Silk Road Odyssey: Kyrgyzstan, China, Uzbekistan & Tajikistan
Group Tour
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Overview
This unique Wild Frontiers tour takes you on an epic cultural journey along the Old Silk Road through some of Central Asia’s most spectacular mountains, lively bazaars and ancient towns.
Our aim is to stick as closely as possible to the ancient trade routes even though modern borders and some rough roads do not always make this an easy thing to do! Traversing parts of Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the route offers adventure and ...
This unique Wild Frontiers tour takes you on an epic cultural journey along the Old Silk Road through some of Central Asia’s most spectacular mountains, lively bazaars and ancient towns.
Our aim is to stick as closely as possible to the ancient trade routes even though modern borders and some rough roads do not always make this an easy thing to do! Traversing parts of Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the route offers adventure and culture in equal measure. Riding horses or walking in the mountains by Son Kul Lake or the ancient caravanserai of Tash Rabat will give you a chance to witness the Tien Shan Mountains at their most beautiful. While wandering through the gargantuan sites of Samarkand or sleepy Bukhara, you will be taken back to the heyday of the Silk Road.
For those with a sense of adventure, an interest in history and culture – and a good amount of energy – it is a trip you will remember for a very long time to come.
HIGHLIGHTS
At a glance
MEALS
TRANSPORT
Minibuses, coasters, buses, an internal flight and a train
GROUP SIZE
EXPERT TEAM
ACCOMMODATION
ENTRANCE FEES
FITNESS RATING
WILD MILES
ACCOMMODATION
As an overall ethos, wherever possible we aim to use characterful accommodation that enhances the overall travel experience, not just offers a bed for the night. This can obviously vary dramatically from country to country and from trip to trip.
On this particular trip when in Kyrgyzstan, outside of the capital, we will mostly stay in traditional yurts and homestays with communal (often long-drop) toilets and limited washing facilities. The yurts have beds, but both here and in the homestays it is often necessary to share rooms with up to 6 people. In Tajikistan we also stay in multi-share rooms in homestays with local families. In Kashgar, we stay in a good quality hotel and once we reach Uzbekistan, the hotels we stay in are again more comfortable and often characterful. Please note that the accommodation mentioned in the itinerary is intended as a guide only and is always subject to availability.
FITNESS RATING
LOW: You should be comfortable walking around towns and cultural sites. May include some optional walks (typically 1-2hrs).LOW/MODERATE: May be of a long duration and/or involve numerous border-crossings. May include easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-3hrs/day). You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle.
MODERATE: May include several easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-5hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle. Previous experience of similar trips helpful.
MODERATE/HIGH: May involve several days of moderate hiking (up to 3-6 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
HIGH: May involve several days of moderate/strenuous trekking (up to 4-7 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a very fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
Wild Miles Club
When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:
| Blue | More than 10,000 points | 2.5% discount |
| Bronze | More than 30,000 points | 5% discount |
| Silver | More than 45,000 points | 7.5% discount |
| Gold | More than 60,000 points | 10% discount |
Map & Itinerary
Individual departures may vary so please refer to the information in the tour specific links in the Dates and Prices section below
Day 1 Tour starts in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)
Day 1 Tour starts in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)
Rooms will be available in Bishkek from this afternoon. Those arriving on the group flights will arrive in the early hours of tomorrow morning.
Day 2 In Bishkek
Day 2 In Bishkek
Today we’ll have a look around this small city, one of the world’s more relaxed capitals, visiting the excellent museum and taking a wander around the bustling Osh Bazaar.
Day 3 Bishkek - Son Kul (3,016M)
Day 3 Bishkek - Son Kul (3,016M)
Our journey starts in earnest this morning as we begin a full day’s drive along the fertile Chuy Valley and then up through the mountains to the beautiful Son Kul. Here we will stay in a yurt camp on the side of this spectacular 3,000m glacial lake and have a chance to venture out and meet the local nomads who spend their summers here. Tonight we will have a traditional Kyrgyz nomad’s dinner replete with vodka toasts! Driving distance 360km, 6-7 hours approx.
