A Classic Silk Road Survey

More than 2,000 years ago, the great trade routes that linked Europe and China opened Central Asia to foreign cultures, customs and religions. Join a modern-day caravan on an epic journey to five of these exotic countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. 

New 2018 departure just added!Four of our Journey Through Central Asia 2018 departures have already sold out and the other two have limited space. We’re happy to announce a NEW 2018 departure of this popular tour: September 16-October 6, 2018.

Contact us today to secure your spot on this popular tour!

21 Day Trip

21 Day Trip

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Overview Itinerary

MIR Signature Why end mights on this Tour
  • Meet Uzbek artisans in their workshops
    Learn about the life and work of Uzbek silk and ceramic artisans during visits to their workshops in the rural Fergana Valley. ...
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  • Dine at the home of an Uzbek family
    Dine at the homes of Uzbek and Karakalpak families and sample traditional Central Asian dishes....
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  • Witness exhilarating horse games
    Witness the spirit of Kyrgyzstan at exhilarating horse games, such as oodarysh, a kind of wrestling match on horseback....
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  • Tour the UNESCO-listed capital of the ancient Parthian Kingdom
    Visit the site of the capital of the ancient Parthian Kingdom, Nisa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site....
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Why Travel with MIR on this Tour
  • Over 30 years of Central Asia travel experience
  • Travel programs such as Vassar, Dartmouth and the Harvard Museum of Natural History have chosen MIR to guide them to Central Asia
  • Twice named one of National Geographic Adventure’s “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth”
  • MIR affiliate office in Uzbekistan
  • On-the-ground support and quality you can trust
  • Personalized travel planning from start to finish
  • Guides and tour managers that clients rave about
  • Recommended by Patricia Schultz, author of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die
Download Detailed Itinerary
Premier Series Small Group Tour

MIR’s Premier Series programs feature some of our most distinctive tour concepts and include uncommon and educational experiences, both around our region’s most beautiful cities and in rural areas.  Premier Series trips take advantage of five star (or best in class) properties along the way, wherever possible.  The maximum group size is 16 travelers.

Itinerary & Highlights at a Glance

Days 1-4: Almaty, Lake Issyk-Kul, Bishkek

Begin the tour in Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan, driving into the majestic Tien Shan mountain range. Cross into Kyrgyzstan and spend a night at beautiful alpine Lake Issyk-Kul before exploring Bishkek.

Highlights

  • Almaty, Kazakhstan’s business capital and largest city
  • Panfilov Park, with candy-colored Zenkov Cathedral
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Days 5-7: Osh, Fergana, Margilan, Rishtan, Khujand

Fly to the lush Fergana Valley, divided among three of the five ‘stans. Ascend to UNESCO-listed Sulaiman-Too Sacred Mountain, one of the holiest Islamic sites in Central Asia, rising from the outskirts of Osh, where you meet with a group of locals. In the Uzbek portion of the valley, visit Margilan and Rishtan, villages specializing in silks and ceramics. Cross the border into Tajikistan for an overnight in historic Khujand.

Highlights

  • Sulaiman-Too Sacred Mountain, a UNESCO Site in Osh
  • Margilan Sunday Market in the lush Fergana Valley
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Days 8-16: Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Nukus

Journey overland to Tashkent and admire one of the oldest Korans in the world. Explore the blue-tiled mosaics of Samarkand, Tamerlane’s UNESCO-listed Ak Saray Palace in Shahrisabz, the interlocking brickwork of Bukhara and the winding alleys of Khiva. Drive through the Kyzyl Kum (Red Sands) desert to the astonishing Savitsky Museum of avant-garde Russian art in remote Nukus, capital of Karakalpakstan, for an overnight.

Highlights

  • Uzbekistan’s capital and largest city, Tashkent
  • The Square of Independence, tracing Tashkent’s history
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Days 17-21: Kunya Urgench, Dashoguz, Ashgabat, Nisa, Merv

In Turkmenistan, explore three UNESCO Sites: the ruins of Khorezm’s Kunya Urgench, the Parthian city of Nisa and mythical Merv. In the modern capital of Ashgabat, discover the white marble monuments so plentiful that they were awarded a Guinness World Record in 2013.

Highlights

  • UNESCO-listed Kunya Urgench, with 11th century Kutlug-Timur Minaret
  • Parthian Kingdom of Nisa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
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See Dates & Prices for more details or to see suggested extensions.

