The Silk Road small group tour
The journey itself is one of the highlights of our bestselling Silk Road tour with epic train rides across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan and ample time to explore each, overnighting in locally owned accommodation and a low-impact yurt camp.
Tashkent Samarkand Bukhara Kazakhstan Sauran Turkestan Almaty Issyk Turgen Gorge Bishkek Kyrgyzstan Issyk Kul Jety Oguz Gorge Karakol Boon Gorge Bishkek
Price
£4199£3949To£4949including UK flights
Convert currency:
More info
From £2899 - £3699 excluding flights.
Optional single supplement from £375 - £415.
Minimum age 16.
Optional single supplement from £375 - £415.
Minimum age 16.
Offers
Up to £250 off selected dates.
Late availability on these dates: 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 16 Oct
Late availability on these dates: 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 16 Oct
Description of The Silk Road small group tour
There are roads and then there are the stuff of legends which is why this fortnight long Silk Road group tour has become an incredible experience, well-worth investigating further.
This is your chance to go on a Silk Road small group tour that features the stunning scenes once witnessed by traders and merchants making their way from Europe and into Asia.
Find out what it may have been like for Marco Polo as you venture from Kyrgyzstan to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan via steeped mountain slopes and ancient architectural achievements that provide ever-changing scenes to accompany your tour.
Explore the lesser-trod tourist territory of central Asia where some of the Silk Road's most revered sites, such as Bukhara, Samarkand and the Tien Shan Mountains, come into view and local people live amongst some awesome settings.
As you'd hope, this two-week Silk Road small group tour is all about experiencing one of the world's most fabled journeys overland with overnight train trips letting you explore as efficiently as possible although without missing out any of the good bits along the way.
Itinerary
| Day 1: | Fly overnight to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, arriving the following morning. |
| Day 2: | Flights arrive into Bishkek this morning, where we'll be met and driven to our hotel (early check-in included). Following time to rest, this afternoon we spend a couple of hours visiting the main city sites, including Ala Too Square, Parliament House, the White House, the Lenin Statue and the Manas Monument. Accommodation: Hotel Garden, Hotel Bridges or Hotel Plaza |
| Day 3: | On the way to Chon-Kemin Gorge, we stop at an 11th-century Karakhanid minaret - Burana Tower, a Unesco World Heritage site and the first minaret of its kind in Central Asia. You can climb to the top of the tower. Take care, its quite dark inside and the stairs are steep and narrow. Nowadays, it is a complex that includes the tower itself, reconstructions of mausoleums found on the site, remains of a citadel, collection of balbals (gravestones used by nomadic Turkic peoples), petroglyphs (stone carvings) and a small museum. We will also visit Ak Beshim ruins, the remnants of an ancient city. We'll see the remains of Chumysh Fortress, a Nestorian monastery, a complex of Christian churches and two Buddhist temples. There are also rock paintings and burial mounds. Following our visit, we continue to Chon-Kemin National Park, a quiet valley with several small villages and farmed lands surrounded by magnificent mountains and fir forest. It is a wonderful place to be, to sit on the doorstep with a pot of tea. Accommodation: Guesthouse Kemin (or similar) |
| Day 4: | We continue our journey through the Tien Shan mountains along the southern side of Issyk Kul Lake. The second largest salt lake in the world, it measures 43mi by 112mi (70km by 180km) and reaches almost 2,300ft (700m) deep. The name translates to Hot Lake, as it never freezes over, even in the depths of winter. Its surrounded by a mixture of forest and meadow with a backdrop of mountains and glaciers. Optional excursion (approximately US$120 per group): Stop at Bokonbaev village to observe a traditional form of falconry found throughout Central Asia hunting with eagles. Eagle hunting plays a key role in the nomadic lifestyle here and can also be seen during national competitions. Next, we visit Barskaun Gorge and take a hike to a waterfall. We then visit Djety Oguz, which translates to the Valley of Seven Bulls, named after the distinct seven red-coloured rocks in the