Day 4 In Son Kul
Day 4 In Son Kul
Today we’ll be free to explore this beautiful region, either on foot or on horseback (optional and payable locally). Anyone wanting to can hang out around the camp, watching the nomads go about their traditional life or watch the extraordinarily varied bird life on the lake. There might even be a game of Kok Baru (Buzkashi) to watch in the afternoon.
Day 5 Son Kul - Tash Rabat (2,900-3,100M)
Day 5 Son Kul - Tash Rabat (2,900-3,100M)
Leaving early this morning, we will spend the day driving towards the famous Silk Road caravanserai of Tash Rabat through one of the most spectacular regions of the Tien Shan, the Mountains of Heaven. On arrival, we’ll settle into our cosy yurts for the evening. Driving distance 230-250km, 5-6 hours approx.
Day 6 In Tash Rabat
Day 6 In Tash Rabat
After exploring the 11th century caravanserai today there will be a chance to either walk or ride (optional and payable locally) through these beautiful mountains. Being so peaceful and seemingly remote, it is sometimes hard to imagine that these were once major thoroughfares for Silk Road caravans. Those wanting a more laid back day can simply walk around the lush, green valley - home to horses, yaks, sheep and, of course, nomads. Tonight we’ll have another traditional dinner in the home of our hosts.
Day 7 Tash Rabat - Kashgar (China)
Day 7 Tash Rabat - Kashgar (China)
The distance we travel today is not so far, but expect a long day as we navigate our way through the first of the trip’s land border crossings, over the Torugart Pass into China’s western-most province – the autonomous Xinjiang region. Here we will say goodbye to our Kyrgyz team and transfer to a smart coaster bus for the journey on to Kashgar. After four nights in the mountains, this vibrant Uighur city provides a complete contrast to the Kyrgyz grasslands, and our comfortable hotel also provides a welcome shower!
Day 8 In Kashgar
Day 8 In Kashgar
There will be ample time for personal exploration in this Silk Road city which sits today, as it has done for centuries, at a major crossroads of trade routes. We will of course see the (controversial) statue of Chairman Mao in the city centre as well as visiting the green-tiled Aba Khoja tomb in the quiet suburbs. After a traditional Uighur lunch we will have a break before heading into the old town. We will end the day by having tea on the second floor balcony of one of the old chaikhanas, watching the street market below us.
Day 9 In Kashgar
Day 9 In Kashgar
Today we will have the chance to experience the famous Yakshambe Bazaar - the Sunday Market. In the morning we will first visit the famous animal market. Here we will spend time watching the locals trade everything from woodwork and ironware to sheep, donkeys, cattle, horses and camels before progressing onto the covered bazaar, believed to be the biggest in Central Asia. The afternoon will be free for you to spend at your leisure, before meeting up for a farewell dinner with our Kashgar guide.
Day 10 Kashgar - Sary Tash (Kyrgyzstan, 3,163M)
Day 10 Kashgar - Sary Tash (Kyrgyzstan, 3,163M)
An early start sees us drive out of Kashgar due west along the main artery of the Old Silk Road to the Irkishtam Pass. This is a stunning drive through an area of outstanding natural beauty, with multi-coloured sedimentary sandstone flanking our route. At the Pass we will cross back into Kyrgyzstan where our Kyrgyz team will be waiting to meet us. We will then continue on towards Sary Tash along another staggering road, this time with the High Pamirs rising to the south, and stay the night with a local family either in their yurt or in their cosy house.
Day 11 Sary Tash - Osh
Day 11 Sary Tash - Osh
Weather permitting we will be able to see stunning views of snowy Lenin Peak this morning, which at 7134m is the second highest mountain in the Pamirs. After breakfast we will drive on another extraordinary road over the 3554m Tol Dek Pass (though by this stage you might be suffering from beauty fatigue!) and on into the Fergana Valley to the ancient Silk Road town of Osh. Reputed to be over 3000 years old, Osh is a place steeped in history and dominated by Solomon’s Throne which looms over the town. Again, we will be fortunate enough to share this experience with a local family.
