One of our very exciting and challenging travel was this one through the five ‘stans.

The silk route can be divided in two parts. One in China from Xian to Kashgar and the other through Central Asia and Europe.

To begin with before working out a plan for traveling this silk route I studied several books . Specially good were these by Colin Thubron and Insight Guides. I was fortunate that friends from Stanford University who have travelled a group with a faculty member were also available for advise . It was through their inputs that we zeroed in on MIR TRAVEL based in Moscow and Seattle to do all the planning for our trip. Having studied about the silk route through the five stans we were able to determine the specific sights and places we wanted to see and this helped us to customize the trip. We decided to travel the Central Asian part of the silk route so that we could understand what the Moghuls and Turks brought to India. Our group was large consisting of sixteen people.

Of immense help is a availability of a Tour Manager who is well educated and knowledgeable about the history of these countries and is also intimately familiar with the geography and Terrain. MIR CORP helped us get the right person for this important task. He was very well assisted by specialist guides in each city we visited . MIR also arranged discussions with Historians, Architects in places such as Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva .

One of the highlights of the trip was the ability to eat with families in different countries and thus appreciate the large variety of cuisines.

Day 20 : Khiva • drive to Tashauz • fly to Ashgabat
Day 21 : Ashgabat
Day 22 : Ashgabat • day trip to Nisa
Day 23 : Depart Ashgabat arrive Dubai

In this route we had several border crossings on roads while going from one country to another. These are quite challenging as it involves going through two customs checks, hauling yourself with baggage over the two km distance that is the “ no man’s land”. Yes , in some places the guides were able to get baggage handlers but not always. In fact the efficiency with which MIR CORP handled these crossings was amazing. We did not have to wait long hours at any of these crossings.

In Bishkek, enjoy a dinner of Kyrgyz delicacies with a special folk performance of selections from the Epic of Manas.
• Watching Buzkashi a vigorous and fast sport on horses
• A visit to the Issykul lake one of the largest lakes in the region surrounded by Mountains
• In Tashkent, by special permission, view the Uthman Koran, considered by Sunni Muslims to be the oldest Koran in the world.
• Explore the very local Urgut Market in a small town near Samarkand, rarely visited by foreigners where one can still find wonderful deals on hand made textiles.
• Visit the private art studio of a sixth-generation Uzbek ceramicist whose family has been making pottery since the 1790s.
• In Bukhara, meet with a local architect for an interesting look into the current state of the city’s historical architectural renovation.
• On the day in Nukus, admire the trove of rescued Russian art with an expert who leads you behind the scenes at the Savitsky Museum, home to the second largest gathering of Russian avant-garde art in the world. (The story of this collection has been told in the award winning documentary, “Desert of Forbidden Art.”)
• In Ashkabad, spend a morning at the Altyn Aysr Oriental Bazaar (formerly the Tolkuchka Oriental Bazaar), a huge market brimming with traditionally patterned carpets, jewelry and animals for sale.
• Explore UNESCO-listed Nisa, once a major center of the ancient Parthian Kingdom, on an expert-led walking tour.
• Visit a ranch outside the city of Ashkabad where the renowned Akhal-Tekke horse, arguably the oldest cultured breed of horse in the world, is bred and raised.

This is an expensive tour if one wishes creature comforts and high quality service. You can budget 6500 USD per person on twin sharing basis excluding air fare to Almaty and from Tashkent/Dubai.

The best time to travel would be early April or September.