gorge. We can learn about the local legends behind the name as we walk out of the beautiful gorge (approximately two hours) through fir forest, yurt settlements and grazing lands. If youre feeling energetic, there is also the option to hike to a waterfall. The trail can be slippery, so this is not advisable in wet weather. Tonight we stay in a yurt camp, made of six sleeping yurts (each accommodating four to five people) and one communal/dining yurt. There is a shower and three Western-style flush toilets but hot water for washing must be requested specifically. There is also a generator for electricity for three hours in the evening. Spending a night in a yurt camp is a fantastic experience and a small insight into the centuries-old way of life for many nomadic people in Central Asia. Accommodation: Yurt Camp, Djety Oguz April and October departures: we will stay in Almaluu Yurt Camp close to Lake Issyk Kul, rather than a camp in Djety Oguz. We will still visit Djety Oguz, but due to the different location of the yurt camp, the order of activities today and tomorrow will differ slightly in these months. Almaluu is better suited than Djety Oguz for these cooler months. |
| Day 5: | We enjoy a morning walk in the Djety Oguz Gorge. We continue to the city of Karakol, where we enjoy a sightseeing tour taking in old Russian-style houses, a Russian Orthodox church, a wooden Dungan mosque, and Karakol bazaar. Tonight, we enjoy a home-cooked meal at a local Uygur or Dungan family home. Accommodation: Amir Hotel, Green Yard Hotel or Matsunoki Hotel (or similar) |
| Day 6: | Today we cross the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border and, after border procedures, travel along the picturesque Karkara valley, where mountain flowers attract many beekeepers. We head towards Charyn Canyon, where the dramatic erosion caused by the Charyn river has created an impressive landscape. We then continue to Almaty. Accommodation: Plaza Hotel or Kazzhol Hotel (or similar) |
| Day 7: | Today is a long day with considerable driving as we head out of Almaty to stretch our legs and explore the countryside. We begin by heading to Esik. We visit Esik Burial Mounds and the Esik State Historical and Cultural Museum. The mounds are one of the largest archaeological sites of the Scythian-Saka period. The site dates to the 4th century, BC. The museum is on the site of one of Kazakhstan's most impressive archaeological finds - the tomb of the Golden Man - where a Saka prince was found in an intact tomb. We continue to Turgen Gorge, known for its beautiful natural scenery and waterfalls (some as tall as 130ft/40m), stopping at a supermarket en route to buy food for a picnic lunch. Along the way, we'll make a short photo stop near several Scythian burial mounds, with the Ile-Alatau Mountain Range in the distance. Arriving at the gorge by late morning, we walk for around 45 minutes (0.8mi/1.3km) on a rocky/sandy trail following the river to Bear Waterfall. After exploring the gorge, we drive to a shady spot for a picnic lunch, before continuing by road for approximately 1hr 45min to Issyk Lake (or Esik Lake), not to be confused with Issyk Kul Lake in Kyrgyzstan, which we visit earlier in the trip. Amid thick forests and wildflower pastures, this alpine lake is 5,775ft (1,760m) above sea level within the Issyk Gorge. We walk down the concrete staircase to explore the southern shore of the lake. Finally, we return to Almaty for the night. Accommodation: Plaza Hotel or Kazzhol Hotel (or similar) |
| Day 8: | Almaty is a beautiful city backed by the Tien Shan mountains and we have the whole day to explore it. With leafy streets and a cafe culture, the former Kazakh capital has a distinctly European feel. After breakfast, we visit several sites, including Zhenkov Cathedral (Ascension Cathedral), made entirely of wood and without the use of nails; Panfilov Park; the Monument of Panfilovs 28 Guardsmen; the Great Patriotic and Civil War monuments and eternal flame; and one of the museums (National History Museum or Museum of National Instruments). After the tour, we drive to the train station. Here we say goodbye to our tour leader who has been with us throughout Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan and meet our Uzbekistan leader wholl be with us for the remainder of the trip. We travel overnight from Almaty to Tashkent. We leave Almaty in the evening and depending on train timetables, we'll either travel by sleeper train all the way to Tashkent, a journey of about 16 hours, or well travel as far as Shymkent by sleeper train, a journey of about 11 hours, then continue by road for two hours to the Kazakh-Uzbek border, then following the border crossing which typically takes 1-2 hours, continue for another 40 minutes to Tashkent. Travelling on trains through this region is a great way to cover large distances (almost 620mi/1,000km in this case), see the changing landscape, and mingle with local people. We use four-berth compartments on this sleeper train, which is reasonably comfortable but not luxurious. Accommodation: Sleeper train (four-berth compartment) |
