, so to me, Istanbul is the gateway to Asia and the Silk Road. Old Constantinople was not only the connection to the Mediterranean and Black Sea but it was a rich center of learning and a bustling trade hub. To get a feeling for what it must have been like in the Silk Road days, head straight to the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar, which opened in the mid-1400s. This was admittedly toward the end of the heyday of the ancient Silk Road, but it still would have welcomed traders from far away.

Pro Tip: The Silk Road then moved inland through the modern-day capital of Ankara toward the Caspian Sea, with many exciting stops along the way. To really get a feeling for the importance of the Silk Road in Turkiye, book a 10-day tour to find out more and stop in caravanserais along the way. ( Caravanserais were roadside inns along the Silk Road for passing traders and travelers.)

2. Yerevan, Armenia

The capital of Armenia, Yerevan is not only one of the oldest inhabited cities on Earth but also a city that offers both ancient history and modern art, culture, and tradition as well as a palatable joie de vivre with cafés and terraces on every street. The best place to start your visit is at the Cascade Complex, a set of stairs leading from the sculpture park below, up 572 steps to a view across the city. With the mountains of Great Ararat and Little Ararat on the horizon, the Ararat Valley is also a major route through the region. Note that within the Cafesjian Arts Centre on the left of the steps is a series of escalators that save your legs on the way up. (I just wish I had found them before I climbed to the top!) The city itself is great to relax in, walk and explore, but it is also a perfect base for day trips to the many monasteries and Silk Road caravanserais located within the countryside. Armenia is a relatively small country, very mountainous, with lakes and valleys, and so much history, all quite easily visited during organized and guided tours .

Pro Tip: You can get a driver to take you from Yerevan all the way to Tbilisi, the next stop below, taking in some sights along the way. It is around a 5-hour drive from capital to capital but very scenic.

3. Tbilisi, Georgia

Tbilisi may not be one of the better-known stops along the main route, but it was an often-used detour to rest weary travel bones in the city’s famous hot springs. The ancient baths along the springs have not changed at all since the Silk Road days. And to get a feeling for where travel-worn merchants would have stayed, head straight to the Tbilisi History Museum . It’s set in an old caravanserai where there were rooms for travelers, spaces and food for camels, and a market spot to trade at while you’re there. Today, the open space not only holds the history and a museum but also, down in the basement, a wine museum complete with a wine bar. And that might well have been another reason to stop off in Tbilisi; the Georgian wine is rather good.

Pro Tip: To keep in with the theme, don’t miss the State Silk Museum to learn more about the material that bore the trade route.

4. Baku, Azerbaijan

On the coast of the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan’s capital city of Baku offers a superbly preserved look at Silk Road sights as they were when traders stopped to trade spices and cashmere on the way from India. The first stop should be the walled city of Icherisheher, with the Maiden Tower, its mosque, bazaar, and the wonderful Palace of the Shirvanshahs. There are also still many caravanserais dotted throughout the modern city, such as the lovely space around the Zoroastrian Fire Temple .

Pro Tip: To see more of the Land of Fire, where you find burning hills, petroglyphs, and mud volcanoes (all of which must have fascinated the Silk Road travelers even in the old days), book a private tour to Sheki .

5. Almaty, Kazakhstan

The first thing that struck me when arriving in Almaty was the snow-capped mountains that loomed on the horizon. They must have offered a mighty challenge to ancient merchants. Traveling through these mountain ranges hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago on camel or horseback must have been daunting. But they came and stayed a while in the green valleys around Almaty, probably gorging themselves on the plentiful apples that originate here. Here, there were craftsmen who mended armor and riding gear, and apparently, the jewelry trade was very popular. Something nice to bring back home after years on the road, I guess.

Pro Tip: Kazakhstan is a vast country and Almaty only offers a tiny glimpse. So, why not search out more Silk Road sights on a 4-day tour ?

6. Fatehpur Sikri, India

Fatehpur Sikri — the City of Victory in the State of Uttar Pradesh’s Agra District in northern India — is often simply visited because it is close (ish) to the Taj Mahal . When I first visited this abandoned city years ago, I had no idea that it had a Silk Road connection. So, when I was putting pins into my Silk Road map, I was utterly delighted that I had stopped there.

