Silk Road Holidays

Name: The Silk Road
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.6 (124 reviews)

Our Guide to the 5 Stans of the Silk Road

Uzbekistan

At the heart of the Silk Road, Uzbekistan reveals the history of ancient traders through desert citadels, fortress ruins and colourful bazaars. Join one of our Silk Road holidays to marvel at the ornate minarets and domes of Bukhara, walk perfectly restored streets in the walled city of Khiva, and see the madrassahs and blue mosaics of Registan Square in Samarkand.

Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is naturally beautiful, with dramatic gorges, wildflower pastures and hot springs. On our trips to Kyrgyzstan, you can explore idyllic lakes, witness breathtaking panoramas and hike through the Djety Oguz, a distinctive valley filled with local legends. A highlight of a Kyrgyzstan tour is a night in a yurt, where you experience the traditional way of life beneath the stars.

Tajikistan

The mountainous landscapes of Tajikistan feature some of the most spectacular sections of the Silk Road. Join one of our trips to Tajikistan and travel to the majestic Fann Mountains and historic town of Penjikent. Or, for the really adventurous, take our trip through the Pamir Mountains, passing forts, caravanserais and remote mountain settlements.

Turkmenistan

On Turkmenistan Silk Road tours, you’ll delve into ancient civilisations and explore some of the country’s most notable sites. One of the most incredible is the Darvaza gas crater, also known as the Door to Hell, a huge flaming crater in the Karakum Desert that has been burning for more than 50 years. Also fascinating is Konye-Urgench, the ruined capital of the once-powerful Khwarezm empire.

Kazakhstan

For centuries, diverse cultures filled the bazaars of Kazakhstan, with merchants selling silks, jewels, spices and even exotic birds. On a Silk Road trip, you’ll dive into that history and travel among beautiful lakes and peaks carpeted with wildflowers. You’ll also visit the impressive Charyn Canyon. Formed by erosion from the Charyn River, this unusual red landscape is known as the Valley of Castles due to its unique rock formations − a sight to behold on Silk Road holidays.

Silk Road Tours

For more than 1,500 years, merchants and traders braved some of the planet’s most inhospitable terrain and the threat of robbers in search of riches. Their network of trade routes, which connected China with the Mediterranean via the Central Asian steppes, was named the Silk Road, and shaped the world immeasurably.

Join one of our Silk Road holidays and you’ll follow in the footsteps of those wandering traders, discovering cities that were once the centre of civilisation: Samarkand, Khiva and Bukhara in Uzbekistan, Xi’an in China, Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan, and plenty more along the way.

Our guided Silk Road tours not only provide a fascinating insight into the history and traditions of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan (the Five Stans of the Silk Road), plus China and Georgia, but also some of the greatest natural wonders. Hike among the spectacular Jety-Oguz Canyon, admire the architectural feats of Samarkand’s Registan Square and stand at the ‘Door to Hell’, a burning natural gas field in Turkmenistan.

On our Silk Road trips, our expert tour leaders guide you on a magnificent journey of discovery where you’ll soak up the unique culture, delve into the past and travel along parts of this world-shaping trading route.

Silk Road Trips

16 Days from £ 3149

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

The Silk Road in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

Culture

15 Days from £ 2899

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Travel through history from Nomadic tribes and Muslim preachers to Silk Road traders and Soviet spies

Culture

23 Days from £ 5699

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Five countries, three weeks, one epic trip through Central Asia's Silk Road

Culture

23 Days from £ 5699

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Five countries, three weeks, one epic trip through Central Asia's Silk Road

Culture

11 Days from £ 2149

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Travel from Beijing to Shanghai to discover China's highlights

Culture

9 Days from £ 1749

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

A fascinating cultural journey through the heart of Georgia

Culture

16 Days from £ 4499

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Travel Tajikistan's Pamir Highway and into the Wakhan and Bartang Valleys

Culture

10 Days from £ 1649

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Explore Kyrgyzstan on foot

Walking & Trekking

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Meet the Expert

Tom Manchester – Product Manager

“Having travelled along much of the Silk Road, especially in Central Asia, the history and variety in the landscapes are what I find most fascinating. A favourite moment comes from our Pamir Highway Expedition, driving through the Wakhan Valley in Tajikistan, looking across the narrow Panj (Oxus) River to a caravanserai in Afghanistan in which Marco Polo is said to have rested.”

Fabulous trip. We saw the famous cities and sites, and also travelled out into more remote areas. A real insight into the geography, the culture, and the history

Fiona Carter Uzbekistan Uncovered

An epic adventure full of jaw dropping moments & experiences: Desert to ancient cities, mountains, museums & a whole lot more. The scale, size & beauty of the architectural monuments alone is spectacular. An unforgettable(but tiring) trip..the people are very friendly, the food is plentiful & cheap compared to the UK & the artisanal crafts just exquisite. Be prepared for a tiring first 2 days especially, as jet lag will ‘get’ you & overall I think the trip should be re-classified as Moderate as their isn’t much down time at all & the middle 3 days (Home stay, overnight train, Yurt camp ) with a long minibus drive on extremely bumpy track is quite exhausting. Pack as light as you can (make space for taking some of the amazing textiles home)& comfortable travelling clothes. Take dollars & change them when you get there (not everywhere takes cards or dollars-Uzbek Som preferred). I do think that Exodus should review the itinerary if possible as the long road trip on very bumpy track was tough & we had a full size coach into the Homestay when 2 Mini buses would have been better as the coach really struggled to get through the narrow roads. Does the final section from Bukhara to Tashkent have to be by train??Travellers be prepared for long presentations by the Tour Leader when you arrive at a site (to be honest, these should be shortened as its very hard to take lots of info in when you’re recovering from jet leg). Hotels overall very good . An experience (or hundred) for a lifetime!!

Barbara Thomas Uzbekistan Uncovered

Fantastic week away in Georgia. From the ancient cave towns, the recent soviet history and all the amazing food and wine. It is not one to miss!

anthony zwart A Week in Georgia

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