Download Detailed Itinerary
Premier Series Small Group Tour

MIR’s Premier Series programs feature some of our most distinctive tour concepts and include uncommon and educational experiences, both around our region’s most beautiful cities and in rural areas.  Premier Series trips take advantage of five star (or best in class) properties along the way, wherever possible.  The maximum group size is 16 travelers.

Tour Dates & Prices
Trip Length: 21 Days

Land Tour Price, Per Person
based on double occupancy

  • 6-16 Travelers $7,895
  • Plus Internal Air $350
  • Single Supplement $1,295

2018 Dates

  • September 9-29 - SOLD OUT!
  • September 16-October 6 - Newly opened departure!
  • October 14-November 3 - Limited space!
  • $7,895
  • Max 16 Travelers
Inquire Now
Trip Length: 21 Days

Land Tour Price, Per Person
based on double occupancy

  • 5-16 Travelers $7,895
  • Plus Internal Air $375
  • Single Supplement $1,295

2019 Dates

  • April 7-27
  • April 21-May 11
  • May 12-June 1
  • August 18-September 7
  • September 8-28
  • October 13-November 2
  • $7,895
  • Max 16 Travelers
Inquire Now

Group Size

Small Groups – Never More than 16 Travelers. Guaranteed!

What’s Included

On Your Tour

  • Shared accommodations in well-located first class hotels in the major cities and best available hotels elsewhere.
  • 20 breakfasts, 19 lunches, and 15 dinners. A few dinners are not included so that you may enjoy a chance to dine on your own.
  • Restaurant tips for included meals.
  • Services of an experienced, English-speaking MIR Tour Manager with local guides at specific sites.
  • Arrival/departure transfers. MIR will arrange for all travelers to be met on arrival and seen off on departure whether we make your airfare arrangements or not, provided you arrive and depart on the tour start/end dates in the tour start/end cities.
  • Ground transportation throughout itinerary by private coach or van (size of vehicle depends on group size).
  • Guided sightseeing tours and entrance fees as outlined in itinerary.
  • Special events, excursions and cultural performances per the itinerary.
  • Baggage handling where available.
  • Gratuities to local guides and drivers.
  • Bottled water at group meals.

 Before Your Tour

  • Personalized pre-departure support from one of our knowledgeable Tour Specialists.
  • Complete pre-departure information including detailed packing list and reading list.
  • Touring with MIR handbook with country-specific information, maps, and travel tips.
  • Customized visa application instruction kit (if applicable to your itinerary; please note, visa fees are not included in the tour price).
  • Final document packet including luggage tags, final updates, and more.
  • Assistance booking your custom flight arrangements (on request; please note that international and internal airfares are not included in the land tour cost).
Download Detailed Itinerary
Premier Series Small Group Tour

MIR’s Premier Series programs feature some of our most distinctive tour concepts and include uncommon and educational experiences, both around our region’s most beautiful cities and in rural areas.  Premier Series trips take advantage of five star (or best in class) properties along the way, wherever possible.  The maximum group size is 16 travelers.

Prepare for Your Trip

International Airfare

MIR's in-house, full-service air department will gladly assist with your air travel needs.

More Info

Reading List

MIR recommends reading up before you leave home. So settle back in your armchair with some of our favorite books about our favorite places.

More Info

Visas

Most MIR programs require one or more visas, and each visa requires a completely blank page in your passport. Visa information for this particular tour is listed in the Detailed Descriptive Itinerary.

More Info

Travel Insurance

Stay a Little Longer…

Many travelers choose to extend their Journey Through Central Asia program by adding one or more pre-tour nights in Almaty. Select departures of this tour are specifically timed to coincide with the Treasures of the South Caucasus tour or our Essential Iran package.

Or, choose from one of these suggested itineraries:

Is this Trip Right for You?

While the accommodations are as comfortable as possible for the region, they will vary from four and five star properties to relatively basic and simple hotels. It is important to keep in mind that the countries of Central Asia are, in general, not up to the standards North American travelers expect.

A full list of details about the rigors of this tour are explained in the Detailed Descriptive Itinerary.

Read our Travel Journals

MIR's Travel Journals offer first hand accounts of MIR's fascinating destinations.

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MIR in the News

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    May 14, 2018

    MIR’s 12-day culinary journey to the Caucasus, A Taste of Georgia: Wine, Cuisine & Culture, is featured in the online version of Travel Agent Central, a leading publication focused on covering the latest travel news and tre... Read More

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