Along Central Asia’s Silk Road

17 days
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Small Group Tour
Traveling the ancient Silk Road connecting East and West, we encounter a mélange of culture and religion, art and architecture that conjures tales of trade and treasure, intrigue and empire. On this exciting small group journey, we relish the exotic and embrace the humanity we share with the welcoming people of Central Asia.
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • White marble city of Ashgabat
    • UNESCO archaeological sites of Nisa and Kunya Urgench
    • Historic walled city of Khiva
    • Visits with local artisans
    • Extensive Bukhara touring
    • Petroglyphs at Sarmishsay Gorge
    • Home-hosted lunch in Bukhara
    • Desert excursion and yurt camp overnight
    • Legendary Samarkand
    • Central Asian bazaars in six cities

What's this trip about?

    Traveling the ancient Silk Road connecting East and West, we encounter a mélange of culture and religion, art and architecture that conjures tales of trade and treasure, intrigue and empire. On this exciting small group journey, we relish the exotic and embrace the humanity we share with the welcoming people of Central Asia.

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Details

Itinerary focusOff the Beaten Path
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 20 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transport
Start CityAshgabat
End CityAlmaty

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Local Immersion & Homestays

Destinations

Activities

  • Culture
  • Historic Sightseeing
  • History
  • Ruins & Archaeology

Min Group Size

  • Min Group Size: 12

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 20

Trip includes

    • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; all flights within itinerary
    • 15 nights’ accommodations: 14 nights in Superior First Class and First Class hotels; 1 night in yurt camp
    • 36 Meals: 15 Breakfasts, 10 Lunches, 11 Dinners
    • Extensive sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees
    • Services of local Odysseys Unlimited Tour Directors
    • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip
    • Luggage handling for one bag per person
    • Gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers
    • $100 frequent traveler credit towards your next Odysseys Unlimited tour ($200 after 3 tours; $300 after 10 tours)

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: Depart U.S. for Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

Day 2: Arrive Ashgabat

Upon arrival in the Turkmen capital late tonight, we transfer directly to our hotel.

Day 3: Ashgabat

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

After time to rest this morning, we have lunch on our own, then meet our Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director and fellow travelers at a welcome briefing. We begin our journey along the Silk Road with a panoramic tour of this showpiece ci...

Day 4: Ashgabat/Nisa

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This morning we visit the UNESCO archaeological site of Nisa, ancient capital of the Parthian Empire dating to the 3rd century BCE. After exploring here, we travel on to an Akhal-Teke horse stud farm, where we witness the beau...

Day 5: Ashgabat/Khiva, Uzbekistan

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

We fly this morning to Dashoguz, Turkmenistan, where we visit the Yzmikshir Fortress, which dates back to the Parthian Empire and contains remnants of a unique 80-foot-high double wall. We continue to the Uzbek border crossing...

Day 6: Khiva

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

We get a taste of Khiva’s storied past as a major Silk Road trading post on a morning tour of the Itchan Kala, the “inner city” whose entirety is a UNESCO site. Here we see the turquoise-tiled Kalta Minor minaret – enormous, stout, an...

Day 7: Khiva/Bukhara

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This morning we board a high-speed train for the journey through the Kyzylkum Desert to Bukhara (approx. 4 ½ hours), with lunch on board. Upon arrival in this ancient city of Silk Road commerce and religious piety, we visit th...

Day 8: Bukhara

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Today begins with a walking tour of the 16th-century Lyab-i Hauz religious complex. We continue to the domed Taki-Telpak Furushon bazaar known for its headgear: embroidered skull caps, turbans, and heavy fur hats; then on to a bazaar ...

Day 9: Bukhara/Sarmishsay/Aydar Lake

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinnner

We set out today on a thrilling overnight excursion, boarding 4×4 vehicles through the Kyzylkum Desert bound for Aydar Lake. We stop first in Gijduvan to visit a renowned ceramicist, then see some of the 4,000-plus Bronze Age...

Day 10: Aydar Lake/Samarkand

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This morning we visit the remote mountain village of Sentyab, where we meet with a local family in their home. Then we travel on to Samarkand, legendary stop on the Silk Road. This afternoon we take an orientation tour of one ...

Day 11: Samarkand

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan left their marks on Samarkand, as did Tamerlane (Timur), who made it capital of his Islamic empire in the 14th century; he or his descendants built many of the historic buildings and monuments we s...

Day 12: Samarkand

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Our discovery of this crossroads of culture continues today at the Shakhi Zinda necropolis and temple complex, whose 20-plus buildings date from the 11th to 19th centuries; the Afrasiyab Museum, a huge archaeological site and ...

Day 13: Samarkand/Jizzakh/Tashkent

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

En route by motorcoach today to the Uzbek capital, we stop at Jizzakh to seeJilanuti Pass, the “Gates of Tamerlane” passage between the Nuratin and Turkestan hills. We continue on to Tashkent, arriving early this afternoon. We...

Day 14: Tashkent

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

A morning tour of Uzbekistan’s capital begins in the Old City at the Khazrati Imam Complex of mosques and madrassahs. Here we see the world’s oldest surviving Islamic holy book, the 8th-century Uthman Quran, brought to Tashkent by Ta...

Day 15: Tashkent/Almaty, Kazakhstan

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

At the Museum of Applied Arts this morning, we see fine examples of Uzbek crafts, including embroidery, jewelry, ceramics, and carpets. Afterwards, we call on the studio of renowned ceramicist Akbar Rakhimov. Then we transfer to the airport for our flight to Almaty

Day 16: Almaty

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Kazakhstan’s largest city and cultural and commercial center, Almaty has a decided Russian flavor, as we see on this morning’s tour. Highlights: Panfilov Park, Holy Ascension Cathedral, and the Museum of Kazakh Musical Instruments. T...

Day 17: Depart for U.S.

Meals: Breakfast

Very early this morning we depart for the airport for our connecting flight to the U.S.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $5,794
Price per day$341
Single supplement (single occupancy)$1,195
Last Updated: 1/21/2022

Pricing Details:

$499 airline taxes and fees

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Odysseys Unlimited.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Logistics

Accommodation

  • Nusay Hotel
  • Hotel Asia Khiva
  • Hotel Zargaron Plaza
  • Oxus Resort Yurt Camp
  • Hotel Grand Samarkand Superior
  • Hyatt Regency Tashkent
  • InterContinental Almaty
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

15 Breakfasts, 10 Lunches and 11 Dinners

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
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Trip ID
odysse-AloCenOdy

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