Silk Road Holidays

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 Tours

9 Days from £ 2278 £ 1936

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Culture

11 Days from £ 3232

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Culture

23 Days from £ 6730 £ 6258

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Culture

16 Days from £ 3338 £ 3037

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Culture

23 Days from £ 7101

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Culture

15 Days from £ 3338

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Culture

9 Days from £ 1999

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Culture

16 Days from £ 5335

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Culture

10 Days from £ 1975

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Walking

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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.”

This was the first time this trip has run and we had a great time. Tajikistan is much newer to tourism than other countries in the area and there were a few issues with trying to fit everything on the itinerary into the day, with some very long journeys,but this is being looked into. The Uzbek half ran very smoothly as tourism here is well established
The trip provides a good contrast between beautiful mountainous Tajikistan and the wonderful architectural monuments of Uzbekistan and there is a good variety of content plus plenty of great food and wonderful warm hospitable people
A great opportunity to see Tajikistan if the more common trekking trips or long 5 Stans trips are not for you

Leigh Murrant Highlights of Central Asia

This was a good introduction to Central Asia that packed a lot of experiences and information into 16 days including the natural wonders of the magnificent Tien Shan mountains, valleys and gorges between, lakes, forests , deserts and parks , ancient preserved and rebuilt ruins filled with history, and the bustling cities each demonstrating their uniqueness, history, influences and progression.

Barbara Fleming The Silk Road

Varied and very interesting trip to three Stans of the Silk Road. Kygyzstan revealed beautiful scenery and traditional ways of life. Kazakhstan showed a mix of ancient history and modern city life. Uzbekistan was full of awe inspiring culture and buildings associated with the Silk Road.

Ann Courtice The Silk Road

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