The Five Stans - 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: Orient Hotel (or similar), Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Included: Lunch, Dinner

DAY 2: BISHKEK

The trip just started, but it’s never too soon to start thinking about souvenirs to take back home. Anyone can buy a keepsake at a nearby shop, but you have the opportunity to make one hands-on by immersing yourself in a local tradition. Here, you’ll visit the scarves workshop in Bishkek to make your own scarf in a masterclass led by professional instructors who have been at this a long time and have plenty of tips and techniques to share.

After lunch, you’ll have a chance to stretch your legs and get out in nature with a stop at either the Ala Archa National Park, which sits in the Tian Shan mountains, offering snow-capped peaks and valley views, or the Alamedin Gorge, a lush sanctuary with hot springs and a trail that leads through the forest to a hidden waterfall. Whichever outdoor adventure is chosen, rest assured it will be one to remember, so get your cameras ready!

Accommodation: Orient 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

Rise and shine! An early breakfast helps fuel you up for the day as you make your way towards Karakol, a charming mountain town with the Tian Shan mountains and Lake Issyk-Kul in its backyard. An ideal destination for high-altitude adventures, but with a rich history and cultural scene reflected in everything from its diverse cuisine to its interesting past of trade and migration, it’s a place to explore to the fullest.

And exploring you will do, starting with your taste buds. Work side by side in the kitchen with a local Uyghur family, learning the steps to preparing Laghman, a homemade dish of hand-pulled pasta with meat and veggies, a local favourite that combines flavours from Central Asia and China.

Later in the evening, you’ll get a chance to walk off some of that food when exploring the city’s most significant sights, like the Dungan Mosque, which was built in 1904, and the wooden Russian Orthodox Church, which has been around since 1869.

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

DAY 7: KARAKOL

Wake up for another early start! You didn’t come all this way to sleep in, did you? After breakfast, we drive through the mountains to the Kyrgyzstan-Kazakhstan border, and the rest of the journey is on foot. Tighten those laces and trek through the highlands and steppes toward Almaty before reaching the true gem of the experience: the Charyn Canyon National Park. It’s here where you’ll witness the “Valley of Castles,” made of red sandstone dating back millions of years, that has been eroded by wind and water and turned into these impressive structures before your eyes.

After a day outdoors, jump back in your ride and head through the Kazakh steppe westwards to Almaty, the largest city of Kazakhstan, where you’ll be staying overnight. Check in, freshen up, and meet your fellow travellers for dinner in a local restaurant for a warm welcome to the city.

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

DAY 8: CHARYN CANYON – KAZAKHSTAN

Last night we drove into Almaty, but today is when you can truly explore this grand city! Drive over to Lake Issyk, where you’ll take a short leisurely stroll downhill to reach the lake shore with its cool, refreshing waters, long stretches of sandy beaches, and mountain views. Take in the sights and feel the fresh air on your skin. But this relaxing oasis has one tragic past that your local guide will surely fill you in on, regarding the catastrophic rush of muddy waters that occurred in the 60s, claiming thousands of lives. 

Then it’s back on the road to the town of Esik, located on the lake and at the foot of the Tian Shan mountains. The town is best known for the Golden Man burial mound, where the armour of a young Saka warrior-priest was found in 1969, adorned with elaborate gold pieces.

Accommodation: Kazzhol Park Hotel (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 unusual Zenkov Cathedral. Perhaps 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… and that means, you’re gonna have to try the local variety!

Your afternoon is free to explore as you like, and your guide is around to offer suggestions, but the brand new Almaty Museum of Arts may be a great place to start.

Accommodation: Kazzhol Park Hotel (or similar), Almaty, Kazakhstan
Included: Breakfast, Lunch

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: Umarion Hotel (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 into a picnic lunch. 

It’s almost time to say goodbye to Tajikistan, but first, make a pit stop in the 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: Arka Boutique Hotel (or similar), Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 14: SAMARKAND – UZBEKISTAN

Two weeks in, and you and your tour mates are already becoming fast friends! Let’s keep the good times rolling by discovering Samarkand together. Noted as a ‘Crossroads of Cultures’, Samarkand is a melting pot of cultures and one of the most popular places to visit on the Silk Road for its history, culture, and today’s luxury accommodations.

Clearly, the city isn’t afraid to pull out all the stops. See just what it has to offer when you arrive at the Bibi Khanum Mosque, a landmark displaying Timurid architecture, and a vast one at that, being able to accommodate up to 10,000 worshippers at once. It was built in the late 14th century by Tamerlane, also known as Timur, for his wife, but some believe it was actually his wife who built it. Either way, this is a magnificent masterpiece and a must-see.

There’s plenty more where that came from. With trips to Registan Square and the Gūr-e Amir, you’ll get a chance to see exactly what Samarkand is truly made of.

Accommodation: Arka Boutique Hotel (or similar), Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 15: SAMARKAND

Another day, another adventure with so much more of Samarkand left to be revealed. Yesterday, we glimpsed the Bibi Khanum Mosque, but today we’re visiting the Shah-i-Zinda burial ground, where some of the Timurids’ most notable and powerful figures are buried. Some say Prophet Muhammad’s cousin is one of the many who rest here.

Mulberry bark papermaking is a true art in Samarkand, making a trip to the local paper mill all the more fitting. With a diligent process that includes steaming and stripping branches, cooling the bark, and pounding it into fine pieces before screening it into paper, you’ll walk away with a brand-new appreciation for the local craftsmanship. 

But this trip isn’t about sitting on the sidelines. Come dinner, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get cooking at the neighbourhood Mahalya, walking away with new skills on how to make the traditional dish called plov, but not without enjoying it first.

Accommodation: Arka Boutique Hotel (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: Mary Hotel (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: Olimpia Hotel (or similar), Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 20: ASHGABAT

Have you ever dreamt of landing in a city made out of white marble? Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, is just that and so much more. Get ready to learn all about this country at the National Museum of History before a two-part city tour that lets you experience its richness firsthand, setting your sights on the many grand national monuments and, yes, those white marble buildings. Arts and crafts are also big here, so a visit to the Arts Bazar, which showcases local Turkmen artisan goods, is a must.

If you’re up for more exploring after dinner, there’s plenty more to see on a drive through modern Ashgabat in the evening hours with its Park of Independence, the Monument of the Gigantic Book “Ruhnama,” and the Monument of Neutrality that dons a golden statue of the first President.

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

Day 21: ASHGABAT AND BEYOND

You can’t really embrace history without going back in time yourself. But don’t worry, you don’t need a time machine to do it. All it takes is a drive to the foot of the mountains, and you’re instantly brought back 2,000 years ago with the ruins of the Old Nisa fortress.

Back in its day, the fortress was the breeding ground for Nisaean horses, which were prized for their impressive speed and viewed as “heavenly creatures.” While these Nisaean horses may not be around today, the modern-day Akhal-Teke horses are, and as direct descendants, they are just as impressive. 

Horses weren’t the only things that played a large role in the lives of the Turkmen people; their ancient weaving heritage did, too. The art form has been around for a long time, and with a visit to the Turkmen Carpet Museum, you’ll understand why it’s still so well regarded today.

Accommodation: Olimpia Hotel (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: Farangiz Boutique Hotel (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: Farangiz Boutique Hotel (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: Consti Hotel (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: Consti Hotel (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