Trip Overview
If there are two, must see Central Asian countries on the Silk Route, they are Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan; two very different destinations with a mutual history stretching from antiquity to the days of the Soviet Union.
Uzbekistan is the more visited of the two, because of its fabulous culture and Islamic architectural splendour. The cities of Khiva, Bukhara and fabled Samarkand are really unrivalled. Each has its own unique flavour, history and monuments. The sheer grandeur and colour of Samarkand make it peerless, whereas the quiet beauty of Bukhara and the tranquillity of Khiva make both unmissable.
Kyrgyzstan is about the vast mountains, valleys and lakes of the Tian Shan Mountains and the nomadic horsemen that live there, who become our hosts and guides. It’s a wonderful place for hiking and riding. Add in the deserts of Turkmenistan and the bizarre Darvaza Crater and you have an epic journey.
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70% Highlights
Wild camp near the 'Door to Hell' Darvaza Crater
Guided tour of the ancient and beautiful city of Khiva
3 nights in Bukhara with guided tour of the many unique sites
Overnight in the Kyzylkum Desert staying in yurts
Guided tour of the historic city of Samarkand and surrounding area
See the silk-weavers of the Fergana Valley
Stay in traditional felt yurts at the incredible Song KÖl Lake
Experience the daily life of the Kyrgyz mountain shepherds
See a demonstration from a traditional eagle hunter near Kochkor
Trek into the wilds of the Jeti-Oghuz Gorge
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An easy relaxed pace with plenty of hotels, yurt home stays and beautiful wild camps. Off the beaten track travel, day hikes and horse riding mixed with city and cultural tours to make this a well balanced and fascinating journey.
Border Information: if joining in Bishkek, you will most likely enter Kyrgyzstan at Bishkek Manas International Airport (IATA code: FRU).
There will be a pre-departure meeting at 10:00am - please look out for a note from your leader at the reception of the joining hotel upon arrival with more details about this important meeting. Your leader will need to carefully check your visas at this initial meeting.
The rest of the day is free for you to explore this relaxed and atmospheric city.
Please note that many of the options listed below will only be possible for those with extra time in Bishkek before the start of your trip with us - please contact the Sales team if you would like to book pre-tour accommodation with us to have extra time exploring Bishkek.
In Bishkek we will stay in a comfortable hotel with good facilities.
*Important note - do not bring any medicines containing tramadol, codeine, temazepam, morphine or opiates to Central Asia. These are illegal in all circumstances in most of Central Asia and you will risk arrest. If in doubt about a particular medicine, please do not bring it. See the notes at the bottom for more details.*
*Another important note - please be aware that all itineraries in Kyrgyzstan are highly weather-dependent. The itinerary described in these notes are a statement of best intention, but we must approach each trip in Kyrgyzstan with a large degree of flexibility, as our leaders and local guides will have to 'play things by ear' according to the local conditions and weather. In low season certain routes become impossible and it may become far too cold to camp - in all cases there are fantastic and well-tried alternatives in place which means we can always run an excellent and comprehensive trip here, but please do not treat the exact details of the itinerary listed here as gospel - thanks for your understanding!*
Daily Activities
These activities are not included in the itinerary, however they are available to book and/or payable locally.
Begin our journey in picturesque Bishkek
Freely explore the vast Osh Bazaar, Bishkek's largest market
The next 2 days will need to be fairly flexible. Many of the group will apply for Uzbekistan visas in Bishkek. However, the Uzbek Embassy opening times will often vary and therefore our itinerary will need to remain flexible over the next 2 days to accommodate this.
As a general guide, we will most likely spend our first night camping in stunning mountainous Ala Archa National Park near to Bishkek. We will then return to Bishkek on the following day in order to submit our visa applications. Once this is process is complete we will continue to Chong Kemin National Park, where we will have free time to explore and hike in this beautiful area, or to get involved in an optional white water rafting excursion if time allows.
