Silk Road Bazaar

Departing: Kolkata - 37 days
Countries visited: India, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, China

Follow in the footsteps of Babur, great grandson of Tamerlane, last of the Timurid Dynasty of Central Asia and founder of the Moghul Empire. Discover all the highlights of Samarkand, Bukhara and the Fergana plus the stunning scenery of Kyrgyzstan and palaces, temples and markets of northern India. Travelling through the diverse scenery and cultures of four countries, across mountain ranges, remote valleys and great deserts with time to meet the people and really explore the regions.

Itinerary

Days 1-5 Kolkata to Darjeeling
This epic journeys begins in the teeming city of Kolkata, one of India’s most populous and colourful. Then aboard the overnight Darjeeling Mail train via New Jalpaiguri and into the tea plantations and steep slopes of Darjeeling.

Days 6-10. Varanasi to the Taj
South by train to the sacred Hindu city of Varansi on the river Ganges. Visit magnificent stupas and monasteries and at dawn a boat ride past the Ghats where Hindus ritually wash in the sacred river. Then depart via Gwalior to Agra once the capital of India under the Moghuls. The most impressive building of the era was the Taj Mahal built by Shah Jahan as a striking tribute to his wife.

Days 11-16. Rajasthan and the Grand Truck Road to the Punjab
Across flat plains to India’s exciting capital were we explore Delhi Old and New then into the Thar Desert to the oasis of Jodphur, once the largest and most important city in Rajasthan. Continue to Jaipur the ‘Pink City’, visit the observatory and the Hawa Mahal then ride on elephant back to the stunning Amber Fort. Northwest across the plains of northen India to the fertile lands of Punjab Province and to the city of Amritsar the holy city of the Sikhs and marvel at their Golden Temple.

Days 17-20. Tashkent to the Fergana
Arrive by air from Amritsar into the Uzbek capital and a chance to explore the old town and Chorsu Bazaar. To Kokand and the potters town of Rishton then continuing through the valley we visit the silk producing town of Margilan where the friendly locals still dress in traditional costume and with hardly a tourist in sight, take pleasure in the sights, sounds and aromas of the most interesting bazaar in the Fergana Valley.

Day 21-24. Across the Irkeshtam Pass to Kashgar
Strategically located at the western gateway to the Fergana Valley, Osh prospered with Silk Road trade until the Mongol armies destroyed the city in the 13th century. There is little traffic and apart from a few other small settlements in the river valleys the country is strangely alluring with its barren and rugged landscape. We steadily climb through the Tien Shan Mountains to the newly opened Irkeshtam Pass enroute to the legendary Silk Road market town of Kashgar. Located between the massive ranges of the Tien Shan to the north, the Pamir to the west, the Karakoram to the south and the largest desert in Asia, the Taklamakan to the east.

Days 25-29. Across the Kyrgyz Plateau
Travelling over the Torugart Pass (3752m) to Tash Rabat Caravanserai past yurts, traditional home to Central Asia's nomads. Tash Rabat, one of the few remaining caravanserai of the Silk Road, is a large impressive stone shelter in a beautiful valley setting and dates from the 10th century. Travelling north the road cuts through the rugged Kyrgyz Steppe and spectacular mountains can be seen enroute to Naryn. Surrounded by the snow capped peaks of the Tien Shan, Lake Issyk Kul (warm lake) is one of the world's largest bodies of fresh water and, despite an altitude of 1,600 metres, never freezes. Continuing northwest to Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan where we visit the alpine scenery of Al Archa Canyon.

Days 30-33. Bishkek to Bukhara
We leave the lakeside scenery and high plains of central Kyrgyzstan and travel by air to Tashkent. After a day in the Uzbek capital we take the overnight train to Bukhara. Alive with history, the Ark Fortress, the Samanid Mausoleum, one of the world's oldest monuments and the Kalyan Minaret standing at 47 metres makes it one of the tallest in Central Asia. At the covered bazaars, rugs, silks and spices are still traded in a time-honoured tradition dating back centuries.

Days 34-36. Samarkand via Shakrisabz
Our drive into the Zerafshan Mountains provides us with magnificent views as we travel to Shakrisabz, birthplace of Tamerlane, and where the ruined entrance towers of his Ak-Serai Palace still stand. Shakrisabz is a pretty market town with winding mud lanes of traditional homes and a relaxed atmosphere among its many mosques and teahouses. This afternoon we arrive in Samarkand. No city is so evocative of the Silk Road as 'golden' Samarkand. Registan Square is the most spectacular architectural ensemble in Central Asia. Made up of three madrasas (places of learning) and a mosque, this beautiful square is inspiring. Other highlights include Shah-i-Zinda, the narrow alley of tombs and mausoleums, Bibi Khanym Mosque and the Ulug Bek Observatory. We return to Tashkent and spend the evening in the Uzbek capital.

Day 37. Tashkent
This incredible journey, tracing the path of defeats and victories, of births and deaths, comes to an end.

Essentials

Group Size
15 maximum, plus Tour Leader

Accommodation
Hotels & Guesthouses - 27 nights (twin share)
Homestays - 3 nights (shared)
Yurt - 1 night (twin share)
Trains - 5 nights (shared compartments)
A single supplement is not available on this journey.

Meals
40 in total. Breakfast (31), lunch (5), dinner (5).

Travel by
Mini bus/van: subject to group size.
Local Flight: Amritsar to Tashkent, & Bishkek to Tashkent.
Other: for ‘Scheduled Sightseeing we generally use small minibuses, and for ‘City Exploring’ we use local taxis, public transport and go on foot.

Sightseeing
Scheduled Sightseeing is part of the itinerary and includes all transport, entrance fees and English speaking local guide. While too numerous to detail here, extensive 'Scheduled Sightseeing' is provided in the following cities. Kolkatta, Darjeeling, Varanasi, Agra, Delhi, Agra, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Amritsar, Tashkent, Fergana Valley, Kashgar, Bishkek, Bukhara and Samarkand. Full details in the Trip Dossier. City Exploring is further sightseeing outside the itinerary guideline, with the Tour Leader.

Visa
Required for India, China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Sundowners Overland will provide all required invitation letters and full visa support including detailed visa guidelines.