Tour overview

This 27-day journey crosses Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan along the old Silk Road. A local leader travels with the group, which numbers no more than twelve, by private bus, overnight train and desert 4WD. You stay twenty-six nights in small hotels, yurt camps, homestays and an overnight train, with breakfast daily and a number of lunches and dinners.

From Bishkek you head to yurt camps at Issyk-Kul and the alpine lake of Son-Kol, then cross the mountains via village homestays to Osh. Crossing into Uzbekistan, you visit the silk workshops of Margilan and Kokand, then pass into Tajikistan for Khujand and the ancient Sogdian city of Panjakent.

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You explore Samarkand's Registan and Tashkent, take the night train to Khiva, then cross into Turkmenistan to camp by the burning Darvaza gas crater. Time in Ashgabat, the mountain village of Nohur and the ancient city of Merv near Mary ends the journey.

The physical rating is medium. This trip suits adventurous travellers with time to explore Central Asia in depth.

Trip highlights

  • Issyk-Kul yurt camp (Days 3–4)
  • Son-Kol (Day 5)
  • Osh (Days 8–9)
  • Samarkand (Days 14–15)
  • Khiva (Days 19–20)
  • The Darvaza gas crater (Day 21)

Your route

21 stops from Bishkek to Mary

27-day route: Bishkek – Issyk-Kul – Son-Kol – Osh – Kokand – Khujand – Panjakent – Samarkand – Tashkent – Khiva – Darvaza – Ashgabat
  1. Bishkek Days 1–2
  2. Burana Tower Day 3
  3. Issyk-Kul Lake (Kyzyl-Tuu) Days 3–4
  4. Kochkor Day 5
  5. Song-Kol Lake Day 5
  6. Kyzyl-Oi Day 6
  7. Toktogul Day 7
  8. Uzgen Day 8
  9. Osh Days 8–9
  10. Margilan Day 10
  11. Kokand Days 10–11
  12. Khujand Day 12
  13. Panjakent Day 13
  14. Samarkand Days 14–15
  15. Tashkent Days 16–18
  16. Khiva Days 19–20
  17. Darvaza Gas Crater Day 21
  18. Ashgabat Days 23–24 & 26
  19. Nohur Day 22
  20. Merv Day 25
  21. Mary Day 25

Why choose this tour

Four Central Asian countries overland. Yurt camps, homestays and a desert crater.

Best suited to

  • Adventurous travellers
  • History lovers
  • Solo travellers
  • Travellers with time to spare
Yurts on the high plateau

Day-by-day itinerary

27 days from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

  1. Day 1 · Bishkek Bishkek

    A welcome dinner.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Dinner
  2. Day 2 · Bishkek Bishkek

    A city tour.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  3. Day 3 · Issyk-Kul Issyk-Kul

    To the lake.

    Hotel
    Yurt camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  4. Day 4 · Kyzyl Tuu Issyk-Kul

    Yurt making.

    Hotel
    Yurt camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  5. Day 5 · Son-Kol Son-Kol

    A sacred lake.

    Hotel
    Yurt camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Kyzyl-Oi Kyzyl-Oi

    A tiny village.

    Hotel
    Guesthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  7. Day 7 · Kok-Bel Kok-Bel

    Over the mountains.

    Hotel
    Guesthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  8. Day 8 · Osh Osh

    An ancient city.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  9. Day 9 · Sulaiman-Too Osh

    A sacred mountain.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  10. Day 10 · Margilan, Kokand Kokand

    Into Uzbekistan.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  11. Day 11 · Khudayar Khan Palace Kokand

    A khan's palace.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  12. Day 12 · Khujand Khujand

    Into Tajikistan.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  13. Day 13 · Panjakent Panjakent

    A Sogdian city.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  14. Day 14 · Samarkand Samarkand

    Back to Uzbekistan.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  15. Day 15 · Registan Samarkand

    The Registan.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  16. Day 16 · Tashkent Tashkent

    By train.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  17. Day 17 · Tashkent Tashkent

    A free day.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  18. Day 18 · Tashkent Tashkent

    A city tour.

    Hotel
    Overnight sleeper train
    Meals
    Breakfast
  19. Day 19 · Khiva Khiva

    A walled city.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Lunch
  20. Day 20 · Itchan Kala Khiva

    A free day.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  21. Day 21 · Darvaza gas crater Darvaza

    The Door to Hell.

    Hotel
    Yurt camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  22. Day 22 · Ashgabat, Nohur Nohur

    A mountain village.

    Hotel
    Guesthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  23. Day 23 · Ashgabat Ashgabat

    A marble city.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  24. Day 24 · Ashgabat Ashgabat

    A guided tour.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  25. Day 25 · Merv, Mary Mary

    Ancient Merv.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  26. Day 26 · Ashgabat Ashgabat

    Back to Ashgabat.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  27. Day 27 · Ashgabat Ashgabat

    The trip ends.

    Meals
    Breakfast
Registan Square in Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Where you stay

  • Bishkek (2 nights) Hotel
  • Issyk-Kul (2 nights) Yurt camp
  • Son-Kol (1 night) Yurt camp
  • Kyzyl-Oi (1 night) Guesthouse
  • Kok-Bel (1 night) Guesthouse
  • Osh (2 nights) Hotel
  • Kokand (2 nights) Hotel
  • Khujand (1 night) Hotel
  • Panjakent (1 night) Hotel
  • Samarkand (2 nights) Hotel
  • Tashkent (2 nights) Hotel
  • Overnight train (1 night) Sleeper train
  • Khiva (2 nights) Hotel
  • Darvaza (1 night) Yurt camp
  • Nohur (1 night) Guesthouse
  • Ashgabat (2 nights) Hotel
  • Mary (1 night) Hotel
  • Ashgabat (1 night) Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 26 nights in hotels, yurts, homestays and a train
  • Meals 25 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 9 dinners
  • Private bus, overnight train and desert 4WDs
  • Family-hosted lunches in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan
  • Samarkand, Khiva and Merv
  • Darvaza crater picnic dinner
  • Local leader throughout

Not included

  • Flights
  • Visas and Turkmenistan letter of invitation
  • Meals not included 1 breakfast, 17 lunches and 17 dinners
  • Travel insurance and personal spending
A white marble building in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want comfortable hotels throughout
  • You dislike long drives
  • You want a short trip
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–18 and 20–27 · Lunch: Days 3–7, 10, 13 and 19 · Dinner: Days 1, 3–7, 15 and 21–22
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Kyrgyzstan · UK FCDO travel advice for Tajikistan · UK FCDO travel advice for Turkmenistan · UK FCDO travel advice for Uzbekistan
The walled old town of Khiva at sunset, Uzbekistan

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £5,535 per person, twin share, tour only. 45 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Do I need visas?

UK citizens can visit Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan visa-free or with an e-visa, but Turkmenistan requires a visa and a letter of invitation arranged in advance.

What are the yurt camps like?

Simple felt yurts with shared facilities.

How are border crossings handled?

Your leader helps at each crossing; some involve walking across with luggage.

Is there free time?

Yes, including free days in Tashkent and Khiva.

Can I have my own room?

A single supplement is available for hotel nights.

How many people travel together?

No more than twelve travellers, with a local leader.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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