Legends of the Silk Road
Departing 15 August 2024 / 20 April & 1 September 2025
- Wander the streets of the ‘two ladies’ of Uzbekistan, Bukhara and Samarkand, ‘City of Legend’; wander the blue domed mosques and fortresses and stand on the shoulders of the giants of the ancient world
- Explore the vast natural beauty of Kyrgyzstan with its Alpine ‘jailoo’ meadows, stunning lakes, pretty waterfalls and the impressive Jeti Ozguz and ‘fairy-tale’ gorges
- Camp out at the Darvaza Crater, the legendary ‘Gate to Hell’ and explore the sites of the strange city of Ashgabat
- Visit the ruins of the ancient Sogdian town of Panjakent and wander the streets of cosmopolitan Dushanbe in Tajikistan
- Discover the ex-Soviet legacy of the 5 Stan’s in Kazakhstan and explore the horizons of the vast steppe.
- Stay in traditional hotels, guest houses and yurts set up in the picturesque countryside and experience the overnight train in Kazakhstan
- 25-nights’ accommodation in historic and traditionally inspired hotels, guest houses, yurt camps and overnight train.
- Meals as specified in itinerary (B = Breakfast / L = Lunch / D = Dinner)
- One-way flight from Khiva to Tashkent
- Sleeper train from Taraz to Almaty (4-berth accommodation)
- Invitation letter for Turkmenistan visa
- All other transport as specified in the itinerary
- Services of your Inverted Atlas trip leader and local guides
Optional extras (not included):
- Tashkent: Night at the Opera or Ballet
- International airfares
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure
- Visas for Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan (if required)
- Meals not included as per trip itinerary including drinks and mini bar
- Additional accommodation before or after the tour
- Items of a personal nature including but not limited to laundry, souvenirs, porterage etc.
- Travel insurance – please note comprehensive travel insurance is a condition of travel with Inverted Atlas
Full payment due 60 days prior to departure
If cancelled 60 days prior to departure loss of deposit
If cancelled less than 60 days prior to departure no refund
This trip requires an excellent level of physical fitness. This trip involves long trekking days to get to some of the sights visited. Most of the trekking is optional and easy, however you will get the most out of the trip if you are able to walk up to 10km over rough and uneven surfaces and can participate fully. In addition, you should be able to climb up to 200 stairs unassisted and use an eastern style squat toilet (beware if you have knee issues). Pease also be aware that a small portion of this trip is at altitude.
You will need to be able to carry your own luggage to and from the vehicle and into the accommodation. (Due to OH&S regulations our trip leaders are not able to assist with luggage.) Train accommodation in Kazakhstan is in a 4-berth bunk style compartment (2 up / 2 down), you will need to be able to climb into a top bunk on the train as a lower berth can not be guaranteed.
In addition, you should be in good health, with no major chronic conditions requiring frequent medical attention. This trip travels to remote areas where the ability to find a doctor or call an ambulance will be extremely limited. While all our trip leaders are required to have a valid first aid certificate, they are far from doctors and any assistance they are able to provide will be limited to basic first aid. For more information, please see our booking conditions. If you are unsure about your ability to participate fully and safely on this trip please give us a call and we will happily discuss this with you.
