Group Size: 8-24 guests
Price: Starting from $9,995 per person double occupancy
Trip Overview
Set out on a modern-day caravan over the old Silk Road from Uzbekistan and across the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan and the green, mountainous countries of Georgia and Armenia. Follow the path of the tireless merchants who brought with them exotic goods, sweeping belief systems, and new forms of architecture, agriculture, music, and art. Discover the blue-tiled Silk Road oases of Khiva, Bukhara, and Samarkand. Explore Baku, where in the 8th century people were known to burn oil that came from the ground. Taste the fabulous food and wine of Georgia and admire the powerful old stone churches of Armenia. Along the way, browse atmospheric bazaars, meet with local artists and resident experts, and experience nine different UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Schedule by Day
- Oct 7: Depart home city in the U.S
- Oct 8: Connect via Istanbul/Dubai/Frankfurt
- Oct 9: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
- Oct 10: Tashkent / Urgench / Khiva
- Oct 11: Khiva
- Oct 12: Khiva / Drive to Buhkara
- Oct 13: Buhkara
- Oct 14: Buhkara
- Oct 15: Buhkara / Train or drive to Samarkand
- Oct 16: Samarkand
- Oct 17: Samarkand / Train to drive to Tashkent
- Oct 18: Tashkent / Fly to Baku, Azerbaijan
- Oct 19: Baku
- Oct 20: Baku / Fly to Tbilisi, Georgia
- Oct 21: Tbilisi
- Oct 22: Tbilisi / Day trip to Mtskheta & Gori
- Oct 23: Tbilisi / Drive to Yerevan, Armenia
- Oct 24: Yerevan
- Oct 25: Depart Yerevan for home
Pricing
$9,995 per person double occupancy
$11,685 single occupancy
Accommodations
- Two nights at Hyatt Regency Hotel in Tashkent
- Two nights night at Zarafshon Boutique Hotel in Khiva
- Three nights at Hotel Devon Begi in Bukhara
- Two nights at Hotel Dilimah in Samarkand
- One night at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Tashkent
- Two nights at Hotel Four Seasons in Baku
- Three nights at the Rooms Hotel in Tbilisi
- Two nights at the Alexander Hotel in Yerevan
What to Expect
This trip is rated as rigorous touring due to the substantial distances covered, the length of some bus rides, the extensive walking and stair climbing required, and the overall shortcomings of the tourism infrastructure. The itinerary features a significant amount of touring on foot. Many streets are made of packed dirt, and some attractions are only accessible via steep staircases with tall uneven steps. Some other sites and hotels may not offer elevators. Border crossings may require crossing a relatively long distance by foot while managing your own bags—up to about a half-mile. Bags may need to be carried during these crossings, rather than rolled, as the road/sidewalk surface is not always paved or smooth. To fully enjoy this adventure, travelers must be able to walk at least two miles a day; flexibility and a willingness to accept local standards of amenities and services are highly recommended as well. It is important to keep in mind that the countries of Central Asia and the South Caucasus are, in general, not up to the standards North American travelers expect. Services are improving in the region; nevertheless, you may encounter problems with plumbing, bureaucratic service, road conditions, unpaved sidewalks, uneven surfaces and steps, variety of locally available foods, and availability and quality of public restrooms. In true expedition style, some delays or changes in the itinerary are likely.
