An epic journey through vast deserts and rugged mountains, past turquoise glacial lakes, ancient cities, giant burning gas pits and nomadic yurt camps. Trace the footsteps of Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great and the adventurers, traders, philosophers, and kings that plied the Silk Road for a thousand years.
An epic journey through vast deserts and rugged mountains, past turquoise glacial lakes, ancient cities, giant burning gas pits and nomadic yurt camps. Trace the footsteps of Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great and the adventurers, traders, philosophers, and kings that plied the Silk Road for a thousand years.
Depart the UK on your overnight flight.
Dinner
On arrival you will be transferred to your hotel. In the evening have a welcome dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Set off this morning for Osh Bazaar, Bishkek's bustling centrepiece and a popular meeting place for locals. before making the short drive outside of the city to Ala Archa National Park. After lunch by the river, take a walk through the fresh alpine scenery. This park has spectacular views of snow-capped mountains giving way to alpine forests with glacial rivers carving their way through the landscape.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive to Burana Tower; a piece of Silk Road history. The 11th century tower is all that remains of the ancient city of Balasagun. Continue to Kajisay, a village on the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, on the way stop at Kyzyl and a woman's cooperative that weaves Shiyrdak, a colourful felt carpet, ubiquitous throughout Central Asia.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Learn how to make Boorsok. Which is the national bread. The doughy mixture is deep-fried before being spread across the 'dastorkan', doubling as a table decoration. Wind your way to iconic Lake Issyk Kul, dubbed 'The Pearl of Kyrgyzstan'. Trace your way along its southern shores to the village of Kyzyl Tuu, one of the centres for yurt production. Here you will find out more about how these structures work and why they have been the chosen dwellings for Central Asian nomads for centuries. Our final stop of today's journey is in Bokonbeavo where we meet an Eagle Hunter.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today we start with a half-day tour of Karakol including the Dungan Mosque built in 1904 and the Russian Orthodox Church which is constructed entirely of wood. In the afternoon visit the mountain valley of Jety-Oguz. Where the rock formations in this area are a deep-red sandstone rising out of the green valley below.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Head into the Tien Shen mountains and cross the border at Kegen, entering Kazakhstan. Stop at Charyn Canyon visiting a part known as the 'Valley of Castles' due to its unusual rock formations. Later, continue onwards to Almaty.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Explore some of Almaty’s major sites, starting in the Park of 28 Guards and the Ascension Cathedral. Later we move on to the Green Market, a meeting place for locals to come for their daily shop. The market offers a range of produce brought in from Central Asia, China and Korea. Try some local delicacies like smoked sausage or Kurt which is a salty cheese ball. This afternoon you will have some free time to relax before dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
This morning take a short flight to Dushanbe, Tajikistan's enigmatic capital that rose to prominence under the Soviets. In the afternoon explore the city’s main highlights including the Archaeological Museum and Rudaki Park. End the day with a traditional Tajijk meal.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Visit beautiful Navruz Palace. Initially planned as a tea house it was deemed too impressive and turned into a palace! Also, visit the Museum of Musical Instruments, which, in stark contrast, is hosted in the front room of a local house! Packed with a rich collection of Pamiri, Tajik and Central Asian musical instruments. This afternoon you have some time to relax or take a walk through the city’s central market to try and barter for fruit or textiles.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Early this morning we set off for a scenic drive into the mountains. Stop at Lake Iskander Kul, named after Alexander the Great. Triangular in shape, it is often considered to be the most beautiful lake in all of the former USSR. Standing at an altitude of 2,200 metres, this alpine lake is nestled in the heart of the Fann Mountains and set to a backdrop of snow-capped peaks. Lunch will be a picnic on the lake shores. After lunch take a short walk to a nearby waterfall before continuing the drive to Penjikent,
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Spend a full day in the mountains exploring the spectacular Seven Lakes. Legend has it that the lakes were formed from the tears of seven daughters after the loss of their father. The upset and anguish caused their tears to fill up the valleys right where they were looking. What is for sure is that each of the glacial lakes takes on its form, with their names thought to reflect their individual shapes.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Head west for Uzbekistan. Before crossing, stop at UNESCO-listed Sarazm, dating back to the 4th century BC and bearing evidence of one of the first settlements in Tajikistan, possibly even Central Asia. Continuing onto the border, we cross on foot before picking up our Uzbekistan bus and making drive to fabled city of Samarkand. Stormed by Alexander the Great, burned by Genghis Khan, Samarkand was transformed into the most glittering city in Transoxiana by Tamerlane, in the 14th century. Even today, the scale of the buildings overwhelms visitors. Visit Registan Square, Samarkand's turquoise mosaic masterpiece, and the Gur Emir, the gold-ceilinged tomb of Tamerlane.