OUR SIGNATURE ODYSSEY ACROSS SOVIET ASIA

September 01 ⇾ September 24

In addition to our regular group departures to Central Asia, we also offer tailored services for private travel parties and lone wolves alike. Get in touch for more info on our customised Central Asia Tours! 

DAY 1 to DAY 4 • A SOVIET METROPOLIS AND ITS SATELLITES

DAY 4 TO DAY 5 • LOST ART AND SHRINKING WATERS

DAY 6 TO DAY 7 • RED SANDS AND FOLK ROCK

DAY 8 to DAY 9 • EMIRS AND REVOLUTIONARIES

DAY 10 to Day 11 • SILK ROAD KITSCH AND HIDDEN GLORIES

DAY 12 • FAREWELL TO THE COTTON FIELDS

DAY 19 – UZBEKISTAN / BUKHARA

  • Transfer to the ancient Silk Road city of Bukhara via the industrial town of Qarshi and the semi-arid Qashqadaryo river basin: post-Soviet melancholia at its best.

  • We’ll then spend the last light hours of the day touring Bukhara and its many wonders: spectacular ancient mosques, mausoleums, synagogues, antique necropolis, dusty backstreets, crumbling houses and – needless to say – Soviet art and architecture.

  • Overnight in Bukhara.

DAY 20 to DAY 21 – UZBEKISTAN / SAMARKAND

  • In the morning we’ll continue our walking tour around Old Bukhara and then transfer by train towards Samarkand, a cosmopolitan [post] Soviet city where a plethora of diverse cultures (Uzbek, Russian, Tajik, Jew, Ukrainian, Tatar, Turkmen and even Korean) blend together to form a compelling mixture of languages and culinary traditions.

  • Believed to be over 2,700 years old, Samarkand was once a diverse trading center along the Silk Road and at the epicentre of it all was the Registan, or “sandy place” in Tajik: comprised of arching, beige madrasas covered in bright blue mosaics, sparkling golden mosques, and sprawling courtyards, the Registan was the pulsing heart of the commercial Silk Road city throughout the Medieval Era.

  • Beyond its Timurid wonders, Soviet mosaics, and elegant Russian mansions, Samarkand is also known for being home to the largest community of lyuli, also known as Central Asian gypsies, and being a tour operator born out of the desire to deliver an authentic travel experience far from the overcrowded touristic paths, we will, of course, delve into the local lyuli community and go beyond the many clichés still associated with this much-misunderstood ethnic group.

  • Overnights in Samarkand.

DAY 22 to day 23 – UZBEKISTAN / TASHKENT

  • In the morning we’ll transfer to Tashkent, the national capital, and spend the last two days of our journey losing ourselves among the many Soviet-era gems of what was once the fourth-largest city in the entire USSR: kaleidoscopic socialist-era mosaics, imposing monuments and memorials, modernist concrete patterns, meandering street markets, and richly decorated metro stations.

  • Time permitting, we’ll also make a short excursion out of town to visit the futuristic war memorial in Istiqbol and the impressive Soviet-built solar furnace in Parkent.

  • Overnights in Tashkent.

DAY 24 – FAREWELL TO CENTRAL ASIA

  • After sharing a last Uzbek meal, we'll take care of your transfer to Tashkent International Airport.

  • Possible tour extensions to this itinerary include: Turkmenistan and/or Pamir Highway.

  • End of the tour.

2450 €

INCLUSIONS
Double/twin-room accommodation (breakfast included), private transport in Uzbekistan (car/minivan), all entrance fees, English-speaking guiding service, 24/7 on-site and remote assistance.

EXCLUSIONS
Single supplement, international flights, main meals (lunches and dinners), extra drinks, visa fees (if required), tips, travel insurance.