The Silk Road Experience
- Bishkek Departure

DAY 1: BISHKEK – KYRGYZSTAN

All amazing adventures begin somewhere – and on this trip you’ll kick off in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. No matter when you arrive, you’ll be met at the airport by a welcoming face who will drive you to your accommodation. Meet your fellow travellers in the hotel before heading out for lunch and then take a casual stroll around Bishkek city with your expert guide.

Get to know the Kyrgyzstan capital (originally named ‘Pishpek’) a bit more personally today. Memorials mark the turning points of its more recent Soviet-influenced history. You’ll soon learn that it’s the traditional bazaars, friendly locals, leafy boulevards and parks, and the ‘modern’ Soviet-style architecture that fuse together and make this eclectic city tick.

Tonight is the group’s welcome dinner! You’ll head out to one of our favourite local restaurants and ‘break bread’ with your new trip mates.

Accommodation: B Hotel (or similar), Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Included: Lunch, Dinner

DAY 2: BISHKEK

Kick off your first full day in Kyrgyzstan, by getting out in nature. It’s an hour’s drive to Ala Archa National Park in the mountains just south of Bishkek. Enjoy a relaxed walk, inhale that fresh mountain air while not forgetting to snap a few dozen pics as you gawk at this crazy, wild scenery all around you, and pause for lunch.

Tonight, you’ll be welcomed into a local Kyrgyz family’s home for dinner. Roll up your sleeves and get to work, helping the family whip up a meal that’s chock full of traditional favourites like katama bread, fried to crispy perfection and filled with savoury onions.

Accommodation: B Hotel (or similar), Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

DAY 3: BURANA

Today you’ll really start to ‘feel’ ancient Kyrgyzstan, diving straight into its medieval past at the medieval Burana Tower – the last remnant of the lost Silk Road city of Balasagun, once considered the centre of the world. From the tower lookout, spot your next stop: a stadium in Don Aryk, where skilled riders await your arrival. Will you be watching a polo match? Not even close. Get ready for centuries-old, horse-bound games unlike any you’ve seen! 

A local guesthouse provides lunch, and it’s the perfect place to breathe in the scent of fried onions and steaming broths, biting into a meat-filled dumpling or scooping up some Beshbarmak noodles and meat with your hands. The journey to your final destination, Chon Kemin, gives you a chance to digest. After a full day of diving into Kyrgyz culture, relax at your cosy guesthouse with a hearty dinner. You might even be treated to local stories from your hosts!

Accommodation: Kemin Guesthouse (or similar), Tar Suu, Kyrgyzstan
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

DAY 4: ISSYK KUL

You’re off to one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world this morning, Issyk Kul. But first, enjoy a tasty lunch while a local yurt-building family shares some of their ‘yurt building’ secrets with you. Who knows – you may just want to build your own yurt when you get back home! The afternoon has a few surprises in store as you explore the beautiful Kyrgyz countryside on the way to the lake. Learn more about the traditional art of shyrdak, Kyrgyz felt carpet-making, this afternoon in the lakeside town of Bokonbayevo. 

Tonight is a very special stay. Remember those yurts you got to see up close at lunch? You’ll be sleeping in one for the next few nights! This Yurt camp has a few more mod cons than the ones you inspected earlier, with a hot shower available in the shared block and beautiful views of the lake. You may also want to warm up your vocal chords for this evening…

Accommodation: Nomad Lodge Yurt Camp (or similar), Tamga, Kyrgyzstan
Included: Breakfast, Picnic, and Dinner

DAY 5: KAJI-SAI

By now, it’s day five and you’ll be fully in the rhythm of rural Kyrgyzstan. The hustle and bustle of the West will feel like a different universe as you contemplate the spectacular countryside, miles away from any distraction.

After breakfast, it’s time to meet the eagle hunter and his fine feathered friend on your way to the village of Kaji-Sai. You’ll get the chance to see this ancient hunting tradition in action before grabbing lunch with a local family, followed by a folkloric performance. Oh, and bring your swimsuit if you’re up for a pleasant surprise afterward! 

Break up the drive back to your yurt camp by stopping at Skazka Canyon. These unusual rocky landscapes gave this area its name, which means ‘fairytale.’ You’ll admire the whimsical red rock formations before joining up with a local chef to learn how to cook manty, meat dumplings that are the perfect hearty dish after a hike.

