Highlights

• Gain pre-opening access to the Issyk State Historical and Cultural Reserve Museum in Almaty, Kazakhstan, for a private curator-led session on the Scythian "Golden Man," a 4th-century BC suit of armour considered one of the great archaeological finds of the 20th century
• Enter the Guri Emir Mausoleum in Samarkand after hours, standing before the jade tomb of Tamerlane as a local history professor leads an exclusive discussion on the conqueror who built one of the largest empires the world has ever seen
• Stand in Registan Square in Samarkand, the centrepiece of the Silk Road world, where three enormous 15th and 16th-century madrasahs face each other across a vast open plaza, their facades covered in turquoise and gold mosaic tilework
• Walk inside the walled inner city of Khiva, the Ichan Qala, a UNESCO-listed medieval city so intact it feels less like a ruin and more like a place that simply never changed, with carved wooden doors, tiled minarets and a forest of 213 uniquely carved pillars inside the Juma Mosque
• Cross overland from Uzbekistan into Turkmenistan and arrive in Ashgabat, the capital recognised by Guinness World Records for its extraordinary density of white marble buildings, before visiting the UNESCO-listed ruins of Old Nisa, the ancient capital of the Parthian Empire

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Bishkek is where the expedition begins, a compact Soviet-era capital sitting in the foothills of the Tian Shan mountain range. The city is used as a base for two nights, with time for a walking tour through Oak Park and Victory Square and an evening at the Supara Ethno-Complex for a cultural dinner with demonstrations of traditional Kyrgyz clothing and nomadic customs. A day trip takes the group to the Burana Tower, an 11th-century minaret that is one of the oldest surviving structures in Central Asia, with a field of ancient stone warrior statues surrounding it, followed by a home-hosted Kyrgyz lunch in a nearby village. Accommodation is at the Hyatt Regency Bishkek or similar.

Almaty, Kazakhstan

Almaty is Kazakhstan's largest city, set against the dramatic backdrop of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains in the country's south-east. The city has a wide, tree-lined feel with a mix of Soviet architecture and modern development, and the programme here covers the Central State Museum, the wooden Zenkov Cathedral in Panfilov Park, and the Green Bazaar. The highlight is a private pre-opening visit to the Issyk State Historical and Cultural Reserve Museum, with a curator-led session on the Scythian Golden Man. The group also visits the Huns Ethno Village for horse handling and craft demonstrations before a yurt lunch. A Kazakh dinner in a traditional yurt rounds off the first evening. Accommodation is at the Rixos Almaty Hotel or similar.

Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Dushanbe is the capital of Tajikistan, a smaller and quieter city than the others on the route, with wide Soviet boulevards and a strong sense of a country finding its own identity. The programme includes the National Museum of Antiquities, where an archaeologist leads a session on Buddhism in Central Asia around a rare reclining Buddha, and a drive to the 2,500-year-old Hissor Fortress. A visit to a local craftsman's home includes bread-baking in a traditional clay tandoor and a lesson in preparing qurutob, Tajikistan's national dish, before sharing the meal with the family. Accommodation is at the Crowne Plaza Dushanbe or similar.

Tashkent & Uzbekistan

Tashkent is Uzbekistan's capital and the largest city on the route, and the group arrives here from Dushanbe with two full days to explore before heading south. The itinerary takes in the metro stations, designed like underground palaces during the Soviet era, the Hasti Imam mosque complex housing one of the oldest Qurans in the world, the Chorsu Bazaar under its famous blue-tiled dome, and a working ceramics studio run by the same family for generations. A farewell dinner atop the Tashkent TV Tower closes the Tashkent section with views across the city. Accommodation is at the Lotte City Tashkent Palace Hotel or similar.

Samarkand

Samarkand sits on the ancient Silk Road between China and Europe and was, for a period under Tamerlane in the 14th century, one of the most powerful cities in the world. The group spends two nights here, with a full guided tour of Registan Square and its three madrasahs, the Shahi Zinda necropolis where every surface is covered in turquoise tilework, and the Bibi Khanum Mosque. A day trip to Tersak Village includes a hands-on bread and samsa-making session in a local family's courtyard kitchen. The Afrasiab Museum covers the pre-Islamic history of the site through rare 7th-century murals. Accommodation is at the Kosh Havuz Boutique Hotel or similar.

Bukhara

Bukhara is a UNESCO World Heritage city on the edge of the Kyzylkum Desert and one of the best-preserved Silk Road cities in the world. Two nights here cover the Ark Fortress, the Ismail Samanid Mausoleum, the Kalyan Minaret and the labyrinthine streets of the old town. A plov cooking class with a local chef serves as dinner on the first evening. The second day includes the Naqshbandiy Mausoleum, the Emir's Summer Palace and dinner in a restored caravanserai, the merchant rest houses that once lined every major Silk Road route. Accommodation is at the Devon Hotel or similar.

Khiva

Khiva is the most intact of all the Silk Road cities, its inner walled city the Ichan Qala almost entirely unchanged from its medieval form. The group spends two nights here, exploring the Juma Mosque with its 213 individually carved wooden pillars, the Tash-Khauli Palace, and the turquoise unfinished tower of the Kalta Minor minaret. The second day closes with a Khorezmian music and dance performance, a distinct cultural tradition from this remote corner of Uzbekistan. Accommodation is at the Kamil Palace Hotel Khiva or similar.

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

The expedition ends in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan and one of the most unusual cities in the world. The city was almost entirely rebuilt after a devastating earthquake in 1948 and has since been transformed into a showcase of white marble monuments and gold-topped towers. Very few visitors reach it. The programme includes the UNESCO-listed ruins of Old Nisa at the foot of the Kopet Dag mountains, the ancient capital of the Parthian Empire from the 3rd century BC, a city tour taking in the Arch of Neutrality and the National Museum, and a farewell dinner with an expert wrap-up presentation. Accommodation is at the Oguzkent Hotel or similar.

What's Included

• Return flights from Dublin to Bishkek and Ashgabat to Dublin with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul
• Arrival transfer in Bishkek and departure transfer in Ashgabat
• All internal flights and overland transport between destinations as per itinerary
• 19 nights accommodation across Bishkek, Almaty, Dushanbe, Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and Ashgabat (hotels as listed or similar)
• All meals as specified in the itinerary
• National Geographic Expedition Leader and Expedition Expert throughout
• All guided tours and site entry fees listed in the itinerary
• Private pre-opening access to the Issyk State Historical and Cultural Reserve Museum, Almaty
• Private after-hours access to the Guri Emir Mausoleum, Samarkand
• Plov cooking class and dinner, Samarkand
• Tersak Village visit and home-cooked lunch
• Home-hosted Kyrgyz lunch with nomadic tradition demonstrations
• Local family visit and cultural experience in Dushanbe
• Farewell dinner at the Tashkent TV Tower
• Khorezmian music and dance show, Khiva
• Porterage at hotels and on transport
• Tips for all activities, meals and porterage (excluding the Expedition Leader)

Terms and Conditions

This offer is based on 2 adults sharing throughout. Outbound flights depart Dublin Airport on 2027-04-12 with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul. Price is correct at the time of posting (3 June 2026). Offers are subject to change. Price from €11,100 per person

19 Nights from €11,100 per person