Day 12 Osh - Kokand (Uzbekistan)
Day 12 Osh - Kokand (Uzbekistan)
After breakfast we say a final goodbye to our Kyrgyz team and cross the border into Uzbekistan, where we drive through the Fergana Valley. This incredibly fertile region was the breadbasket of the Central Asian USSR and is still one of the wealthiest parts of the whole region. Our first stop today will be in the town of Margilon, centre of the still thriving silk trade in the area. Here we hope to see the entire silk weaving process from cocoon to end product. Time permitting, we will also visit nearby Rishton, renowned for its blue and green ceramics. We continue to Kokand to spend the night.
Day 13 Kokand - Khodjent (Tajikistan)
Day 13 Kokand - Khodjent (Tajikistan)
Most traffic these days now leaves the Fergana Valley via a new route to Tashkent. However, we plan to stick as close as possible to the original Silk Road route by following the famous Syr Darya River into Tajikistan. We continue to the Silk Road town of Khodjent, which once played host to Alexander the Great’s armies. After checking into our homestay, we enjoy an alfresco dinner, prepared by our hospitable host.
Day 14 Khodjent - Fan Mountains
Day 14 Khodjent - Fan Mountains
After a look around Khodjent we will continue our journey as we drive up to 2800m over the Shakristan Pass and through the 6km-long tunnel to arrive in the Fan Mountains. This is an area of outstanding natural beauty lying south of the Zarafshan River and the legendary Iskandar Kul (the lake of Alexander the Great, 2200m). Tonight we’ll stay at a guesthouse in the beautiful village of Saratog, where the scenery is totally unspoilt. Driving distance 260km, 4-5 hours approx.
Day 15 In Fan Mountains
Day 15 In Fan Mountains
We’ll have a full day to explore the famed alpine scenery of this rarely visited part of Central Asia. Abounding in deep blue lakes and inhabited in the summer months by Tajik pastoralists, the area is still relatively undiscovered and allows for a fascinating insight into this gem of a country.
Day 16 Fan Mountains - Panjikent - Samarkand (Uzbekistan)
Day 16 Fan Mountains - Panjikent - Samarkand (Uzbekistan)
Leaving the Fan Mountains this morning, we head for the ancient town of Panjikent where we will visit the 2,000-year-old ruins. While not in the same league as the Uzbek sites just across this border, for sheer location alone this place is one of our favourites. This Sogdian town was once home to 20,000 people during the early days of the Silk Road and in its onsite museum we can see some of the frescoes that once adorned the walls of the city’s better homes. This afternoon we make our final border crossing of the trip as we head once more into Uzbekistan and drive on to the most famous of all Silk Road cities, Samarkand. Time permitting, we will pay a visit to the world-famous Registan Square on arrival, one of Central Asia’s most iconic sights. Driving distance 230km, 3-4 hours approx.
Day 17 In Samarkand
Day 17 In Samarkand
We have all day to discover this amazing town, wandering through the gargantuan sights and visiting Guri Amir (Tamerlane’s tomb), Bibi Khanym Mosque, Shah-i-Zindar – the street of the dead, and the town’s excellent bazaar. There’ll also be some free time to explore more of the city at your leisure. Dinner will be out at a local restaurant and afterwards we will take a drive to see many of the sights spectacularly floodlit at night.
Day 18 Samarkand - Bukhara
Day 18 Samarkand - Bukhara
Today we’ll drive along the Royal Road to Bukhara, stopping during the 4-hour journey to look at the remains of an old caravanserai and to enjoy lunch. On arrival in Bukhara, we will familiarise ourselves with the town’s mellow streets and alleyways. There will be some free time before dinner by the Labi Hauz, a 17th century pool and eating area. Driving distance 300km, 4-5 hours approx.
Day 19 In Bukhara
Day 19 In Bukhara
We have all morning for sightseeing today. Starting with the Ismaili Samani mausoleum, we will continue via the Jama Majid (or the mosque of forty pillars) to the Ark where Connolly and Stoddard – two luckless British officers – met their deaths while playing the Great Game. From here we will visit the historically important Zindan, followed by the Kolan Minaret and beautiful mosques and madrassas that lie beneath it. En route there is silk weaving, knife making and metal engraving. Lunch will form part of a cooking demo with a local family. We will have the remainder of the day free for shopping and generally relaxing in this most characterful of the old Silk Road towns.