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Spend the day exploring including Shah-i-Zinda - a beautifully tiled necropolis of tombs and mosques, the Ulug-Beg Observatory and Bibi-Khanym Mosque. After dinner, take the high-speed train to Bukhara.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Take a walking tour of UNESCO-listed Bukhara including the Lyab-i Hauz, the striking, blue-tiled Abdul Khan madrasah and the 9th century Mghoki Arrar Mosque. We will also visit the Kalyan minaret, which, as the tallest monument in town, is known as the 'Tower of Death' because prisoners were once hurled to their death from there. In the afternoon drive to The Ark - a massive citadel used as a fortress from the 5th century until its fall to the Russians in 1920.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Morning drive to Khiva through the desert. Upon arrival, check into your hotel. The rest of your evening is at leisure.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Explore Khiva on this morning's walking tour and see the majestic Old Citadel, this 12th century fortress dominated the city, you may choose to climb the steps of the Dzhuma Minaret for a panoramic view of the maze of streets below. You have the afternoon at leisure to relax. You might like to explore the mosques, tombs and palaces of this well-preserved city.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Set off for your final country, Turkmenistan. Head to Kunya Urgench to visit the mausoleums and mosques of the former capital of the Achaemenid Empire. Journey into the Karakum desert to the Darvaza Crater, otherwise known as the Door to Hell, a remarkable gas site that has been burning for 50 years!
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Travel south, stopping to view the 50 meter water crater, The crater is home to turquoise waters 15 metres below ground level. Travel on to Turkmenistan's capital, Ashgabat, a city that President Niyazov spent twenty years crafting in his own image. Visit Independence Park and the National Museum of History.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Visit the once-mighty fortress of Nisa on the city outskirts. Founded in the 3rd century BC as the capital of the 1st Parthian Empire it was destroyed by the Mongols in the 13th century. Continue to Gypjak Mosque. Enjoy your farewell dinner. Tonight, you will transfer to the airport for your early morning flight.
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Istanbul. On arrival, transfer to your chosen hotel.
Breakfast
Spend your day at leisure. Take this time to explore the fascinating city of Istanbul, or relax at your chosen hotel.
Breakfast
Transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK.
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This holiday exceeded our expectations, we didn't have a great knowledge of most of the countries, but the experience overall was fantastic. So varied, and many different experiences of beautiful scenery, buildings, people, and different ways of life. One of the highlights was the Eagle Hunter in Kyrgyzstan, the scenery in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and the buildings of Uzbekistan.
Jane Baxter
16 May 24Overall an enjoyable tour with a good mix of natural wonders as well as man-made ones. The guides were knowledgeable and informative. The food was also better than expected, it was nice to have some meals in local people's homes. The hotels on the tour were a mix of basic to luxury, all were more than adequate. Overall the standard of the accommodation exceeded my expectations.
Colin Wisbey
07 Oct 23The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. The schedules of the domestic airlines in country are subject to frequent changes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.
If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
Further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries. We strongly advise you check your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding passport validity.
Please ensure your passport contains at least four blank pages. Both the Turkmenistan and Tajikistan visas require two full pages each. Verify that your passport meets this requirement before proceeding with your visa applications.
Kazakhstan visa requirements
To enter Kazakhstan, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the date you arrive and at least one blank page. British Citizens do not require a visa to visit Kazakhstan.
Kyrgyzstan visa requirements
To enter Kyrgyzstan, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and at least two blank pages. British Citizens not require a visa to visit Kyrgyzstan.
Tajikistan visa requirements
Your passport must have an expiry date of at least three months after the date you arrive into Tajikistan. British Citizens require a visa for Tajikistan but Mercury Holidays will obtain it for you. We require a colour copy of your passport page containing your passport number and picture in either a JPEG or PDF format to be emailed to mypassport@mercuryholidays.com a minimum of 45 days prior to departure. Failure to send us this information on time could result in you not being able to travel on your holiday and Mercury Holidays will not be liable for your lost holiday.
Our guide in Kazakhstan will provide you with your visa to Tajikistan.
Uzbekistan visa requirements
To enter Uzbekistan, your passport should have an ‘expiry date’ at least three months from the day you arrive and at least two blank pages.
A visa is not required for entry into Uzbekistan. However, all foreign visitors must present a valid passport upon check-in at their accommodation. Hotel staff will use your passport details to complete mandatory registration with the local authorities. You may also be asked to present proof of registration upon departure, so please keep your registration slip safe.
