- Follow the legendary Silk Road through Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan
- Experience the nomad life with a night in a traditional Kyrgyz yurt
- Marvel at the Islamic architecture of Samarkand and Bukhara
- Discover the picturesque mountains and lakes of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan
The Silk Road
16 Days
Excluding Flights From
17 Days
from
Culture
Activity Level
Moderate
See our Activity Level Guidelines to check if this holiday is right for you
Comfort Level
Classic
Itinerary
Bishkek Urgench
Start Bishkek
The adventure begins in Bishkek. We have a city tour this afternoon, spending 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.
You can check in to the hotel from 10am.
Accommodation: Hotel Garden, Hotel Bridges or Hotel Plaza (or similar)
To Chon-Kemin Gorge
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, it’s 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.
Total drive time: 2hr 30min
Accommodation: Guesthouse Kemin (or similar)
Issyk Kul Lake and Djety Oguz Gorge
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. It’s 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 short hike to a waterfall, then drive to Djety Oguz.
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 (or similar)
Total drive time: six to seven hours
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.
Karakol
This morning we walk in 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 you’re 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. We continue to the town 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.
Total drive time: one hour
Accommodation: Amir Hotel, Green Yard Hotel or Matsunoki Hotel (or similar)
To Almaty, Kazakhstan via Charyn Canyon
Today we cross the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border and, after border procedures (which typically take about an hour), 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 have approximately three hours at the Charyn Canyon, there is the choice of walking 1.5 km down into the canyon (and 1.5 km back up afterwards), or an easier option is to enjoy the canyon from a viewpoint. There is time for a picnic lunch in the canyon (you can buy your picnic from a supermarket earlier in the day). After visiting the canyon, we continue to Almaty.
Total drive time: eight hours
Accommodation: Plaza Hotel or Kazzhol Hotel (or similar)
Esik Burial Mounds and Lake Issyk
Today 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 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.
Total drive time: three hours
Accommodation: Plaza Hotel or Kazzhol Hotel (or similar)
Sightseeing tour of Almaty and train to Tashkent
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 who’ll 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 we’ll 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 (the border crossing is a little chaotic and does not feature polite queuing!), we then continue for another 40 minutes by road to Tashkent.
NB – in 2024, we’ll be travelling via Shymkent. 2025 train schedules are not yet available.
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)
Arrive Tashkent, Uzbekistan
We usually arrive in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan between mid morning and early afternoon. We’ll 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)
Train to Samarkand
We continue our exploration of Tashkent today an usually include a ride on the impressive metro system.
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: Ideal Hotel (or similar)
Samarkand
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: Ideal Hotel (or similar)
Samarkand to Bukhara
We continue our exploration of Samarkand.
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)
Bukhara
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. It’s 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)
Train to Urgench
A late night/very early morning start sees us head to Bukhara station where we catch our train to Urgench. This train is slower and older than the ones we’ve taken earlier in our time in Uzbekistan, but we have compartments with beds. The journey takes about 6 hours, and sees us across the Kyzylkum desert, arriving mid morning. From Urgench, we drive for about an hour and a half to the 2,000-year-old ruined city fortress of Toprak-Qala, dramatically located with the Sultan Vais mountains as a backdrop. The settlement began in the first century BCE under Kushan patronage and was later devastated by Turkish raids that led to the depopulation of the town in the sixth century. Three large round towers and an impressive portion of the citadel remain, but the parchments and paintings found there are now in St Petersburg’s Hermitage Museum. We also visit Qizil-Qala, formerly an important oasis with an impressive amount of remaining buildings, and finally Ayaz-Qala, an imposing hilltop fortress from the sixth century. We later drive to Khiva to spend the night.
Accommodation: Malika Khiva (or similar)
Khiva
We have a walking tour of Khiva today, we’ll visit the living museum that is the perfectly restored old city. See the khan’s 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 (Khiva’s 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)
End Khiva
Our adventure ends in Khiva this morning. Land only travellers may join our group transfer to Urgench airport which is timed to fit with the Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul, or you may remain in Khiva.
