The Essence of Silk Road: A 26-Day Tour

Itinerary

Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia

Day 1 Tashkent Arrival

Arrive in Tashkent. You will be met by our driver and transferred to the hotel.

Check in to the hotel.

Free time.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2 Tashkent City Tour & Samarkand Train Transfer

Breakfast. Start the Tashkent city tour 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 centre to visit the Applied Arts Museum and walk through the Navoi Theatre to Amir Timur Square where you will end Tashkent city tour.

Transfer to the railway station. Take the high-speed train – Afrosiyob to arrive in Samarkand.

Transfer to the hotel for overnight.

Day 3 Tajikistan Border Crossing & Seven Lakes Tour

Breakfast. Transfer to the Uzbekistan-Tajikistan border station, Jartepa.

Go through customs and passport control on both sides and meet your local Tajik guide and driver to drive to the Seven Lakes.

These lakes are in the western part of the Fann Mountains.

Each lake has its own colour, varying from calming turquoise to mesmerizing purple.

Have lunch at the guest house next to the 4th lake, where you’ll also stay overnight.

Day 4 Penjikent Transfer, Uzbek Border Crossing & Samarkand Transfer

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).

Lunch after a 3-hour sightseeing tour, then depart for the Jartepa border crossing.

On the Uzbek side, your driver will meet you and take you to the hotel in Samarkand.

Free time in the evening.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5 Samarkand City Tour & Bukhara Afroyisob Transfer

Breakfast. The city tour will begin with a visit to the spectacular Registan Square, followed by the Gur Emir Mausoleum, the final resting place of the Turco-Mongol emperor, Timur.

Explore the ruins of the Bibi Khanum Mosque and Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis, and 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.

Free time.

In the evening transfer to the railway station.

Take the high-speed Afrosiyob train and arriving in Bukhara.

Transfer to the hotel for overnight. 

Day 6 Bukhara City Tour

Breakfast. 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 until the National Show at Nadir Divan-begi Madrasa.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7 Turkmen Border Crossing, Ancient Merv Tour, Mary Transfer & Ashgabat Flight

Early breakfast. Depart for the Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan border point, Farap-Alat.

After completing the border formalities at both checkpoints, cross the 1.5 km neutral zone (transportation may not be available) to meet your Turkmen guide.

Continue to Merv an ancient city that was a major centre of international trade and crafts on the Silk Road. Merv is also home to a historical park for you to discover, with sights including: the Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum, Major and Minor Kyz-Kala, Erk-Kala, Gyaur-Kala, Keshk Fortress, and others.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Transfer to Mary Airport to take the evening flight to Ashgabat.

Upon arrival in Ashgabat.

Transfer to the hotel for overnight.

Day 8 Ashgabat City Tour, Darvaza Gas Crater Tour & Camping Experience

Breakfast, followed by 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.

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.

Day 9 Uzbek Border Crossing & Khiva Transfer

Camp-style breakfast. Drive back through the Karakum Desert to the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan border point, Dashoguz-Shavat.

Following border formalities at both checkpoints and crossing the 1.5 km neutral zone (transportation may not be available), your Uzbek driver will meet you to begin the trip to Khiva.

Upon arrival, check in to the hotel.

Day 10 Khiva City Tour & Tashkent Flight

Breakfast and hotel check out.

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, Kunya-Ark, Juma Mosque, Tash-Khovli Palace, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, and Minaret of Islom Khodja.

In the evening, there will be a masterclass on cooking tukhumbarak and dinner.

Transfer to Urgench Airport. Your flight to Tashkent.

Transfer to the hotel in Tashkent for overnight.

Day 11 Free Morning In Tashkent & Baku Flight

Breakfast. Transfer to Tashkent International Airport for flight to Baku.

Private transfer to your hotel will be arranged.
Free time. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 12 Baku City Tour & Volcano Tour

Breakfast. Start a guided sightseeing tour of Baku.

Walk along Martyrs’ Lane, known as ‘Shehidler Khiyabany’ among locals, and find a beautiful view overlooking Baku’s coastline.

Move to Icheri Sheher, the old part of the city.

Visit the Shirvanshah’s Palace, Caravanserai, Maiden Tower, and main market square, which has numerous art studios and souvenir stalls.

Finish the sightseeing tour by exploring Nizami Street and Fountain Square.

After lunch, 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.

Weather permitting, switch to a 4×4 vehicle and continue to the mud volcanoes (Gobustan is home to almost half of the world’s mud volcanoes).

Return to Baku.

Have a welcome dinner at traditional Azerbaijani restaurant.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 13 Ateshgah Village Life Tour & Baku Cultural Centre

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 in a quirky building designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid.

Free time in the afternoon.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 14 Sheki Transfer, Maraza Village Tour, Shamakhi Mosque Visit & Lahich Ancient Village Tour

Breakfast. Depart towards Sheki.

On the way, stop at Diri Baba Mausoleum in the village of Maraza.

Continue to Shamakhi and visit the historical Juma Mosque.

Weather permitting, a scenic drive through Girdimanchay River Canyon to visit Lahich will follow. Lahich, an ancient village with charming, cobbled sidewalks, is famous for its medieval water supply and sewage systems, as well as its traditional jewellery, copperware, carpets, pottery, daggers, and iron tools workshops.

Continue driving to Sheki, the pleasant and easily walkable medieval town set in a lush mountainous area. Sheki is especially known for local style sweet baklava. Arrival in Sheki at about 19:00 for overnight at the hotel.

Day 15 Sheki Bazaar Visit, Sheki Palace, Georgia Border Crossing & Khareba Winery Tour

Breakfast. Sheki Bazaar tour.