Day 20 Bukhara - Khiva
Day 20 Bukhara - Khiva
After a morning in Bukhara, we will take an afternoon train to Khiva (subject to operation) - checking into our hotel in the heart of this UNESCO protected old town. This evening there will be time to take a first wander around the quiet streets of this wonderfully preserved Silk Road city.
Day 21 In Khiva
Day 21 In Khiva
There’ll be ample time to soak up the atmosphere of Khiva today. We’ll visit some of the most colourful and sumptuous sites, including the Kukhna Arc, the Mohammed Khan Madrassa, and the Alloquli Khan Madrassa, bazaar and caravanserai. In addition, we will see the Kalta Minor Minaret, and Jama Majid Mosque with its amazing wooden pillars, before enjoying some free time to explore further at your leisure.
Day 22 Khiva - Tashkent
Day 22 Khiva - Tashkent
Taking a morning flight to the Uzbek capital, we then have the rest of the day to look around some of the main sights of Tashkent. We’ll take in the Khast Imam Complex which houses a 7th century Koran, as well as Independence Square and Chorsu Bazaar. We will also visit the Museum of Applied Arts to give an insight into the regional decorative styles and cultures. Tonight we’ll enjoy a farewell dinner and a chance to reflect on our journey.
Day 23 Tour ends in Tashkent
Day 23 Tour ends in Tashkent
Today those taking the suggested group flights will depart early in the morning before breakfast. For those that have made alternative arrangements, the tour will finish after breakfast this morning.
ACCOMMODATION USED ON THIS TOUR
Ramada By Wyndham Bishkek Centre, Bishkek
The Ramada Bishkek Hotel is a very good quality mid-range hotel in the city centre of Bishkek, close to the museums, theatres and main square. It combines a personal touch by the owner with international four-star standards. The friendly, multilingual and proactive staff will be at your service to offer you comfort and convenience during your stay. Each of the sixty-four comfortable rooms are fully equipped with all necessities and amenities and come in multiple categories including Standard, Superior, Suite, Deluxe or Presidential Suite. Through the elegant lobby you can reach the sport club and the Sapphire Restaurant, serving an à la carte menu of French, Italian and Lebanese cuisine. In the evenings, socialise on the summer terrace with a drink from the Forbes Bar and Restaurant.
Son Kul Lake Yurt Camp, Son Kul Lake
This authentic yurt camp provides the ultimate adventure experience, sleeping in traditional nomadic tents beside the beautiful Son Kul. Surrounded by roaming herds of cattle, horses and goats, the snow-capped peaks and an impressive alpine lake, the camp has an inspiring backdrop to the puffing yurt chimneys and nomadic life. The camp itself is comprised of ten cosy yurts with original décor and traditional Kyrgyz Felt carpets – each of which sleeps up to five people. With simple wooden beds, clean bed linen, blankets, pillows and a stove lit each night before dinner, your stay will be both warm and comfortable. Nearby there are two larger yurts used for dining where you can sample hearty local cooking and even fresh fish caught from the lake. After a full day’s activities, riding, walking and exploring the surrounding area, a session in the camp’s homemade, rustic sauna is a relaxing experience.
Tash Rabat Yurt Camp, Tash Rabat
Tash Rabat Yurt Camp is in the perfect location for learning more about the historic caravanserai while exploring the surrounding valley. The 15 yurts are set up in the summer months to welcome visitors to the valley. The yurts are decorated in a traditional style and are comfortable and cosy, each containing simple wooden beds, basic electricity and an oven that heats the yurt twice a day. There are shared toilet facilities and a sauna.
Qinibagh Hotel, Kashgar
The Qinibagh Hotel is a centrally located modern hotel, just a ten-minute walk from the Abakh Hoja Mausoleum and located opposite the entrance to Kashgar Old Town. In its grounds stands the former British Consulate, a hotbed of espionage during the "Great Game" of the 19th century. Dining outlets include six restaurants of different styles serving a wide selection of local snacks, Chinese, Indian and Pakistani cuisines. The three-star rooms have recently been refurbished and are medium-sized and well-appointed.