| Day 9: | We usually arrive in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan between mid morning and early afternoon. Well have a short tour of the city. Over the course of today and tomorrow we'll visit sites including: Independence Square, which is flanked by public buildings and water fountains, and the Old City with its mausoleums (Hast Imam complex) and bazaar. Tashkent was largely destroyed by earthquakes in the 1960s and was rebuilt in true Soviet style with pleasant leafy boulevards and lots of fountains to keep the heat down in summer. Accommodation: Gabrielle International hotel, Medina Hotel (or similar) |
| Day 10: | We continue our exploration of Tashkent today. In the evening, we catch a fast train to Samarkand. The city is steeped in history, dating back 2,500 years and impacted by figures such as Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and Tamerlane, the latter made it the capital of his empire in the 14th century. A central position on the Silk Road meant it was an important stop on the route from Istanbul to Peking (now Beijing). At its heart is Registan Square, which is flanked by the three grand madrasahs (Islamic colleges) of Ulughbeg (15th century), Sherdor and Tilya Qori (both 17th century). Accommodation: Malika Prime, Diyora (or similar) |
| Day 11: | Over the next day and a half, we visit key sights in and around Samarkand, including: the Registan Square, Gur Emir Mausoleum, burial place of Tamerlane, his sons and his grandson, Ulughbek. The Bibi Khanum Mosque and Shakhi Zinda the Living King necropolis with its series of mausoleums dating to the 14th and 15th centuries. Siab Bazaar to try fruits, nuts and other local produce. We also visit the Necropolis and Ulugbek's Observatory and a paper factory where traditional methods are used. Accommodation: Malika Prime, Diyora (or similar) |
| Day 12: | We continue our exploration of Samarkand tour. In the evening, we take a fast train to Bukhara. The best-preserved medieval city in Central Asia, this Unesco World Heritage site dates back more than 2,000 years. Accommodation: Kavsar Hotel or Grand Nodirbek (or similar) |
| Day 13 - 14: | We have two full days exploring Bukhara and nearby sights. Our city tour takes us to the Lyabi Khauz complex, built in the 16th and 17th centuries. Its home to the oldest pool of its kind in Central Asia, surrounded by madrasahs and a khanaka (lodging house for travelling sufis), including the largest madrasah in Bukhara, the 15th-century Kukeldash Madrasah. We continue to the Poi-Kalyan religious complex with its 157ft (48m) tall 12th-century Kalyan minaret the symbol of Bukhara; the large Kalyan Mosque (15th century) with galleries topped by 288 domes; and the only active madrasah in the city, Bukhara Miri-Arab (16th century). Next is the Samanid Mausoleum, the oldest piece of Islamic architecture in Central Asia and burial site of the 10th-century emir, Ismail Samani. Finally, we visit the Ark, a fifth-century citadel and the oldest building in Bukhara. Accommodation: Kavsar Hotel or Grand Nodirbek (or similar) |
| Day 15: | We have a walking tour of Khiva today, we'll visit the living museum that is the perfectly restored old city. See the khans old residence, the Kunya-Ark 12th century fortress, the tiled base of the never completed Kalta Minar, (which was originally planned to be taller than any minaret in Bukhara) and the beautiful mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud (Khivas patron saint) with its tiled courtyard. Many wedding parties and pilgrims come to visit the tomb and drink the water from the well in the courtyard. Also visit the Juma mosque supported by 218 wooden carved columns. Accommodation: Malika Khiva (or similar) |
| Day 16: | We'll be driven to Urgench airport this morning and fly back to London via Istanbul. |
Map
Price information
£4199£3949To£4949including UK flights
Convert currency:
From £2899 - £3699 excluding flights.
