Travel along the ancient Silk Road from the modern, frenetic Chinese capital Beijing to the cultural capital of Russia – St Petersburg. This is a journey for those with a thirst for adventure, those who seek to follow the centuries-old tracks carved by trading caravans that moved from east to west and back again. Through the deserts and mountains of Central Asia we taste life as it must have been – and still remains. We rub shoulders with Kashgar stallholders, share the yurts of Kyrgyz nomads, stand awe-stuck by Uzbek architecture and explore the pastel-coloured palaces of Tsarist Russia. Join us as we discover hidden gems across four lands – a true Central Asian Odyssey!
Itinerary
| Day 1 |
(Sun) Arrive in Beijing and transfer to hotel. |
| Days 2-4 |
Visit the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and Great Wall. Overnight train to Xian. |
| Days 5-6 |
Explore Xian. City tour and Terracotta Warriors. |
| Days 7-8 |
Fly to Kashgar. Explore old town, Abakh Hoja’s Tomb, Id Kah Mosque and Sunday bazaar. |
| Days 9-10 |
Cross the Torugart Pass (3752m) to Tash-Rabat Caravansarai. |
| Days 11-12 |
Drive to nomadic settlement at Son-Kul Lake. Stay in yurts. |
| Day 13 |
Drive to Kochkorka village. Overnight in homestay. |
| Day 14 |
Visit Barskoön Gorge. Stay at Tamga village. |
| Days 15-16 |
Journey around Issyk-Kul Lake to Cholpon Ata via Jeti-Öghüz Gorge and Karakol. |
| Day 17 |
Travel to the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek. Burana Tower. |
| Days 18-20 |
Explore Bishkek. Fly to Tashkent. City tour and overnight train to Khiva. |
| Days 21-22 |
Arrive Khiva. Visit Djuma Mosque and Toza Bog Palace. Drive to Ayaz Qala. Visit fortress complexes. Overnight in yurts. |
| Days 23-25 |
Travel via the Kyzyl Kum desert to Bukhara. Ark Fortress, Poikalon Ensemble and Samanid Mausoleum. |
| Days 26-27 |
Continue via Alexander the Great's fortress to Nurata. Overnight in Sentab village in Nurata mountains. Optional short walks in area. |
| Day 28 |
Explore Samarkand including Registan Square, Shah-I-Zinda Mausoleum and Ulugbek Observatory. |
| Days 29-30 |
Return to Tashkent. Fly to Moscow. |
| Days 31-32 |
Visit Kremlin, St Basil's Cathedral and Red Square. Walking city tour. Overnight sleeper train to St Petersburg. |
| Day 33 |
City tour including Peter and Paul Fortress and St Isaacs Cathedral. Free time to explore. |
| Day 34 |
Visit the Hermitage Museum and Winter Palace. Evening cultural performance. |
| Day 35 |
Trip ends in St Petersburg this morning (Sat). |