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Bishkek to Istanbul Overview

    • 54
    • KDOQC
    • Trip Price tool tip
      USD $4,675
      CAD $4,705
      AUD $4,550
      EUR €3,645
      GBP £2,835
      NZD $5,830
      ZAR R36,355
      CHF FR4,220
    • Kitty tool tip
      USD $1,920
      ‡
    • Total price tool tip
      USD $6,595*
      CAD $6,569*
      AUD $6,387*
      EUR €4,985*
      GBP £4,006*
      NZD $8,134*
      ZAR R49,708*
      CHF FR5,738*
      *
    •  
       
       
       
       
    •  
       
       
       
       
    • Overland
    • Basix
Book
‡ As our kitty is flexible the indicated amount is indicative only - please click here to view the kitty amount for your departure date.

Trip Validity

  • 2013-01-01 - 2013-12-31

Take a Silk Road adventure from Bishkek to Istanbul

Get ready for a massive Overland adventure from cosmopolitan Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to the bustling streets of Istanbul city. Travel through some of the planet's most remote, wild and uniquely beautiful wildernesses along the legendary Silk Road. This adventure will take you through the pages of time and introduce you to the friendly and hospitable locals who call these rugged lands home. If you're longing for an epic Overland odyssey, away from the tourist crowds and through some of the world's last wild terrains, then this epic journey is just for you.

  • Purchase Soviet paraphernalia in Bishkek
  • Hike through the incredible canyons of the Djety Oguz Valley
  • Marvel at the evocative architecture of Samarkand
  • Spend the night with Uzbek locals on a homestay in a desert yurt camp
  • Witness a field of fire at the Darvaza Gas Crater
  • Tour the underground houses of Goreme
  • Be mesmerised by Istanbul’s Blue Mosque

Bishkek to Istanbul Summary

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Day 1 Bishkek

Soak up the relaxed charm of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan's capital. Wander through its wide streets and admire its wealth of handsome houses.

Days 2-3 Chong Kemin Valley

Set off on a leisurely hike along Chong Kemin River. Or if feeling adventurous, perhaps tackle one of the tough 4000 m passes.

Day 5 Karakol

Enjoy the remote, picturesque town of Kara-kol, complete with quaint tree-lined streets and colonial houses.

Days 6-7 Djety Oguz Valley

Hike through dramatic canyons and sandstone cliffs in Djety Oguz Valley.

Day 8 Kochkor

Enjoy more traditional Kyrgyz hospitality on a homestay in Kochkor village.

Days 9-10 Song Kul Lake

Stay in traditional yurt accommodation and experience nomad life in the lush pastures surrounding the beautiful Song-Kol Lake.

Days 10-12 Kyrgyz Fergana Valley

Spend a leisurely three days journeying through the stunning mountains and lakes of Kyrgyzstan's Fergana Valley.

Day 13 Arslanbob

Make tracks across the Ferghana Valley to Arslanbob.

Day 14 Kokand/Fergana City

Enter Uzbekistan and see the palace of the former Khan of Kokand.

Days 15-16 Tashkent

Arrive in Tashkent, shop for fresh produce at the Chorsu Bazaar and perhaps grab some Soviet paraphernalia from a market.

Days 17-19 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.

Day 20 Yurt Stay

Spend a night in a yurt camp with the local nomads, sleeping among the dunes of the Red Desert.

Days 21-23 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 combine to create an awe-inspiring atmosphere.

Days 24-25 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.

Day 26 Kunye Urgench

Follow a local trading route through harsh desert sands, and meet the nomadic people who call this inhospitable region home.

Day 27 Darwasa

Drive across the Karakum Desert. If time allows, see the amazing Darvaza Gas Crater.

Days 28-30 Ashgabat

Marvel at the futuristic architecture of Ashgabat's skyline. Spy the world's largest hand-woven rug or learn about the city's traumatic history at the Earthquake Museum.

Day 31 Geok Tepe

Travel to the spectacular Kow Ata underground lake. Take a walk around - and perhaps dip a foot into - the incongruously warm waters before continuing on and making camp for the night.

Day 32 Turkmenbashi

Day 33 Overnight Ferry

Continue the adventure by boarding an overnight freight ferry and travelling across the Caspian sea toward Azerbaijan. Rusty, rugged but full of memorable moments, this intrepid experience is grassroots adventuring at it's finest

Days 34-36 Baku

Explore Azerbaijan's rapidly evolving capital. Stroll the Old Town for a hint of the regions medieval past, check out the cosmopolitan cafe culture and be romanced by the leafy parks on the seaside promenade.

Day 37 Gobustan

Drop by the geologically themed town of Gobustan, known for it's rock art and mud volcanoes.

Day 38 Sheki

Continue to the cobblestone streets and forested hills of Sheki. Explore the exquisite Khan's Palace and the Museum of History for a solid dose of Silk Rd heritage.

Day 39 Bush Camp

Cross the border into Georgia and get acquainted by the lush surrounds of the Alazani valley.

