Silk Road Group Tour 2025-2027

Arrive in Almaty. Our driver will meet you and take you to the hotel. Check in at 14:00. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast. At 09:00, your guide and driver will meet you in the hotel lobby to start a sightseeing tour of Almaty. A short drive (25 km) will take you to Chimbulak. Here, visit the ski resort and ride the cable car to enjoy the amazing views of the snowy peaks of the Tian Shan Mountains. After a welcome lunch continue your city tour. Highlights of this day will include Panfilov Park, Zenkov Cathedral, Republic Square, and the Almaty City Museum. Free time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, at 09:00 depart Almaty and drive to Bishkek via a newly built highway, enjoy nature landscapes on the way (250 km, 4 h.). Upon arrival check-in at the hotel. Start sightseeing tour in Bishkek: visit Oak Park, Ala-Too Square, Statue of Manas. See Philharmonic Hall and Victory Monument – bright examples of Soviet architecture. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 2-3 hours

Breakfast. Depart Bishkek at 09:00. The first stop will be Burana Tower, which was part of the ancient city of Balasagun (11th to 13th centuries) and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Next on the agenda will be experiencing a Kyrgyz national horse game called “Ulak Tartysh” (goat pulling). Ulak Tartysh (also known as Kok Boru) is a fight between two teams of horse riders for a goat carcass. Transfer to Don Aryk village and have lunch at the home of a local Kyrgyz family. After lunch, watch a demonstration of yurt construction and even take part if you wish. Local Kyrgyz women will explain the meaning and use of each part of the yurt. Transfer to Bishkek airport (110 km, ~1h 30 min) to take flight HY780 to Tashkent, which departs at 18:40 and arrives at 19:00 (1h 20 min). Transfer to the hotel for overnight.

Breakfast. Start the Tashkent city tour at 10:00 by visiting the Old City of Tashkent. This area encompasses the Khast-Imam Complex (famous for displaying one of the earliest copies of the Qur’an, the Holy Book of Islam), and Chorsu Bazaar, where you can haggle for spices, dried fruit, and nuts. Then take a ride on Tashkent Metro to the city center to visit Applied Arts Museum and walk through Navoi Theater to Amir Timur Square where you will end Tashkent city tour. The city tour will take 5-6 hours, after which you’ll have free time. Overnight at the hotel.

Early in the morning get “a take-away breakfast” from the hotel and transfer to the railway station. The high-speed train Afrosiyob departs Tashkent and arrives in Samarkand (300 km, 2h 10 min). Upon arrival in Samarkand meet your driver with the guide. Your city tour will begin with a visit to Gur Emir Mausoleum, the final resting place of the Turco-Mongol emperor, Timur. Continue to the spectacular Registan Square, explore the Bibi Khanum Mosque and Siyob bazaar. After lunch break continue to Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis, then take a short drive to Konigil village to find out about the traditional techniques used to make the famous Samarkand paper from mulberry bark. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

Breakfast. At 9 am transfer to the Uzbekistan-Tajikistan border point, Jartepa (50 km, 1 h). Upon arrival at the customs and passport control on both sides, kindly proceed to the exit of the border control area. At that point, our guide/driver will be waiting for you. Meet your local Tajik guide and driver to drive to the Seven Lakes (80 km, ~2 h). These lakes are located in the western part of the Fann Mountains. Each lake has its own color, varying from calming turquoise to mesmerizing purple. Have lunch at the guest house next to the 4th lake. Those who would like to enjoy the view from the 7th lake there is an opportunity to have a hiking tour from the 6th lake up to the 7th lake. In the late afternoon transfer to the hotel in Penjikent. Check in and overnight.
Note: As we travel to the more remote and authentic region of the Fann Mountains, the tourist infrastructure is simpler. We will be staying in the best available local hotel, Soviet-era building. Please expect more basic amenities compared to the larger cities – it's all part of the adventure!