Accommodation: Nomad Lodge Yurt Camp (or similar), Tamga, Kyrgyzstan
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

DAY 6: KARAKOL

Continue along the southern shore of Lake Issyk Kul to the town of Karakol. En route, you’ll visit Barksoon Gorge with its mixed flora bursting with colours. This is one of our faves with views that never end – the lake… a waterfall… and the surrounding mountain peaks. Pinch yourself to make sure you’re not dreaming!

On the way back to Karakol, take a diversion into the side valley of Jety Oguz, famous for its two red rock formations called ‘Seven Bulls’ and ‘The Broken Heart’. You’ll be gathering around your guide to hear the legends behind their interesting names. If you’re thinking this picture-perfect region is a must-do spot for a picnic lunch, you’d be right! 

Back in Karakol, you’ll dine at the Dastorkon, another favourite restaurant of ours. It’s traditional and oh so unique.

Accommodation: Hotel 78 (or similar), Karakol, Kyrgyzstan
Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, and Dinner

DAY 7: KARAKOL

There’s lots to see during your city walk of Karakol this morning, including the wooden Russian Orthodox Church, which has been standing since 1895. Karakol is the fourth largest city in Kyrgyzstan and has a real multicultural feel.

This afternoon is all about enjoying Mother Nature’s gifts when you meet up with a small producer of local honey, then make time for a soothing soak at a hot spring before dinner.

Tonight you’ll dine with a Uighur family. All in all, a very interesting day – and more to come… Kazakhstan awaits!

Accommodation: Hotel 78 (or similar), Karakol, Kyrgyzstan
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

DAY 8: CHARYN CANYON – KAZAKHSTAN

This morning, the group will head directly to the Kazakh border. Kazakhstan is the largest country by area of the Silk Road, and while it has a reputation for broad open spaces, you’ll start in the picturesque mountain region of the South East.

First up, a designated stop at Charyn Canyon. Somewhat smaller than its US doppelganger (you’ll understand when you’re there), many do say it’s much more attractive in certain parts. We’ll let you decide! A walk down to the river (three kilometres) where a picnic lunch is waiting, before hitting the road again towards Almaty.

All in all, today’s been a bit of a road trip kind of a day, so there are no plans for tonight besides dinner in the city and then a deep, comfortable sleep.

Accommodation: Hotel Renion City (or similar), Almaty, Kazakhstan
Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, and Dinner

DAY 9: ALMATY

Almaty is the cultural and business capital of Kazakhstan. In the early afternoon, you’ll take a walk of the city, visiting Panfilov Park and the unique Zenkov Cathedral. Then later, perhaps you’ll buy some fresh fruit and veggies at the Green Bazaar. By the way, Almaty means ‘the place with apples’. It’s thought that apples originate from here! 

While today you sadly have to say goodbye to your Kyrgyz/Kazakh guide, tomorrow brings the arrival of a new addition to the crew: your Tajik/Uzbek guide, ready to show you their regions and lead you straight into unknown gems the tourist brochure won’t show you. 

Accommodation: Hotel Renion City (or similar), Almaty, Kazakhstan
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

A DEEP DIVE INTO CULTURE

For each Stan you’re exploring, you’ll have an expert local guide with you as well as your overall trip leader – except for when your trip leader is showing you their own country, of course! This means that every step of the way, you’ll have someone there who can translate any of your questions, explain the customs and help you understand the local culture on a much deeper level. Take advantage of this, by all means and hit them up for local tips while you’re at it. By this stage you and your Silk Road travel buddies will surely have picked up some Kazakh words or phrases. Try and communicate with the locals if you dare – they’ll absolutely love that!

DAY 10: DUSHANBE – TAJIKISTAN

This morning, it’s time to fly to Tajikistan. A country described as ‘mountains upon mountains upon mountains’; you simply will not forget this! Can you believe it’s only been 10 days and you’ve already explored three countries?

It’s a short flight to Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s largest, yet relaxed, city. After checking into the hotel, head to the National Museum of Antiquities, where one of the world’s largest Buddha statues lies in recline, waiting for you. Stroll through the meticulous Rudaki Park and more  while your local Tajik guide answers all your questions. 

Dinner is served up at a traditional restaurant in the heart of the city. With a national dish whose name – Kurutob – directly translates to ‘bread salad’, Tajik cuisine will have your mouth watering in no time. Bellies full of food and mind full of impressions, the only thing left to do is retreat to your  room for a good night’s sleep. 

