Kalpak Travel

Kalpak Travel’s Best of Central Asia Tour combines the cultural highlights and natural beauty of five different countries in one epic journey.

In each of the Central Asian republics you’ll visit the modern and historic capitals, and see firsthand the cultural treasures and traditions of both the nomadic people who have crossed this region for centuries, and also the people who have settled in its cities.

The eclectic contemporary architecture of Nur-Sultan and Ashgabat contrasts with the sprawling Soviet-styled cities of Almaty, Bishkek, and Dushanbe, and nothing can prepare you for the impact of the great Silk Road cities, where flourishing Islamic culture and the medieval Timurid Empire left a lasting architectural legacy.

Travel across the five ‘Stans with us to experience the very best of Central Asian hospitality on an unforgettable adventure.

Kalpak Travel’s Central Asian Silk Road Tour will lead you through the remarkable cities of the Great Silk Road, many of which are now UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

You will discover the cultural treasures and traditions of both the nomadic people who have crossed the region for millennia, and of the settled population. Explore three of the sprawling, Soviet-era capitals of Central Asia.

Absorb the architectural legacies of flourishing Islamic cultures and the mighty Timurid Empire in Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva. In your two-week stay, you will be immersed in centuries of history and the diverse cultures of the peoples who built the ‘Stans as you see them today.

An escorted small group tour to the highlights of this spectacular but highly underrated country.

From 12th-century mosques to 6th-century walled cities, you’ll experience the very best of the Silk Road and learn how the rise and fall of the Timur Empire left a profound architectural legacy.

But it's not all ancient history here: you'll get a feel for life under Soviet rule -- still fresh in many memories -- as well as get to know the people and culture of contemporary Uzbekistan in all its fascinating complexity.

Kazakhstan is a country in the flux of change, where long-held traditions are still valued alongside modern practices. Here, historic, Soviet, and modern cities combine to create a timeless atmosphere. The country’s abundant oil and mineral reserves have financed bold urban landscapes with buildings by world-famous architects, yet Kazakhstan has not lost sight of its nomadic roots, assuring visitors of the warm welcome which has characterised this nation’s attitude to guests for centuries.

Beyond the urban settlements, Kazakhstan’s mighty landscapes will capture both your imagination and your heart. From vividly painted canyons to alpine lakes and juniper forests on mountain slopes, the diverse countryside offers some of the most beautiful scenery in the region. Every drive, walk, or plane ride is another opportunity to be awed by the scale and magnificence of Kazakhstan’s natural environments.

Explore the ancient cities frequented by nomads and conquerors, the architectural legacy left by a flourishing Islam and the great Empire of Timur. Mosques, madrassas, fortresses and unforgettable landscapes await, ranging from fertile valleys to open steppes and never-ending deserts.

Tour modern Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan and the largest city in Central Asia. Visit the Fergana Valley to learn about the strong local traditions of ceramics and silk production, Termez, a historic regional center of Buddhism and well-preserved Khiva, a museum city surrounded by mud brick walls.

Spend time in the charming Old City of Bukhara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site before arriving at the wonders of Samarkand. Along the way you'll meet local people and master craftsmen, who will share with you their expertise in paper making, ceramics, and silk production.

For well over a thousand years, merchants carried their wares over remote mountain passes in Kyrgyzstan, along verdant river valleys and through the great Silk Road cities of Uzbekistan.

These nomads, conquerors, and settlers left behind an architectural legacy that draws on forgotten empires and ancient religions. Uzbekistan has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status for its age-old cities: Bukhara, Khiva, and Samarkand, arguably the jewel in the country’s dazzling crown.

Central Asian mosques, madrassas, fortresses, and bazaars combine to create a timeless atmosphere, while out in the countryside, the country’s incredible landscapes will capture both your imagination and your heart.

Trekking in Tajikistan is barely on the tourist radar but those that make the effort will be rewarded with some of the most pristine and precious landscapes on the planet.

Not only will you gain an insight into the diversity of Central Asian culture, but you will also get to explore Tajikistan’s rich cultural heritage. Soviet-style Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s capital, with its landmarks, museums and busy bazaars, is a world away from the tranquil landscapes of the river valleys and mountain passes that make up Tajik countryside.

This Fann mountains hiking tour will take you back in time as you explore wonders such as the Hisor Fortress and the old city of Penjikent. But the great treat in store for you on this trip is that the countryside through which you’ll trek has been little changed for millennia, its glacial lakes as turquoise as they were in the days of the ancients and its mountain peaks as craggy.

Kalpak Travel introduces you to Tajikistan, a fascinating country of rugged mountains, turquoise lakes, friendly people, and a mix of cultural influences from ancient Persia to the Soviet Union. This one-week trip will lead you across the country on a packed itinerary that includes everything from the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sarazm to the craft workshops of Istaravshan, as well as time in Tajikistan’s vibrant modern capital, Dushanbe.