In Chong Kemin and Ala Archa we will wild camp. If it is too cold or simply preferred by the group, we may choose to camp in the grounds of a guesthouse in Ashu, a village in the Chong Kemin valley, where there could be the possibility to upgrade to rooms.
Estimated Drive Times - 3-5 hours each day (please note that all drive times given here are the approximate number of hours that the truck will be in motion only, and does not include any time taken for coffee or lunch stops, border crossings, photo stops, activities en route, comfort breaks, shopping stops, toilet stops, etc. The times given are approximate estimates only and whilst given with the best of intentions, the drive times are heavily dependent on traffic, road conditions, weather, police roadblocks, and many other factors - flexibility is essential on any overland trip!).
Daily Activities
Get off the beaten track with 3 nights wild camping and a leisurely overland journey through the stunning mountains and National Parks of Kyrgyzstan
These activities are not included in the itinerary, however they are available to book and/or payable locally.
Explore the beautiful Chong Kemin valley on horseback
Head out on a white-water rafting adventure through the stunning Chong Kemin valley
Wild camping and hiking in the beauty of Ala Archa Gorge
Today we will drive to the northern shore of Lake Issyk Köl and visit the ancient petroglyphs at Cholpon Ata. We will then continue to the Russian-style town of Karakol, where we will have a free evening to explore and relax!
In Karakol we will stay in a decent local hotel.
Estimated Drive Time - 5-6 hours.
Daily Activities
Tourist time: pedalos, sand, sun. On Lake Issyk-Kul, it?s a time warp
Today we drive up into the mountains to the alpine trekking region of Jeti Oguz.
The next day we will have a free day to hike in the incredible scenery here, or take an optional horse ride with some of the local nomads!
In Jeti Oguz we will camp close to a local family yurt.
Estimated Drive Time - 3-4 hours.
Please note that on trips in the low season we may not be able to camp in Jeti Oguz due to low temperatures. If this is the case, we will take a stunning and incredible drive up a mountain in a Russian 4x4 truck to Altyn Arashan, a hot spring development in a stunning alpine setting, staying in dormitory accommodation. We will then stay for 1 night in a local hotel at the base of Jeti Oguz Valley (allowing time for some day walks).
Daily Activities
Trek into the wilds of the Jeti-Oghuz Gorge on the edge of the Tian Shan mountains
These activities are not included in the itinerary, however they are available to book and/or payable locally.
Explore the incredible mountain landscapes of the Jeti Oguz Valley by horseback
Today we drive to the small
Whilst here we will visit a small museum and women's felt making cooperative that produces 'shyrdaks', the felt carpets for which
In Kochkor we will stay in family-run guesthouses, accommodating up to 8 guests in each home.
Estimated Drive Time - 4-5 hours.
Daily Activities
Overnight homestay at a traditional rural Kyrgyz village
See the traditional felt workshops or Kochkor and learn about how Kyrgyz carpets and hats are typically made here
These activities are not included in the itinerary, however they are available to book and/or payable locally.
Today we will drive to the incredible Song Köl Lake, where we will spend the next two nights.
We will have free time here to explore the area, and to enjoy some optional activities including hiking or horse-riding!
At Song Köl we will stay in traditional felt yurts.
Estimated Drive Time - 4-7 hours.
Please note that trips during the low season will not be able to visit Song Köl Lake, as temperatures will be below freezing, the road will be snowed over, and there will be no yurts to stay in! Instead we will likely stay in yurts on the southern shore of Lake Issyk Köl.
Daily Activities
Experience the daily life of the Kyrgyz mountain shepherds.
We will spend the next 3 days overlanding through the stunning and remote Kyrgyz Fergana Valley, stopping often to admire the views and perhaps take some impromptu hikes in the hills and countryside.
During these days we plan to wild camp en route. Please note that trips running in low season (May to mid-June and October to November), we may not be able to camp if temperatures are too low, in which case we will stay in local guesthouses along the route instead.
