Exploratory Silk Road Expedition

Join our ultimate expedition along the Silk Road, from Istanbul to Beijing by overland truck

Follow in the footsteps of Alexander the Great and Marco Polo on this groundbreaking & challenging expedition along ancient trading routes. Discover some of the oldest cities in the world steeped in history and legend, from Troy in Turkey and Esfahan in Iran, to the Terracotta Army and Great Wall in China. The trip will be filmed for a TV Documentary by a professional crew (travelling in a separate vehicle) and you might even appear on Japanese TV!

(+44) 01963 363400

Itinerary / Highlights

Please note that our itineraries are not set in stone and can be subject to change.

As this is an Exploratory Trip, we may not visit all the places below, but in the same respect we may find other interesting areas that are not mentioned!

Days 1 to 24
Turkey
• Istanbul - Free day to enjoy the many sights and attractions.
• Gallipoli - visit the battlegrounds and war graves of the forces that fought here in WWI.
• Troy - thought to be the location of the legendary city.
• Ephesus - built by the Greeks 1000 years BC, then rebuilt by the Romans.
• Turquoise Coast - relax along the beautiful beaches of this stunning coastline.
• Olympos - relax on the beach & hike up to view the eternal flames.
• Nemrut Dagi - see the huge statues scattered at the summit of this mountain.
• Cappadoccia - explore dwellings carved from the eerily eroded landscape.
• Lake Van - relax on the lake shore, visit Akdamar Island, or take in the history of Van Castle.
• Dogubeyazit - climb Mt. Ararat, the legendary resting place of Noah's Ark (time allowing).

Days 25 to 38
Iran
• Follow the Zagros Mountain Range south in to the interior.
• Tabriz - explore the 35km labyrinthine bazaar and the Blue (Kabud) Mosque.
• Zanjan - ancient alleyways hiding behind a modern facade.
• Esfahan - 3 nights to fully explore this stunning city. Take a guided city tour (optional) around Imam Square (UNESCO site) or just wander, find a local tea house and converse with the incredibly hospitable locals.
• Tehran - cosmopolitan city in the shadow of the Alborz Mountain Range.
• Caspian - the world's largest inland sea!
• Gorgan - world famous carpet and rug making city on the original Silk Road.
• Mashhad - some 20 million pilgrims visit the incredible Imam Reza Shrine every year.

Days 39 to 43
Turkmenistan
• Ashgabat - the fascinating and slightly bizarre 'White City', fashioned out of marble.
• Kara-Kum Desert - arduous days are rewarded by camping out in this barren terrain.
• Darvaza Gas Craters - a result of Soviet-era gas exploration.
• Kunye Ugench - see the 60mtr high minaret!

Days 44 to 58
Uzbekistan
• Khiva - explore the ancient medressas, mausoleums and museums.
• Bukhara - an important stop on the Silk Rd of old & home to over 350 mosques & 100 Islamic colleges.
• Kyzylkum Desert - beauty & harshness in one.
• Samarkand - as old as Babylon, view the beauty of the Registan, medressas & mosques.
• Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital.
• Ferghana Valley - visit a traditional silk factory (time allowing).

Days 59 to 63
Kyrgyzstan
• Osh - a lively city with the largest & busiest outdoor market in Central Asia.
• Kochkorka Valley - carpet shops and horse riding!
• North to Bishkek - those on the 9 week trip leave us here.

Days 64 to 65
• Bishkek - the capital. Soviet built city with tree lined boulevards and parks. A chance to let our hair down, relax and maybe remind our taste buds about western food!

Days 66 to 72
• Lake Issyk-Kul - a massive mountain lake with magnificent scenery & loads of activities to choose from.
• Karakol - hiking, horseback & mountain biking trips into the surrounding Terskay Ala-Too Mountains.
• Ala-Archa Nature Reserve - an option to go trekking & skiing, with spectacular scenery.
• Naryn - an ideal base to organise trips out to the stunning Lake Song Kol.
• Torugat Pass - travel through the Tien Shan Mountains & cross the border into China.

Days 73 to 105
China
• Kashgar - we aim to be here for the renowned Sunday market.
• Taklamakan Desert - 272,000 sq km of slowly moving sand.
• Korla - department stores, shopping malls and a nightclub scene that bathes in neon after sunset!
• Bosten Lake -boat trips & water-skiing.
• Turpan - visit nearby ruins of Goachang City or the Thousand Buddha Caves
• Gobi Desert - one of the hottest places on earth.
• Dunhuang - the famous Mogao Grottoes & the Crescent Moon Pool.
• Jiayuguan - our first taste of the Great Wall of China
• Lanzhou - the White Pagoda Temple Park overlooks the city and the Yellow River.
• Xiahe - Labrang Buddhist Monastery.
• Huanglong National Park - savour some of the spectacular scenery and hiking trails.
• Chengdu - visit the nearby Giant Panda Breeding Centre.
• Xi'an - visit the famous Terracotta Warriors.
• Overnight train to the capital.
• Beijing - a one day city tour included; stay a few extra days to take in all the sights including the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City & the Temple of Heaven.

Other Details

Accommodation Details

In Turkey, we spend around 50 to 60% of nights camping and the rest of the time in simple hotels/guesthouses. Through the various 'stans', Iran & China we will be using basic hostels & hotels about 80% of the time. The variety is great and often a totally unique experience, including bush camps with no facilities, yurts, simple village pensions and even riverboats. Some are well managed and some very basic. Oasis uses roomy three-person tents but only for two people. They are specially made for us to meet the tougher conditions of an expedition trip and have mosquito netting sewn into the door and windows. At bush camps you will be living off the truck, so there will be no showers or en-suite facilities, so digging your own toilet pit with the shovels supplied is essential!

Departure Dates, Options & Prices

Starts in Istanbul - 6th June 2012
Ends in Beijing - 18th September 2012

£3350 plus US$1900 local payment

(+44) 01963 363400