Hotel, yurt and sleeper train
This trip includes 10 nights in hotels, one night in a guesthouse, one night in a yurt and one night on a sleeper train. Throughout most of the trip, we stay in two- or three-star hotels. The normal accommodations used on this trip can be found on the day-to-day itinerary; however, below are a few of the notable places we stay.
Djety Oguz: Yurt camp (night 4)
Yurts are traditional housing for nomadic communities across Central Asia and are generally quite cosy. We spend one night in a traditional yurt camp in the Djety Oguz Gorge in Kyrgyzstan. The camp has six sleeping yurts, each normally shared between four and five people and there are three toilets and one shower.
Sleeper train: (night 8)
The railway has long been a popular way of travelling around the ex-Soviet Union and this is a great experience and insight into Kazakh life. On the train from Tashkent to Almaty, we use second-class carriages with four-berth cabins.
Bukhara: Kavsar Boutique Hotel (nights 12-13)
Taking over an old mansion, this small boutique hotel is one of the standout accommodations on this itinerary. It’s embellished with intricate design features and plenty of antiques, while an atmospheric central courtyard provides a wonderful place to gather as a group.
Worth knowing
- Single supplements don’t apply to the night on the sleeper train or the night in the yurt camp, and depending on the make up of the group may be mixed gender.
- April and October departures: We stay in Almaluu Yurt Camp close to Lake Issyk Kul instead of the yurt camp in Djety Oguz.
- In some places on this trip we use several different hotels. We will inform you before departure if your start hotel in Bishkek differs from what is mentioned in the Trip Notes.
Trip Experts
Tom Manchester
Product Manager Middle East & Central Asia
Reviews
Add your own reviewAn amazing holiday
This is a fast paced holiday, with lots of places to be and even more things to see. Every day brings new wonders. Our whole, lovely group, said that they had taken far more photos than they had expected to. The scenery, especially in Kyrgyzstan, is awesome. The buildings, and statues, are built on an epic scale. Countryside, cityscape, desert landscape, lakes this holiday has it all. One of our group summed it up “Before I came people asked me “Where? Why on earth would you go there?” Now I would reply “why on earth wouldn’t you”. There are long drive (with plenty of stops) and early starts but that’s what allows you to see so much. The train rides in Uzbekistan added to the feel of adventure. I’m in my sixties, and I like my sleep, I certainly never expected to actually enjoy being woken in the middle of the night to travel to the station, catch a sleeper train and back to sleep for three hours! When I woke I was in the middle of a desert, with a glorious red sunrise shining across the land and it was stunning. If you’re thinking about this holiday then book it asap. Oh and the food in all three countries was fantastic.
Most Inspirational Moment
Almost too many inspiring moments to count In Kyrgyzstan it was probably watching the eagle handler and holding the eagle myself; all with an amazing mountain backdrop. I like my food so being sent into to supermarkets in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan to buy food for picnic lunches was something I, and the rest of our group, really enjoyed. In Uzbekistan possibly going out to the ancient forts in the Kyzylkum desert was an unexpected experience. The addition of the desert and Khiva is a great one. It's hard to imagine the holiday ending earlier; it just would not have been the same
Thoughts on Group Leader
Both Vitaly (Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan) and Dilshod (Uzbekistan) were excellent. They had different life experiences and both opened their countries up for us to experience and enjoy.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take luggage that is mobile as you will be moving around and changing modes of transport a lot. We went in October as it was getting a little cooler and the temperature in all three countries was good for us. Go and enjoy. This is a holiday where the memories stay with you.
Fantastic journey across Central Asia
The Silk road tour offered everything I expected and more. From the alpine scenery in Kyrgyzstan to the deserts of Uzbekistan, each day was a new adventure with something new to experience. Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan seemed untouched by mass tourism and even Uzbekistan was fairly quiet compared to other destinations I’ve visited previously. Hotels were good quality with a variety of room types and location, included meals were all of a high standard and the guides were excellent.
There were plenty of WOW moments throughout this itinerary.
Most Inspirational Moment
There were too many to mention. However certain experiences stood out The eagle hunting demonstration was great and to hold a golden eagle was something very unexpected, but amazing. The night in the yurt followed by the walk through the valley beside the river was beautiful. The walk through charyn canyon was also memorable with the interesting rock formations and relaxing picnic spot at the bottom. Seeing sights in Samarkand were real wow moments. Climbing the 57m mineret in Khiva was also a highlight at the end.