Built in 1571 as the capital of the Mughal Empire, Fatehpur Sikri soon became a trading post for passing Silk Road routes because of the Mughal emperor’s patronage of the arts, crafts, and the court’s love of luxury goods, including silk. Abandoned by its emperor Akbar in 1585, Fatehpur remained a trading hub and center of craftsmanship. It still had one of India’s largest mosques and was a center of learning and religion. The city remained an important stop along the northern routes, so much so that in 1803, the trading giant East India Company settled there until 1850.

Pro Tip: When you find yourself in northern India, you will undoubtedly visit the Taj Mahal. Combine your trip with a visit to Fatehpur Sikri to marvel at this great abandoned city.

7. Beijing, China

While in ancient times, Xi’an was the last — or first — stop along the Silk Road, when the failing trade along the routes was restarted under Mongol rule in the 14th and 15th centuries, the route was expanded through China to eventually have Beijing as its starting point, or terminus. But even before then, intrepid merchant Marco Polo visited Beijing, or as it was then called, Dadu, the Great Capital, in the late 1200s. Giving you an idea of quite how long the Silk Road has been in operation, Marco Polo would have been in Beijing more than 100 years before the Forbidden City was even designed. But what he would have seen is the Pagoda of the Tianning Temple , the Great Wall of China, and, of course, the Marco Polo Bridge, which dates to 1189.

Pro Tip: Read The Travels of Marco Polo , but do it with a huge pinch of salt, as he is known to have made things up as he went. He was also not necessarily a good writer, but just the thought that he wrote those diary entries around the turn of the 13th century, and many of the sights he describes are still there, is quite mind-blowing.

This article originally appeared on TravelAwaits

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What is the difference between these 2 Moscow metro tours on the same tour group page? One is less expensive than the other but both have positive reviews.

https://www.getyourguide.com/moscow-l181/moscow-2-hour-metro-tour-t92409/

https://www.getyourguide.com/moscow-l181/moscow-metro-tour-t19283/

We would like to go on this tour but could not decide which one to book. Thank you.

I see the only difference - one mentioned Spanish-speaking guide, the other not-presumably English...

I've seen one more - for 60+ euro!

Looks a bit unreal :)))

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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Moscow Metro

Introduction of moscow subway system (metro).

Nowadays the Moscow Metro has 12 lines, light subway and monorail. All stations are unique and beautiful in their own way. Unfortunately, in order to visit them all, you need to spend many days. I invite guests to visit the ones that have the greatest cultural and historical interest from my point of view. Among them are the Revolution Square, Arbatskaya, Kievskaya (Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya Line № 3); Kievskaya, Belarusskaya, Novoslobodskaya, Komsomolskaya (the Ring line number 5). Let us dwell a bit on each.

Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya Line

Subway station "revolution square".

Most recently - in the year 2008-2010 – the Eastern lobby was renovated. Because of the terrorist attacks in the Moscow subway that took place several hours before the planned opening of the East lobby after renovation, the solemn part of the event was canceled.

Subway station Arbatskaya

Subway Arbatskaya is located on the same subway line as the station "Revolution Square." It was founded in 1953. It received the name in honor of the Arbat Street. It has one ground lobby (Western). Initially, the lobby was in a separate building, but the new building of the General Staff of the Ministry of Defense started, the lobby appeared to be in its atrium. The old exits were bricked up; a new entrance was built into the building of General Staff of the street Vozdvizhenka. There is a huge frame with a missing portrait in the ground lobby - until mid-1950 there was a portrait of Stalin. According to some reports, it survived, but closed with plaster.

The lobby was restored and partially reconstructed in 2007-2008.

The depth of the station is 41 meters.

Pylons are finished with red marble at the bottom, decorated with bouquets of flowers made from ceramics. The floor is laid out with gray granite. The walls lined with glazed ceramic tiles, white top and black bottom. The station hall is illuminated by massive bronze chandeliers in the form of rings.

