Silk Road: Central Asian Odyssey

The tour will begin early afternoon at our hotel in Bishkek, one of the world’s more relaxed capitals. After a spot of lunch, we will make a short walking tour to see the main sights and watch the spectacle that is the Changing of the Guards. This evening, we will enjoy a local dinner - soaking up the city by night.

Today we’ll have a look around this small city, one of the world’s more relaxed capitals, visiting the excellent museum and taking a wander around the bustling Osh Bazaar.

Our journey starts in earnest this morning as we begin a full day’s drive along the fertile Chuy Valley and then up through the mountains to the beautiful Son Kul. Here we will stay in a yurt camp on the side of this spectacular 3,000m glacial lake and have a chance to venture out and meet the local nomads who spend their summers here. Tonight we will have a traditional Kyrgyz nomad’s dinner replete with vodka toasts! Driving distance 360km, 6-7 hours approx.

Today we’ll be free to explore this beautiful region, either on foot or on horseback (optional and payable locally). Anyone wanting to can hang out around the camp, watching the nomads go about their traditional life or watch the extraordinarily varied bird life on the lake. There might even be a game of Kok Baru (Buzkashi) to watch in the afternoon.

Leaving early this morning, we will spend the day driving towards the famous Silk Road caravanserai of Tash Rabat through one of the most spectacular regions of the Tien Shan, the Mountains of Heaven. On arrival, we’ll settle into our cosy yurts for the evening. Driving distance 230-250km, 5-6 hours approx.

After exploring the 11th century caravanserai today there will be a chance to either walk or ride (optional and payable locally) through these beautiful mountains. Being so peaceful and seemingly remote, it is sometimes hard to imagine that these were once major thoroughfares for Silk Road caravans. Those wanting a more laid back day can simply walk around the lush, green valley - home to horses, yaks, sheep and, of course, nomads. Tonight we’ll have another traditional dinner in the home of our hosts.

Today we have a long drive but through some really stunning mountain scenery. We’ll stop en route for a picnic lunch and the odd photo opportunity. Arriving in the small village of Kazarman this evening, we’ll stay with a local family and enjoy some of their home-cooking. Driving distance 330km, 8-9 hours approx.

This morning we’ll drive over Kaldama Ashuu pass, which at 3062m offers some amazing views. We'll stop in Jalal-Abad for lunch with a local family and then continue on to the ancient city of Osh, where we’ll have a chance for some sightseeing this afternoon. We’ll visit Solomon’s Throne – Suleiman Too – the rock that looms over the city and is an important Muslim pilgrimage site protected by UNESCO. Tonight we’ll stay in the wonderful home of our friend Imanjan, enjoying traditional cuisine and hospitality.

After breakfast we say goodbye to our Kyrgyz team and cross the border into Uzbekistan (our third ‘stan), where we drive through the Fergana Valley. This incredibly fertile region was the breadbasket of the Central Asian USSR and is still one of the wealthiest parts of the whole region. Our first stop today will be in the town of Margilon, centre of the still thriving silk trade in the area. Here we hope to see the entire silk-weaving process from cocoon to end product. We will also visit nearby Rishton,renowned for its blue and green ceramics. We continue to Kokand to spend the night.

Most traffic these days now leaves the Fergana Valley via a new route to Tashkent. However, we plan to stick as close as possible to the original Silk Road route by following the famous Syr Darya River into Tajikistan. After a picnic lunch by the beautiful Kairakum reservoir, we continue to the Silk Road town of Khodjent, which once played host to Alexander the Great’s armies. We check in to our homestay and have dinner in the shady courtyard, prepared by our hospitable host Hussein.

After a look around Khodjent we will continue our journey as we drive up to 2800m over the Shakristan Pass and through the 6km-long tunnel to arrive in the Fann Mountains. This is an area of outstanding natural beauty lying south of the Zarafshan River and the legendary Iskandar Kul (the lake of Alexander the Great, 2200m). Tonight we’ll stay at a guesthouse in the beautiful village of Saratog, where the scenery is totally unspoilt. Driving distance 260km, 4-5 hours approx.

