20 Days Silk Road: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan & China

Tour Overview

Three countries, three distinct Silk Road cultures, one seamless journey. From the architectural splendor of Uzbekistan's Timurid empire to the pristine alpine lakes and nomadic traditions of Kyrgyzstan, and finally the vibrant crossroads of Kashgar in China's Xinjiang — this 20-day tour weaves together the most fascinating chapters of the ancient Silk Road.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

• 1Day

  Arrive in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

  Welcome to Uzbekistan. Airport transfer, check into your hotel. Evening orientation walk through Amir Timur Square. Welcome dinner with traditional plov and Uzbek bread (non).

  🏨 Tashkent 4★🍴 D
• 2Day

  Tashkent — Capital of Central Asia

  Visit Khast Imam Complex, home to the 7th-century Uthman Quran. Explore Chorsu Bazaar's domed halls. Afternoon at the State Museum of History and Navoi Opera Square.

  🏨 Tashkent 4★🍴 B/L
• 3Day

  Tashkent → Samarkand (High-speed train)

  Afrosiyob train to Samarkand (2 hrs). First glimpse of Registan Square in the golden afternoon light. Visit Gur-e-Amir, Timur's magnificent mausoleum that inspired the Taj Mahal.

  🏨 Samarkand 4★🍴 B/L
• 4Day

  Samarkand — The Rome of the East

  Full day exploring Timur's capital. Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, Ulugbek's 15th-century observatory. Afternoon at Konigil village for traditional silk paper-making.

  🏨 Samarkand 4★🍴 B/L
• 5Day

  Samarkand → Bukhara

  Morning drive across the Kyzylkum Desert to Bukhara (4 hrs). Afternoon: walk through Lyabi-Hauz, the 17th-century plaza of pools and mulberry trees. Sunset from the Ark Fortress walls.

  🏨 Bukhara 4★🍴 B/L
• 6Day

  Bukhara — City of 1,001 Domes

  Kalon Minaret (so beautiful Genghis Khan spared it), the trading domes, Chor Minor, and a carpet-weaving masterclass. Evening folklore show at Nadir Divan-Begi Madrasah.

  🏨 Bukhara 4★🍴 B/L
• 7Day

  Bukhara → Khiva (Kyzylkum Desert crossing)

  Scenic drive across the Red Sand Desert to Khiva (7 hrs). Arrive at golden hour when the mud-brick walls of Itchan Kala glow. Rooftop dinner overlooking the minarets.

  🏨 Khiva 3★🍴 B/L/D
• 8Day

  Khiva — The Open-Air Museum

  Explore Itchan Kala's maze of madrasahs, mosques, and minarets. Climb the unfinished Kalta Minor Minaret. Visit the stone courtyard where slaves were once traded on the Silk Road.

  🏨 Khiva 3★🍴 B/L
• 9Day

  Khiva → Urgench ✈ Tashkent → Bishkek

  Morning drive to Urgench Airport. Fly to Tashkent, connect to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Evening stroll through Ala-Too Square. Try traditional Kyrgyz dishes at a local restaurant.

  🏨 Bishkek 4★🍴 B/D
• 10Day

  Bishkek → Ala Archa National Park

  Day trip to Ala Archa National Park (40 mins from Bishkek). Hike through juniper forests to a waterfall with views of 4,800m peaks. Afternoon: Osh Bazaar and Burana Tower.

  🏨 Bishkek 4★🍴 B/L
• 11Day

  Bishkek → Issyk-Kul Lake

  Drive to Issyk-Kul, the world's second-largest alpine lake (4 hrs). Visit the petroglyphs at Cholpon-Ata — 2,000-year-old stone carvings. Afternoon: swim in the lake or hike along the shore.

  🏨 Issyk-Kul Resort🍴 B/L/D
• 12Day

  Issyk-Kul — Karakol & Jeti-Oguz

  Drive along the southern shore to Karakol. Visit the wooden Dungan Mosque and Orthodox Church. Afternoon at Jeti-Oguz — the "Seven Bulls" red rock formations. Overnight in a yurt camp.

  ⛰️ Yurt Camp🍴 B/L/D
• 13Day

  Jeti-Oguz → Song-Kul Lake

  Long but spectacular drive to Song-Kul Lake (3,016m). Arrive at this high-altitude jewel surrounded by snow-capped peaks. Stay in a traditional yurt with a Kyrgyz nomad family. Evening: stargazing at 3,000m.

  ⛰️ Song-Kul Yurt🍴 B/L/D
• 14Day

  Song-Kul — Nomad Life & Eagle Hunting

  Rise with the sun over the lake. Ride horses across the jailoo (summer pasture). Watch an eagle hunting demonstration — a tradition passed down through generations of Kyrgyz nomads. Help milk mares for kumis.

  ⛰️ Song-Kul Yurt🍴 B/L/D
• 15Day

  Song-Kul → Naryn

  Descend from the high pasture to Naryn, Kyrgyzstan's longest river source. Visit the 15th-century Tash Rabat caravanserai — a perfectly preserved stone inn where Silk Road traders once sheltered.

  🏨 Naryn Guesthouse🍴 B/L/D
• 16Day

  Naryn → Torugart Pass → Kashgar, China!

  Early start to cross Torugart Pass (3,752m) — the high-altitude border between Kyrgyzstan and China. Clear customs, descend into Xinjiang. Arrive in Kashgar for a well-earned rest.

  🏨 Kashgar 4★🍴 B/L/D
• 17Day

  Kashgar — Sunday Bazaar & Old City

  If Sunday: the legendary bazaar — livestock, spices, carpets, everything. Explore the Old City's maze of adobe alleyways. Evening tea at a 100-year-old teahouse with live Uyghur music.

  🏨 Kashgar 4★🍴 B/L
• 18Day

  Kashgar — Karakoram Highway to Karakul Lake

  Drive the legendary Karakoram Highway to Karakul Lake (3,600m). Stand in awe before Muztagh Ata (7,546m) reflected in the lake's mirror surface. Visit Kyrgyz nomad settlements along the way.

  🏨 Kashgar 4★🍴 B/L
• 19Day

  Kashgar — Id Kah Mosque & Farewell

  Visit Id Kah Mosque, China's largest. Explore Abakh Khoja Tomb, the "Fragrant Concubine's" mausoleum. Farewell dinner — a grand Uyghur feast with music and dance.

  🏨 Kashgar 4★🍴 B/L/D
• 20Day

  Depart Kashgar

  Airport transfer. Your tri-country Silk Road odyssey concludes. You've followed in the footsteps of Marco Polo. 再见!

  🍴 B

What's Included

What's Excluded