Subway station Kievskaya

There are several subway stations "Kievskaya" in Moscow, located on different branches. This name is quite popular. It comes from the capital of Ukraine - one of Russia's nearest neighbors - the city of Kiev. The name is fully consistent with the idea of the subway station. The interior the station devoted to Soviet Ukraine and the reunification of Ukraine and Russia. The station is decorated with a large number of paintings .Twenty four murals depicting workers of Soviet Ukraine are placed on the arch above the pylons. The wall from the side of platform also contains frescos, mainly with images of fantastic plants. Pylons are decorated with light marble and additionally decorated with colorful ceramic cornice. The butt of the station has a large mosaic, depicting festivities to celebrate the 300 anniversary of the reunification of Ukraine and Russia.

Opened in 1953, this subway station for a long time was the final (1953-2003).

The station has one lobby, combined with the station ring line and located in the building of the Kievskaya railway station. The diameter of the central hall station is 9.5 m, the diameter of side one is 8.5 m. The depth of the station is 38 meters.

= Ring Line Subway =

It opened in 1954. The station received its name after the Kiev station, and locked the Ring line. During the construction of the station many projects were proposed, but the victory in the competition won the Kiev architects who made the construction of the station. It is the only station of the Ring Line which is not located in the Central Administrative District of Moscow.

The station has a pylon structure. Eighteen pylons are decorated with mosaic panels of glazes, decorated on the theme of Ukrainian history and friendship between the Ukrainian and Russian peoples, which started in the mid-17 century.

On the front wall of the central hall of the station a large panel with molding in the form of flags and a mosaic portrait of Lenin in the center are located. There are lines of the Soviet national anthem around the portrait, and under the portrait - the words of Lenin. One of the ways out of the station was designed by French architects modeled on the Paris Subway in 2006.

At one of the mosaics – “The Struggle for Soviet power in Ukraine "- modern passengers observe a mobile phone and PDA in the hand of one of the guerrillas, and on his knees - a laptop. In fact, he uses a field telephone, which was really a heavy thing (guerrillas holds it in two hands), and thing that people see a laptop is the lid of a box with a telephone. However, these phones have begun to produce only in the second half of the 20-ies of XX century. We must assume that the mosaic depicts a foreign field telephone transmitter.

Subway station Belorusskaya

The founded of the station was in 1952. It received the name after the Belarusian railway station nearby. The station has two ground-based lobbies. The Western one goes to Tverskaya  Zastava. It is decorated with beautiful carvings. The Eastern one leads to Butyrskiy shaft and Forest Street. The Eastern lobby is known for its majolica panels.

The station Belorusskaya is located at a depth of 42.5 m below ground. The diameter of the central hall is 9.5 meters.

Pylons are faced with light marble. The walls lined with white ceramic tiles, the floor is covered with ceramic tiles, gray, white and red colors. Lamps placed on pylons, in the form of vases made of glass and marble. The theme of decoration is economy and culture of Belarus. Decorative pattern on the floor repeats the theme of traditional Belarusian embroidery. Decorations of the ceiling consist of stucco decorations and 12 mosaic panels depicting the life of the Belarusian people.

Subway station Novoslobodskaya

Built in 1952, Subway station Novoslobodskaya got its name from the eponymous street:  the station is located at the very beginning of it.

Novoslobodskaya is pylon station of deep foundation (its depth is 40 m) with three arches.

Exit to the street is through the ground lobby with column portico, located on Novoslobodskaya Street lined with gray marble. Pylons of the underground station are faced with marble from the Urals. Thirty two spectacularly illuminated stained-glasses, placed inside the pylon and bordered by steel and gilt brass are splendid decoration of the station. A remarkable mosaic "World Peace" is located at the end of the central hall. The picture depicts a happy mother with a baby in her arms; it was the face of Stalin at the picture: the child gave a hand to him. But in times of Khrushchev the face of the former leader of USSR was removed from the panel. The walls are lined with bright marble; floor is covered with white and black granite slabs, placed in a checkerboard pattern.

Subway station Komsomolskaya

The station was built in 1952 and named in honor of the Komsomolskaya Square, which is situated nearby.

This subway station is the station of the deep bedding. Its depth is 37 meters. The station has column and three- arched design. Cast iron decoration is used in the construction, monolithic slab used as a tray for a collapsible finishing. The length of the boarding hall is 190 meters; width of it is 10 meters. There are 68 octagonal columns at station.

The main theme of the interior of the station is the fighting of the Russian people for their independence. The ceiling is decorated with eight station mosaic mural made from glazes and precious stones. Six of them represent the Alexander Nevsky, Dmitry Donskoy, Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky, Alexander Suvorov and Mikhail Kutuzov, the Soviet soldiers and officers at the walls of the Reichstag.

