Grand Silk Explorer

Departing: Istanbul - 46 days
Countries visited: Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, China

An incredible adventure along Asia's ancient routes of trade and conquest. From bustling Istanbul, gateway of Europe, and following the Black Sea coast via Sinop and Trabson and to Georgia and it’s ancient capital Tbilisi and on over the ranges to Yerevan. Beyong Armenia to Iran and across the plains to the wonderful mosques and covered bazaars at Isfahan. On across the Kara Kum to Merv, at the centre of trade along this ancient route and to the fabled Silk Road cities of Samarkand and Bukhara and over the Pamir and beyond to China’s great capital.

Itinerary

Days 1-8. The Black Sea coast
Many of the caravan trade routes began at the ports of the Black Sea where ships carried the valuable merchandise onwards from Constantinople and the Mediterranean. Our first few days follow the Black Sea coast from Istanbul through Safranbolu and Samsun to Trabzon.

Days 9-17. Caucasus adventure
Crammed between the Caspian and Black Sea is an incredible treasure trove of early Christian monuments set amongst the most incredible mountain scenery. We explore Georgia's ancient capital, Mtskheta, with its beautiful Jvari Church and Sveti-Tskhoveli Cathedral and the old town of Tbilisi. The Caucasus were a crossroads of trade and conquest through the centuries and we discover the best the region has to offer, with time to enjoy their legendary hospitality and fine wines! South to the mountain spa town of Dilijan and beyond to Yerevan the Armenian capital and across the border into Iran.

Days 18-26. Iran & across the Kara Kum
Firstly at Tabriz then by train to the capital Tehran and onto beautiful Isfahan with its wonderful blue tiled buildings and covered bazaar, and discover some of the city’s renowned tea-houses. North to Mashhad and visit the incredible shrine complex of Emam Reza, the eighth grandson of the prophet Mohammed, and one of the great architectural wonders of the Islamic world. Then across the Kopet Dag mountains to Ashghabad where we explore the city and perhaps visit the markets with their red sea of traditional Turkmen carpets. Beyond Ashghabad we travel to Mary and the ruins of Merv, one of the greatest of all the ancient Silk Road cities, before crossing the Kara Kum Desert to Bukhara.

Days 27-32. Bukhara & Samarkand
We explore the mud-brick monuments of Bukhara. Once known as ‘holy’ Bukhara, it was home to more than 2000 mosques, today its monuments are some of the oldest on the Silk Road; the Ark Fortress, Samani's Mausoleum and, spared the destruction of Genghis Khan, the Kalyan Minaret - one of central Asia's tallest. Explore the old town and enjoy one of the many chaikhanas (tea-houses) in Lyabi-Hauz. Across the Kyzyl Kum Desert lies 'golden' Samarkand, the most evocative of the ancient Silk Road cities, Tamerlane's turquoise-spangled capital. We explore Central Asia's most spectacular architectural ensemble; the Registan, plus the Shah-i-Zinda complex, Bibi Khanym Mosque and the Ulug Bek Observatory.

Days 33-38. The Fergana Valley & over the Irkeshtam Pass to Kashgar
From Samarkand, we journey to the Uzbek capital Tashkent and then Kokand. Continuing through the Fergana Valley we visit the silk producing town of Margilan with its large bazaar and the potters town of Rishton before travelling to Osh, across the border in Kyrgyzstan. Strategically located at the western gateway to the Fergana Valley. Beyond Osh lie the high passes of the Tien Shan Mountains, gateway to China and the fabled city of Kashgar. We follow the Silk Road through Sary Tash and over the Irkeshtam Pass to old Kashi. At the crossroads of British India and Imperial Russia's Central Asian territories, this legendary Silk Road town played centre stage in the ‘Great Game’, while centuries earlier its strategic position made it one of the most important staging posts of the great Silk Road.

Days 39-41. The Silk Road Rail to Xian
We join the Silk Road Railway at Kashgar, which carries us across the Taklamakan Desert and the far-flung frontiers of Xinjiang Province, eastwards to Jiayuguan, the bastion ramparts of the Great Wall's most westerly garrison. The oasis of Turpan still reflects life as it was along the Silk Road and the faces in the bazaar recall the four corners of Asia. Leaving the desert we board our train for our two night journey to Xian.

Days 42-46. Xian - gateway to the Silk Road & onto Beijing
As ancient Chang'an, Xian was one of the largest cities in the world. This was a time of trade and prosperity and for over 400 years the great caravans arrived through the city's West Gate having endured the perils of the Taklamakan Desert, the high passes of the Tien Shan Mountains and the fabled cities of Central Asia. Today the city walls, towers, pagodas and incredible Terracotta Army reveal the city's long and turbulent history. Beijing is an incredible contrast of sights, sounds and smells, explore the backstreets (Hutongs) of the old town with their food stalls and street vendors for a taste of ‘old Beijing’. Visit the "must see" sights: the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square and Temple of Heaven, while your Group Leader is on hand for some relaxed ‘City Exploring’ to the Silk Market, Summer Palace and Forbidden City. Finally our epic journey along the ancient trade routes of Central Asia is complete.

Essentials

Group Size
15 maximum, plus Group Leader

Accommodation
Hotels/Guesthouses - 37 nights (twin share)
Homestay - 1 night (shared)
Trains - 7 nights (4 berth)

Meals
44 in total. Breakfast (38), lunch (3), dinner (3).

Travel by
Train: Comfortable 4-berth sleepers.
There are 6 rail sectors on this journey
-Tabriz to Tehran (1 night)
-Tehran to Isfahan (1 night)
-Isfahan to Mashhad (1 night)
-Kashgar to Turpan (1 night)
-Turpan to Xian (1 nights)
-Xian to Beijing (1 night)
Other: A variety of private chartered vehicles (Georgia, Armenia, Iran Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Kyrgyzstan, & China) and public buses (Turkey) are used on the non-rail overland sectors. 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: Beijing, Xian, Turpan, Kashgar, Osh, Andijan, Margilan, Kokand, Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Mary, Ashghabad, Mashhad, Isfahan, Tehran, Tabriz, Yerevan, Dilijan, Tbilisi, Gori, Kutaisi and Istanbul. Full details in the Trip Dossier. City Exploring is further sightseeing outside the itinerary guideline but with the Group Leader.

Local Payment
Your Local Payment is the final balance payment of your tour price and is to be paid directly to your Group Leader at the Pre Departure Meeting on day 1 of your tour. The Local Payment is utilised by your Group Leader to pay for various locally provided services.

Visas
Required for China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Armenia, Georgia and Turkey (depends on nationality). Sundowners Overland will provide all required invitation letters and full visa support, including detailed visa guidelines.