Silk Road overland tours
The Silk Road is actually a sprawling network of interlinked highways, rather than a single route. The main artery ran from China through the ‘Stans, across Persia and ended in Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast. One of the earliest and most profitable products to make its way along this ancient caravan route was silk – hence the name. Today, the Silk Road ranks among the most iconic overland tours.
Silk Road itinerary & highlights
As it stretches around 7,000km in total, and spokes off in several directions, overland tours on the Silk Road have substantial variations in itineraries and duration. Many routes will take you through at least a handful of the the ‘Stans: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan or Turkmenistan, and may also feature parts of countries such as Azerbaijan China, Iran, Turkey or Georgia.
Often you’ll be traveling through very remote regions, with epic scenery composed of snow capped mountains, lakes, deserts or plains. You might visit the ancient city of Osh, the legendary caravanserai Tash Rabat, Beijing’s Forbidden City, and Samarkand, which over an eventful history has played host to both Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan.
As you travel, you’ll wander through colourful bazaars, admire stunning Islamic architecture, listen to the call to prayer, and watch traditional sports, handicrafts and cultural performances.
As you travel, you’ll wander through colourful bazaars, admire stunning Islamic architecture, listen to the call to prayer, and watch traditional sports, handicrafts and cultural performances.
Practicalities
Silk Road overland trips can last anywhere between two weeks and several months. In most cases they will begin and end in capital cities such as Tashkent or Beijing, allowing you to easily extend your vacation if preferred. Domestic flights, trains, boats and public transport will occasionally be employed, but most tours get around either in private trucks or coaches.
You will overnight in yurts, or welcoming guesthouses where you’ll be served delicious home cooked meals. Alternatively you may be wild camping for much of your tour, and shopping for food in local markets.
Central Asia overland tour, the stans
Epic journey through five Stans of Central Asia
From
£7199 to £7899
26 days
ex flights
The Silk Road small group tour
Discover the Silk Road in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China
From
US $4260 to US $5550
16 days
ex flights
The five stans silk road vacation
Step into the pages of history on a silk road tour
From
US $8235 to US $10050
23 days
ex flights
Silk Road vacation, five Stans of Central Asia
Journey through the 5 stans of Central Asia
From
US $10964
29 days
ex flights
Silk Road cultural vacation, Kyrgyzstan & Uzbekistan
See spectacular mountain scenery on this Silk Road journey
From
US $5210
16 days
ex flights
Silk Road & Caucasus tour
Explore the secrets of Central Asia and the Caucasus
From
£5799 to £6142
4 weeks
ex flights
Contact Us
Call us for a chat about our vacations. We are happy to discuss your vacation and help in any way we can. No bots, queues or awful hold music.
1-866-821-6866
Call toll free
Calling from outside the USA
Tips from our vacation reviews
“Be prepared for long days driving - often on very bumpy roads. However, nature's spectacles compensate for the traveling inconveniences. Sleeping in a yurt was a new adventure for me. I am glad I booked it. This vacation gave me insight about the people and the way they live.” – Jayne Hanlin on a Silk Road tour from Kyrgyzstan to Uzbekistan
“I particularly enjoyed the added insight into every day life the guides were able to give us as they were all local. It was interesting to see the three different countries and travel through the countryside, mostly in minibuses with commentary by the guides. We went in April/May and experienced really hot sunny weather, cold evenings -enough for warmish coats, strong cold winds and some rain, so pack for all eventualities. Be prepared for long days with some early starts and to be able to account for all your medicines, jewelry, and exact amount of money in all currencies at border posts. Bring tissues and hand gel.” – Eva Dingwalls on a Silk Road itinerary around far western China
More Overland articles
Get ready to unleash the explorer within, by trying one of our inspirational overland tours.
Cairo to Cape Town, Indochina, the Silk Road - try these inspirational itineraries.
A trip that takes you the length of a vast continent, encompassing over 12,000km.
In Southern Africa you can explore several very different, remarkable countries.
Mountains, coasts, cloud forests and idyllic islands – explore the beautiful landscapes of Central America.
Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam are the key countries to visit on an overland tour in this area.
At first glance, it might seem hard to differentiate between the 12 nations of South America.
All aboard for a guide to the world’s longest train journey, the Trans Siberian Railway.
It's important to remember that one aspect of overland travel is that it can involve spending weeks on end in a truck.
Will my kids enjoy it? What if I can only take a few weeks off work? Where are the best places to go? We answer.
Find all our rail, truck and self-drive vacations and see our regional overland trips all in one place.