 Two other panels, depicting Stalin ("Victory Parade" and "Presentation of the Guards Banner"), were replaced after the dethronement of Stalin's personality cult in 1963. New panels depict Lenin's speech in front of the Red Guards and the Motherland on the background of the Kremlin's Spasskaya Tower.

The yellow ceiling is decorated with mosaic and moldings. The hall is illuminated by massive chandeliers hanging between the panels; platforms are illuminated with smaller chandeliers. The columns are decorated with marble capitals and trimmed with light marble, as well as the wall station. The floor is laid with pink granite. There is a bust of Lenin at the end of the hall. At the opposite end of the escalator is a large Florentine mosaic of the Order of Victory with red banners on the background. The ground lobby of the station is decorated with bas-reliefs.

In conclusion...

Each of the stations of the Moscow subway is attractive and interesting in its own way. Each has its own long and fascinating history and is beautifully decorated. The Moscow subway is a whole world, which can be talking about for hours. I suggest you short - no more than one hour and a half - and a fascinating journey through the world of the Moscow subway. The pleasure is guaranteed!

Sculpture Park "Art Muzeon"

Mausoleum and necropolis.

• Bombing in Moscow Metro On March 29, 2010, another tragic event happened in Moscow that shocked not only the citizens of the Russian Federation, but also many people from countries that oppose the threat of terrorism. In the early morning rush hour, two women bearing suicide weapons blasted themselves in the subway trains of the Moscow Metro.
• The Best Redesign of Moscow Metropolitan Map 2013 Russia's leading internet and graphic design agency has won an online vote for the best redesign of the Moscow Metro map. Art. Lebedev Studio is a design company in Russia, founded in 1995 by Artemy Lebedev. They redrew the Moscow Metro map for a second time in three years, with even cleaner graphics and a raft of new details and won more than 50% of the online vote.

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Russia rounds up migrants celebrating New Year’s Eve and enlists them to fight in Ukraine

Some 3,000 labour migrants detained in st petersburg alone as vladimir putin takes to increasingly desperate measures to make up for ukraine war losses, article bookmarked.

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Vladimir Putin took advantage of New Year’s Eve celebrations to round up suspected illegal immigrants and force them to immediately enlist in his war against Ukraine, according to multiple local media reports.

Some 3,000 migrants were detained in St Petersburg alone, as authorities patrolled the streets of Russia’s second largest city carrying out checks purportedly “to prevent crime”, reported the Kremlin’s RIA news agency.

Labour migrants from central Asia perform vital services across Russia’s economy, which is struggling amid the drain of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and the international isolation that has come as a result.

Yet Putin has repeatedly vilified them as “not an easy problem” to be addressed, and now appears to be recruiting them to make up for the heavy losses he is suffering in Donetsk and Kharkiv .

Some of the migrants held across Russian cities were handed on-the-spot military summonses, while others were forcibly taken to military enlistment offices, reported the Moscow Times . The migrants are predominantly from central Asian nations such as Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia.

The authorities claimed that more than 600 of those detained were in breach of various clauses of migration legislation. More than 100 now face deportation, the report added.

A man from Tajikistan who was dressed as Santa Claus was among those held by the authorities in Moscow, reported Russian online news outlet SOTA.

The raids on Sunday night were carried out near metro stations as well as at popular gathering points for seeing in the new year, such as squares in central St Petersburg, reported news outlet Bumaga.

Russia’s top investigative organ, the Investigative Committee, said it was opening a criminal case against three migrants over “acts of hooliganism” against Russian servicemen in the west-central Russian city Chelyabinsk.

“A crowd of drunken migrants attacked two young men demobilised from the frontline, one soldier was hit with a baton,” the committee said on their official Telegram channel. The reports cannot be independently verified, with Russian media closely controlled by the Kremlin.

In a recent address Putin said Russia has more than 10 million labour migrants. The Russian government has taken increasingly desperate measures to expand its armed forces amid the losses it has suffered in Ukraine, including extending the age limit for compulsory military service.

Last month, Putin signed a decree to increase the maximum size of his armed forces by 170,000 personnel, to 1.32 million.

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