Imanjan's Guesthouse, Osh
This simple but comfortable homestay-style guesthouse in a traditional suburban home in Osh is run by a friendly Uzbek family. The rooms are set across two buildings: half of the rooms are furnished with twin beds and the other half offer thick mattresses laid on the floor. Although simple, this remains the best guesthouse option in Osh and the family are constantly trying to improve guests' comfort and convenience. The majority of rooms provide shared bathroom facilities with a few en suite options. The main building houses six rooms on the first floor (all of which have fully raised beds) and four rooms on the second floor (equipped with comfy, floor mattresses). A separate building has four additional rooms, mostly offering floor mattresses. Traditional Kyrgyz rugs and decorations dot the accommodation throughout and there are large outdoor seating areas in the garden.
Silk Road Kokand Hotel, Kokand
Only five minutes from Khudoyarkhan Palace, the Silk Road Hotel is a lovely four-star option in Kokand. The thirty-five luxurious rooms are all equipped with air conditioning, a private bathroom, free Wi-Fi, a minibar and tea making facilities. Some rooms have views of the quaint landscaped garden and a terrace bar. The property’s interiors have simple elegance with plush furnishings, regal patterns and brightly lit rooms. The restaurant serves a variety of European dishes and continental breakfast. There is also an ATM for guests to use.
Malika Classic Hotel, Samarkand
The Malika Classic Hotel is located in a quiet residential area, roughly 10 minutes by car from Registan Square and the old centre of Samarkand. There are 26 comfortable rooms surrounding the two courtyards and the rooms are furnished in a simple, local style. Each room comes with its own private bathroom, individually controlled air-conditioning, satellite TV and a telephone. Guests can enjoy an al-fresco breakfast on a national bench "supa" in the traditional central courtyard or can experience some authentic, local refreshments and cuisine in the hotel's restaurant and two bars. The restaurant primarily serves breakfast, and lunch and dinner can be prepared on request.
Sasha & Son, Bukhara
Constructed in the national style, Sasha & Sons was a 16th century Jewish merchant’s house renovated and converted into a boutique hotel. Located in the heart of Bukhara and within walking distance from ancient Labi-Hauz complex, the family-run hotel is decorated with art pieces and wall paintings reminiscent of the 18th century, hand-made by well-known craftsmen and painters from Uzbekistan. Walk through the quiet, inner courtyard and up the ornate stairs to your room. There are 20 comfortable guest rooms in total. Each room has an individual interior design brimming with local character and comes with standard amenities including air-conditioning, a mini bar and satellite television. As well as an onsite restaurant and bar, refreshments can be served in the property’s small garden and central courtyard.
Orient Star Hotel (Khiva Madrasah), Khiva
Contained inside the 19th century Mukhamed Aminkhan Madrassah, the Orient Star enjoys a faultless location within the walls of Ichan Qala, the medieval citadel in the heart of Khiva. Only a short walk from the city's mosques, madrassas, palaces and hammams, the building used to be the biggest operational madrassah of the city and held up to 250 students. The traditional building now features 60 simply decorated but comfortable and clean en suite rooms. Once cells of the students who studied here, each room is a historical and architectural adventure. The restaurant and bar, situated in another madrasah next to the hotel, offers Uzbek meals and local wine.
City Palace Hotel, Tashkent
Located at a short walk to Amir Timur Square, the lively entertainment hub of the city, and the Amir Timur Museum, the City Palace Hotel is also just a 10-minute drive to most of the city’s main sites. A modern 15-storey hotel, City Palace offers 251 tastefully furnished rooms and suites, all featuring private bathrooms with bathtub and shower, satellite TV, a writing desk, a minibar, air-conditioning and standard amenities. During the summer, guests can lounge in the garden by the outdoor swimming pool and bar or head inside to the indoor heated swimming pool, Jacuzzi, Turkish bath and sauna in the winter. Other facilities include a tennis court, a gym and a beauty salon. The stylish Amudaryo restaurant serves a mixture of local and international dishes and you can head to the lounge bar or lobby bar and café for a drink.
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Accommodation displayed here should be taken as a guide only. *Please refer to the Detailed Itinerary of your individual departure for more information.