Breakfast. Drive to ancient Penjikent, the ruins of a town founded by the Sogdians in the 5th century and abandoned by Arabs in the 8th century. The foundations of houses, a citadel with a couple of Zoroastrian fire temples, and the remains of the city bazaar are visible in the excavated ruins. In the newer part of Penjikent, visit a local bazaar, a mosque, and the Rudaki Museum (Penjikent is the birthplace of Abu Abdallah Rudaki, considered by many to be the father of Persian poetry). After a 3-hour sightseeing tour drive to the Jartepa border crossing. Complete the border formalities. On the Uzbek side, your driver will meet you. Transfer to Bukhara (270 km, 4-5 hrs.). Upon arrival transfer to the hotel, check in and overnight.

Breakfast. At 10:00, start exploring the Old City of Bukhara. Highlights of the walking tour will include: the Lyabi Hauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasa, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque, Miri-Arab Madrasa, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan Madrasas, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub Mausoleums, and various trading domes. Free time from 15:00 until the National Show at Nadir Divan-begi Madrasa, which starts at 18:00. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast. Free time. At 14:00 departure for the Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan border point, Farap-Alat (100 km, 1 h 30 min). Upon arrival border formalities. After the customs and passport control at both checkpoints, kindly proceed to the exit of the border control area. At that point, our guide and driver will be waiting for you with the sign with your name. Transfer to Turkmenabat Airport (50 km, 1h) to take the evening flight to Ashgabat at 20:00. Upon arrival in Ashgabat at 20:50 have a night city tour, transfer to the hotel for overnight.

Breakfast, at 9 am start a sightseeing tour of Ashgabat. Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, has recently been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as having more white marble buildings than any other city in the world. During the city tour, explore the archaeological site of Old Nissa (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Spiritual Mosque, one of the biggest mosques in Central Asia. Visit the National Museum of History, the Monument of Neutrality, Ertugrul Gazi Mosque and the recently-built Independence Park. The sightseeing tour will take about 6 hours and the afternoon will feature a drive through the Karakum Desert to the famous Darvaza Gas Crater (280 km, 4 h). After arriving at the crater, camp will be set up and you’ll enjoy a delicious, fire-cooked dinner near the “Gates of Hell”. Overnight in tents.
Note: We'll travel in 4x4 vehicles across the rugged Karakum Desert. The route is unpaved, so expect a bumpy and thrilling ride – it's the only way to get to this incredible, remote location. At the camp, we'll enjoy an authentic stay in yurts with basic, shared outdoor washing and toilet facilities, putting us right in the heart of the desert landscape.

Camp-style breakfast. Drive through the Karakum Desert to the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan border point, Dashoguz-Shavat (270 km, 4 h). Upon arrival border formalities. After the customs and passport control at both checkpoints, kindly proceed to the exit of the border control area. Your Uzbek driver will meet you to begin the trip to Khiva (60 km, 1 h). Upon arrival, check in to the hotel. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast and hotel check out (the hotel will store your luggage safely for the day). Spend the morning at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ichan-Kala Fortress. Highlights of the morning walking tour include the Mukhammad Amin Khan Madrasa, Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasa, Kalta Minor, Juma Mosque, Tash-Khovli Palace, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, and Minaret of Islom Khodja. Farewell dinner. Transfer to Urgench Airport (30 km, 35 min). Get on the flight to Tashkent (1,093 km, 1 h 40 min). Upon arrival in Tashkent transfer to the hotel for overnight.

At 5 am transfer to Tashkent International Airport to take flight HY 755 to Baku, which departs at 07:35 and arrives at 09:30 (2 h 55 min). Private transfer to your hotel will be arranged. Check-in at 14:00. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.

