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Tashkent to Istanbul Overview

    • 39
    • KDONC
    • Trip Price tool tip
      USD $3,405
      CAD $3,430
      AUD $3,315
      EUR €2,655
      GBP £2,065
      NZD $4,245
      ZAR R26,480
      CHF FR3,070
    • Kitty tool tip
      USD $1,540
      ‡
    • Total price tool tip
      USD $4,945*
      CAD $4,925*
      AUD $4,788*
      EUR €3,729*
      GBP £3,004*
      NZD $6,093*
      ZAR R37,190*
      CHF FR4,288*
      *
    •  
       
       
       
       
    •  
       
       
       
       
    • 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

Travel from Istanbul to Tashkent on this Silk Road adventure.

Watch the vibrant cultures of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey unfurl on this astonishing adventure along the Silk Road and through Turkey and Central Asia. Travel to Asia’s rugged landscapes that were once claimed by Commagene kings, Kurdish chieftains, Islamic sultans and more recently, Soviet Russia - leaving behind a wealth of cityscapes and remote fortresses. Meet desert nomads in Turkmenistan, mountain villagers in Uzbekistan and experience a traditional way of life that has remained largely unchanged over centuries. Also visit Turkey’s bustling Istanbul and experience the Soviet stylings of Tashkent - there's no doubt about it, this overland trip will exhilarate and inspire.

  • Visit Istanbul’s famous Blue Mosque
  • Walk in the footsteps of Khans in Bukhara
  • Experience nomad hospitality on a desert yurt stay
  • Marvel at the Silk Road’s intricate fortresses
  • Discover the beautiful monuments of Samarkand
  • Stroll the streets of the modern city of Ashgabat
  • Experience a real oasis in the Great Salt Desert

Tashkent to Istanbul Summary

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Day 1 Tashkent

Start the journey in the most modern of Uzbekistan’s cities, Tashkent. Visit the Chorsu Bazaar to pick up Soviet-style souvenirs and admire the ornately decorated Kukeldash Medressa.

Days 2-4 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 5 Yurt Stay

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

Days 6-8 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 9-10 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 11 Kunye Urgench

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

Day 12 Darwasa

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

Days 13-15 Ashgabat

Arrive among 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 16 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 17 Turkmenbashi

Day 18 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 19-21 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 22 Gobustan

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

Day 23 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 24 Bush Camp

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

Days 25-26 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 27-28 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 29 Kazbegi

Day 30 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 31 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 32 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.

Day 33 Sumela

Cross the border to Turkey and climb into the incredible Sumela Monastry. Nestled high in the cliffs above the evergreen forests and rushing streams of Altindere National Park, this peaceful sanctuary is the perfect place to take some time out and breathe the fresh air of the Turkish countryside.

Day 34 Bush Camp

Continue to Zara and watch the changing landscapes of rural Turkey pass by.

Days 35-36 Goreme

Admire the otherworldly cone formations of Goreme, a truly unique location in the heart of Cappadocia. Perhaps enjoy a guided tour of the network of honeycombed caves that have formed an underground city, complete with churches and dwellings, or take to the skies on a hot air balloon to see this dramatic landscape from above.

Day 37 Bush Camp

Head west toward Istanbul, stopping to make camp for the night in the Turkish countryside.

Days 38-39 Istanbul

Arrive in Istanbul, a city that has for centuries been the crossroads of the East and West. Take in the aromatic smells of the thousands of bazaars that line the streets, browse stunning islamic architecture and see why Istanbul is one of the world's most exotic, invigorating cities.
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What's included in this trip

  • Start:

    Tashkent, Uzbekistan

  • Finish:

    Istanbul, Turkey

  • Group size:

    Min 4 , Max 21

  • Ages:

    Min 18

  • Meals:

    All meals when camping

  • Accommodation:

    Bush camp (no facilities) (7 nts), Camping (with facilities) (3 nts), Homestay (5 nts), Hostel (1 nt), Hotel (19 nts), Overnight ferry (1 nt), Yurt (1 nt)

  • 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, Khan's Palace, 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:

    1599kg 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 $3,405
    CAD $3,430
    AUD $3,315
    EUR €2,655
    GBP £2,065
    NZD $4,245
    ZAR R26,480
    CHF FR3,070
    Price information
  • +

    Kitty

    USD $1,540
    ‡ Price information

  • Total price from

    USD $4,945*
    CAD $4,925*
    AUD $4,788*
    EUR €3,729*
    GBP £3,004*
    NZD $6,093*
    ZAR R37,190*
    CHF FR4,288*
    *     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 $126
    CAD $126
    AUD $122
    EUR €95
    GBP £77
    NZD $156
    ZAR R953
    CHF FR109
Book

About Azerbaijan , Georgia , Turkey , Turkmenistan , Uzbekistan

    • 39
    • KDONC
    • Trip Price tool tip
      USD $3,405
      CAD $3,430
      AUD $3,315
      EUR €2,655
      GBP £2,065
      NZD $4,245
      ZAR R26,480
      CHF FR3,070
    • Kitty tool tip
      USD $1,540
      ‡
    • Total price tool tip
      USD $4,945*
      CAD $4,925*
      AUD $4,788*
      EUR €3,729*
      GBP £3,004*
      NZD $6,093*
      ZAR R37,190*
      CHF FR4,288*
      *
    •  
       
       
       
       
    •  
       
       
       
       
    • 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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