Estimated Drive Times - 4-8 hours each day.
Daily Activities
Get off the beaten track with 3 nights wild camping and a leisurely overland journey through the stunning mountains and National Parks of Kyrgyzstan
Today we will complete our drive to Arslanbob in
In Arslanbob we will stay overnight in a local family-run guesthouse.
Estimated Drive Time - 6-7 hours.
Border information: Exit Kyrgyzstan at Dustlik, enter Uzbekistan at Andijon.
Today we will have a full day's drive across the Uzbek border to the eastern city of Fergana.
In Fergana we will stay in a basic local hotel.
Estimated Drive Time - 4-5 hours.
Daily Activities
These activities are not included in the itinerary, however they are available to book and/or payable locally.
Overland through Uzbekistan's Fergana Valley including historic Kokand and Fergana City
Explore the impressive 19th-century Juma Mosque in Kokand in the stunning Fergana Valley
See the silk-weavers of the Fergana Valley at the Yodgorlik Silk Factory
This morning we travel in local transport to Kokand, where we will have the oppurtunity to visit the Khudayar Khan's Palace and the nearby Margilan Silk Factory before completing the journey over the Kamchik Pass to Tashkent, the Uzbek capital.
The truck must pass over the Kamchik Pass without passengers and will rejoin us this evening in Tashkent.
In Tashkent we will stay in a comfortable hotel with good facilities.
Estimated Drive Time - 5-6 hours.
Border Information: if joining in Tashkent, you will most likely enter Uzbekistan at Tashkent International Airport (IATA code: TAS).
There will be a pre-departure meeting at 10:00am - please look out for a note from your leader at the reception of the joining hotel upon arrival with more details about this important meeting. Your leader will need to carefully check your visas at this initial meeting.
We will then have a free afternoon to explore the Uzbek capital of Tashkent.
Please note that many of the options listed below will only be possible for those with extra time in Tashkent before the start of your trip with us - please contact the Sales team if you would like to book pre-tour accommodation with us to have extra time exploring Tashkent.
In Tashkent we will stay in a comfortable hotel with good facilities.
*Important note - any tobacco products are practically illegal in Turkmenistan, so please do not bring them or use them in Turkmenistan. Also please do not bring any medicines containing tramadol, codeine, temazepam, morphine or opiates to Central Asia. These are illegal in all circumstances in most of Central Asia and you will risk arrest. If in doubt about a particular medicine, please do not bring it. See the notes at the bottom for more details.*
Daily Activities
These activities are not included in the itinerary, however they are available to book and/or payable locally.
Explore urbane Tashkent and experience a surreal cabaret dinner
Visit the nightclubs and Imperial Russian-style cabaret restaurants of Tashkent
Today our journey begins with a drive to the fascinating ancient city of Samarkand, where we will stay for the next 3 nights.
In Samarkand we will stay in a good hotel on the outskirts of town.
Estimated Drive Time - 5-6 hours (please note that all drive times given here are the approximate number of hours that the truck will be in motion only, and does not include any time taken for coffee or lunch stops, border crossings, photo stops, activities en route, comfort breaks, shopping stops, toilet stops, etc. The times given are approximate estimates only and whilst given with the best of intentions, the drive times are heavily dependent on traffic, road conditions, weather, police roadblocks, and many other factors - flexibility is essential on any overland trip!).
Today we will have a guided tour of the incredible historic city of Samarkand and the surrounding area, including the Registan, Ulug Beg Observatory, Bibi-Khanym Mosque and Shah-I-Zinda.
On our second day, we will have a free day to further explore the beautiful city and its surroundings.
Daily Activities
Learn about the area's scientific heritage with a visit to the 15th-century Ulug Beg Observatory, once the finest observatory in the Islamic world
Visit the Guri-Amir Mausoleum, the final resting place of the Turko-Mongol conqueror Timur
Explore the stunning plaza of The Registan, a world-famous and iconic symbol of Central Asia
Discover the ruins of the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, once one of the largest mosques in the world and the jewel in Timur's empire
See the beautiful and moving ancient mausoleum of Shah-I-Zinda
These activities are not included in the itinerary, however they are available to book and/or payable locally.
