Let’s travel the Ancient Silk Road through the 4 “stans” of Central Asia

It is well-known that the historical Silk Road played an important and significant role in the development of civilizations of many nations culturally, politically and economically for many centuries.

Central Asia was an important stopover on the Silk Road. It was one of the most important and influential regions of the world during that time as it was a crossroad for the movement of goods, people and ideas between Asia and Europe.

Now, the region houses so many UNESCO listings that for a moment I thought this is the “HQ of UNESCO”. This specially curated Epic 14-day land journey through Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan is like placing you in the time machine and bringing you back to the silk road days as many of the historical sites are still standing there to greet and welcome you.

You will not only see the vast landscapes and impressive architecture but will also meet the warm-hearted locals who are themselves the descendants of the original silk road traders. Come along with me as we become nomads ourselves and experience this fascinating history first-hand.

On this once-in-lifetime journey, we will:

• Visit the 4 fascinating “stan” countries in just one trip - Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan
• Walk in the footsteps of Alexander the Great and Ghengas Khan as we visit the ancient silk road cities in these 4 former Soviet Union Republics (USSR)
• Visit countless UNESCO world heritage sites and see hundreds more ancient and medieval structures
• Visit pilgrimage sites, centuries old buildings, palaces and see the intricately decorated Mosques, Madrasahs, Mausoleums and Minarets of the region
• See the spectacular gorges, mountain passes and lakes when travelling from one city to another
• Experience the local Bazaars to immerse into the local’s daily life
• Sleep overnight in the traditional Yurt like a nomad
• Meet the locals during a homestay, seeing their way of life first hand instead of hearsay and see other demonstrations of local crafts and cultural customs

A glance on some of the cities and places we will be visiting in each country:

Kyrgyzstan

• Ala Archa Natural Park, only V.I.P. people had permission to go for a walk here during the Soviet Time
• The famous Tien Shan mountains range
• Burana Tower, an 11th-century minaret and is one of the Kyrgyzstan Silk Road sites
• An open-air museum of 6th- to 10th-century Balbals (stone warriors)
• Live like a nomad and stay one night in the yurt along Son Kul Lake, the second largest lake and the largest fresh water lake in Kyrgyzstan
• Osh, the oldest city in Kyrgyzstan that estimated to be more than 3,000 years old
• The Sulayman Mountain. According to the UNESCO, the mountain is "the most complete example of a sacred mountain anywhere in Central Asia, worshipped over several millennia

 
Osh Bazaar (Asian Bazaar) is one of the largest bazaars in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

 

A statue of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in Dobovy (Oak) Park, photo by Dan Lundberg licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

 

Tian Shan Mountainous in Ala Archa National Park. Ala archa by Garth Willis is licensed under CC 3.0

 Burana tower is one of the Kyrgyzstan Silk Road sites. Burana tower, photo by Ninara from Helsinki, Finland licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

 
 Open air museum of Balbals (stone warriors) at Burana Tower

20141009_Kyrgyzstan_1502 Burana, photo by Dan Lundberg licensed under the CC BY-SA 2.0

 
Song-Kul Lake, Kyrgyzstan, photo By Ninara from Helsinki, Finland licensed under CC BY 2.0,

Evening in the Yurt Camp. Photo by Ninara from Helsinki, Finland licensed under CC BY 2.0

 
Cosy corner inside the yurt

 Riders at the shore of Song Kol, Kyrgyzstan. Photo by Kondephy licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

 
Sulayman Mountain, Osh, photo By Ninara from Helsinki, Finland licensed under CC BY 2.0
Sulayman Mountain in the background of Osh City. It is considered a place of pilgrimage for local Muslims because according to the legend, biblical prophet Solomon (Suleiman, in the Koran) was buried at the foot of it.

Tajikistan

• Khujand, one of the oldest cities in Central Asia, dating back about 2,500 years. It was a major city along the ancient northern Silk Road
• Fann Mountains - one of Central Asia's most popular hiking areas
• The beautiful Seven Lakes are also known as Marquzor Lakes. Each with different colour
• The archaeological site of the ruins of old Penjikent which originated in the 5th-8th centuries AD often referred to as The Pompeii of Central Asia. It was once a Sogdian trading city on the Silk Road

Khujand, Marketsquare, photo by Anton Ruiter licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

 
Khujand Cookies. Central market of Khujand city called Bozori Panjshanbe. Photo by Neu holland licensed under the CC BY-SA 4.0

One of the Seven Lakes in the Fan Mountains. Tajikistan. Photo by Шухрат Саъдиев  licensed under the CC BY-SA 4.0

 
Sogdian Ancient Penjikent (5th-8th century AD), Tajikistan. Photo by Stefan Krasowski licensed under the CC BY 2.0

