Things to see & do along The Silk Road
Our Uzbekistan Vacations
Uzbekistan tour, nature and culture
A tour to the towns of the ancient Silk Road in Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan small group tour
Explore cities and landscapes of the ancient Silk Road
Uzbekistan small group tour, Uzbekistan odyssey
Ancient cities, architecture & traditional craftsmanship
Silk Road vacation, small group
Discover amazing Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan
Uzbekistan classic tour
Stunning silk road architecture and breath-taking deserts
The five stans silk road vacation
Step into the pages of history on a silk road tour
Central Asia overland tour, the stans
An epic journey through the five 'stans' of Central Asia
The Silk Route, Beijing to Tashkent
Travel from China to Central Asia on this historic journey
Uzbekistan Silk Road tour
Discover the enchanting architecture of Uzbekistan
The Silk Road small group tour
Discover the Silk Road in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China
Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan vacation, Silk Road explorer
Discover the fascinating ancient history of the Silk Road
Small group tour of the Stans
Get under the skin of all five 'Stans'
Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan group tour
Follow in Joanna Lumley's footsteps along the Silk Road.
Uzbekistan tours
See the Silk Road cities of Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand
Uzbekistan tour, Road to Samarkand
Travel the ancient Silk Road through remote Central Asia.
Tehran to Tashkent Silk Road tour, private departure
Combine ancient, medieval and modern Silk Road cities
Highlights of the Silk Road overland tour
Visit the highlights of the 5 Stans in 3 weeks
Uzbekistan by train vacation
Historical odyssey in Uzbekistan moving mostly by train
Uzbekistan to Turkey overland tour
Overland through Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia & Turkey
Silk Road adventure tour
Seek adventure among the mountain passes of the Silk Road
Tashkent to Bishkek Silk Road overland tour
Explore the mountainous overlanding paradise of Kyrgyzstan
Uzbekistan to Iran overland tour
Trace the western section of the Silk Road
Central Silk Route & Western China overland tour
Epic trip through China, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan history and culture vacation
Discover the history and secrets of ancient Transoxiana
Silk Road overland vacation
Once in a lifetime Trans-Asian Silk Road Adventure
Xian to Istanbul overland tour
Experience the Silk Road and the beautiful Caucasus
Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan vacation
Discover mountain villages, stay in traditional yurts as nomads do
Silk Road cultural vacation
See spectacular mountain scenery on this Silk Road journey
Uzbekistan small group vacation
10 days exploring the Silk Road Treasures of Uzbekistan
What is the Silk Road?
There is no actual single Silk Road, but more of a series of routes that traversed Central Asia into Europe and which was considered the world’s first major commercial highway. Its name was coined by a German geographer, Ferdinand von Richthofen, in 1877, and it wasn’t just used for trading the East’s much coveted silk but also many other precious products such as porcelain and paper (still famous in Samarkand). Going the other direction, when the traders travelled west to east, they brought wool, exotic fruits and nuts and, of course, wine.It was only when Europeans started exploring new trade routes by sea from the 13th century onwards that the Silk Road started to lose favour. Uzbekistan’s commercial power weakened, and its political power did too. In the early 16th century the country’s infamous Timurid Empire broke up, and the country was divided up into khanates. In-fighting between these Khanates made the country vulnerable, and so in stepped the Russians in 1865. International trade was not a biggie for the Russians, and so the conversion of silk to Soviet rule saw the end of this major trading route in Uzbekistan.
How can we visit the Silk Road today?
You can visit the important towns and regions of Uzbekistan’s Silk Road on a small group tour or tailor made trip with an expert guide and driver, in as little as eight days. A trip of this length gives time to discover the ancient architectural wonders of Samarkand and Bukhara as well as the Kyzyl Kum Desert, where you can stay in a traditional yurt camp or trek on camels, just as the real Silk Road merchants would have done.Another option for exploring the Silk Road is to travel by luxury train, on a private charter that takes you from Tashkent in Uzbekistan, through Turkmenistan and then completing your silky sojourn in Tehran, in Iran. This is just about the most out-of-this-world way to explore this historic route, giving you time to hop off and explore each important city along the way, as you wine and dine your way across the region in style.
Our top Uzbekistan Vacation
Uzbekistan tour, nature and culture
A tour to the towns of the ancient Silk Road in Uzbekistan.
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements