Silk Road Exploratory Overland Trip Cairo to Bishkek

This overland trip to Bishkek forms part of the Tunis to Beijing expedition which departs from Tunis in early March '10. It is the second time Oasis will have overlanded this route and as such should still be regarded as a trip of an exploratory nature. The Oasis Crew leading this trip are some of our most experienced and our expedition vehicle is especially equipped.

Please also be aware that as stated above this is an exploratory overland expedition and as such anyone booking should expect that there will be times that things do not go according to plan and there WILL BE delays and some unexpected hassles along the way.

But that's all part of the adventure!

Price

From: GBP2190 per person (11 weeks)

Price Includes

• Fully equipped Oasis Expedition Truck
• All road tolls and ferry crossings
• All Camping & Accomodation fees
• Camping and Cooking gear
• 3 Meals per day whilst with truck (when in hotels 1 - 2)
• Services of Oasis Crew
• See below Accomodation for a list of other included activities

Price Excludes

• Local Payment US$1300 Visas - £250 - £400 (depending on nationality) Tips and Optional excursions as listed Meals taken while in hotels/hostels Airport Taxes and Transfers Travel Insurance Drinks Flights

Days 1 – 9:- Cairo

Cross the Suez Canal and enter the Sinai Desert (home of the Bedouin), camp out at Mt Sinai, the site of God's revelation of the 10 Commandments and you will have the opportunity to climb it early in the morning to view the sunrise over the desert

St Catherine's Monastery where Moses heard God speaking from the burning bush

Dahab on the Red Sea where we relax for the next 4 days. Here we have the opportunity to snorkel or scuba dive to some of the best coral reefs in the world, go desert quad biking or just chill on the beach


Day 10 – 13: -Jordan
Wadi Rum (where we camp overnight & where you can take a camel ride or a jeep ride out deep into the desert)

Petra (the stone-carved city was only uncovered about 60 years ago after being forgotten for over 1000 years)

The Dead Sea (lowest point on earth), therapeutic mud baths and not so therapeutic mud fights are followed by an unusual swimming experience in this highly buoyant salt sea!

Mt Nebo (where we camp for the night overlooking Israel before we drive to the Syrian border)


Day 14 – 20:- Syria
Damascus (we spend three nights in the capital, the oldest inhabited city in the world. There is the option of taking a one day guided tour into Lebanon and Beirut here)

Crac de Chevaliers (an 800yr old Crusader Castle - perched on top of a mountain)

Palmyra (sleeping out in this vast wilderness, the night sky dazzles with stars, satellites and shooting stars)

Aleppo (visit the huge crusader castle & a very relaxing and friendly atmosphere pervades the town)


Days 21 – 30:- Turkey
Khata, (we climb the 2150m Nemrut Dagi where at the summit the solid rock statues of the gods of antiquity lie scattered)

Cappadocia (we spend a few days in this region where over the centuries houses, churches, fortresses and even underground cities have been carved into this eerily eroded volcanic rock

Sumela mountain monastery (an awe inspiring location clinging to a cliff face 1,000 feet above the Altindere Valley)

Trazbon on the Black Sea coast (well known for its historic frescos in its old mosques and Ottoman buildings)


Days 31 – 38:- Georgia
Kutasi (visit the 1000yr old ruined Bagrati Cathedral that overlooks the town)

Sataplia Nature Reserve (the location of the world's largest collection of dinosaur tracks, as well as wolves and bears)

Gori (we visit Stalin's old house, now a museum. No doubt there will also be the chance to try the local drop, Khuachkara a sweet red wine said to be one of Stalin's favourites which is traditionally drunk from a ram's horn)

Historic churches of Mtskheta (former capital of Georgia and a World Heritage Site)

Tbilisi (Georgia's capital city, stroll along narrow cobbled streets, relax in the warm waters of the historic sulphur baths and visit some of the city's key historical sites; Metekhi Church, Narikala Fortress, Sioni Cathedral and Anchiskhati Church)

Those on finish the trip in Tblisi leave us here


Day 39 - 49

Wine tasting at Telavi & 6th century ruins at Gremi

Azerbaijan
Sheiki, which is famed for its silk production and was an important stop over on the silk route

Baku - The capital (which is a bustling city that has made its fortune from oil, but it has a number of historic sights such as the old fortress and Medieval Old Town. There is an opportunity to go on a day trip to visit the mud volcanoes at Gobustan. These small cones emit cold mud, water and gas almost continually)

Ferry journey across the Caspian Sea to Turkmenistan


Day 50 – 57:- Turkmenistan
Bakharden (where there are caves to explore and hot springs)

Geok Tepe

Ashgabat (the capital, on the southern rim of the Kara-Kum (black sand) Desert. The sprawling Sunday market in Ashgabat is the best place to buy Turkmen carpets amongst the livestock and household goods)

Desert crossing camping out at night in one of the world's most remote environments


Day 58 – 69:- Uzbekistan
Khiva (world heritage site and one of the most noteworthy cities in Central Asia, explore the ancient madrassahs, medinas, mausoleums and museums)

Bukhara (an attractive city on a sacred hill, and was founded in the 13th century BC)

Kyzylkum Desert

Samarkand, (second largest city, explore the city and its treasures such as the 15th century BibiKhanum Mosque which when built was considered to have the largest dome in the Muslim world)

Tashkent (the present capital of Uzbekistan where there is the opportunity to sample some of the excellent Russian restaurants in the city)


Days 70 – 74:- Kyrgyzstan
Fergana Valley (dramatic and rugged scenery)

Osh (here there are good views of the town surrounded by tobacco and cotton fields from the Sulayman Rock in the middle of town)

Song-Kul Lake (road & weather conditions permitting) (a stunning setting at an altitude of 3013m with the surrounding glaciers reflected on the still water)

Kochkorka Valley (visit a carpet shop and it may be possible to go horse riding)

Lake Issyk-Kul (in the northern Tien Shan Mountains, at 6,300 sq km this is considered to be one of the largest mountain lakes in the world)

Karakol (attractive town on the southeast shores of the lake shadowed by the Terskay Ala-Too Mountains, an unspoilt wilderness populated only by nomadic shepherds and only then during the summer)

Colpon Ata (we stop here on the northern shore of the lake and enjoy a mud cure at one of the many spas and health-resorts here)

Djety Oguz Valley (the famous hot springs and red rocks)

Bishkek (the capital is a largely Soviet-built city, and along Ulitsa Sovietskaya, are the Kyrgyz State Opera and Ballet Theatre and the State Art Museum. Other attractions include the Lenin Museum and an hour's drive from Bishkek the Ala-Archa Nature Reserve which offers spectacular scenery for trekking and skiing)

Accommodation Details

Over the 11 week duration of the trip we will be camping approximately 50% of the time, some of which will be in the extreme heat of deserts or the cold of mountainous regions.

The hotels we use will be small locally owned pensions and bed and breakfasts and may often be of a very basic standard.

But this should be regarded as part and parcel of being among the first to partake in such a ground breaking expedition.