Uzbekistan

• The most famous historical cities of Central Asia: Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva
• Samarkand: one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Central Asia and is of the same age as the city of Babylon or Rome. It's the ancient Silk Road trade route linking China to the Mediterranean. "Everything I've heard about the glories of Samarkand - is true, with the exception of one thing - the city is much more beautiful than I could ever imagine" - these were the words of Alexander the Great about Samarkand
• Registan Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site is a complex of three fascinating Madrasahs dating back to 15th-17th centuries
• Mausoleum of St. Daniel (Prophet Daniel). Legend has it that his body grows half an inch each year. Hence, it is said that the coffin is 18 meters (59 feet) long now.
• Bukhara: a city-museum with more than 100 architectural monuments. It has been one of the main centres of world civilisation from its early days in 6th century BCE. Located on the Silk Road, UNESCO has listed the historic center of Bukhara (which contains numerous mosques and madrasas) as a World Heritage Site
• The Kyzylkum Desert, the 16th largest desert in the world
• Khiva: an open air museum-city. Listed in UNESCO World Heritage List. It is similar to Pompeii and Herculanum. Some expressed that this city is like a real fairy tale combining the magic lamps and eastern beauties, an oasis that Silk Road merchants never missed.

Registan Square Samarkand by Ekrem Canli is licensed under CC 3.0
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Registan was a public square, where people gathered to hear royal proclamations, heralded by blasts on enormous copper pipes called dzharchis - and a place of public executions too.

 Mausoleum of the Prophet Daniel, Samarkand, Photo by Dan Lundberg licensed under the CC BY-SA 2.0

 
Ark Citadel Walls, A view of the Ark Fortress in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. The Ark Fortress is dating back to the 4th century.
Photo by RK licensed under the CC BY-SA 4.0

 
Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum, Bukhara. Photo by Faqscl licensed under the CC BY-SA 3.0
Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum appeared in the 12th century beside the spring that is associated with the biblical Prophet Job. This site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on 18 January 2008, in the Cultural category

 
Bolo-Hauz Mosque, Bukhara. Photo by Dan Lundberg licensed under the CC BY-SA 2.0
Unique architecture built in 1712, it is inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list

 Entrance to Trading dome, Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Photo by Robert Wilson licensed under the CC BY-ND 2.0
Shopping area on Bukhara is named Trading Dome. It is where silk road merchants traded their products

Lyabi Hauz, Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Photo by Robert Wilson licensed under the CC BY-ND 2.0
The Lyab-i Hauz was created during the 16th and 17th centuries and it has not been significantly changed since.

 
The road from Bukhara to Khiva goes through the famous Kyzylkum Desert, Uzbekistan

 
City wall of Khiva, Uzbekistan 

 
Close-up of the decorated surfaces (paint and tile) of Kunya-Ark of Kurinysh-Khan
photo by Dan Lundberg licensed under the CC BY-SA 2.0

 
Khiva Itchan Kala by Patrickringgenberg is licensed under CC 2.0
Itchan Kala in Khiva was the first site in Uzbekistan to be inscribed in the World Heritage List (1991). The old town retains more than 50 historic monuments and 250 old houses, dating primarily from the 18th or 19th centuries.

Turkmenistan

• Konye-Urgench, ancient capital of Khorezm, a UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• The Il-Arslan Mausoleum, Konye-Urgench’s oldest standing monument
• Mausoleum of Turabek-Khanym, a Mongolian princess Mausoleum
• The Darvaza gas crater, known locally as the "Door to Hell" or ''Gates of Hell",
• Nissa fortress, the Sanctuary of Parthian Kings, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

 
The Il-Arslan Mausoleum, Turkmenistan. Photo by Dan Lundberg licensed under the CC BY-SA 2.0
The Il-Arslan Mausoleum is Konye-Urgench’s oldest standing monument.

Turabek-Khanym Mausoleum’s Ornamental Art, XIYc., Turkmenistan
Photo by Npb-aia licensed under the CC BY-SA 4.0

Darvaza gas crater panorama. Turkmenistan. Photo by Tormod Sandtorv licensed under the CC BY-SA 2.0

 
Nisa Fortress, Turkmenistan. A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Photo by David Stanley licensed under the CC BY 2.0

 
Important Notes:

Accommodation condition:

• All accommodations have aircon and attached bathroom with hot bathing water except yurt, homestay, and camping tent.
• All accommodations are twin sharing except yurt is 4 pax per yurt
• Yurt: Toilet and bathroom are outside about 20-30 meters away. Total 3 common facilities for all yurts. Do not provide shower soap, shampoo, bathing towels and no hot bathing water
• Home stay: Toilet and bathroom are outside with no hot bathing water. Do not provide shower soap and shampoo
• Camping tent: Very basic and simple condition. Toilet outside tent and no bathing facility

Things to bring:

• Warm clothing as high-altitude places and night time can be very cold between 5-10 degrees
• Light clothing for daytime as can be very hot to 36 degrees
• Sleeping bag lining
• Room slippers
• Personal toiletries such as bathing towel

 
Price:

• Price is based on USD currency rate exchange at USD 1 = SGD 1.35. If USD appreciates, then would have to top up the difference and if it depreciates, the balance will be refunded.
• For 8-9 pax, the price is S$4,256 per pax
• For 10 pax and above, the price is S$3,815 per pax
• Price excludes international air ticket