- 12 Nights’ Accommodation in a Shared Room
- Meals as Indicated (12 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches, 7 Dinners)
- Group Airport Transfer on Arrival
- Private Vehicle Transport and Sightseeing as per Itinerary
- Internal Flights
- Guided Sightseeing and Entrance Fees as per Itinerary
- Traditional Meals with Local Kyrgyz, Dungan, Cossack and Kazakh Families
- Yurt-Building and Traditional Tajik Bread-Making Experiences
- Special Guided Visit to the National Museum of Antiquities with a Local Archaeologist
- Local Cultural and Folklore Performances
- 4×4 Excursion to Kaindy Lake
Optional Uzbekistan Extension Includes:
- 4 Nights’ Accommodation in 4-Star Hotels
- Meals as Indicated (4 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 4 Dinners)
- High-Speed Train Travel from Tashkent to Samarkand and Samarkand to Bukhara
- Private Vehicle Transport and Sightseeing as per Itinerary
- Guided Sightseeing and Entrance Fees as per Itinerary
- Samarkand Cooking Master Class
- Traditional Silk Carpet and Paper-Making Workshops
- El Merosi Theatre of Historical Costumes
- Bukhara Suzani Embroidery Master Class
- Farewell Dinner Overlooking the Kalyan Minaret with Live Music
- Group Airport Transfer on Departure
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Itinerary:
Friday, October 9 | Arrive Bishkek
Arrive in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. An arrival transfer is included, allowing you to settle in comfortably. The remainder of the day is free to rest or begin soaking in the atmosphere of this leafy, wide-boulevard city at your own pace. (B)
Saturday, October 10 | Bishkek
After breakfast, explore Bishkek on a guided walking tour, discovering its Soviet-era architecture, green parks, and lively public spaces. Visit the National History Museum to gain insight into Kyrgyzstan’s nomadic roots and modern identity. The afternoon is free to explore independently, or choose to visit nearby Ala Archa National Park for a scenic hike through alpine landscapes.
This evening, enjoy a traditional dinner hosted by a local Kyrgyz family, offering a warm introduction to regional hospitality, customs, and daily life. (B, D)
Sunday, October 11 | Bishkek – Issyk Kul
Step back in time at the Burana Tower, a striking remnant of the ancient Silk Road city of Balasagun. Continue to Iskra Village for a special lunch with a Dungan family, descendants of Chinese Muslims who settled in Kyrgyzstan in the 19th century. Share a home-cooked meal while learning about their traditions, dress, and cultural heritage.
Travel onward along the northern shore of Issyk Kul Lake to visit the Cholpan Ata Petroglyphs. Guided by a local historian, explore rock carvings dating back over 3,500 years, depicting animals, hunters, and chariots that offer a powerful glimpse into early Turkic life. (B, L)
Monday, October 12 | Issyk Kul – Karakol
Begin the day at Reina Kench Farm, a family-run operation dedicated to preserving Kyrgyz nomadic traditions and ancient horse-breeding practices. Learn how the land and animals have shaped their way of life across generations.
Continue to Karakol, where a guided tour introduces the city’s unique cultural blend. Visit the colourful Dungan Mosque, the Russian Orthodox Church, and the Przhevalsky Museum, each reflecting the region’s layered history. (B)
Tuesday, October 13 | Karakol
This morning, visit Ak Orgoo, an organization where locals preserve and teach the traditional craft of yurt building. Enjoy a homemade lunch before heading to the dramatic red rock formations of Jety-Oguz. Take a scenic hike to the Broken Heart, a site steeped in legend and surrounded by alpine scenery.
In the evening, share dinner with a local Cossack family, learning about their ancestry, customs, and resilience through conversation and shared food. (B, L, D)
Wednesday, October 14 | Karakol – Saty
After breakfast, cross the border into Kazakhstan and journey through wide-open steppe and mountain landscapes. Pause for a scenic picnic lunch at Black Canyon before arriving in the village of Saty.
Later, travel by 4×4 to the surreal Kaindy Lake, where submerged spruce trees rise eerily from the turquoise water. Enjoy time to explore this unforgettable natural wonder. Dinner this evening is hosted by a local family, offering insight into rural Kazakh life. (B, L, D)
Thursday, October 15 | Saty – Almaty
Visit the spectacular Charyn Canyon, often called the “Grand Canyon of Central Asia.” Walk among towering red rock formations shaped by wind and water over millions of years, creating a landscape that feels both otherworldly and monumental.
Continue on to Almaty, Kazakhstan’s former capital. Enjoy an orientation walk before spending the remainder of the day at leisure. (B)
Friday, October 16 | Almaty
Discover Almaty on a guided city tour, beginning at Republic Square and continuing to Panfilov Park and the striking Ascension Cathedral, built entirely of wood. Immerse yourself in daily life at the vibrant Zeleny Bazaar, filled with spices, produce, and local specialties.