Optional single supplement from £375 - £415.
Minimum age 16.
Optional single supplement from £375 - £415.
Minimum age 16.
Check dates, prices & availability
Travel guides
Silks and spices gave the world brilliance and flavour, but the people who travelled the Silk Road shared the priceless gifts of art, architecture and...
Central Asia has a more colloquial name: the Stans. This vast region, stretching from the Caspian Sea to China, consists of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, ...
Holiday information
Small group tour, ideal for solos & couples:
Small group travel is not large group travel scaled down. It is modeled on independent travel – but with the advantage of a group leader to take care of the itinerary, accommodation and tickets, and dealing with the language. It’s easy to tick off the big sights independently – but finding those one-off experiences, local festivals, travelling markets and secret viewpoints is almost impossible for someone without the insider knowledge gained from years in the field. For those with limited time, a small group tour will save valuable time in planning, and on holiday.
Reviews
15 Reviews of The Silk Road small group tour
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on 10 Sep 2024 by Hilary Bourne
10 out of 10. Fantastic guides - friendly, entertaining and incredibly knowledgeable. Read full reviewReviewed on 12 Aug 2024 by Judith Taylor
It was very good - but almost like 2 separate trips. The first part has long drives in the minibus into magnificent countryside. You are immersed in local life more, it is much less touristy and you have some great hikes. The second half in Uzbekistan is for the most part, a more traditional city sites tour with the typical tourist trappings. Read full reviewReviewed on 18 Jun 2024 by Will Mouger
Some great landscapes, especially Kyrgyzstan, some wonderful Islamic architecture, fascinating markets, very friendly people. Great to experience such a different environment with like-minded travellers. The night in the yurt and stepping outside in the morning to see the wonderful landscape. Read full reviewReviewed on 01 Oct 2023 by Hazel White
It was an extremely interesting insight into a part of the word we had previously not know much about. Read full reviewReviewed on 25 Sep 2023 by David Talbot
Well organised from UK end and perfectly carried out, exactly according to the itinerary while on the road. Guides and drivers were efficient, friendly and unfailingly helpful. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole trip. Read full reviewReviewed on 20 Sep 2023 by Sarah Nevill-Stinson
My first holiday as a single (recently divorced) it was reassuring that there were 6 singles to enjoy this great trip. It was a good mixture of nature and glorious buildings, also illustrating well the differences between the three countries...(). Read full reviewReviewed on 29 Oct 2019 by Jenny Tucker
There were many highlights to this holiday from visiting the city's of Uzbekistan with their wonderful Muslim architecture, the mosaic work is amazing, to spending a night in a yurt high in the mountains. Read full reviewReviewed on 01 Oct 2019 by Graham Packer
An informative, interesting, and awe inspiring holiday. Read full reviewReviewed on 11 Sep 2019 by Val Matthews
So many 'Wow' moments would be impossible to choose just one favourite! Read full reviewReviewed on 25 Jun 2019 by Dave Hinder
The culture and architecture were memorable. The guides were very knowledgeable and gave a great history of the silk road itself. Read full reviewReviewed on 10 Jun 2019 by Hannah Bashir
Spending the night in a yurt in the Jeti-Oguz valley was a fun, unique and very comfortable experience. We also really enjoyed experiencing the train travel. Read full reviewReviewed on 20 Jun 2019 by Hema Vaghjiani
Swimming in the lake in the desert was the most memorable part of the holiday. Read full reviewReviewed on 07 Jun 2019 by Helen Wilson
Bukhara Ancient Citadel, Registan Square Samarkand and the train journey to Almaty were the most memorable parts of our holiday. Read full reviewReviewed on 28 Sep 2017 by Karen Harrison
Uzbekistan as a whole was the most interesting part of the trip. The night in a yurt in the mountains in Kyrgyzstan came a close second, with spectacular views of the Milky Way. Read full reviewReviewed on 11 Aug 2015 by Gillian Urro
It was very interesting, with an insight into post Russian life. The scenery in Kyrgyzstan was spectacular. Read full reviewResponsible Travel
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we've screened this (and every) holiday so that you can travel knowing we've worked to maximise the benefits of your holiday to local people and places, and minimise any negative impacts.
