“Hi, it's us, Georgina, Britta, and Lee Ling”
“I am an outdoor person who love to meet new friends while exploring off-beaten-track places. Travelling is not just about destination, but about the experiences of the journey towards the destination.”
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:
A glance on some of the cities and places we will be visiting in each country:
Kyrgyzstan
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, 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
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
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:
Things to bring:
Price:
Day 1: SG – Kyrgyzstan (Bishkek)
Day 2: Bishkek – Ala Archa – Bishkek
Day 3: Bishkek – Burana – Kochkor – Naryn
Day 4: Naryn – Son Kul
Day 5: Son Kul – Suusamyr – Bishkek
Day 6: Bishkek – Osh – Khujand (Tajikistan)
Day 7: Khujand – Seven Lakes
Day 8: Seven Lakes – Penjikent
Day 9: Penjikent – Samarkand (Uzbekistan)
Day 10: Samarkand – Buhara
Day 11: Buhara
Day 12: Bukhara – Khiva
Day 13: Khiva
Day 14: Khiva – Kunya Urgench – Darvaza Gas Crater (Turkmenistan)
Day 15: Darwaza – Nisa – Ashgabat
Day 16: Leaving Central Asia
Day 17: Home Sweet Home