PRIVATE HOLIDAYS: DATES DON’T FIT?
All group tours can be taken on a private basis.
Additional Details
Responsible Travel
With local people, culture and eco-systems in mind, responsible travel and sustainable tourism are at the core of Wild Frontiers. We believe that a successful trip not only delivers a unique and unsurpassable journey for our travellers but also benefits the people and places we visit.
When designing our tours, we actively seek out experiences that have a positive impact on the communities and precious environments we visit - from supporting social enterprises; resting our heads in rural homestays; and eating at locally owned restaurants; to helping fund conservation projects that protect wildlife and their habitats.
Visit the Responsible Travel area of our website to read more, including the work of the Wild Frontiers Foundation through which we fundraise to aid community empowerment and education projects.
Homestays
In Tajikistan, we will stay in the homes of hospitable locals. This is a great way to meet and interact with the local people, understand their limited infrastructure, and be introduced to their culture and way of life. With the homestays we use, the money goes straight into these remote communities and so benefits the people directly.
Travel, Discover, Help
For every passenger that our local agent in Kyrgyzstan hosts, $1 per day is donated to their charitable project during your stay.
Travel, Discover, Help enables children from orphanages to learn more about Kyrgyzstan, by offering excursions to the countryside and events throughout the year.
Additionally, they provide 40,498 days of work for locals annually and support ecological campaigns - transporting waste from glaciers and mountain gorges across this beautiful country.
Getting There
If you would like us to send you a quote for the suggested tour flights or on any alternative flight that may suit you better, please let us know, noting that for our US clients, we will most likely refer you to one of our preferred partners. For this trip our suggested flights from the UK (subject to change) are shown below.
If you wish to arrange your own flights you are completely free to do so and in this case we can arrange any transfers or supplementary accommodation that you may require. However please note that if you are planning on making your own flight arrangements, we recommend that you first check with us to see if the trip is guaranteed. We then suggest that you purchase flights that are flexible and ideally refundable as due to the nature of adventure travel, itineraries and destination accessibility can change at any time. For more information, please refer to our booking conditions.
| Flight Code | Departing | Arriving |
|---|---|---|
| TK 1980 | London Heathrow (LHR) 11:25 | Istanbul (IST) 17:05 |
| TK 348 | Istanbul (IST) 20:25 | Bishkek Airport (FRU) 04:30 |
| TK 369 | Tashkent Airport (TAS) 09:00 | Istanbul (IST) 12:15 |
| TK 1971 | Istanbul (IST) 14:50 | London Heathrow (LHR) 16:45 |
Visas
Visas are necessary for many of the destinations we travel to and while we aim to provide you with the most up-to-date information, requirements frequently change and as such for the latest advice we advise that you check with the relevant embassies or contact a reputable visa agency. More details can be found here - www.wildfrontierstravel.com/visa
For this tour UK passport holders currently require visas obtained in advance for China and Tajikistan, but the Kyrgyz and Uzbek visas are simply stamped in your passport on arrival at the border.Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements.
Further details will be sent out to you on booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the client.
Extensions
If you have more time available, why not arrive early to adjust to a new time zone or just to get a feel for the country before your tour starts? Or alternatively you might choose to allow a few extra days after the tour to relax or to undertake some further exploration.
The choice is completely yours and we can usually arrange anything from simply additional accommodation and transfers to full tailor-made itineraries.
Please contact the office for more details and to discuss your individual requirements.
Uzbekistan
Explore more of this fascinating country with an extension to the Aral Sea or the beautiful Yangikishlok region. Allow 3-5 days.
Turkmenistan
For an even more in depth insight into the Silk Road, why not extend your trip with a visit to Turkmenistan? This bizarre country is home to the ancient city ruins of Merv, the spectacular Darvaza gas crater, and one of the world’s most memorable and bizarre cities, Ashgabat. Allow 5-7 days.
Governmental Travel Advice
Many governments issue advice which highlights potential hazards their citizens might experience when travelling abroad. We strongly suggest you refer to your country’s particular advisory site before booking and contact us if you have any queries or concerns. Click to follow links to the advice of the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or the US State Department.
Non-UK citizens should consult the travel advice of their respective governments.
