
This Silk Road tour is ideal for those who live to travel. Within 36 days, you will visit 8 countries, more than 40 settlements and hundreds of sights. At the same time, this trip will reveal all verges of the East: interesting excursions will tell you about the history of the countries and city legends, transfers between cities will open up the most different landscapes of Central Asia and Caucasus, and thought-out free time will allow learning life of local people.
During the tour, you will visit the south of Tajikistan, the country of mountains with hidden picturesque lakes and small cities; Turkmenistan - the country of endless deserts with oases of ancient cities, some of which have disappeared through the time. You will explore Uzbekistan: discover its ancient cities, Samarkand, Shahrisabz, Bukhara, Khiva, with spectacular architecture and deep history. You will also visit the ancient city of Osh in Kyrgyzstan and get acquainted with Almaty, the former capital of Kazakhstan.
On the second part of the tour you will discover the most significant cities and sights of Caucasus such as Gremi, Telavi, Tsinandali, Sighnaghi, Tbilisi, Yerevan; and enjoy its picturesque nature.
Impressions will overload and you will take a huge baggage of memories with lifetime warranty. Your world will never be the same after you experience this Silk Road tour.
Tour itinerary:
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 2 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Arrive in Samarkand, check in to the hotel for overnight.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 2 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 2 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Have a short city tour in Osh which according to legends was founded by King Solomon 3000 years ago.
Visit Suleiman-Too (Solomon’s Mountain), National Museum of History and Archaeology, and Osh Bazaar located at that same place from time when Osh was an important trading center on the Great Silk Road. In the afternoon transfer to local airport for flight to Bishkek. Upon arrival you will be transferred to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 2 hours
In the afternoon return to Bishkek for city tour. Visit Oak Park, Ala-Too Square, Statue of Manas. See Philharmonic Hall and Victory Monument – bright examples of Soviet architecture. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours
After breakfast, start sightseeing tour in Baku. Visit Martyrs Lane, known as ‘Shehidler Khiyabany’ among locals. When you walk through the Alley of the Martyrs, you will find a beautiful view overlooking Baku’s coastline. Move to Icheri Sheher, the old part of the city. Visit Shirvan Shahs’ Palace, Caravanserai, Maiden Tower, and the main market square, which has numerous art studios and souvenir stalls. Continue touring new Baku by exploring Nizami Street and Fountain Square. An excellent round-up to the city tour will be visit to the iconic Heydar Aliyev center. Overnight at hotel.
Return to Baku. Overnight at hotel.
Continue driving to Sheki. On the way, visit the first Albanian church in Caucasus in the village Kish dating back to the 1st century AD. Arrival in Sheki for overnight.
We will pass through the beautiful landscapes of vineyards and wine-producing villages. First stop will be at unique Winery Khareba located in the tunnel carved out of the rock. Originally built for military purposes, today the tunnel is used to store Kakheti’s finest wines. Wine tour and wine tasting. Continue to Gremi architectural complex, 16th century royal residence and the capital of Kakheti Kingdom. Then reach Telavi, administrative center of Kakheti region. Have a short drive around the town. Overnight at the hotel.
Drive to Lori region and visit Haghpat Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This stunning example of Armenian traditional architecture erected in 10-13th centuries stands on a hillside beautifully overlooking the Debed River. Drive to Lake Sevan, “The Jewel of Armenia” and one of the largest high-mountain freshwater lakes in the world. The coastline of Lake Sevan is rich with thick woods, white bare steep rocks, mountain steppes and Alpine meadows. Stop at Sevanavank to visit the remnants of the monastery that include two temples – Surb Arakelots and Surb Karapet standing among numerous khachkars - carved cross-stones. The buildings were constructed from black tuff which probably gave the monastery its name Sevanavank – “the Black Monastery”. The view from there is simply magnificent: the mountains surround lake from all sides and snow tops are seen almost on the entire perimeter and disappear behind the horizon. Reach the capital of Armenia for overnight at the hotel.
* The site is presently under renovation works.
Continue to Areni, a city known for producing famous Armenian wine from pomegranate and apricot. Have a wine degustation in a local winery.
Drive to Tatev Monastery (9-13 cent.). Approaching the jewel of medieval Armenian architecture on the longest aerial tramway in the world you will see the monastery, the powerful impregnable stronghold towering on a rock. The remote location was strategically favorable as the monastery played the role of religious and political centre of the region. Standing on the edge of the rock, the monastery takes your breath away: somewhere down below the river flows in the valley and crowded velvet green hills stand in silence…
Arrival in Goris at 18:00, accommodation at hotel.
Arrive in Yerevan, check-in to hotel. Free time. Overnight at hotel.
- All transfers;
- Accommodation based on double/twin room sharing, breakfasts included;
- Sightseeing tour program in each country with local guides;
- Entrance fees to sights as per itinerary;
- Economy class ticket for flights Urgench-Tashkent; Mary-Ashgabat, Ashgabat-Dashoguz; Osh-Bishkek; Almaty-Baku;
- Visa support letter for Uzbekistan visa;
- Visa support for Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan tourist visas;
- Wine tasting in Kakheti region, Georgia;
- Dinner and folklore show in Bukhara (day 10), Tbilisi (day 29), and Yerevan (day 32).
- Tour leader to accompany the travellers for the whole period of the tour;
- Full board (lunch and dinner);
- Hotel charges for additional services;
- A tax of 2 USD per night in Turkmenistan, paid to the hotel upon check out;
- Consular fees for tourist visas;
- Visa support letter for Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Georgia tourist visas;
- International flight tickets before and after the tour;
- Tips are not included, but would be appreciated;
- Personal travel insurance.