The afternoon is free to explore independently. This evening, enjoy dinner accompanied by a local cultural performance. (B, D)
Saturday, October 17 | Almaty – Dushanbe
Fly to Dushanbe, the green and gracious capital of Tajikistan. Shaped by centuries of Silk Road exchange and Persian influence, the city offers grand boulevards, colourful markets, and Soviet-era monuments.
After some time to orient yourself, enjoy dinner alongside a traditional folklore performance. (B, D)
Sunday, October 18 | Dushanbe
Explore Dushanbe on a guided city tour, starting at Somoni Square and continuing to the beautifully ornate Navruz Palace. Visit the city’s largest mosque before enjoying lunch featuring plov, Tajikistan’s beloved national dish.
In the afternoon, travel beyond the city to Hisor Fortress, a former Silk Road resting place with ancient gates and stone walls that echo centuries of history. (B, L)
Monday, October 19 | Dushanbe
Begin the day at the National Museum of Antiquities of Tajikistan, where a local archaeologist leads a special guided visit focused on the region’s ancient civilizations and the influence of Buddhism along the Silk Road.
Later, visit a local Tajik home for a hands-on bread-making experience, learning to prepare “non,” the traditional round flatbread central to Tajik cuisine and hospitality. (B)
Tuesday, October 20 | Dushanbe – Tashkent
Fly to Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s capital. This afternoon, explore the city’s Soviet legacy on a guided tour, including the ornate underground metro stations, Kosmonaut Square, and architectural landmarks such as the Uzbekistan Hotel.
Visit the Monument of Courage, commemorating the city’s rebuilding after a devastating earthquake. This evening, gather for a farewell dinner to celebrate your journey through Central Asia. (B, D)
Wednesday, October 21 | Depart Tashkent
Depart Tashkent at any time, bringing your Silk Road journey to a close with lasting memories of landscapes, cultures, and connections formed along the way. (B)
Optional Uzbekistan Extension:
Wednesday, October 21 | Tashkent – Samarkand
For those continuing on the optional Uzbekistan extension, transfer to Tashkent Railway Station this morning and board the high-speed train to Samarkand, one of the most legendary cities of the ancient Silk Road.
Begin exploring at the magnificent Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, the resting place of Amir Timur and members of his dynasty, before continuing to Registan Square. Framed by three monumental madrasahs covered in intricate tilework, this remarkable ensemble has stood at the heart of Samarkand for centuries.
In the afternoon, visit the imposing Bibi-Khanum Mosque before wandering through nearby Siab Bazaar, where stalls overflow with dried fruits, nuts, spices, sweets, fresh produce, and Samarkand’s famous round loaves of bread. (B, D)
Thursday, October 22 | Samarkand
Visit the breathtaking Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis, an avenue of medieval mausoleums adorned with some of the finest blue and turquoise tilework in Central Asia. Continue to a traditional silk carpet workshop to meet local craftspeople and discover the painstaking process of creating intricate carpets by hand.
Enjoy lunch in a local home, where you’ll take part in a hands-on cooking master class preparing traditional Uzbek dumplings. Later, travel to the village of Koni Ghil to see how Samarkand’s renowned handmade paper is still produced from mulberry bark using centuries-old techniques.
This evening, attend a performance at the El Merosi Historical Theatre of National Costumes, where music, dance, and elaborate costumes bring different periods of Central Asian history to life. (B, L, D)
Friday, October 23 | Samarkand – Bukhara
Travel by high-speed train to Bukhara, another of the Silk Road’s great trading cities. Begin exploring its atmospheric old quarter and historic Trading Domes, once bustling centres of commerce and still home to artisans selling textiles, jewellery, ceramics, carpets, and traditional handicrafts.
This afternoon, visit Rakhmon House for a special introduction to the art of suzani embroidery. Traditionally created by women and often forming part of a young woman’s dowry, these intricately embroidered textiles are rich with colourful floral motifs and symbolism. Learn about the techniques and traditions behind the craft before continuing through the old city to Lyabi-Hauz, a peaceful historic square centred around a pool shaded by mulberry trees.
Enjoy some time to browse Bukhara’s artisan shops and workshops before dinner at a local restaurant. (B, D)
Saturday, October 24 | Bukhara
Spend the day discovering Bukhara’s extraordinary architectural heritage, beginning at the Poi-Kalyan Ensemble, home to the soaring 12th-century Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque, and Mir-i-Arab Madrasah.
Continue to the ancient Ark Citadel, once the fortified residence of Bukhara’s rulers, followed by the elegant Bolo-Hauz Mosque. Later, slow the pace with time to wander the quieter streets of the old city, browse local boutiques and handicraft workshops, or explore independently.
This evening, celebrate the final night of your journey with a special farewell dinner on a terrace overlooking the Kalyan Minaret, accompanied by live music. (B, D)
Sunday, October 25 | Depart Bukhara
After breakfast, transfer to Bukhara International Airport for your onward journey, bringing your extended Silk Road adventure to a close. (B)