Visit to Shakhrisabz city
Today we will drive into the Kyzylkhum Desert near the town of Nurata. In the afternoon we will have the opportunity to take a swim in Lake Ajdar Kul and head out on an optional camel ride into the desert!
In the Kyzylkhum Desert we will stay in a desert yurt camp.
Estimated Drive Time - 4-5 hours.
Daily Activities
Overnight in the Kyzylkum Desert staying in yurts.
These activities are not included in the itinerary, however they are available to book and/or payable locally.
Today we will drive to the beautiful city of Bukhara, where will spend the next 3 nights. Our drive will take us via the desert town of Nurata, which we will have a brief stop.
In Bukhara we will stay in a comfortable local hotel.
Estimated Drive Time - 4-6 hours.
Today we will have a guided tour of Bukhara and the surrounding area, including the Ismail Samani Mausoleum, Kalon Mosque, Zindon Prison and the Ark Fortress.
On our second day here, we will have a free day to further explore this incredible historic city and its surroundings.
Daily Activities
Explore the city's oldest Islamic monument, the 10th-century mausoleum of Ismail Samanid, the founder of the Samanid Dynasty
Discover the ruins of the ancient 5th-century fortress of the Bukhara Ark
Explore the colossal Kalon Mosque and Minaret, which has survived without restoration for 850 years and impressed Genghis Khan so much that he ordered the building to be spared
These activities are not included in the itinerary, however they are available to book and/or payable locally.
See the Indian-style Char Minar Minarets, four towers nestled in a maze of alleyways in downtown Bukhara
Visit the gruesome museum at the old prison of Zindon
Today we have a full day drive to the incredible historic town of Khiva.
Estimated Drive Time - 8-10 hours.
On the next day, we have a guided tour of the ancient city of Khiva during the morning. In the afternoon we will have plenty of free time to further explore this wonderfully preserved Khanate town.
In Khiva we will stay in a comfortable hotel.
Daily Activities
Border Information: Exit Uzbekistan at Nijazov, enter Turkmenistan at Shovot.
This morning we will drive across the border into Turkmenistan, visit the markets in the border town of Dashoguz, and explore the Kunye Urgench ruins towards the end of the day.
We will wild camp in the deserts near Kunye Urgench tonight.
Estimated Drive Time - 4-5 hours.
Daily Activities
Overland into the green Oxus Valley to the ancient ruined city of Kunye Urgench
Today we continue south through the Karakum Desert. We will have an included side trip to the amazing flaming Darvaza Gas Crater (also known as the 'Door to Hell'!).
We will wild camp in the deserts near Darvaza Crater tonight.
Estimated Drive Time - 5-7 hours.
Daily Activities
See the bizarre and incredible burning gas crater at Darvaza, popularly known as the 'Door to Hell'
Today we will complete our drive to the interesting capital of Ashgabat, usually arriving mid-afternoon.
In Ashgabat we will stay in a decent quality local hotel.
Estimated Drive Time - 5-6 hours.
Today we will have an included tour of the city of Ashgabat using local minibuses.
Daily Activities
These activities are not included in the itinerary, however they are available to book and/or payable locally.
Learn about the history and culture of Turkmenistan at the huge National Museum in Ashgabat
Border Information: if finishing in Ashgabat, you wil most likely exit Turkmenistan at Ashgabat International Airport (IATA code: ASB).
Today is the end day for passengers finishing their trip in Ashgabat. Please note there is no accommodation included on the trip tonight - please contact the Sales Team if you are interested in booking extra nights of accommodation in order to fully explore and take part in some of the optional activities listed below.
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This group overland journey has multiple departures.
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