At 09:30, meet your guide and the rest of the group to start the sightseeing tour in Baku. Visit Martyrs Lane, known as ‘Shehidler Khiyabany’ among locals. When you walk through the Alley of the Martyrs, you will find a beautiful view overlooking Baku’s coastline. Move to Icheri Sheher, the old part of the city to visit Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower (UNESCO World Heritage Sites), Caravanserai, Museum of Miniature Books, and main market square, which has numerous art studios and souvenir stalls. Continue touring New Baku by exploring Nizami Street and Fountain Square.
After lunch break, we will drive to Gobustan to visit the Petroglyphs Museum and explore petroglyphs dating back to 10,000 BC. The Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pay a visit to the Petroglyphs Museum and explore rock carvings dating back to 10,000 BC. We will then explore small mud volcanoes of Gobustan Reserve. Gobustan is home to almost half of the world’s mud volcanoes. Return to Baku. Enjoy a welcome dinner at a national restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 10-11 hours
Driving distance: 150 km
Meals: welcome dinner

After breakfast, drive to the Absheron Peninsula to visit Ateshgah, located in the village of Surakhany. Zoroastrians from India used to travel thousands of kilometres to Ateshgah to worship the fire coming out of the earth. Return to Baku to visit the iconic Heydar Alyev Cultural Centre, which is located in a quirky building designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid. Free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Driving distance: 50 km

We will say our goodbyes to Baku and depart towards Sheki. On the way, stop at the Diri Baba Mausoleum in Maraza village. Continue to Shamakhi to visit the historical Juma Mosque, which was restored in 2013. Weather permitting, this will be followed by a scenic drive through the Girdimanchay River Canyon to the 5th century village of Lagich (Lahic, Lahij, Lahich). Lagich is rich in historic and cultural value, with charming cobbled streets. It is famous for its medieval water supply and sewage systems and its many traditional workshops where jewellery, copperware, carpets, pottery, daggers, and iron tools are made. Continue driving to Sheki, a pleasant and easily walkable medieval town set in a lush mountainous area, which is particularly famous for its sweet baklava. Arrive in Sheki at about 19:00 and spend the night at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 10-11 hours
Driving distance: 340 km
*Lagich will not be reachable during 2025 due to the road construction.

Breakfast. At 08:30, visit the colorful Sheki Bazaar. Here, you can find virtually everything you may want to eat: local fruits and berries, spices, freshly-baked bread, honey, cheeses, and Sheki sweets. Continue to the Palace of Sheki Khans, which is surrounded by medieval fortress walls, and then visit handicrafts workshops and caravanserai (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Leave Sheki and head towards the border with Georgia (115 km, ~2 h). Cross the border and start exploring the Eastern part of Georgia, which is famous for its viticulture and winemaking traditions. Passing by the picturesque landscapes of vineyards and wine-producing villages, we will reach a family-owned winery where centuries-old winemaking traditions are preserved in a qvevri wine cellar. The winemaker will give us a tour and host us for a Kakheti-style lunch with wine. We will arrive at our charming Schuchmann Wines Château & SPA between 18:00 and 19:00. The resort is surrounded by beautiful vineyards and offers stunning views of the Caucasus Mountains – the perfect place to take a break before continuing our journey in Georgia. We will stay here for two nights.
Driving distance: 180 km
Meals: lunch in a winemaker’s family

This day is a free one to enjoy nature, vineyards, gym, and the outdoor swimming pool. The hotel also offers culinary masterclasses of Georgian traditional dishes and a tasting room to sample Schuchmann wines (wine tour and tasting are included in your stay).
Optional Group Tour to Telavi
A journey to the capital of the Kakheti region, Telavi encapsulates visits to two families where you get to meet locals who produce wine and cheese. A delicious family-style lunch awaits you!
Experiences: family hospitality, museum, wine amphoras, wine, cheese, local lunch.

After the tour, we will bring you back to your hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Driving distance: 25 km
Price per person: $80 (including the museum entrance fee, wine tasting, and cheese tasting with lunch).