Turkmenistan visa requirements
Your passport must have an expiry date of at least six months after the date you arrive into Turkmenistan. British Citizens will need a letter of introduction which is required to get a visa for Turkmenistan. We require a colour copy of your passport page containing your passport number and picture in either a JPEG or PDF format to be emailed to mypassport@mercuryholidays.com a minimum of 45 days prior to departure. In addition we require the following information to be emailed with your passport photo:
Failure to send us this information on time could result in you not being able to travel on your holiday and Mercury Holidays will not be liable for your lost holiday.
Your letter of introduction will be emailed to you by Mercury Holidays before you travel. Once you have received this you can then apply for a visa before you travel or on arrival at Turkmenistan at the border. A total of $137 (subject to change) will be required to enter Turkmenistan, this includes the visa, admin fee, migration tax, PCR test and the bus through the neutral zone.
Border Crossing:
Kyrgyzstan-Kazakhstan
Should take approximately 30 minutes though delays do occur. You will need to exit the bus with your bags for passport control. The driver may not be allowed to exit the bus or assist. -Tajikistan-Uzbekistan Border crossing should take under an hour though delays can occur. You will need to walk approximately 500 meters with your bags. Your Tajik guide will be able to accompany you to passport control
Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan
There is a 1km neutral zone between the borders which passengers will be ferried across in 8 person minibuses. The cost of the transfer is not fixed but will be approximately $1. You will need to pay the migration tax and present a physical copy of your Letter of Introduction, if you do not already have it you will need to pay for your visa. Your Turkmenistan guide will join you at the Uzbekistan border to assist you in crossing. There are no western style toilets available at the border crossing.
You will be given proof of stay at each hotel that you visit during your tour. Please keep these forms together with your passport should immigration control want to see these on departure.
Turkey visa requirements British Citizens travelling to Turkey for tourist or business purposes are able to travel without a visa for visits of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. We recommend you check with your destination's tourist board or embassy prior to departure for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding visas and passport validity.
Please note your final documentation will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Check in baggage is included with your flight. Weight restrictions will be finalized on your final documentation. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in. Check-in should be at least 3 hours before departure. If you wish to arrange Airport car parking or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras on 0333 188 0407, quoting HX313.
IMPORTANT: A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you. Please note that you should carry your invoice with flight details on it as you will need to show this at the airport.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, www.travelhealthpro.org.uk, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
This tour is accessible to most people with a good level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves climbing of steep stairs and getting on and off coaches. It reaches an altitude of 1700 meters above sea level in Kyrgyzstan. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties. All our tours feature a "Tour Pace" to help find the right holiday for you. The tour pace for The Five Stans of the Silk Route is Challenging. A good level of fitness is required as you may be on your feet for approximately four hours in a day, though this will be interspersed with regular breaks and will vary from day to day.
Kazakhstan: The currency in Kazakhstan is the Kazakhstani tenge (KZT). We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK but cash machines are available in all the major cities to withdraw money in the local currency. Credit and debit cards are accepted in major cities and hotels, but smaller establishments tend to only take cash. Make sure to have small bills as change is not always available.
Kyrgyzstan: The currency in Kyrgyzstan is the Kyrgyzstani som (KGS). We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK but cash machines are available in Bishek to withdraw money in the local currency. Credit and debit cards are accepted but only at some of the larger hotels, shops and restaurants in Bishek as the country is predominantly a cash economy.
Tajikistan: The currency in Tajikistan is the Tajik Somoni (TJS). We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK but there are a limited number of cash machines available in Dushanbe to withdraw money in the local currency. Credit and debit cards are accepted but only at some of the larger hotels, shops and restaurants in Dushanbe as the country is predominantly a cash economy.
Uzbekistan: The currency in Uzbekistan is the Uzbekistani Som (UZS). You will need to exchange your money upon arrival in Uzbekistan, as it cannot be obtained or exchanged outside the country. You can convert your cash at banks, bureaux de change, hotels, and post offices, all of which offer the same government-fixed exchange rate. Visa and Mastercard, debit and credit card are accepted in main tourist areas but are not always reliable and smaller areas and establishments only accept local currency in cash. ATM’s are also available in large cities and tourist areas. All foreign currencies can be exchanged in major banks, but the preferred currencies are US Dollars and Euros (new dated notes in best condition).
Turkmenistan: The local currency is the Turkmen manat (TMT). You can convert US dollars (clean, undamaged, non-ruptured and unwritten banknotes printed on or after 1996) into the local currency manat (TMT) at banks, and in exchange offices. We do not recommend you exchange money by local people at the bazaars, hotel staff, or on the streets. It is impossible to change TMT back into foreign currency, so do not change too much money as you may be stuck with Manat upon leaving Turkmenistan. Cash machines are rare and card payments are rarely accepted so it is best to carry cash.