Thoughts on Group Leader
We had 2 leaders, vitali and dilshod. Both were excellent with so much knowledge of the area.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Pack as light as you can as there is limited space on the trains for luggage, you will find it much easier if you pack a medium sized suitcase. On arrival in Kyrgyzstan, local sim cards were available to buy in the airport however I used esims for all 3 destinations and worked without any problems. All hotels had free wifi access with only the night in the yurt having the option for payable internet. A head torch is useful for the yurt stay. You will only need clothes covering knees and shoulders on days that you are visiting religious sites, on other days shorts are acceptable.
The Silk Road
This trip was, without doubt, an experience of a lifetime. Yes, it is fast-paced and there are some early starts and full days, but I look back now over the two weeks and I am genuinely staggered by the number of experiences we packed into our time in this fascinating part of the world. Watching eagle hunters at work (and holding a golden eagle myself), visiting stunning mosques and Orthodox churches, walking through the awe-inspiring Charyn Cannon (Kazakhstan), exploring Almaty and being taken to see the very interesting Tashkent metro stations, climbing a minaret in Khiva to gaze into Turkmenistan… I can honestly say that this trip made the most of our time there, and the itinerary is well planned to take into account different interests and needs of guests.
Accommodation is clean, comfortable and full of local character. I don’t recognise the description in a previous review of ‘mediocre’ establishments – that was not my experience at all.
If you are interested in learning more about an often-forgotten part of Asia, definitely go for this trip – I would do it again in a heartbeat!
Most Inspirational Moment
There are too many to list, but the eagle-hunting demonstration in Kyrgyzstan is one that will stay with me for a very long time. The scenery and the birds were inspirational, and it was fascinating to learn of the bond the eagles establish with their handlers.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Both Vitaliy and Dilshod were absolutely fantastic - I cannot rate them highly enough. They were exceptionally knowledgeable, very attentive to the needs of the group and really enhanced the trip. Dilshod did take us to visit local artisans in the Uzbek cities we visited, but there was absolutely no pressure on us to buy and we gained some interesting insights into local crafts and culture. Both guides knew the names of each of the guests and were dedicated, professional and a credit to their local companies.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The heat in July makes sightseeing tiring, so pack a sunhat and a reusable water bottle - water is freely available throughout the trip. There are early starts, particularly to allow guests to reach the sleeper trains, but this is all part of the experience. Go with an open mind and a love of travel and enjoy. It's brilliant!
Amazing destination spoilt by Exodus
Unfortunately I cannot recommend using Exodus to visit this incredible part of the world. Here’s 10 reasons why.
ITINERARY
1. Exodus have recently changed this itinerary, shortening the time spent in Kyrguzstan and Kazakhstan and adding an extension to Khiva. The first half of the new itinerary is abso-****ing-lutely stupid in these time scales, and the second half (likely due to timetable changes beyond Exodus’ control) invloves stupid logistics every single time you move between destinations. There are FIVE days where some form of overnight train travel/a pre-5am start or post-midnight arrival are included, and guests are expected to do a full day of sightseeing without the chance to catch up on rest. I’m energetic, in my late 30s and used to fast travel, but this was thoroughly unpleasant
2. Amount of travel time for first week was grossly mis-described by sales rep: first week was 6-8 hours every day on the bus (except one day which was only two hours), and the rep told me it was about half that. There’s no way I would have booked this trip knowing how much of it was on a bus
3. Doing the border crossing from Kazakhstan to Uzebekistan on foot rather than getting the through train between countries is stupid. If that through train has been cancelled it would make much more sense to fly between the two countries, rather than expecting guests to do an overnight train, get up at something stupid like 4am to drive to the border, engage in a 2-hour scrum fight to cross the border, and then take a 3 hour bus at the other side
4. Uzbek guide spent 1-4 hours every day (average 2 hours per day) taking the group to vendors where he clearly gets a kickback. I booked a cultural trip, not a shopping trip, and this infuriated me.
