Central Asia
Magical landscapes and Silk Road cities
Sandwiched between the Middle East and China, Central Asia is a land of bloody history where warlords like Genghis Khan and Tamerlane ruled and rampaged. Made up of five former Soviet states — Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan — it's best known for being the central artery of the ancient silk route connecting China with Europe.
Uzbekistan is the cultural highlight, home to glittering silk road cities like Bukhara, Samarkand and Khiva, with their mosaic-laden madrasas, cobalt-domed mosques and souks thronging with traders. Elsewhere, it’s about experiencing untouched landscapes and the people who've lived in them for generations. Try the snow-capped Pamir and Tian Shan mountain ranges of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, where traditional herding communities ride horses, sleep in traditional yurts and hunt with birds of prey.
Exploring The Silk Road
Highlights and key routes
Does anywhere conjure the spirit and romance of adventure quite like the Silk Road? The original transcontinental trade route; the stomping grounds of Marco Polo and Genghis Khan; a ribbon weaving across desert and mountain to connect medieval Europe with the mysterious and mighty civilisations to the east.
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Things to do in Central Asia
Our recommended experiences and activities
Central Asia trips
Suggested routes & itineraries from our experts
Historical cities of the Silk Road
In the footsteps of Marco Polo
15 daysFrom €3,870
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Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
(7 more)
Almaty, Bishkek, Dushanbe, Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, Tashkent
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Group tour |
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Culture & History, Cities |
Highlights of the "Five Stans"
Explore the heart of the Silk Road
22 daysFrom €3,970|
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Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
(10 more)
Almaty, Astana, Bishkek, Dushanbe, Ashgabat, Darvaza, Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, Tashkent
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Group tour |
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Nature & Wildlife, Culture & History, Cities |
Explore Central Asia
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