The Silk Road

Day 2 Chon-Kemin Gorge    
On the way to Chon-Kemin Gorge, we stop at the 11th Century Karakhanid minaret, a Unesco World Hertiage site and the first minaret of its kind in Central Asia. Following our visit, we continue to Chon-Kemin National Park, a quiet valley with several small villages and farmed lands surrounded by magnificent mountains and fir forest. It is a wonderful place to be, to sit on the doorstep with a pot of tea.    

Day 3  Djety Oguz Gorge    
We continue our journey through the Tien Shan mountains along the southern side of Issyk Kul Lake. The name translates to Hot Lake, as it never freezes over, even in the depths of winter. It’s surrounded by a mixture of forest and meadow with a backdrop of mountains and glaciers. Next, we visit Barskaun Gorge and take a hike to a waterfall. We then visit Djety Oguz, which translates to the Valley of Seven Bulls, named after the distinct seven red-coloured rocks in the gorge. We can learn about the local legends behind the name as we walk out of the beautiful gorge. Tonight we stay in a yurt camp    

Day 4  Karakol          
We enjoy a morning walk in the Djety Oguz Gorge. We continue to the city of Karakol, where we enjoy a sightseeing tour taking in old Russian-style houses, a Russian Orthodox church, a wooden Dungan mosque, and Karakol bazaar. Tonight, we enjoy a home-cooked meal at a local Uygur or Dungan family home.  

Day 5  Karakol to Almaty, Kazakhstan    
Today we cross the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border and travel along the picturesque Karkara valley, where mountain flowers attract many beekeepers. We head towards Charyn Canyon, where the dramatic erosion caused by the Charyn river has created an impressive landscape. We then continue to Almaty.    

Day 6  Almaty    
Today is a long day with considerable driving as we head out of Almaty to stretch our legs and explore the countryside. Begin with a visit to Esik Burial Mounds and the Esik State Historical and Cultural Museum. The mounds are one of the largest archaeological sites of the Scythian-Saka period. Continue to Turgen Gorge, known for its beautiful natural scenery and waterfalls.  

Day 7  Almaty to Tashkent, Uzbekistan    
Almaty is a beautiful city backed by the Tien Shan mountains and we have the whole day to explore it. With leafy streets and a cafe culture, the former Kazakh capital has a distinctly European feel. After breakfast, we visit several sites, including Zhenkov Cathedral (Ascension Cathedral), made entirely of wood and without the use of nails; Panfilov Park; the Monument of Panfilovs 28 Guardsmen; the Great Patriotic and Civil War monuments and eternal flame; and one of the museums (National History Museum or Museum of National Instruments). Tonight we travel by sleeper train.            
   
Day 8  Tashkent              
We arrive at Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan around midday. We’ll have a short tour of the city. Tashkent was largely destroyed by earthquakes in the 1960s and was rebuilt in true Soviet style with pleasant leafy boulevards and lots of fountains to keep the heat down in summer.

Day 9  Tashkent to Samarkand    
Continue exploration of Tashkent today. In the evening, catch a fast train to Samarkand,and spend the rest of today and tomorrow morning exploring. A central position on the Silk Road meant it was an important stop on the route from Istanbul to Peking (now Beijing). At its heart is Registan Square, which is flanked by the three grand madrasahs (Islamic colleges).      

Day 10  Samarkand  
Visit key sights in and around Samarkand, including: the Registan Square, Gur Emir Mausoleum, burial place of Tamerlane, Ulughbek. Siab Bazaar to try fruits, nuts and other local produce. Later we continue your discovery of the Samarkand sites, including the Necropolis and Ulugbek's Observatory. We’ll also visit a paper factory where traditional methods are used.    

Day  11 Samarkand to Bukhara    
Spend the day exploring more of Samarkand before taking a fast train to Bukhara this evening. The best-preserved medieval city in Central Asia, this Unesco World Heritage site dates back more than 2,000 years.  

Days  12-13 Bukhara  
Spend two full days exploring Bukhara and nearby sights. A city tour takes us to the Lyabi Khauz complex, built in the 16th and 17th Centuries. It’s home to the oldest pool of its kind in Central Asia, surrounded by madrasahs and a khanaka (lodging house for travelling sufis).  

Day  14  Bukhara to Khiva  
Rise early in the morning and head to Bukhara station where you’ll catch the train to Urgench, cross the Kyzylkum desert, arriving mid-morning. From Urgench, drive to the 2,000-year-old ruined city fortress of Toprak-Qala, dramatically located with the Sultan Vais mountains as a backdrop. Later drive to Khiva to spend the night.  

Day  15  Khiva  
Take a walking tour of Khiva today, visiting the living museum that is the perfectly restored old city. See the khan’s old residence, the Kunya-Ark 12th Century fortress, the tiled base of the never completed Kalta Minar, and the beautiful mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud (Khiva’s patron saint) with its tiled courtyard.    

Day 16  Khiva  
Your tour comes to an end this morning, after breakfast on day 16.

*This itinerary is valid for Jun - Oct 2024 & May - Oct 2025 departures