EXODUS COMPETENCE
5. Sales rep LIED – a bare faced, out-and-out lie – about the reason for the itinerary change. When I asked about it (and I pressed at length) she insisted the reason for speeding up the first week and adding on Khiva was because people were so keen on Khiva. Turns out that is completely untrue; it’s simply because Bukhara airport became inconvenient for Exodus to use. The previous itinerary seems like it would have been much more sensibly paced, and wouldn’t have involved a 3am start and a 6-hour night train to Khiva – and as usual, following little to no sleep, the group were expected to do a full day of sightseeing
6. Exodus were very slow (2 days) to confirm whether there would be an itinerary change following an airport closure, which meant it was impossible for me to sort out my own travel arrangements in a sensible timeframe. This was one week before travel, and I was left with literally a 2-hour window to make changes after Exodus had finalised their own plans. Even worse, they were slow and not proactive in communicating about what was going on. The trip support guy was lovely when I called and he tried to be helpful, but Exodus’ logistics team weren’t anywhere near fast enough so his hands were tied
FOOD, ACCOMMODATION AND VALUE FOR MONEY
7. This trip represents poor value for money, given how cheap hotels we stayed in were to book direct
8. Location of most (about two thirds) of the hotels was poor
9. Quality of most of the hotels was mediocre vs. the trip price
It’s a real shame, because I loved the countries and the first guide.
All in all, everything about this trip felt like it was designed to maximise Exodus’ profits at the expense of guests’ comfort, sanity, and level of sleep. No way on earth I would consider doing this trip or any other with them – I’m sure there are better operators and better itineraries available.
Most Inspirational Moment
These are really, really wonderful countries with a fascinating history. Overall I enjoyed the trip, but's that's in spite of and not thanks to Exodus.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Historical knowledge of both guides was very strong and both were very professional and competent. First guide was wonderful and created a great atmosphere, but the second guide didn't engage with the group personally and didn't bother to learn a single person's name.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't let this review put you off going - just think carefully about who you go with. Oh and a note for veggies - I'm vegetarian and was worried about this but the food was fine! There was always something veggie available, and often it was very good. But do brace yourself for a lot of soups, salad and bread, and for meat to be snuck into places you wouldn't expect.
Reply from Exodus
We’re genuinely grateful for Lucie taking the time to leave a review of her experience on our trip to Central Asia, though it is a huge matter of regret to learn that her time there wasn’t at all as positive as we would hope.
As we mention in our trip notes, this is a busy and fast-paced tour which allows our customers to take in the highlights of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan within a relatively short timeframe. As such, we explain that there are long days and early starts, and we feel that this serves to accurately set our customers’ expectations; we would disclose that, for departures operating with our new itinerary from June 2024 onwards, clients responding to our post-trip surveys rated their overall trip experience at an average of 4.28 out of 5, and the itinerary of the trip at a similarly high 4.23 out of 5, which means the vast majority of our customers rated their trip and itinerary as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’.
We are, however, saddened that Lucie didn’t feel the same way about the itinerary, and we will certainly bear her feedback in mind going forward.
Regarding the border crossing into Uzbekistan, we are reluctant to use internal flights for several reasons. It would add to the cost of the trip for our customers, while also being considerably poorer from a sustainability perspective; moreover, we feel that the purpose of adventure travel is to experience the authentic side of a destination, which internal flights would bypass. We explain the border crossing process in our trip notes for Days 7 and 8 to let our customers decide whether this experience is something for them.
To touch on the reasons for the itinerary change, we must make clear that Lucie’s sales representative was correct when she explained why we added the visit to Khiva for this trip. We previously listed Khiva as an optional extension for our Silk Road departures, but as it is one of the highlights of the region, we received a huge amount of feedback from customers recommending it be added to the regular itinerary, which we listened to and actioned. We believe that adding Khiva strengthens the itinerary overall and allows our groups to get the most out of their time in Central Asia, and it has generally been a very positively received addition. However, we’re sorry if Lucie did not feel that same way and regret that she was given the wrong idea about the reasons for the change.