Accommodation: Hotel Atlas (or similar), Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Included: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 11: DUSHANBE

Start the day at the Navruz Palace. Conceived of as a spectacular tea house, the owners got carried away and ended up with a monument of total excess. Described by one person as ‘opulence gone wild,’ it is now used for the reception of foreign guests, conferences and fancy weddings. 

You, meanwhile, have been invited inside a well-known mosaic master’s workshop. This type of behind-the-scenes exposure to an ancient craft, iconic throughout the whole Silk Road, is rare. Learn the ropes of this intricate craft and learn what a local craftsman’s life is like. 

Before you embark on a free afternoon and evening, take in the view from the great Independence Monument (which you will probably have seen from several points in town) and gaze at the immense Central Mosque. If you’re itching to explore on your own, today is your day – and you know that your local guide will have the inside scoop on must-try restaurants as you go. 

Accommodation: Hotel Atlas (or similar), Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 12: PENJIKENT

Get your camera ready, this morning is one for the books (photo books, that is!). You’re heading to the gem-blue waters (depending on the sky) and red mountain slopes of Iskanderkul Lake. But the journey there is no dull transportation, it’s a highlight in itself, with loads of photo op stops of sweeping mountain scenes along the way. Take in the lake view over lunch, and pop off on a short hike to a waterfall if you feel inspired. 

After this mountain-air-reviving day, the remaining drive to your next stop will be a breeze. Roll into Penjikent in time for dinner. Once a thriving Silk Road hub,  this greenery-filled ‘City of Five Villages’ traces its origins back to the 5th century along its outskirts. It’s the perfect place to spend your last night in Tajikistan. As you tread the bronze-age streets, you may well feel like you’re walking back in time!

Accommodation: Hotel Penjakent Plaza (or similar), Panjakent, Tajikistan
Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAY 13: SEVEN LAKES 

Channel your inner Silk Road caravanner this morning, it’s all bumpy roads on the way to the Seven Lakes. We won’t sugarcoat this journey – if you’re prone to carsickness you might want to call ‘shotgun’ for the front seat and pop an anti-nausea tablet at brekkie – but we can promise that this gnarly road is worth the jolt! Enjoy the iridescent lakes and wide mountain sky before tucking in to a picnic lunch. 

It’s almost time to say goodbye to Tajikistan, but first make a pit stop in UNESCO site Sarazm. Founded in the 4th century, this outpost is rumoured to be the first settlement in Central Asia. Celebrate two weeks on the Silk Road by arriving in your fourth country of the trip, Uzbekistan! Cross the border as travellers have for thousands of years – by foot.

Now, you’re almost to your day’s end destination – a legendary city where you’ll get to unpack and stay awhile. 

Accommodation: Kok Saroy Plaza (or similar), Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 14: SAMARKAND – UZBEKISTAN

Good morning Samarkand! Described as a ‘Crossroads of Cultures’, you’ll discover this city that was once the heartbeat of the Timurid Empire with a local guide. While, yes, Samarkand is possibly the most visited city on the Silk Road, exploring it is a crucial chapter in the story of this ancient highway.

Prepare to be wowed at your first stop of the day, the Bibi Khanum Mosque. This masterpiece of Timurid architecture can hold up to 10,000 worshippers at a time and is intricately carved and tiled. You’ll see Registan Square, the city’s focal point with towering madrassas, and visit the Gūr-e Amir, the mausoleum of Timur himself, an important ruler who ushered in the renaissance that made Samarkand so iconic. Cheers to your day at a wine-tasting, Uzbek style, this evening with the group! You’re more than just comfortable now, after two weeks on the road you’re starting to feel like old friends. 

Accommodation: Kok Saroy Plaza (or similar), Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 15: SAMARKAND

Fill up on Uzbek breakfast staples like nonushta, a traditional flatbread that’s slathered in kaymak, a hearty yoghurt, and served with a piping hot cup of tea. You’ll need the energy for another day of soaking up Samarkand.

If you thought the tilework you saw yesterday was impressive, wait until you catch a glimpse of Shah-i-Zinda today. Important Timurid figures are buried in this necropolis, including the Prophet Muhammads cousin (according to legend). You’ll also pit stop at the Ulugh Beg Observatory, built by Timur’s grandson – a visionary who was lightyears ahead of his Western counterparts. 

