The Silk Road & Rural Kyrgyzstan
20 - 29 December 2024
7 - 16 March 2025
Description:
Explore the centuries-old Silk Road cities of Samarqand and Bukhara. Spend a night in the cozy comfort of a traditional nomadic yurt (tent) erected in Kyrgyzstan's lush and tranquil Ferghana Valley.
Experience living in a traditional Kyrgyz village, get a taste of life and customs in the rural, peaceful and picturesque Ferghana Valley. Visit traditional Kyrgyz bazaars and watch a match of Kok Boru, a traditional nomadic game played on horseback.
Conclude the trip with a night in a tent under the stars by the pristine waters of Lake Papan. This lake, flanked by sky-reaching peaks, is one of the largest lakes in southern Kyrgyzstan.
Countries: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan
Duration: 10 days
Cost: USD1580 (Approximately SGD2150, MYR7530, EUR1484)
Start & End city: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Max. Capacity: 6 travelers
What's included in the price:
Accommodation (Twin sharing)
Transportation (Trains, private-hire vans, intra-city transport)
Guide fee
Camping gear rental (Tent, all-weather sleeping bag)
Tickets to places of interest (Historical sites, national parks)
Camping and homestay experience
Breakfast at guesthouses
What's not included in the price:
Travel insurance
Meals (Lunch & dinner on most days)
Visa (If applicable)
Flight tickets to and from home country
Muhd Hidayat (Singapore)
It has been my dream to explore Central Asia and didn’t regret going to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan with The Untold Direction! To the most amazing tour guide, Misha, thk you so much for guiding us throughout the trip! Will consider to travel with them in the future!!
Arzhealza Roping (Sarawak, Malaysia)
I went on an unforgettable trip to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan with The Untold Direction... I felt like I was travelling with an old friend because the trip was so relaxed and easy going and the guide Misha was amazing. He was very knowledgeable, friendly, and well versed in the local culture.
Days 2-4: Explore Silk Road Cities
Take a stroll down the timeless back alleyways of the Silk Road cities of Samarqand & Bukhara. These cities were major towns along the Silk Road, and centuries-old markets, mosques, schools and buildings dating back to that era are preserved in pristine condition.
4th Night: Travel like a local
After exploring Bukhara for the day, spend the night on board a sleeper train that will whisk you across the country’s vast farmlands and deserts. Travelling on platskart class (6 bunk beds a compartment) is an experience in itself, where you get to be up close with citizens from all walks of life, such as cross-country traders, farmers visiting a neighbouring village for a wedding ceremony, students returning home for the semester, and hawkers peddling their goods on board.
During our trips, we take other forms of public transportation too (metro, marshrutkas, trolley buses, public buses) to experience how locals travel.
Day 5: Explore Tashkent, the Uzbek Capital
Walk the streets and take in the sights of Tashkent's unique cityscape, where centuries-old Silk Road buildings stand juxtaposed with their more modern Soviet counterparts. Ride the Tashkent Metro - home to some of the world's most beautifully decorated subway stations - and see the Samarkand Kufic Quran - one of the world's oldest copies of the Quran - on display!
Learn how this young nation is blazing its own path after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Days 6-8: Live like a local
The Muzayev family warmly welcomes you to stay at their home for a few days in the Kyrgyz countryside. Experience living in their village Borbash and get a taste of life and customs in the rural, peaceful and picturesque Ferghana Valley.
The women of this family of bakers and farmers will also teach you how to cook plov, a traditional rice and meat dish, over an open-air fire.
End the day with a trip to the village’s banya, a traditional sauna house.
Days 7-10: Bazaars, Eat Local, Kok Boru Matches & Explore Canyons & Lakes
Visit traditional Kyrgyz bazaars where produce, food, livestock and traditional garments are sold. Watch a match of Kok Boru, a traditional nomadic game played on horseback.
Nature lovers will certainly love the short hikes along lakes and in canyons.
Sample the rich & delectable cuisine of the region.
Days 8-9: Cup of Tea, the Valley, the Milky Way
Spend the night in the cosy comfort of a traditional nomadic yurt erected in the middle of a lush and green valley.
At night, sit out for a while, with a cup of hot tea in hand, and share stories with your travel mates. Or look up and marvel at the beauty of the sky filled with bright stars and, possibly, the Milky Way.
Get up just in time for sunrise to enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding valley.
Days 9-10: Camp by a Picturesque Lake
Spend the last night of the trip under the stars by the pristine waters of Lake Papan. This lake, flanked by sky-reaching peaks, is one of the largest lakes in southern Kyrgyzstan.
Learn how to pitch a tent, start a fire, and cook in the open.
During the winter months, camping by the lake will not be possible. Instead, we will stay the night in a traditional yurt with a nomadic family in a nearby valley.