It was a real shame for us to read that Lucie was unimpressed with the hotels on this trip, and that she felt that value for money overall was poor. The scores we receive from our clients who’ve travelled on our Silk Road trips are on average 3.93 out of 5 for value for money, and 4.05 out of 5 for accommodation, which, again, means that the majority of clients are indicating that these aspects of the trip were ‘good’ or ‘excellent’. We feel that, given the expert leaders we employ, the clean and comfortable properties our groups stay in, and the huge amount they get to see and experience, this trip offers very reasonable value; however, again we’re sorry that Lucie did not feel the same way. We appreciate that value for money is a major factor for our clients, and it is something we are constantly reviewing on all our trips.
We were heartened and reassured to read the feedback we received in post-trip surveys from other members of Lucie’s group, which indicated that this was overall a very successful and enjoyable departure. However, as we say, we are genuinely sorry that this was not Lucie’s experience; we very much hope that she saw some amazing sights and had some unforgettable experiences in Central Asia which made the trip as a whole worthwhile.
– Thomas Manchester, Exodus Product Manager
Brilliant trip!
Kyrgyzstan & Kazakhstan were totally unexpected, smart Russian built cities and beautiful ‘alpine’ scenery with it’s snow capped mountains, rushing streams and waterfalls, lakes and flower meadows! Uzbekistan, more as expected with lovely monuments – Khiva not to be missed!
Most Inspirational Moment
Picnic at one of the lakes was so peaceful plus seeing the golden eagles flying.....
Thoughts on Group Leader
Both terrific and nominated for awards - Vitaliy in the first two countries & Dilshot in Uzbekistan.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't forget a torch for your yurt stay ;)
Excellent in spite of an emergency
Excellent 2 weeks in central Asia which i thoroughly recommend to others. The first week was in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan – lots of outdoor activities. The second week in Uzbekistan was more sightseeing which was a good contrast. very nice group of fellow travellers.
Most Inspirational Moment
seeing the night sky and the milky way when we were staying in the Yurt The eagle hunting display
Thoughts on Group Leader
Vitaly for the first week was excellent - knowledgeable and a good organiser. Dilshshod in Uzbekistan was something else. A wonderful and caring man. Not only was he an excellent leader but he went way beyond the call of duty when I had a serious health emergency in Samarkand. I suffered from a TIA and had to be blue lighted to the hospital where i stayed two days. Dilshod came with me and my wife in the ambulance. He liaised with the hospital staff which was really necessary as none of the doctors spoke any English. He visited me while i was there and was essential to allow communication between me and the medical staff. Dilshod was not just helping out he obviously really cared about my welfare. We would have been really stuck without him- thank you Dilshod. The exodus staff back in London were also very good - very concerned and eager to do all they could to assist -thanks to Max Bickerstaffe and Joe Figueiredo plus others whose names have escaped me.
Advice for Potential Travellers
On Day2, the optional hike to the waterfall in the Ala-Alcha Gorge is quite strenuous. Certainly more effort than a day hiking on a moderate Exodus hiking trip. But you can always turn back if you get tired!
Perhaps some more about how the Silk Road functioned explained during the trips.
Very interesting trip spoiled by petty officialdom. The guides were very good, and the trip well organised. Would recommend.
Most Inspirational Moment
The Lakes, very beautiful and scenic.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent, very helpful and Knowledgeable.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be aware of incompetent staff in immigration and hospitality. A member of my group had serious trouble entering and leaving Uzbekistan due to such people, another member of the group got into trouble as she was carrying US coins older the fifty years, it is an offence to do this in the same country.
The long and winding road
Some spectacular landscapes, fantastic Islamic architecture, fascinating markets – and some very long minibus journeys on bumpy roads
Most Inspirational Moment
Waking up and stepping outside my yurt to witness the wonderful scenery and lovely horses beside the river
Thoughts on Group Leader
Vitali: Good fun, informative and patient. Svetlana: Elegant, expressive and a fountain of knowledge. Dilshod: Encyclopaedic knowledge of Uzbek history, polite and resolved a couple of issues with aplomb
Advice for Potential Travellers
Bukhara was hotter than expected - 41C in 2nd week of June. Yurt camp warmer than expected. Do not leave coins in your hold luggage when flying out or there will be trouble. Make sure your hotel registers your stay with the authorities. One of our group was missed by the last hotel and had trouble leaving Uzbekistan as a consequence. The number of mosques, madrassas and mausoleums can be overwhelming.
A fabulous trip - don't hesitate to book this!
