Combined ToursGuaranteed from 2 travelers

SPLENDOURS OF THE SILK ROAD

35 days / 34 nightsMax 20

From

€1111.00

/ per person

Duration35 days / 34 nights

Group Size20

Guaranteed Departure2+

CategoryCombined Tours

Details

This grand 35-day circuit is the ultimate Central Asian expedition. It crosses all five republics that are heirs to the Silk Road — from the Karakum Desert to the peaks of the Pamir, from the turquoise domes of Samarkand to the yurts of Kyrgyz nomads, from the crystalline lakes of the Fan Mountains to the spectacular canyons of Kazakhstan. This is a journey that embraces the dizzying diversity of the region: millennial civilisations, landscapes of breathtaking beauty, peoples with living traditions and legendary hospitality. An itinerary that does not merely skim the surface of Central Asia, but plunges deep into its heart.

Highlights

🌋 Darvaza Gas Crater, the “Gate to Hell”: night in a yurt facing the eternal flames 🏰 Khiva, open-air museum city, jewel of Khorezm and a UNESCO World Heritage Site 🕌 Noble Bukhara, its 360 mosques and the enchanting Lyabi-Hauz ensemble 💎 Samarkand, jewel of the Silk Road: Registan, Shah-i-Zinda, Gur-e-Amir 🎨 Gijduvan, city of ceramists: workshop with a master potter 🏞️ Seven Lakes (Haft Kul) of Tajikistan, turquoise gems in the Fan Mountains ⛰️ Pamir Highway: Khorog, Jelondi, Murghab — on the roof of the world 🚶 Kyzyl-Art Pass (4,280 m) and nearby Ak-Baital Pass (4,655 m), Central Asia’s highest road passes 🏕️ Lake Son-Kul (3,016 m): nights in a yurt amid Kyrgyz nomadic pastures 🌳 Arslanbob, the world’s largest walnut forest 🏞️ Lake Issyk-Kul, “Pearl of Central Asia,” and Jety-Oguz gorges 🏜️ Charyn Canyon, the “Grand Canyon of Central Asia” 🏙️ Almaty, cultural capital of Kazakhstan: Zenkov Cathedral, Kok-Tobe, Green Bazaar

Itinerary (35 days)

Morning arrival in Ashgabat. Welcome and transfer to the hotel for a rest. Breakfast. Discovery of Ashgabat, the “whitest city in the world,” nestled between the Kopet-Dag mountains and the Karakum Desert. Rebuilt after the devastating earthquake of 1948, the Turkmen capital astonishes with its monumental white-marble architecture and oversized avenues. Visit Independence Park, the Neutrality Arch and Ertugrul Gazy Mosque. Excursion to Bagir village (18 km) to discover the ancient Parthian city of Nisa, an archaeological treasure listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Full board. Night at the hotel in Ashgabat.

Included & Not Included

What's Included

Accommodation in 3–4★ hotels, guesthouses, homestays and yurts as per the programme Full board: breakfast, lunch, dinner All transfers and overland transport by private air-conditioned vehicle English-speaking and local guides according to the stages Guide-driver in Uzbekistan All entrance fees to sites, national parks, botanical gardens and museums Turkmenistan visa support (letter of invitation, state registration) Drinking water throughout the journey

What's Not Included

International flights Turkmenistan tourist visa (from USD 85 + 4 per person, at Ashgabat airport) Turkmenistan migration tax (USD 10 + 4 per person, at Ashgabat airport) Photography/video fees at historical sites and museums Personal expenses and tips Horse riding at Lake Son-Kul (USD 30/pers., supplement) Anything not listed under “The Price Includes”