After a relaxing day at the Wine Resort, we will continue exploring Kakheti at 10:00 by visiting the Tsinandali Estate, the residence of the dukes of Georgia. It has a beautiful English garden, a museum, and a wine cellar that belonged to Prince Chavchavadze, a public figure and poet of the 19th century. For lunch, we will be hosted by a local family, where we can enjoy a traditional feast and hear the best Georgian toasts. A truly local experience awaits you!
Having enjoyed the hospitality of our hosts, we will drive to the royal town of Sighnaghi, which is surrounded by defensive walls with 23 towers and was an important point on the Great Silk Road. We will also visit the Bodbe Convent – according to legend, this is the burial place of St. Nino, who converted Georgia to Christianity in the 4th century. We will arrive in the capital of Georgia at about 18:30–19:30. Overnight at the hotel.
Driving distance: 160 km
Meals: traditional lunch in a family

After breakfast, we will embark on a Tbilisi sightseeing tour. Start at Metekhi Church and the monument to Vakhtang Gorgasali, the legendary founder of Tbilisi. Visit Narikala Fortress to enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the city. Walk past Tbilisi’s only mosque, down to the sulphur bath house district. Enjoy a stroll through the Sharden area, which is full of narrow streets with cozy cafés, wine bars, and souvenir shops, and breathe in the history of Old Tbilisi. Also visit Sioni Cathedral, Anchiskhati Basilica, and the famous Rezo Gabriadze Theatre’s clock tower, before crossing the Bridge of Peace to Rike Park. After a couple of hours at your leisure, meet the rest of the group at the hotel to go for a dinner to welcome you to Georgia (departing from the hotel by bus at 19:00). Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Driving distance: 5 km
Meals: welcome dinner

Breakfast. Today we will explore the North of Georgia. Our first stop will be at Jvari Monastery, a true architectural masterpiece of the Early Middle Ages, which is picturesquely perched on a hill above the confluence of the Aragvi and Mtkvari Rivers. Continue to Mtskheta (UNESCO World Heritage Site), one of the oldest towns in Georgia and the country’s cultural and religious center. Mtskheta was the capital of the Eastern Georgian Kingdom of Iberia from the 3rd century BC. Visit Svetitskhoveli, the main cathedral of Mtskheta and a sacred place where the robe of Christ is kept. Next, drive over the Cross Pass and make a short stop at the Soviet-era “People’s Friendship” mountain viewpoint, which overlooks a deep gorge of the Caucasus Mountains. In Kazbegi, switch to a four-wheel drive vehicle to reach Gergeti Holy Trinity Church located at an altitude of 2,170 m and enjoy breathtaking views of Mount Kazbegi.
We will arrive at our hotel in Gudauri at about 19:00 for overnight.
Driving distance: 210 km
Meals: lunch

Breakfast. Drive to the Ananuri architectural complex, a former residence of Argveti dukes, which features churches and towers dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries and beautifully overlooks the Jinvali Reservoir. Then explore the cave town of Uplistsikhe, which dates to the Hellenistic Period and is notable for its unique combination of various styles of rock-cut architecture, including both pagan and Christian. Continue to Stalin’s hometown of Gori. Visit the Stalin Museum, an impressive Soviet-era museum with an exhibition hardly changed since its opening in 1957. The museum houses more than 60,000 artifacts, the tiny house where Stalin was born, and an impressive bulletproof train that Stalin used to travel to Yalta and Potsdam. We will arrive in Tbilisi in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 9-10 hours
Driving distance: 250 km
Meals: lunch

Breakfast. Free day in Tbilisi (guide and transportation are not provided). If you decide on spending your free day in Tbilisi, we suggest the following activities and places:

• Georgian National Museum on Rustaveli Avenue – to visit the “Archaeological Treasury” exhibition;
• National Gallery on Rustaveli Avenue – to see the works of the famous Georgian artists Niko Pirosmani, David Kakabadze, and Lado Gudiashvili;
• Tbilisi flea market at Dry Bridge – where you can find antiquities (many of which are from the Soviet era), paintings by local artists, and handmade Georgian souvenirs;
• David Agmashenebeli Avenue – a recently-renovated pedestrian street full of historical buildings that have beautiful facades in the art nouveau, pseudo gothic, and classicist styles with a mix of typical Georgian ornamentation and balconies. All along the street there are plenty of cozy art cafés, galleries, shops, and wine bars;
• Dezertirebi Bazaar – which sells local, natural products including Georgian sweets (such as churchkhela); various types of dried fruits, nuts, and spices; and Georgian cheeses;
• Funicular railway to Mtatsminda Mountain – which offers a beautiful view of Tbilisi;
• Wander in Sololaki – a neighborhood full of art nouveau houses.
• In the evening, you can visit the famous Tbilisi sulphur bath houses to relax in the hot, naturally sulphur-enriched water after a long day of exploring (both public and private rooms are available, but private ones should be booked in advance).
• For those who are interested in culture, we suggest visiting the State Opera House of Georgia to enjoy a ballet or opera performance (opera.ge). You can find out what other cultural events are on in Tbilisi, and book tickets, at tkt.ge.