A very well organised and packed trip with excellent guiding and variety of activities. So much learned and so much more to research on my return. It more than lived up to expectations with many positive surprises, historically, architecturally and socially. For example, your money will go far, the standard of food is excellent and you will be able to enjoy local beer and wine in most places, or take your own. Far too many highlights to mention but the golden eagle falconry will stay in my mind for ever, and I never tired of the gorgeous blue mosques and madrasahs, with their turquoise domes and minarets. I can’t remember how many times I said ‘Wow!’ to myself. A ‘must do’ is the extension to Khiva, it really rounded off the trip. It’s just fabulous. A couple of tips. The weather can be a bit iffy in Kyrgyzstan in May – the waterproofs and brolly were needed. A small flask came in handy. While some hotels have kettles in rooms, others were more than happy to fill up my flask with very hot water so I could have decaf on the go – you won’t find it on your trip in the hotels. We had wifi on the bus in Kyrgyzstan, and I bought a SIM in Uzbekistan very cheaply, which was particularly useful when the few of us transferred to Khiva. A few early starts for trains, but I slept well on both the Talgo and on the Russian train to Khiva with the aid of earplugs and an eyeshade – both recommended as essentials. This trip will stay long in my memory. Don’t hesitate, just go! You won’t be disappointed.
Most Inspirational Moment
Sitting on horseback with a golden eagle on my arm!
Thoughts on Group Leader
All leaders were excellent, but the guide and driver, Vitali and Valeri, in Kyrgyzstan were of particular note.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take a small flask and decaf coffee for long journeys and hotels.
What a trip!
Superb exotic and fascinating silk road
Most Inspirational Moment
Everything!!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Both Vitali and Dilshod were brilliant
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27 Jun 2025 27 Jun 2025
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01 Aug 2025 01 Aug 2025
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11 Sep 2025 10 Sep 2025
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18 Sep 2025 17 Sep 2025
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03 Oct 2025 03 Oct 2025
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25 Sep 2025 24 Sep 2025
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09 Oct 2025 08 Oct 2025
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16 Oct 2025 15 Oct 2025
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31 Oct 2025 31 Oct 2025
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09 Apr 2026 08 Apr 2026
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24 Apr 2026 24 Apr 2026
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23 Apr 2026 22 Apr 2026
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08 May 2026 08 May 2026
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07 May 2026 06 May 2026
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22 May 2026 22 May 2026
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14 May 2026 13 May 2026
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29 May 2026 29 May 2026
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17 May 2026 16 May 2026
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01 Jun 2026 01 Jun 2026
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21 May 2026 20 May 2026
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05 Jun 2026 05 Jun 2026
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04 Jun 2026 03 Jun 2026
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19 Jun 2026 19 Jun 2026
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11 Jun 2026 10 Jun 2026
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26 Jun 2026 26 Jun 2026
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16 Jul 2026 15 Jul 2026
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31 Jul 2026 31 Jul 2026
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27 Aug 2026 26 Aug 2026
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11 Sep 2026 11 Sep 2026
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03 Sep 2026 02 Sep 2026
Friday Friday
18 Sep 2026 18 Sep 2026
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06 Sep 2026 05 Sep 2026
Monday Monday
21 Sep 2026 21 Sep 2026
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10 Sep 2026 09 Sep 2026
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25 Sep 2026 25 Sep 2026
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13 Sep 2026 12 Sep 2026
Monday Monday
28 Sep 2026 28 Sep 2026
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17 Sep 2026 16 Sep 2026
Friday Friday
02 Oct 2026 02 Oct 2026
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20 Sep 2026 19 Sep 2026
Monday Monday
05 Oct 2026 05 Oct 2026
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24 Sep 2026 23 Sep 2026
Friday Friday
09 Oct 2026 09 Oct 2026
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View Trip NotesThursday Wednesday
08 Oct 2026 07 Oct 2026
Friday Friday
23 Oct 2026 23 Oct 2026
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This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesThursday Wednesday
15 Oct 2026 14 Oct 2026
Friday Friday
30 Oct 2026 30 Oct 2026
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This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesWould you like to include flights with your booking?
- ATOL protected
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- Regional flights available from many UK airports
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The Silk Road
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