But your day of ancient delights isn’t over just yet. Pop into a local paper mill to learn more about the art of mulberry bark papermaking. You’ll wrap up the day at the home of local woman, Farida Apa, for dinner. Grab your knives and get to chopping as you learn to make plov, a traditional dish made from meat, rice and veggies.  

Accommodation: Kok Saroy Plaza (or similar), Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 16: BUKHARA

This morning, sit back and watch Samarkand’s minarets disappear. You’ll zoom through the countryside on Uzbekistan’s comfy high-speed train to another Silk Road stunner, pulling into Bukhara’s station in just three hours. Check in to your hotel and rest up before heading out to see this wonder of Medieval Islamic architecture. 

Founded over 2,000 years ago, the intricate mosaics and carved stone is a feast for the eyes. Wander the alleyways as you uncover gem after gem, including the Poi Kalon complex and trading domes. After an afternoon with your expert guide, you’ll have time on your own in the evening to get lost – and found again – in these weaving labyrinths. Maybe one will lead you to dinner?

Accommodation: Hotel Amelia (or similar), Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 17: BUKHARA

Start your last full day in Uzbekistan checking off a few unmissable sites in Bukhara. The Ark Fortress is the morning highlight, a 5th-century citadel that is Bukhara’s oldest building and essentially a city within a city. 

After this, put on your glasses: it’s time to see magnificent stories in the smallest of details, as you step inside the studio of a master of miniature painting. Davlat Toshev has been perfecting his craft for decades, having learned the craft in secret. He practices this painstaking artform on homemade paper, much like Bukharians have for centuries, and now runs a free painting school to preserve the legacy of this art form. Linger over dinner with your Fencox crew, savouring a stew or dipping your samsa, while recapping your top Uzbek moments and dreaming of what you may discover in Turkmenistan. 

Accommodation: Hotel Amelia (or similar), Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 18: MARY – TURKMENISTAN

Channel your inner Silk Road traveller, as today is a day of journey, crossing lands and borders to reach a true oasis in the desert: the town of Mary in Turkmenistan. The long travel day, which may include a fair amount of waiting to cross the border (a perfect chance to rest your feet after the last few days’ walking), is blissfully broken up by lunch shortly after arriving in Turkmenabad. Start your discovery of how Turkmen food overlaps or differs from the flavours you’ve already encountered, with hearty palaw (does it remind you of the plov you made?), revered choreg bread, and a must-try meat pie that will crumble and melt in your mouth. Now this is how to enter a country!

Use the four-hour drive to Mary to recover, and you may just find yourself hungry again for dinner after checking in at the hotel. It’s all in a day’s work for a Silk Road explorer. 

Accommodation: Hotel Margush (or similar), Mary, Turkmenistan
Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 19: MERV

Today, you’ll start the day with a pearl – and that’s not us saying it. After breakfast, a short drive brings you to Merv, an ancient city (turned UNESCO World Heritage site) in the desert also known as ‘The Pearl of Seljuk Empire’. Before meeting its end through wars and foreign adversaries, this oasis drew religious revellers of many faiths, dynasty rulers and Silk Road traders. Wander the remains as your guide introduces you to its most famous inhabitants, mausoleums and fortresses.

Your journey through history doesn’t end there, as the afternoon sees you up close and personal with Turkmenistan’s religious melting pot. Visit the sky-reaching mosque and intricate Russian Orthodox church, before heading to the capital, Ashgabat.  

Accommodation: Hotel Sport (or similar), Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 20: ASHGABAT

Welcome to the white city of Ashgabat, a marvel of marble! This truly unique city, razed and rebuilt by generations of leaders, has both enchanted and stunned those select few travellers who make it there. Start your education with a visit to the National Museum of History in the morning for an immediate immersion into the country’s history. 

Then, tour the city in two ways – first by car, and then on foot. Roll through the modern capital, where you’ll be a small dot in an imposing array of monuments and tributes. The afternoon walking tour will bring you back to earth. Stroll down wide avenues and sprawling plazas, past inspiring statues (it’s in their name!) and into the colour-and-pattern-unfurling that is the city’s bazaars, full of traditional carpets, bags and just-picked fruits. Use your best negotiation skills to snag a deal! 

Accommodation: Hotel Sport (or similar), Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 21: ASHGABAT AND BEYOND

This morning, a 15-kilometre drive to the foot of the mountains takes you 2,000 years back in time. The ruins of the Old Nisa fortress reveal secrets of daily life in the crossroads of travel and trade in the Parthian Empire. 

