Silk Road holidays, Central Asia
Optional Single Supplement: from £485.
Please note some itineraries are reversed.
Description of Silk Road holidays, Central Asia
Dipping into Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan plus one of China's remotest regions, this trip offers adventure and culture in equal measure on an epic cultural journey along the towns of the ancient Silk Road, taking in spectacular ranges like the Tien Shan and Fan mountains, high nomadic pastures, rugged mountain passes and dazzling alpine lakes like Son Kul (3000m) along the way.
See dazzling storied towns ranging from the legendary cities of Samarkand and Bukhara with their array of breathtaking mosques and madrassas, as well as a host of lesser known ancient gems. These include the vibrant Uighur city of Kashgar, the 3000-year-old town of Osh, Khodjent (past host to Alexander the Great), the UNESCO-protected jewel of Khiva, the charmingly laidback Kyrgyzstan capital of Bishkek, the silk-making town of Margilon, the ceramics centre of Rishton, and the 11th century caravanserai Tash Rabat.
You'll also experience both the largest and oldest bazaars in Central Asia selling everything from camels to traditional crafts (from silk to metalwork), mix horseback exploration with journeying in a characterful old converted Soviet-era truck, climb the minarets of legendary mosques, and stay with locals either in communal yurts or welcoming family homes. Add treks to soaring 7000m+ peaks, and a chance to experience colourful local games like Kok Baru (Buzkashi).
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Price information
Optional Single Supplement: from £485.
Please note some itineraries are reversed.
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Reviews
2 Reviews of Silk Road holidays, Central Asia
Reviewed on 28 Sep 2019 by Catherine Albers
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Road journeys. And bus that had plenty of space to sit alone.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Read the pre departure information. Don’t take a bag you can’t handle easily up flights of stairs without help. Don’t chose this trip if you are going to demand to sit at the front because you get car sick. If you get car sick this is not the trip for you. If you are the sort of person who gets irritated by lots of check points and and bag searching this is not for you. I loved the trip but then I had a 14 kilo back pack, two hands free and a sense of humour.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
It benefited local homestay and yurt owners. And local drivers and guides.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I chose it as high on journeys and landscape but low on city tours which I dislike. It delivered.
Reviewed on 22 Aug 2017 by Ana Maria Lopez
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Travelling the mountains of Tajikistan and the homestay there.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Enjoy. Do not bring so many things: it is not so cold, you do not need a slipping bag nor the sheet, nor gloves. All the stays, even yurts, are warm. 8Bring comfortable shoes for walking and a pair of slippers.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very good.
Responsible Travel
Planet and people
In Central Asia we have developed unique relationships with many of the semi-nomadic peoples of the region and through our form of interactive, socially conscience tourism have helped them adapt to the modern, changing world by providing important income opportunities. With Sogan Bai, an eagle hunter from the shores of Lake Issyk Kul, or Noorgul, a shepherdess from the pristine Son Kul, or Nazira and her family at Tash Rabat, we have been responsible for introducing them to the homestay market, helping them to provide good, clean and interesting accommodation which in term allows them to educate their children, improve their standard of living and look after their ill.The wonderful thing about this kind of interactive tourism is that everyone gains – the nomads financially and us with the wonderful welcome and experience they give us. On our horse treks, we work exclusively with the fine horse-man Anar Bek, who along with his family and members of the local community, ensure that the horses we trek with are well treated, well fed and well looked after. Wherever possible we stay in locally owned accommodation, eat in locally owned establishments and purchase supplies from the local nomads.
We also support several NGOs around the world, all carefully selected to improve the standard of living for the communities we visit.
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