We’ll have a full day to explore the famed alpine scenery of this rarely visited part of Central Asia. Abounding in deep blue lakes and sporadically inhabited by Tajik pastoralists, the area is still relatively undiscovered and allows for a fascinating insight into this gem of a country.

Descending from the striking Fann Mountains today, you will take the four-hour drive west into the greener Zerafshan valley and on to Penjikent, one of Tajikistan's historical highlights. It is also home to Penjikent Plov, known as the best in country due to its unique local rice. This afternoon, we will visit the Ethnographic museum for an introduction to the culture and history of this ancient city before heading to the city bazaar to meet some of the locals and soak up the atmosphere. Later this afternoon, we head for the 2,000-year-old ruins of Penjikent. This Sogdian town was once home to 20,000 people during the early days of the Silk Road and in its on-site museum you can see some of the frescoes that once adorned the walls of the city's better homes. Wandering the ruined streets, you can easily imagine the well-laden caravans that would have passed this way. Notable sites here include the ruler's fortified citadel; the Shakhristan (inner walled city), that contained two Zoroastrian temples; and the Necropolis.

Our final Tajik excursion today will be en route to the Uzbek border. Sarazm is a UNESCO World Heritage site, one of the oldest settlements in Central Asia and yet only began being excavated in 1976 after a local man was found to have secretly discovered a bronze axe. An exciting site to visit as discovery continues, with the religion of these people from over 5,500 years ago is yet to become clear. We will then continue the short distance further to the Uzbek border before reaching the most famous of all of Silk Road cities, Samarkand.

We’ll enjoy a full day wandering through this incredible city, taking in such sights as the Bibi Khanym mosque, Tamerlane’s tomb and, of course, a full guided visit to the magnificent Registan.

Today we’ll drive along the Royal Road to Bukhara, stopping during the journey to look at the remains of an old caravanserai and to enjoy lunch. On arrival in Bukhara, we will familiarise ourselves with the town’s mellow streets and alleyways. There will be some free time before dinner this evening. Driving distance 300km, 4-5 hours approx.

We have all morning for sightseeing today. Starting with the Ismaili Samani mausoleum, we will continue via the Jama Majid (or the mosque of forty pillars) to the Ark where Connolly and Stoddard – two luckless British officers – met their deaths while playing the Great Game. From here we will visit the historically important Zindan, followed by the Kolan Minaret and beautiful mosques and madrassas that lie beneath it. En route there is silk weaving, knife making and metal engraving. We will have the remainder of the day free for shopping and generally relaxing in this most characterful of the old Silk Road towns.

With a second full-day in Bukhara, we’ll spend the morning visiting the SitoraiMokhi Hosa, the impressive summer residence of last Emir of Bukhara. Once more the afternoon has been left free for personal exploration of this endlessly fascinating place, which remains for many, the most evocative of all the Silk Road towns.

After a morning in Bukhara, schedules permitting we plan to take an afternoon train to Khiva - checking into our hotel in the heart of this UNESCO protected old town. This evening there will be time to take a first wander around the quiet streets of this wonderfully preserved Silk Road city. If the train schedules (which are always subject to change) do not allow for this, we'll take a full day's drive across the desert to Khiva instead.

There’ll be ample time to soak up the atmosphere of Khiva today.We’ll visit some of the most colourful and sumptuous sites, including the Kukhna Arc, the Mohammed Khan Madrassa, and the Alloquli Khan Madrassa, bazaar and caravanserai. In addition, we will see the Kalta Minor Minaret, and Jama Majid Mosque with its amazing wooden pillars, before enjoying some free time to explore further at your leisure.

Taking a morning flight to the Uzbek capital, we then have the rest of the day to look around some of the main sights of Tashkent. We’ll take in the Khast Imam Complex which houses a 7th century Koran, as well as Independence Square and Chorsu Bazaar. Tonight we’ll enjoy a farewell dinner and a chance to reflect on our journey.

Today those taking the suggested group flights will depart early in the morning before breakfast. For those that have made alternative arrangements, the tour will finish after breakfast this morning.