Follow in the footsteps of merchants on the Great Silk Road as they travelled from China to Europe across mountain passes and vast steppes. Experience the highlights of China (Xinjiang), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia as you travel from east to west as you explore ancient trades that are still practiced today. Just as they did centuries ago, master-craftsmen still produce feather-light silk, bazaars still smell of spices, and chefs still cook the tastiest of foods.
Some of our Silk Road tours start in the Chinese cities of Urumqi or Kashgar, where caravans would stop as they crossed the Taklamakan Desert. Then they cross into Kyrgyzstan over the Torugart Pass, to arrive in Osh, a city built around its 2,000-year-old bazaar. Alternatively, start from the steppes of Kazakhstan, and then stop by the mountains of Kyrgyzstan on the way to Uzbekistan’s grand cities. Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva have long been the stuff of legend, but even today these cities live up to all expectations. Though many merchants just passed through them while travelling along the Silk Road, these cities (plus Merv and Kunya-Urgench in Turkmenistan) were centres of education and scholarly work, which can still be seen at the elaborate and intricate madrassahs and mosques. On the other side of the Caspian Sea is the Caucasus, the gateway to Europe. Visit the ancient cities of Baku and Ganja in Azerbaijan, before continuing to Georgia and Armenia, the two oldest Christian countries in the world. The Silk Road crossed Svaneti in Georgia and led to the Caspian Sea via ancient cities like Poti, which was once a bustling market town and port. See the rough stone caravanserais in Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan, monumental architecture in Uzbekistan’s ancient Silk Road cities, sandswept ruins in Turkmenistan, and the sunny vineyards of Georgia.
Based on our many years of experience in the region, working with local tour operators, restaurants, and, of course, our favourite places, we’ve developed a range of fascinating, well-organised Silk Road tours and holiday packages. Our small group tours are the best way to make the most of a short amount of time, share costs, and meet travellers who are just as excited as you are. Our private tours and tailor-made travel packages allow you to do exactly what you want, when. Join us on the journey of a lifetime along the Great Silk Road!
