Explore the fabled Silk Road as you journey through Central Asia’s Five ’Stans: Turkmenistan*, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.
The Silk Road: A Journey to Central Asia
Featuring the Five “Stans” of Turkmenistan*, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan
17 days from $8,695
Explore the fabled Silk Road as you journey through Central Asia’s Five ’Stans: Turkmenistan*, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.
Tour Details
WHAT OUR TRAVELERS SAY
- Bechir R.A fascinating tour in a fascinating world. Don't miss it.
- Adrienne D.Our trip to the Silk Road cities of days of yore was a fascinating journey into the past. Ancient cities like Bukhara and Samarkand took on a modern cast after our fabulous Smithsonian trip there.
- Janice S.Central Asia with Smithsonian Journeys was an eye-opening experience to a little-known part of the world. One of the most memorable trips I have ever taken.
- Laura G.Our trip to the Five Stans with Smithsonian Journeys was extraordinary. Exploring the Silk Road fulfilled a lifelong dream—particularly Samarkand with some of the most magnificent Islamic architecture on the planet.
JOURNEYS DISPATCHES
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* Click on hotel name to visit hotel web-site.
Hotel Oguzkent
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Elegant yet traditional, the Oguzkent Hotel is situated in Ashkabad's city center, across from Neutrality Park. Designed for comfort and convenience, rooms come with a minibar, safe, air conditioning and WiFi. Three restaurants, a spa and mall are also located within the hotel.
Asia Hotel Khiva
Khiva, Uzbekistan
Located just outside of Ichon Qala and a two-minute walk from the city wall, Hotel Asia Khiva offers a beautiful lobby, a restaurant with its own bakery, bar, conference hall, Internet, pool and sauna. All rooms have air-conditioning, satellite TV, phone and minibar.
Hotel Suzangaron
Bukhara , Uzbekistan
Hotel Suzangaron combines the modern comforts of a new accommodation (completed in March 2020) with a prime location, in the heart of the city between Lyabi-Hauz Plaza and the Ark Citadel. Each of the 20 en suite guestrooms comes with individually controlled air conditioning and heating, a hairdryer, satellite TV, a safe, and free Wi-Fi. An atrium fills the hotel’s interior with light, and the rooftop terrace provides panoramic views of the Old Town. The restaurant serves breakfast as well as an eclectic menu of international cuisine.
Emir Han
Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Located only a mile from Samarkand's historic center, the Emir Han hotel features two restaurants, a fitness center, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a Finnish sauna and a Turkish bath. Rooms come furnished with a flat-screen satellite TV, minibar, in-room safe, air-conditioning, and complimentary WiFi.
Lotte City Hotel Tashkent Palace
Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Located in the heart of the city, the updated Lotte City Hotel Tashkent Palace re-opened in 2013. The elegant hotel features two restaurants, one of them on the rooftop, serving regional and international cuisine. A piano bar, fitness center, outdoor pool, sauna and spa services round out the amenities. Rooms include deluxe beds, air conditioning, WiFi, satellite TV, minibar and hairdryer.
Novotel Bishkek City Center
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Opened in March of 2021, the Novotel Bishkek offers modern and contemporary 4-star comforts in the center of Kyrgyzstan's capital city. Onsite amenities include a fitness and spa facilities with a Turkish bath and sauna, massage rooms, an indoor swimming pool, and a restaurant serving local and Mediterranean fare. Multilingual front desk and concierge services are available 24 hours a day and high-speed Wifi is available throughout the property.
InterContinental Almaty Hotel
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Located in downtown Almaty, the five-star Intercontinental is beautifully appointed with a grand atrium entryway. Rooms have a minibar, air conditioning and satellite TV. Multiple restaurants on the property serve everything from Chinese to Turkish cuisine and the French-inspired Belvedere Grill with its rooftop-dining terrace is known as one of the best restaurants in the city. A Turkish bath is available at the onsite spa along with an indoor pool, tennis courts and golf courses.
Expectations: Longer trip featuring an exotic and sometimes challenging destination, with multiple hotel changes, two internal flights, and long coach rides (from three to eight hours). (Coaches are all modern and comfortable but do not provide a restroom.) This tour features a fast pace, long days of touring with daily activity of five to eight hours on most days, with extended walking of generally two to three miles. Walking entails sometimes difficult terrain (uneven surfaces, uneven steps in older buildings, city hills, steep staircases without handrails, little access to elevators even in some hotels), walking to city centers where coaches are prohibited, and navigating through crowds. Road conditions may vary from smooth highways to bumpy asphalt roads with potholes. Overland border crossings may require crossing up to half a mile on foot while carrying your own hand luggage. This tour entails altitudes up to 6,000 feet, which may cause some travelers additional effort. Every effort is made for comfort during this trip, however flexibility, a sense of humor, and a willingness to accept local standards of amenities and services are essential components to the enjoyment of this trip.
Appropriate for: Travelers who are physically fit, lead active lives, are comfortable participating in long days of activities, and expect some physical exertion.
WHAT OUR TRAVELERS SAY
- Bechir R.A fascinating tour in a fascinating world. Don't miss it.
- Adrienne D.Our trip to the Silk Road cities of days of yore was a fascinating journey into the past. Ancient cities like Bukhara and Samarkand took on a modern cast after our fabulous Smithsonian trip there.
- Janice S.Central Asia with Smithsonian Journeys was an eye-opening experience to a little-known part of the world. One of the most memorable trips I have ever taken.
- Laura G.Our trip to the Five Stans with Smithsonian Journeys was extraordinary. Exploring the Silk Road fulfilled a lifelong dream—particularly Samarkand with some of the most magnificent Islamic architecture on the planet.
Explore the life, art, and influence of the greatest traders of the Silk Road at Smithsonian's Freer Gallery and Sackler Gallery of Asian Art.
Highly Recommended
Also Recommended
For the convenience of our travelers, Travel Guard provides an on-tour Insurance Plan. On-tour emergency evacuation insurance (up to $100,000), medical expense coverage (up to $25,000), dental expense coverage (up to $500), travel medical assistance and worldwide travel assistance (U.S. Residents only). It also includes up to $25,000 medical and up to $500 dental expense coverage, and 24-hour worldwide travel and medical assistance. Please click here to view complete coverage details.
Please visit www.TravelGuard.com/SmithsonianJourneys or call Travel Guard at 1-800-208-6142 to learn about additional (optional) coverage.