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Istanbul to Bishkek Itinerary
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- Overland
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‡ As our kitty is flexible the indicated amount is indicative only - please click here to
view the kitty amount for your departure date.
Days 1-2 Istanbul
Welcome to incredible Istanbul! Have your fortune told in the Taksim, bargain up a storm in the Grand Bazaar or admire the imposing Blue Mosque.
ACCOM:
Hostel - 2
Day 3 Tuz Golu/Bush Camp
Visit Turkey's salt lake, Tuz Golo, which provides 63% of Turkey's salt. Bush camp in the evening.
ACCOM:
Bush camp (no facilities) - 1
Days 4-5 Goreme
Discover Cappadocia's Goreme Valley and underground troglodyte cities, fairy chimneys and caves.
ACCOM:
Camping (with facilities) - 2
Days 6-7 Bush Camp
Travel overland into Eastern Turkey via ancient trade routes. Camp under skies that have been gazed at for centuries by fellow travellers.
ACCOM:
Bush camp (no facilities) - 2
Day 8 Dogubeyazit
The town of Dogubayazit is at the foot of Mount Ararat, reportedly where Noah's Ark came to rest after The Flood.
ACCOM:
Hotel - 1
Day 9 Kandovan
Enjoy the first night in Iran at Kandovan, an ancient village of caves built into the volcanic rock - and where locals still live.
ACCOM:
Bush camp (no facilities) - 1
Day 10 Zanjan
Explore Zanjan's delightful bazaar and check out the beautiful handicrafts on sale here - perhaps answer the question: does a handcrafted rug fit in a backpack?
ACCOM:
Bush camp (no facilities) - 1
Days 11-12 Tehran
Travel to Tehran and be awed by this vibrant city where ancient meets modern. There is plenty of time here to explore the incredible Golestan Palace.
ACCOM:
Hotel - 2
Days 13-15 Esfahan
Spend three days in this breathtaking city and take time trawling the souqs, bazaars, beautiful squares and blue-tiled Mosques of Esfahan.
ACCOM:
Hotel - 3
Days 16-17 Persepolis/Shiraz
Explore the ancient ruins of Persepolis, Persia, and visit the stunning Islamic Shiraz - discovering its impressive citadel and mosques.
ACCOM:
Hotel - 2
Day 18 Zein-o-din Caravanserai
Feel transported back in time while staying in a traditional caravanserai in the Dasht-e Lut desert.
ACCOM:
Guesthouse - 1
Days 19-20 Yazd
Wind through the old city of Yazd - reputedly one of the oldest towns in the world.
ACCOM:
Hotel - 2
Day 21 Dasht-e Kavir Desert/Khoor
Travel through the Dasht-e Kavir Desert, which lies in the middle of the Iranian plateau, to the tranquil oasis of Khoor.
ACCOM:
Hotel - 1
Day 22 Damghan
Explore Iran's oldest surviving mosque - dating back to the 1st century - in Damghan.
ACCOM:
Hotel - 1
Day 23 Shirvan
Relax by Shirvan's Atrak River, which gives this small town a lush and peaceful feel.
ACCOM:
Hotel - 1
Days 24-25 Ashgabat
Say goodbye to Iran and travel into Turkmenistan. Continue the adventure among the futuristic architecture of Ashgabat.
ACCOM:
Hotel - 2
Day 26 Darvaza
Sleep under the stars in the Karakum Desert. See the spectacular fires of the Darvaza Gas Crater.
ACCOM:
Bush camp (no facilities) - 1
Day 27 Bush Camp
Continue the Overland journey through the Karakum Desert, and take in the parched landscape of Asia's hottest desert.
ACCOM:
Bush camp (no facilities) - 1
Days 28-29 Khiva
Gaze up at the ancient walls surrounding Khiva and imagine how they once provided sanctuary for weary Silk Road travellers. Explore the historic and perfectly preserved Old Town, beautifully decorated in classic turquoise tiles.
ACCOM:
Hotel - 2
Days 30-32 Bukhara
Get to know Central Asia's holiest city, where the combination of buildings spanning a thousand years and a thoroughly lived-in Old Town help create the awe-inspiring atmosphere.
ACCOM:
Hotel - 3
Day 33 Nurata
Spend a night in a yurt camp with the local nomads, sleeping among the dunes of the Kyzylkhum Desert.
ACCOM:
Yurt - 1
Days 34-36 Samarkand
Travel to one of Central Asia's most magical cities, Uzbekistan’s Samarkand. Discover the romance of the Silk Road in this perfectly preserved city full of exotic architecture and majestic buildings.
ACCOM:
Hotel - 3
Days 37-39 Tashkent
Continue to the most modern of Uzbekistan’s cities. Visit Tashkent’s thriving Chorsu Bazaar to pick up Soviet-style souvenirs and admire the ornately decorated Kukeldash Medressa.
ACCOM:
Hotel - 3
Days 40-41 Zhabagly-Aksu National Park
Make tracks into Kazakhstan and enjoy a night with a local family in Zhabagly before exploring the grasslands of Asku National Park. Kazakhstan's oldest national park is a scenic wonderland full of mountain lakes, rivers and glaciers, plus all sorts of unusual flora and fauna.
ACCOM:
Camping (with facilities) - 1, Homestay - 1
Day 42 Bishkek
Soak up the relaxed charm of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan's capital. Wander through its wide streets and admire its wealth of handsome houses.
ACCOM:
Hotel - 1
Days 43-44 Chong Kemin National Park
Set off on a leisurely hike along Chong Kemin River - or if feeling adventurous, perhaps tackle one of the tough 4000 m passes.
ACCOM:
Bush camp (no facilities) - 2
Day 45 Cholpon Ata/Issyk-kul Lake
Head to Cholpon Ata, nestled on the shores of the vast and beautiful Issyk-Kul Lake.
ACCOM:
Guesthouse - 1
Day 46 Karakol
Discover the remote, picturesque town of Karakol, complete with quaint tree-lined streets and colonial houses.
ACCOM:
Hotel - 1
Days 47-48 Djety Oguz Valley
Admire the lofty sandstone cliffs in Djety Oguz Valley.
ACCOM:
Camping (with facilities) - 2
Day 49 Kochkor
Mingle with friendly locals and relish Kyrgyz hospitality while enjoying a homestay in Kochkor.
ACCOM:
Homestay - 1
Days 50-51 Song-Kol Lake
Spend the night in a yurt near Song-Kol Lake and join in a game of ulak-tartysh.
ACCOM:
Yurt - 2
Day 52 Bush Camp
Make tracks back to Bishkek, stopping to camp in the wilderness overnight.
ACCOM:
Bush camp (no facilities) - 1
Days 53-54 Bishkek
Relax on the final days in Bishek. Why not stroll through the city's markets and haggle for bargains. Alternatively, relaxing in an Oak Park cafe and reflecting on the adventure is another good option!
ACCOM:
Hotel - 1
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