Planet
Accommodation and Meals:We spend 12 nights in a hotel, 1 night in a traditional yurt camp and 1 night on a sleeper train. All of our accommodation is predominantly locally owned and staffed, which is beneficial to surrounding communities. The yurt camp in the Jety Oguz gorge is also run by local people and uses very little electricity and water, so this is a reduction to our overall impact on the environment. Where meals are provided, fresh fruit, vegetables and meat are sourced at local farms and markets. Train-travel has long been a popular way of travelling around the ex-Soviet Union and so this is also a great experience and insight into a different side of Uzbek life. Where meals are provided, ingredients are locally sourced and free mealtimes are a great opportunity to support local cafes, restaurants and markets by trying some authentic cuisine. The market in Bukhara specialises in dried fruit, whilst in Kashgar there are several vendors selling dishes from homemade ice-cream, to roast lamb and steamed buns.
UK Office:
It all starts at home so we have first worked at reducing our carbon footprint in our UK Offices. Through energy conservation measures and recycling policies, we are proud to be actively reducing the waste produced and our impact on the environment. We support various projects all over the world to try and give something back to the places we visit.
People
Local Craft and Culture:In Kyrgyzstan we stop for lunch at a woman's association attached to a shop which sells traditional felt rugs and other crafts made by local women from surrounding villages. There is also the opportunity to experience local Dungan and Kyrgyz folklore (song, dance and poetry) organised by local teen-agers and to meet a local hunter who uses a Golden eagle. In China there are visits to earthenware workshops run by local families and to crafts-streets, where local tradespeople (bakers, blacksmiths, ironmongers, ice-cream makers, basket makers etc.) make and sell their wares. Whilst in Fergana, Uzbekistan, there is a visit to a local ceramic workshop and a local silk factory. Throughout the journey there are also opportunities to eat dinner with local families in their homes which might be the most valuable cultural experience on offer. The group can sample local, home-cooked food and learn about Uzbek, Dungan, Kazakh and Kyrgyz families and their different cultures.
A Fair Deal:
We work closely with our local operator to run this trip in a way that aims to reduce impacts and to give as much back as possible to the local communities. Part of this is employing local leaders, who are committed to responsible tourism and helping to preserve the way of life in their area. The leaders will give a briefing on responsible tourism issues to help you understand how you can help reduce your impact and maximise the benefits to the local community from your visit.
Group Size:
This small group tour has a maximum of 16 participants, meaning that we have a low impact on the environments and communities we visit and are able to ensure that we do not disrupt or lead to the displacement of local people. The small number also allows us to stay in unique, family-run hotels that cannot benefit from coach tours and other mass tourism due to their limited sizes.
Popular similar holidays
The five Stans of the Silk Road holiday
From £5499 21 days excluding flights
Journey through the 5 Stans of Central Asia
Silk Road highlights tour
From £0 0 days excluding flights
Travel the world's famous highway; the Silk Road
Silk Road holiday, small group
From £4475 15 days excluding flights
Discover amazing Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan
