Welcome to Kazakhstan! Arrive at Almaty International Airport and transfer to your boutique hotel near the city center. Take some time to settle in before we meet for introductions and walk to dinner, where you’ll take your first bites of Kazakh cuisine and discuss the adventure ahead of us.

Today, you’ll explore Almaty, the former capital of Soviet Kazakhstan. Nowadays, it’s both a bustling cultural center and a leafy oasis—its name translates loosely to ‘city of apple trees.’ Almaty is filled with treasures from the U.S.S.R. as well as a diverse mix of inhabitants from all around the region. It also happens to be home to the highest ice skating rink in the world.  You'll dive head first into the history of the region wandering through the city’s colorful markets, such as the Zelionyj Bazaar, traditional cathedrals, sprawling parks, and lively cafes, all set against the dramatic backdrop of the snow-capped Tian Shan mountains. Later, enjoy an exclusive private performance of traditional Kazakh musical instruments and nomadic chants. If you’ve still got the energy, join us for a nighttime walking tour, your final hurrah in the great city of Almaty.

Embark on an adventurous journey along the Kazakh side of the Tian Shan, one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in Central Asia. Your first stop will be the wondrous Charyn Canyon (Kazakhstan’s Grand Canyon), whose sedimentary red sandstone has been shaped by millions of years of erosion. After lunch, continue on to the border town of Karkara traveling across an idyllic landscape of green pastures and remote settlements. Later, you'll enter the Republic of Kyrgyzstan and head straight for the traditional market town of Karakol. Weave through a series of unique bazaars offering goods ranging from Soviet memorabilia to spices and dried fruit. Take some time to wander on your own before dinner, when we’ll track down some delicious Muslim-Chinese fare, such as cold and spicy ashlan fu.

Today you’ll travel west along the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, the second-largest alpine lake in the world. Dip your feet into the water while taking in breathtaking views of the shimmering lake and snow-capped peaks looming in the distance. En route to Barksoon, we’ll take in natural wonders such as the unusual rock formations of Jeti-Ögüz (which, legend has it, gets its bright red color from a very bloody history…) and the snow-capped Terskey Alatau mountains. You'll explore Barksoon and its valley, where the face of Yuri Gagarin, the first man to reach space, has been carved into the side of a massive boulder. Then you’ll visit the ruins of Aalam Ordo, an unfinished complex once intended to be a center for culture, spirituality, and science. You’ll finish in the picturesque town of Bokonobaevo where you’ll spend the night in a traditional guesthouse.

Today you’ll continue your journey west along the salty shores of the Issyk-Kul. After a few more photo stops at the various Soviet-era remnants slowly fading away into oblivion, we’ll reach the charming bazaar town of Kochkor, where we'll stock up on food before heading up to Song Kol, an alpine lake surrounded by mountains. Tonight we'll spend the night close to its shores in comfortable shared yurts.

Today, enjoy a leisurely morning on Song Kol. Stroll along its shores, meet with local nomadic herders, or, for the courageous among us, try plunging into its icy waters. After an early lunch you’ll then descend towards Chaek, a village in a scenic narrow mountain valley.  We’ll check out the Arab mausoleums this village is renowned for, before moving on to the dreamlike hamlet of Kyzyl-Oi, a traditional Central Asian village tucked away in an isolated gorge of flaming red mountains and whitewater streams.

Prepare for an early wakeup this morning, as today you’ll be setting out on the longest leg of our journey, driving for six to seven hours towards Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek. As we travel through the valleys of southern Kyrgyzstan, enjoy spectacular views of rolling foothills and vast, arid landscapes. We'll take frequent stops to soak up the scenery and admire Soviet-era bus stops, memorials, mosaics, and heirlooms from the heyday of the Silk Road. In the early afternoon arrive in Bishkek. After a quick USSR-heritage-themed visit, you’ll head for the airport for your evening flight to Tashkent, the vibrant capital of Uzbekistan.

Explore the treasures of Tashkent today, on a guided walk taking in its Soviet-era grandeur, imposing monuments, and the intricate designs of its richly decorated metro stations. Explore meandering street markets brimming with local treasures and flavors. Following an early lunch, you’ll set out for northern Tajikistan. Arrive in Khujand this afternoon and take some time to relax and explore the city solo. Follow your nose to Panjshanbe Bazaar for dinner, where you can pick up, amongst other things; plov, skewered meats, fried bread, lamb-stuffed manti, and kurut: pungent, cheese-like balls made of dried yogurt. 

Khujand, for a time known as Leninabad, has a rich, documented history that dates back thousands of years before Lenin came into the picture. You’ll trace the city’s many lives through its architecture, glimpsing 20th century bas-reliefs and mosaics alongside ancient mausoleums, mosques, and fortresses.

After breakfast, we’ll drive to Istaravshan, where a larger-than-life Lenin statue has found a new home gazing out across a municipal reservoir. We’ll stop along the route at a former Soviet military base, before reaching our final destination for the day, Penjikent—once a thriving settlement of the ancient Sogdiana Empire. Take a wander around this compact city, experience the local street life, and gaze upon ancient frescoes, and religious relics from the pre-Islamic, Zoroastrian civilization that once flourished here.

This morning, you’ll venture deep into the Fann Mountains for a glimpse of the majestic Seven Lakes. Surrounded by gargantuan, jagged peaks, the glittering glacial lakes you’ll encounter are known for their unusual—and breathtaking—hues, ranging from bright turquoise to black. As we walk through the valley, we’ll stop to visit a local village in the midst of the mountains. The region is particularly conducive to growing apricots, so keep your eyes peeled for orchards as we travel. In the afternoon, we’ll cross into Uzbekistan and head straight to Samarkand, the ancient Silk Road hub that has for centuries captured the imaginations of travelers and storytellers across the globe.

Believed to be over 2,700 years old, Samarkand was once a diverse trading center along the Silk Road connecting the East to the West, drawing merchants all the way from East Asia to Europe. At the epicenter of it all was the Registan, or ‘Sandy Place’ in Tajik. Composed of arching, beige madrasas covered in bright blue mosaics, sparkling golden mosques, and sprawling courtyards, the Registan is believed to have been the pulsing heart of the commercial Silk Road city throughout the Medieval Era. You’ll spend the day tracing Samarkand’s spectacular ancient history and architecture, from mosques to mausoleums, alongside its more modern parks and stark Soviet buildings, and tasting some local sweets and specialties.

Depart Samarkand this morning and head west, reaching Bukhara around midday. Bukhara is another spectacular ancient Silk Road city with buildings dating back thousands of years. You’ll wander through the old city center, exploring ancient mosques and the ornate, brick mausoleum of Ismail Samani, who founded the powerful tenth and eleventh century Samanid dynasty. Later, after a long and leisurely lunch, you’ll visit a massive, Soviet-era wrought iron water tower looming high above the city before taking some time for independent exploration.

You’ll spend the last full day of your central Asian odyssey exploring the offbeat and unusual sights of marvelous Bukhara, including an all-too-often overlooked stone cemetery that tells the story of a rather obscure Jewish community: the Bukharan are, indeed, an ethno-religious Jewish sub-group of Central Asia that historically spoke Bukharian, a Judeo-Tajik dialect of the Persian language. In the late afternoon you’ll then indulge in a light (and fun) cooking workshop to learn how to prepare some of the best Uzbek delicacies, on which you will then feast during a grand final dinner to celebrate the conclusion of our journey.

After two adventurous weeks packed with new sights, smells, and sounds, it’s time to say our goodbyes as we head to Bukhara Airport for flights home. Until our next adventure!