Our Silk Road vacations & tours

Traveling overland on one of our small group vacations is the most enjoyable, most immersive way to explore the Silk Road – the vast network of ancient trade routes that linked Asia and the Middle East with Europe. Our Silk Road vacations take their time tracing the fascinating history of different routes through the ‘Stans, China and Iran, past cities such as Samarkand, and through remote areas that rarely benefit from tourism, where local guides are an invaluable key to understanding the culture. Staying in a succession of small, family-owned accommodation throughout, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of traditional ways of life in communities along the way.

Our top Silk Road vacations

Central Asia overland tour, the stans

From £7199 to £7899
26 days ex flights
Epic journey through five Stans of Central Asia
Small group2026: 27 Aug, 2027: 22 May, 26 Aug, 2028: 20 May, 24 Aug

The Silk Road small group tour

From US $4260 to US $5550
16 days ex flights
Discover the Silk Road in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China
Small group2026: 13 Aug, 3 Sep, 6 Sep, 13 Sep, 17 Sep, 20 Sep, 24 Sep, 15 Oct, 2027: 8 Apr, 22 Apr, 6 May, 13 May, 16 May, 20 May, 3 Jun, 10 Jun, 15 Jul, 12 Aug, 26 Aug, 2 Sep, 5 Sep, 9 Sep, 12 Sep, 16 Sep, 19 Sep, 23 Sep, 7 Oct, 14 Oct

Uzbekistan tour, Road to Samarkand

From US $2170 to US $2730
11 days ex flights
Travel the ancient Silk Road through remote Central Asia.
Small group2026: 29 Aug, 17 Sep, 19 Sep, 26 Sep, 3 Oct, 10 Oct, 24 Oct, 2027: 13 Mar, 27 Mar, 17 Apr, 1 May, 15 May, 22 May, 29 May, 5 Jun, 10 Jul, 17 Jul, 14 Aug, 28 Aug, 4 Sep, 11 Sep, 16 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct, 23 Oct, 30 Oct, 6 Nov

Silk Road vacation, five Stans of Central Asia

From US $10964
29 days ex flights
Journey through the 5 stans of Central Asia
Small group2027: 23 May, 30 May, 6 Jun, 25 Jul, 22 Aug, 12 Sep

The five stans silk road vacation

From US $8235 to US $10050
23 days ex flights
Step into the pages of history on a silk road tour
Small group2026: 15 Aug, 29 Aug, 6 Sep, 2027: 22 May, 29 May, 8 Jun, 19 Jun, 28 Jul, 14 Aug, 28 Aug, 5 Sep

Uzbekistan small group tour

From US $4725 to US $4950
15 days ex flights
Explore cities and landscapes of the ancient Silk Road
Small group2026: 4 Sep, 18 Sep, 16 Oct, 2027: 26 Mar, 9 Apr, 23 Apr, 7 May, 21 May, 28 May, 11 Jun, 3 Sep, 10 Sep, 17 Sep, 1 Oct, 15 Oct

Kazakhstan adventure tour

From US $3250 to US $3870
11 days ex flights
Explore the futuristic and ancient from Astana to Bishek
Small group2026: 25 Aug, 8 Sep, 29 Sep, 2027: 6 Apr, 20 Apr, 27 Apr, 1 May, 4 May, 15 May, 18 May, 29 May, 1 Jun, 7 Aug, 17 Aug, 28 Aug, 7 Sep, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 28 Sep, 9 Oct, 2028: 4 Apr, 18 Apr, 25 Apr, 2 May, 13 May, 16 May, 27 May, 30 May, 5 Aug, 15 Aug, 26 Aug, 5 Sep, 9 Sep, 16 Sep, 23 Sep, 26 Sep, 7 Oct

Kazakhstan vacation, Steppe and Silk Road

From £2415 to £2675
10 days ex flights
Cultural and natural heritage in a Central Asian secret
Small group2026: 19 Sep, 2027: 15 May, 18 Sep, 2028: 13 May, 16 Sep

Kyrgyzstan Silk Road vacation

From US $3120 to US $3460
14 days ex flights
Drive through remote mountain scenery and past lush alpine valleys
Small group2026: 24 Aug, 7 Sep, 2027: 10 May, 17 May, 24 May, 28 Jun, 2 Aug, 23 Aug, 6 Sep, 13 Sep, 20 Sep
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Silk Road vacation highlights

The history of the Silk Road

The illuminating stories told by our local guides can help unravel the mysterious histories of the Silk Road. The road’s inception dates back to around 114BC, when China’s Han dynasty began to expand its influence, opening up new trade routes. Along with tea, perfumes, paper and (of course) silk, new cultures, languages and architecture travelled from east to west. In return, people ventured east, including Marco Polo, who is known to have followed the Silk Road from Europe to China. The Han dynasty met the Roman Empire in Central Asia, allowing the cities along this network of routes to profit from even more cultural exchange.

Meeting local people

Feeling the weight of a golden eagle on your arm when you meet the eagle hunters in Kyrgyzstan, sitting down to dine in the low light with a Uighur family in their home, or gazing upward at the elaborate lattice of your yurt as you stay at a remote camp. And there are also opportunities to buy from artisans selling felt rugs and earthenware. It’s easy to immerse yourself in stories from traditional life on the Silk Road if you go on one of our trips. They’re designed to bring you closer to the communities, by making sure that the communities benefit from your visit, too.

Small group Silk Road vacations

In past centuries, merchants and traders on the Silk Road would wisely travel together for safety. While bandit raids are a thing of the past, our small group vacations remain the best way to explore the Silk Road. You can travel classic routes knowing that all the logistics – from visas to accommodation – have been sorted out by the professionals. Our groups are accompanied throughout by local guides adept at introducing you to people and their culture along the way. You also benefit from their social aspect, bonding quickly with like-minded travelers on a two- or three-week trip through the Stans.
[History: Popolon] [Travel advice: Kalpak Travel] [Small group vacations: Stefan Krasowski]

Our Silk Road vacations reviews

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Bruce Nelson23 May 2026
Being in a vey different culture and making contact with local people, learning about countries which up until now and been some what of a mystery.read more
Michael Pitt01 Jul 2026
The few opportunities there were to interact with local people. The drives were scenic through Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.read more
Stephen Pargiter01 Nov 2025
There is no single memorable part of the trip that stands out, but overall the diversity of the experience across the length and breadth of the country will be memorable for a long time to come. The trip interacted with local life in many locations and gave a good insight into the Uzbek lifestyle and it's people, culture, food, history etc.read more
Paul Farmer14 Oct 2025
Hard work but excellent!!! Visiting the Oasis cities of Khiva/Bukhara & Samarkand. 5 stars.read more
Written by Rob Perkins
Photo credits: [Page banner: Rudra Narayan Mitra]