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.

Leave Sheki and head towards the border with Georgia. Cross the border and start exploring the Eastern part of Georgia, which is famous for its viticulture and winemaking traditions.

Our first stop in Georgia will be the Khareba Winery.

On the way there, enjoy the picturesque landscapes of vineyards and wine-producing villages. Khareba’s unique wine cellar is in a tunnel carved out of the rock.

Originally built for military purposes, today the tunnel is used to store Kakheti’s finest wines.

Enjoy a wine tour and a tasting session.
We will arrive at our overnight point, Akhasheni Wine Resort.

This 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.

Day 16 Optionalk Tsinandali Visit & Akhasheni Wine Resort 

Breakfast. Take an optional visit to Tsinandali, residence of dukes of Georgia, with beautiful English garden, museum, and wine cellar which belonged to prince Chavchavadze, public figure and poet of 19th century.

We will be back at Akhasheni Wine Resort by noon.

The rest of the day is free to enjoy nature, vineyards, and outdoor swimming pool.

The Resort also offers culinary masterclasses of Georgian traditional dishes and wine tasting room.
In the evening we will visit a local family to enjoy traditional fest and hear the best Georgian toasts.

Day 17 Kakheti Sightseeing Tour, Bodbe Covent Visit & Tbilisi Transfer

Continue exploring Kakheti by visiting Sighnaghi Royal Town, which is surrounded by defensive walls with 23 towers and was an important trading centre on the Great Silk Road.

Continue to 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.
After a couple of hours at your leisure, join the group to proceed to welcome dinner.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 18 Tbilisi City Tour

After breakfast, we will embark on 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 down to the district of sulphur bath houses and pass by the only mosque in Tbilisi.

Stroll through the Sharden area, full of narrow streets with cozy cafés, wine tasting 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.

Free afternoon.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 19 North Georgia Exploration & Gaduari Transfer

Breakfast. Today you’ll explore the North of Georgia. The first stop will be at Jvari Monastery, a true architectural masterpiece of the Early Middle Ages, which is picturesquely perched above the confluence of the Aragvi and Mtkvari Rivers.

Continue to the Ananuri Complex, a former residence of Argveti Dukes, which features churches and towers dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries and beautifully overlooks Jinvali Reservoir.

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 and enjoy breathtaking views of Mount Kazbegi.

Reach Gudauri for overnight at the hotel.

Day 20 Gori Transfer, Stalin Museum, Mtskheta Tour & Tbilisi Transfer

Breakfast. Drive to Stalin’s hometown of Gori.

Visit the Stalin Museum.

Explore the cave town of Uplistsikhe, which dates back 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 Mtskheta, one of the oldest towns in Georgia and the country’s cultural and religious centre.

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. Reach Tbilisi in the evening.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 21 Free Day in Tbilisi 

Breakfast. Free day in Tbilisi.

We suggest the following activities and places to visit in Tbilisi:

• 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 neighbourhood full of art nouveau houses.
• For nature lovers, we offer a day hike to Birtvisi Canyon and Fortress. Contact us to find out more.

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.

 Day 22 Armenian Border Crossing, Yerevan Transfer via Haghpat Monastery, Lake Sevan & Sevanavank Monastery

Breakfast. Meet your driver at the hotel after breakfast to 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 the ancient churches.

Drive to the Lori region and visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Haghpat Monastery.

Drive through Dilijan to Lake Sevan, one of the largest high-mountain freshwater lakes in the world. Visit Sevanavank Monastery, which is situated at the lake and is surrounded by mountains. Reach Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, in the evening.

Overnight at DoubleTree by Hilton hotel.

Day 23 Etchmiadzin Visit & Yerevan City Tour

Breakfast. In the morning, drive out of the city to Etchmiadzin, the Holy See of Armenia and the residence of the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church – the Catholicos of All Armenians.

Return to explore Yerevan, the oldest capital city in the South Caucasus.

Our first stop in Yerevan will be at the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex on Tsitsernakaberd Hill. Visit the Cascade Monument.

From the top of the monument, enjoy a breathtaking city view that includes the Opera House, Mount Ararat, Swan Lake, Republic Square, and Abovyan Avenue, all of which we’ll see as we walk the streets of Yerevan. The sightseeing tour will finish in the afternoon, after which you’ll have some free time. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 24 Khor Virap Monastery, Mount Ararat, Noravank Complex & Arena Cave Complex

We check out from the hotel and head to Khor Virap Monastery.

The monastery’s location allows you to enjoy the best views of Mount Ararat.

Drive to Noravank a Complex situated on a ledge of a deep winding gorge.

Continue to Areni Cave complex, where in 2008, the earliest shoe in the world was found.

Depart back to Yerevan. Arrive in Yerevan.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 25 Garni Temple, Geghard Monastery & Free Afternoon in Yerevan

Depart Yerevan and drive to Garni, the only pagan temple in Armenia that survived the introduction of Christianity in the 4th century.

Next stop is the monastery complex called Geghard (“spear”).

The beautiful landscape of Geghard is framed by towering cliffs.

The complex appeared in the 4th century around the sacred spring inside of the cave.

You will have a free afternoon to explore more of Yerevan. Here are our suggestions:

• Ararat Brandy Factory
• Matenadaran Manuscripts Museum
• History Museum
• Souvenirs market “Vernisage”
• We meet in the evening for a farewell dinner at one of local traditional restaurants. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 26 Departure Flight

Check-out from the hotel till noon. Free time till transfer to Yerevan International Airport. End of the tour.