Days 40-41 Telavi

Enter into Georgia's famed wine country and spend two days exploring the vineyard clad town of Talavi. Sample unique local drops, and keep an eye out for local traditions such as grape harvests and the keipi (banquet). Then, work off all that wine-tasting by taking a walk to the sixth century Shaumta Monastery, which is beautifully located on an isolated forest hilltop.

Days 42-43 Tbilisi

Tsbilisi is one of Europe's most regal, yet largely under appreciated cities. Spend free time perusing the fine architecture, and perhaps climb to the top of Narikala Fortress for a view over the surrounding hills.

Day 44 Kazbegi

Day 45 Gori

Another day, another glorious set of hillside scenery.With a name meaning 'hill', Gori was the birthplace of Joseph Stalin. History buffs will revel in a chance to visit to the Stalin museum, which houses artefacts that provide an insight into his early life.

Day 46 Kutaisi

Get a dose of Georgian history in Kutasi - one of the oldest cities in the world. Enjoy a guided walk around the ruins of Bragrati Cathedral before getting an unique insight into Georgian life by spending the night at the home of a local family.

Day 47 Batumi

Swap the hills for the Black Sea coast and explore the picturesque port town of Batumi. Perhaps settle in at a riverside cafe and sip a Turkish Coffee while watching the ships go by.
View full itinerary

What's included in this trip

  • Start:

    Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

  • Finish:

    Istanbul, Turkey

  • Group size:

    Min 4 , Max 21

  • Ages:

    Min 18

  • Meals:

    All meals when camping

  • Accommodation:

    Bush camp (no facilities) (14 nts), Camping (with facilities) (3 nts), Guesthouse (1 nt), Homestay (6 nts), Hostel (1 nt), Hotel (23 nts), Overnight ferry (1 nt), Yurt (3 nts)

  • Transport:

    Overland vehicle, Overnight ferry

  • Included activities:

    Baku City Tour, City Tour, Bukhara, Darwasa Gas Crater, Guided Tour of Cappadocia, Guided visits to Bibi Hanum Mosque & Shakh-I-Zinda, Registan Square & Tamerlane's Tomb, Hiking, Khan's Palace, Kochkor - Women's Felt Co-op, Kokand Khan's Palace and Mosque, Kow Ata Underground Lake, Mud Volcanoes, Museum of History, Petroglyphs, Gobustan, Shaumta Monastery/Nunnery, Stalin Museum, Sumela Monastery, Sunday Market, Tsminda Sameba Church, Visit to ancient ruined city

  • Carbon emissions offset:

    2214kg pp per trip

  • Notes:

    1. Some destinations visited on this trip do not have consulates in Australia and New Zealand. We recommend that travellers from these countries book the WESTBOUND itinerary of this trip where some visas can be obtained en route.
    2. Please note that this trip requires minimum numbers to depart, and may be cancelled up until 56 days prior to departure. The places showing on the dates and availability page are an indication only so please contact Intrepid to check if your preferred date will depart before making any final arrangements, such as booking non-changeable flights.
    3. Combination trip. Please see Trip Notes (Important Notes) for more details.
    4. Due to a British government travel warning, from September 2012 this itinerary will no longer be able to visit Iran. It will instead travel from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan and then through Georgia to Turkey.

  • Trip price from

    USD $4,675
    CAD $4,705
    AUD $4,550
    EUR €3,645
    GBP £2,835
    NZD $5,830
    ZAR R36,355
    CHF FR4,220
    Price information
  • +

    Kitty

    USD $1,920
    ‡ Price information

  • Total price from

    USD $6,595*
    CAD $6,569*
    AUD $6,387*
    EUR €4,985*
    GBP £4,006*
    NZD $8,134*
    ZAR R49,708*
    CHF FR5,738*
    *     Price information
  • * Refer to booking conditions
  • ‡ As our kitty is flexible the indicated amount is indicative only - please click here to view the kitty amount for your departure date.

  • Per day from:

    USD $122
    CAD $121
    AUD $118
    EUR €92
    GBP £74
    NZD $150
    ZAR R920
    CHF FR106
Book

About Azerbaijan , Georgia , Kyrgyzstan , Turkey , Turkmenistan , Uzbekistan

    • 54
    • KDOQC
    • Trip Price tool tip
      USD $4,675
      CAD $4,705
      AUD $4,550
      EUR €3,645
      GBP £2,835
      NZD $5,830
      ZAR R36,355
      CHF FR4,220
    • Kitty tool tip
      USD $1,920
      ‡
    • Total price tool tip
      USD $6,595*
      CAD $6,569*
      AUD $6,387*
      EUR €4,985*
      GBP £4,006*
      NZD $8,134*
      ZAR R49,708*
      CHF FR5,738*
      *
    •  
       
       
       
       
    •  
       
       
       
       
    • Overland
    • Basix
Book
‡ As our kitty is flexible the indicated amount is indicative only - please click here to view the kitty amount for your departure date.

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