Central Asia Explorer

Unspool history on the Silk Road, from mountain yurts to minarets

Be entranced by the beauty of Kyrgyzstan and historical wonders of Uzbekistan on this 17-day tour. Traverse landscapes of alpine lakes and mountains interrupted only by dots of yurts, feel the divine artistic power of the detailed mosaics and towering minarets of ancient cities, and be welcomed into homes and family-run businesses by locals. A mix of ancient nomadic cultures, various iterations of both conservative and progressive Islam, Soviet influence and post-independence nationalism mean Central Asia is home to unique traditions. Travels here will leave you raving about the region for years to come and planning your next trip back as soon as you get home.

Trip code: KFSR

Start: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

End: Tashkent, Uzbekistan


Duration
17 days
Group size
1 to 12
Minimum age
15 years old
Style

Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time

Original: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time

Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities

Premium: Our best accommodation, exclusive inclusions and our most experienced leaders

Original
Theme

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Explorer
Physical rating

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From
EUR €3,315

Why you'll love this trip

  • Get to know the locals as you learn how to build a yurt in a local workshop, test your taste buds with a dinner of home-cooked plov (Uzbekistan's signature dish) and rub shoulders with the locals in the bustling bazaars.
  • Travel along the Chychkan River beneath the towering peaks of Kyrgyzstan’s Tien Shan range, mountains even more spectacular for emptiness of the valleys below them.
  • Enjoy authentic experiences like sleeping in traditional yurts on the banks of Lake Issy-kul, staying in local villages and making yourself at home in a boutique hotel that used to be an old Jewish house in Bukhara.
  • Wander through the grand square Registan in Samarkand, admiring the imposing architecture from afar and the detailed craftmanship on the tiling up close.
  • Spend time in World Heritage-listed Bukhara, a 6th-century-BC city that's drenched in history and home to the formidable Ark of Bukhara.
This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2026 - 31 December 2026

Itinerary

Map of Central Asia Explorer including Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan

Inclusions and activities

Destinations
Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan
Meals

16 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners

Transport

Private Bus, Metro, Train

Accommodation

Guesthouse/Homestay (2 night), Hotel (11 nights), Tourist Yurt Camps (3 night)

Included activities
  • Bishkek - City walking tour
  • Shamsy Valley - Burana tower
  • Don Aryk - Kyrgyz family visit and home-cooked lunch
  • Issyk-Kul Lake - Yurt workshop
  • Kochkor - Market
  • Kochkor - Women's Felt Co-op
  • Kyzyl-Oi - Boorsok Cooking Demonstration
  • Uzgen - Uzgen Minaret & Complex
  • Osh - Sulaiman-Too Mountain
  • Osh - National Historical and Archaeological Museum Complex
  • Tashkent - Chorsu Bazaar
  • Tashkent - Amir Timur Square
  • Bukhara - Sitorai Mohi Hosa Palace
  • Bukhara - Ismail Samani Mausoleum
  • Bukhara - Ark Fortress
  • Samarkand - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Samarkand - Bibi-Khanym Mosque
  • Samarkand - Registan Square
  • Samarkand - Shakh-I-Zinda
  • Samarkand - Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum
  • Samarkand - Plov cooking demonstration & family visit

Optional activities
  • Bishkek - State Historical Museum - KGS150
  • Osh - Bazaar - Free
  • Bukhara - Kalon Minaret & Mosque - UZS6000
  • Samarkand - Afrosiab Museum - UZS60000
  • Samarkand - Ulugbek's Observatory - UZS50000

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Before you book you should know

Dates and prices

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Days 3 to Day 7 where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. We'll need your passport details no later than 45 days before departure in order to purchase train tickets on this trip. Delay in providing these details or providing incorrect details may result in extra fee in change or being unable to secure services.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Reviews

4.9 . 79 reviews
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Mark
Traveled August 2025
Desley
Traveled August 2025
Seemub
Traveled August 2025
Louise
Traveled August 2025
Sophie
Traveled August 2025
Central Asia Explorer
From
EUR €3,315