Breakfast. At 09:00, meet your driver at the hotel and transfer to the Georgian-Armenian border point, Sadakhlo-Bagratashen. Cross the border and meet your Armenian guide and driver to start the journey to the land of ancient traditions and churches. Drive to the Lori region and visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Haghpat Monastery. This stunning example of traditional Armenian architecture was erected between the 10th and 13th centuries. Standing on a hillside, Haghpat beautifully overlooks the Debed River Canyon. The monastery’s location was chosen to protect the peace and seclusion of the monks.
We will have lunch in a hospitable Armenian family before continuing our way to Lake Sevan, one of the largest high-mountain freshwater lakes in the world (and considered to be the “Jewel of Armenia”). The lake’s coastline is rich with dense woods, white cliff faces, mountain steppes, and Alpine meadows. Visit Sevanavank Monastery, which is situated at Lake Sevan and is surrounded by mountains. We will arrive in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, in the evening. Overnight at DoubleTree by Hilton hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 9-10 hours
Driving distance: 370 km
Meals: lunch in a family

After breakfast, drive out of the city to the Holy See of Armenia, Etchmiadzin, where we’ll visit Etchmiadzin Cathedral (the residence of the Catholicos, the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church) and the museum of Christian relics (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Return to explore Yerevan, one of the world’s oldest cities. Yerevan is also nicknamed the “Pink City” and impresses visitors with its grand Soviet architecture. Our first stop in Yerevan will be at the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex on Tsitsernakaberd Hill. Next, visit the Cascade Monument, a 500-metre high, 50-metre wide limestone staircase with no less than 572 steps. From the top of the monument, enjoy a breathtaking city view that includes the Opera House, Opera House, Mount Ararat, Swan Lake, Republic Square, and Abovyan Avenue, all of which we will see as we walk the streets of Yerevan (~2 km walking). Our bus will then drop us off at the hotel. Free evening. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Driving distance: 50 km

Breakfast. At 08:00, head to Khor Virap Monastery. According to legend, St. Gregory the Illuminator (who is credited with converting Armenia to Christianity) had been kept in the basement here for 13 years for disseminating of Christianity, until King Tradt decided to adopt the new religion. The monastery’s location allows you to enjoy superb views of Mount Ararat. Drive to the Noravank complex, which is situated on a ledge of a deep, winding gorge. Noravank stands among bizarrely shaped, precipitous red cliffs. An Armenian family will host us at their house for a delicious lunch.
We will finish today’s tour by visiting the Areni Cave complex, where in 2008, an ancient wine storage and the earliest shoe in the world were discovered. Arrive in Yerevan at around 18:00. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 9-10 hours
Driving distance: 240 km
Meals: lunch in a family

Depart Yerevan and drive to Garni, the only pagan temple in Armenia which survived the introduction of Christianity in the 4th century. Descend Garni Gorge to explore monumental rock formations called Symphony of Stones. Our final sightseeing stop today is the monastery complex Geghard (UNESCO World Heritage Site). A cut into the rock complex consists of several churches and tombs representing Armenian medieval architecture at its zenith. The beautiful landscape of Geghard is framed by towering cliffs.
You will have a free afternoon to explore more of Yerevan. Here are our suggestions:

We meet in the evening for a farewell dinner at one of the local traditional restaurants. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Driving distance: 80 km
Meals: farewell dinner

Check-out from the hotel till noon. Free time till transfer to Yerevan International Airport. End of Silk Road Group Tour.