Turkey/Istanbul: The currency in Turkey is the Turkish Lira (TRY). Cash machines are available in Istanbul to withdraw money in the local currency and card payments are widely accepted.
As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels as well as American Express.
You will need to take money with you to cover any personal purchases such as souvenirs, laundry, any meals not included in the itinerary as well as drinks and any additional snacks. Approximately £700-£800 per person will be sufficient for the duration of the tour.
Tipping
It is at your customary to tip both your driver and guide. We would recommend to tip your guide approximately $8 per day and your driver approximately $4 per day. Tips are accepted in the local currency, however it is asked that if you do not tip in the local currency that you only pay with notes, as coins cannot be exchanged.
The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 8, and the maximum will be 35. If in the unlikely event there are less than 8 people booked on your tour date, we will endeavour to reduce any disruption to your holiday and try to operate your tour with lower passenger numbers. If we are not able to operate your departure date, then you may be asked to change to a different date and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
There is no minimum number of travellers for this extension however the main tour passenger numbers will apply for the main part of the tour. If in the unlikely event there are less than the required number of people booked on your main tour date then you may be asked to change to a different date. A full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
This is an escorted tour, meaning you will have the services of an English speaking guide throughout your tour ensuring that you have first-hand knowledge at all times.
For Private Tours or groups 4 and lower, you will be accompanied by a Driver and Local Guides on excursions. These Local Guides will be available to you during all scheduled sightseeing.
Private Tour: If you have booked a private tour then you will be accompanied by a Driver Guide or a Driver and Local Guides. These will be available to you during all scheduled sightseeing. Private Tours can depart on any day of the week depending on flight and train schedules and the opening days of the attractions. They will follow the itinerary as described in the brochure unless you have been advised otherwise and you will still have all of the same meals, sightseeing and local excursions included.
Your stay in Istanbul is not escorted by a tour guide. You will have a driver for your airport transfers.
Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character, and can range from business hotels to leisure hotels. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist compared to what you might expect in the UK. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.
Breakfast is always western style and served in the hotel each morning. Lunch and Dinner (when included) will be taken in local restaurants or at the hotel. A variety of restaurants are visited giving you the chance to experience a range of dishes and flavours.
Vegetarian and Vegan options are not always available, please request prior to departure and our suppliers will do our best to arrange this. Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information.
It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way. Bottled water will be available at shops and hotels.
The countries you travel through are predominantly Muslim countries and very conservative. It is expected for everyone to dress modestly. Woman – cover shoulders, midriff and legs to below the knees. Men – shorts are acceptable but working around shirtless is not. When visiting mosques, mausoleums, and other religious sites avoid revealing or tight fitting clothes, covering shoulders and knees and women may consider brining a scarf to cover your heads. Comfortable slip-on shoes are ideal for easy removal when entering religious buildings.
On arrival in Bishkek, you will be met by a Tour Guide from our local agent, Dolores Travel Group, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/Dolores Travel Group representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your national guide will be on hand 24 hours a day in case of emergency.
On arrival in Istanbul, you will be met by the representative from our local agent, Libero Tours. Please follow these instructions when exiting arrival terminal at the airport; exit at gate number 14 and meet the local guide waiting at the Q7 meeting point.
If you have any issues or cannot find the representative please call the Emergency contact for further instructions. Contact number - + 90 549 618 1835
If you need to contact your representative during your stay the details are:
Dolores Travel Group 104A, Kichik Beshagach str. Tashkent, 100025, Uzbekistan Telephone Number (office): 00998 55 515 8883 (working hours from 09:30-17:30).
Please find below the emergency contact details:
Uzbekistan: Ms Ann: 00998 99 858 8894 Anna Vishnevskaya: avishnevskaya@dolorestravel.com
Kazakhstan: Mariya Pyanykh - Mobile: 007 701 736 0941
Kyrgyzstan: Irina Komissarova: 00996772400767
Turkmenistan: Office: 00993 12 95 76 73 (Mon-Sat 0900h-1800h) Mrs. Elena Trofimova mobile: 00993 64 98 43 32 (emergency contact, and after office hours) 14 Rudaki Avenue, 734013 Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Tajikistan: Office: 00992 92 8350504/00992 92 9410767 Umed Ashurov Tel: 00992 92 835 0404
Istanbul City Stay:
If you need to contact a representative from Libero Tours during your stay. Contact number - + 90 549 618 1835
