Silk Road Adventure - The Five Stans

Tour Itinerary

• Day 1 • UK to Almaty

  Your Silk Road Adventure begins today as you fly to Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city.

• Day 2 • Almaty

  Explore the city’s historical and cultural highlights, starting with Independence Square and the Golden Warrior monument. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner and meet your fellow travellers.

• Day 3 • Almaty - Charyn Canyon - Karakol in Kyrgyzstan

  Start the day with an early breakfast before heading to Charyn Canyon, a dramatic landscape of towering cliffs and deep ravines carved over 12-million-years. You’ll continue to the Kazakhstan/Kyrgyzstan land border where you will meet your Kyrgyz guide.

• Day 4 • Karakol - Jeti Oguz Gorge

  Head to the Jeti Oguz Gorge and witness the stunning “Seven Bulls” rock formation, a collection of striking red sandstone peaks that dominate the horizon. Later, witness a traditional eagle falconry display before returning to Karakol for a short city tour. This evening, visit a local Dungan family for an authentic dinner experience.

• Day 5 • Karakol - Cholpon Ata - Chon Kemin

  Today, travel to the picturesque town of Cholpon-Ata. Here, you’ll visit the Rukh-Ordo cultural complex, home to an impressive open-air museum featuring over 2,000 ancient petroglyphs that offer a glimpse into the region’s prehistoric past. Continue your journey to Chon Kemin and check into your family-run guesthouse. Before dinner, take part in a hands-on cooking class, where you’ll learn to make Borsok, a traditional Kyrgyz fried bread that’s a staple of family celebrations.

• Day 6 • Chon Kemin

  Spend at day at leisure in the idyllic surroundings of Chon Kemin.

• Day 7 • Chon Kemin - Bishkek - Tashkent

  Travel to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s vibrant capital, stopping at the Burana Historical Complex en route, an 11th-century UNESCO-listed site where the remnants of the Karakhanid State can still be seen. Continue to Bishkek for a brief sightseeing tour before transferring to the airport for your flight to Tashkent. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by your local guide and transferred to your hotel.

• Day 8 • Tashkent

  Take a tour of Tashkent today, starting at the Khast Imam Complex. From here, continue to the Museum of Applied Arts before taking a panoramic tour of the city, visiting Theatre Square, Amir Temur Square, and Independence Square.

• Day 9 • Tashkent - Khujand

  This morning transfer to the Uzbekistan/Tajikistan border. After crossing the border, you will be warmly welcomed by your Tajik guide and embark on a drive to Khujand, a city rich in history and culture. Visit the Historical Museum of Sughd, explore Kamoli Khujandi Square, the vibrant heart of the city, and experience the local atmosphere before heading to the bustling Panjshanbe Bazaar.

• Day 10 • Khujand to Dushanbe

  Today we head to the capital of Tajikistan, Dushanbe. Along the way, visit the ancient city of Istaravshan, once a key trading hub along the Silk Road. . There is time to navigate the narrow streets of the old part of town before continuing onwards through the Shahristan Tunnel, one of Central Asia’s most impressive feats of engineering.

• Day 11 • Dushanbe

  Spend the day discovering the little known Capital City Dushanbe. Begin with the National Museum of Antiquities, where you’ll find a fascinating collection of artifacts from Tajikistan’s long history. Continue to Kokhi Navruz, built during the independence years, the palace represents the country’s rich architectural heritage and serves as a symbol of national pride.

• Day 12 • Dushanbe - Samarkand

  After breakfast we head towards the Tajikistan/Uzbekistan border. On the way stop at the border town of Penjikent for lunch. Afterward, continue to Samarkand, one of the most famous cities on the Silk Road.

• Day 13 • Samarkand

  Explore Samarkand’s architectural marvels today, starting with the magnificent Gur-Emir Mausoleum, the final resting place of the legendary conqueror Tamerlane and his descendants. Continue to the Necropolis Shakhi-Zinda, a sprawling complex of mausoleums before some free time for lunch. This afternoon enjoy a wine tasting at the renowned Khovrenko Winery. Sample some of the original wines from the 1920s and 1930s still kept in the winery's cellars and learn more about the rich history of wine-making in the region.

• Day 14 • Samarkand - Bukhara

  Today, travel to Bukhara. Ride the high-speed Afrosiyob train, which offers a comfortable and fast journey through the heart of Uzbekistan. On arrival, visit a number of sights and bazaars in the ancient city centre. During the tour of the city, stop at a local Tea House to taste traditional tea and coffee, enriched with various spices.

• Day 15 • Bukhara

  Continue exploring the fascinating city of Bukhara and enjoy a special lunch with a local family where you will learn how to make the Uzbek national dish of Plov.

• Day 16 • Bukhara - Khiva

  Embark on a relaxing drive through the Kyzylkum Desert to Khiva, another historic Silk Road city.

• Day 17 • Khiva

  This morning, take a walking tour of 'Ichan Kala', an open air museum enclosed by a large fortress wall with four gates and under UNESCO protection. There are more than sixty architectural monuments such as palaces, mosques, madrassahs, minarets and mausoleums inside the inner town.

• Day 18 • Khiva - Darvaza

  Begin your day with an early transfer to one of the most unique places in the world, Darvaza. Known as “The Door to Hell”, watch the incredible sight of the gas crater fires burning as your guide tells you about the history behind this fascinating place.

• Day 19 • Darvaza - Ashgabat

  After breakfast, transfer to Ashgabat by road. On arrival, enjoy a panoramic tour of this unique city known for its striking white marble architecture. Spend time at Gulistan bazaar, also known as Russian bazaar, and buy souvenirs from a country which not many tourists get to visit.

• Day 20 • Ashgabat

  Today visit the ancient ruins of Old Nissa, the capital of the Parthian Empire, which existed more than 2000 years ago. A further panoramic tour includes the Park of Independence, Arch of Neutrality, Rukhnama statue and the Palace Square. Sit down for a farewell dinner with your companions and relive an epic adventure through these different countries, as you 'Five Stans' tour comes to an end.

• Day 21 • Ashgabat to UK

  After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.