Key Information
CLIMATE
The weather conditions can be extremely varied on this tour. In the mountains of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan you will often be travelling at heights in excess of 3000m and so even in the summer it can turn cold with snow falling; at the same time mercury in the thermometers of Bukhara and Samarkand can be nudging 40C.
IS THIS TRIP FOR ME?
It may sound obvious but Wild Frontiers tours are not always for everyone and it is important to us that the tour you choose is the most suitable. All our tours have a fitness rating as a guideline but you should check the day-by-day itinerary carefully. In certain instances we may ask you to complete a travel questionnaire before confirming your booking in order to ensure your suitability. Should you have any concerns about your ability to partake in any aspect of the tour then please contact the office.
KEY ASPECTS TO CONSIDER
This particular tour travels 2,500 km in 3 weeks along the old silk routes, taking in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and the towns and cities of China and Uzbekistan, and so by its nature involves quite a lot of driving. We would therefore class this as an ‘overview’ type tour, rather than a really in-depth trip. We operate other tours that cover these areas in more detail if that is your preference. Please feel free to contact us for more details and advice on selecting the right trip for you.
Anyone in a reasonable state of health, with an open mind and a sense of adventure should be perfectly able to cope with this tour, as many of the activities are optional. Bear in mind, though, that the sheer length of the tour and distance covered means that it can be tiring and there are some long drives involved.
Please note that in certain places you will be staying in yurts and homestays so you should be prepared for basic and shared facilities, long-drop toilets and no showers for part of the trip. We think that what you will be witnessing will easily make up for any discomfort, though!
THE NATURE OF ADVENTURE TRAVEL
We feel that it’s worth pointing out that while we will always strive to stick as close to the stated itinerary as possible, it may be necessary from time to time to make changes to our itineraries or services (due to weather, political and religious influences etc.) and this can happen with little or no notice. This unpredictability can be one of the most exciting aspects of adventure travel and for many of our clients often leads to unexpected highlights as the tour-leader necessarily adapts the tour to the changing conditions. However we are aware that this lack of assuredness may not suit everyone. As such, with the greatest respect, if you are someone who needs to know that everything will happen exactly as planned, we would kindly suggest that perhaps our tours are not for you. Adventure travel can be infectious and once you’ve caught the bug, it is likely to never leave you, but especially if this is your first such tour we would strongly urge you to give us a call if you have any concerns whatsoever about your suitability for this trip.
TRAVELLING SOLO AND SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS
As a company approximately 70% of our clients are solo travellers, so it’s very unlikely you’ll be alone!
Our prices are typically based on twin-share accommodation, but single supplements are not compulsory for any Wild Frontiers tour. If you prefer not to pay a single supplement we’ll pair you with someone else of the same sex for you to share with throughout the trip.
On this trip, if you do opt to pay for a single supplement then please note that it will cover you for all nights of the tour except when in the yurts and homestays, where it will be necessary to share with others.
Please note that paying a single supplement entitles you to lone occupancy of a single room. In many cases these rooms will be of the same size as a double/twin room, but in some cases they may be smaller.
INSURANCE
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours. You should be aware that due to some of the geographical areas visited and some of the activities included on certain of our trips some standard insurance policies may not always provide adequate cover. As such we strongly recommend that you purchase a policy that adequately covers your trip. Please see the Insurance section for more details.
General Information
TOUR PRICE
All our tours are priced on a land-only basis, giving you maximum flexibility when deciding how to get to and from your tour.
DEPOSIT
A 10% deposit is required to confirm your booking.
PROTECTION FOR YOUR MONEY
For further details please see our travelling with peace of mind page
WILD MILES
This tour will earn you 6826 Wild Miles
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras. As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.
Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour/nationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatory
Tips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documents
International Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UK
Airport Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights
Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs
WILD FRONTIERS COMMUNITY
If you’re still not sure if this trip is right or just want to see get some different perspectives, then why not have a look at the wide variety of resources we have on our website? Browse our community section to read our blogs, watch videos and find out about our events.
WHY WILD FRONTIERS?
We are frequently asked what makes Wild Frontiers different from other tour operators. Visit our Why Wild Frontiers page to find out.