Nisa was known for its exceptional horses, and today you will get to know their descendants: the Akhal-Teke horses. Give these ‘golden horses’ a snack, snap a picture, and then take a deep breath before hopping up for a ride – if you’re up for it. Feeling their powerful muscles beneath you, can’t you just picture yourself holding back the Roman Empire?

Empowered by your morning, you’re ready for an even bigger task: mastering Turkmen cooking. But don’t fear, you’ll be taught by pros, showing you how the region’s nomadic heritage and local ingredients come together in drool-worthy dishes. Walk off the meal around Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex back in Ashgabat – but first, there’s a gleaming stop on the way you won’t want to miss! 

Accommodation: Hotel Sport (or similar), Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 22: KHIVA – UZBEKISTAN

A short, late-morning flight brings you to the border town of Dashoguz, where you’ll say your final farewells to Turkmenistan over lunch. It’s a great time to compare Turkmen memories. Who got the best pic of those poets in Inspiration Park? You may find yourself dragging your feet at the border crossing, since it’s time to say goodbye to your Turkmen guide (but it might also be the paperwork). 

Your reward for the journey is a rooftop dinner in Khiva, where the sunset will set the city aflame in desert colours around you. Before turning in for the night, enjoy an evening stroll through the city streets, a hint of the delights to come tomorrow.  

Accommodations: Hotel Bankir (or similar), Khiva, Uzbekistan
Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 23: KHIVA 

Khiva, considered an open-air museum and an architectural masterpiece, is a UNESCO destination and a favourite of many Silk Road travellers. Smaller in scale, with a population of just 80,000 people, it has an exceptional atmosphere that obscures its dark history. 

You’ll love this desert town; an endless labyrinth of alleyways and blue mosaics. Despite its infinite beauty and feeling of calm, the Khiva of old was a local slave market hub. This is a reminder that the Silk Road may be magical today, but it hides many skeletons in its shadows. On a side note… the locals believe that Shem, son of Noah, founded the city.

Follow your nose through the maze to find a dinner restaurant that piques your interest; the night is yours! (Inside tip: if you’re feeling frisky, toast to the trip with local Khiva vodka, a holdover from the Russian occupation.)

Accommodation: Hotel Bankir (or similar), Khiva, Uzbekistan

Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 24: TASHKENT

It’s been over three weeks travelling the Silk Road and time to make your way to your last stop of the trip. No more long car rides for you, because you’re catching a flight to Tashkent. A stark contrast to the Silk Road cities dripping in ancient architecture that you’ve been exploring, Uzbekistan’s capital is all things modern – with a bit of Soviet influence mixed in too. 

Meet Tashkent through your taste buds at lunch before coming face to face with Independence Square. This sprawling monument is a symbol of freedom for Uzbek people who declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Your expert guide might also happen to include some chance meetings with local artists in Tashkent’s eclectic artists’ corner – locally known as ‘Broadway’ – with its pockets of traditional Uzbek and modern street art.

Accommodation: Hotel Inspira-S (or similar), Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 25: TASHKENT

You might be wondering where all the beautiful Timurid buildings are in Tashkent. Many were destroyed in the 1966 earthquake that devastated the city. Spend your final day of the trip – ah! – seeking out some of the only historic buildings that survived the quake. Does the architecture at the Khast Imam Complex look familiar? The library here holds what is thought to be the oldest Quran in the world. 

Hop on the Tashkent Metro next. If you thought metro stations had to be dirty and boring, well, the Uzbeks would like to have a word with you! You’ll pop up at the famous Chorsu Bazaar, almost resembling a giant, turquoise tortoise. Head inside the shell to reveal what lies beneath – oodles of stalls selling everything from mushrooms to textiles. Tonight is your farewell dinner, savouring one last Central Asian meal with the group and reminiscing on this life-changing trip. 

Accommodation: Hotel Inspira-S (or similar), Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 26: FAREWELL, FRIENDS

Kyrgyz yurts. Kazakh steppes. Tajik mountains. Uzbek history. Turkmen cooking. Just think that you’ve lived it for yourself and now have countless stories to tell! You will have witnessed each country’s precious culture, rich history and unique heritage. Whenever anyone mentions the Silk Road, you’ll be able to say… ‘I’ve been there!’

And, you’re all the more richer for having bonded with your newfound travel buddies after starting out as a solo adventurer. As you make a final swap of contact details and vow to continue on with the group Whatsapp, who knows… you may even see another trip in your future!

Included: Breakfast