A shorter itinerary doesn’t mean that this tour isn’t full of the most interesting and important sights of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan in Central Asia; Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia in South Caucasus. In just 26 days, you’ll go from medieval metropolises to vast desert, rich flavors to richer decorations. Uzbekistan is all about the great cities of the Silk Road: Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand. The grandest monuments of these cities have been preserved, allowing you to walk through the same streets that traders and caravans would have crossed thousands of years ago. Turkmenistan is a land of desert, with oasis cities that flourished as refuges from the intense heat and helped those on long journeys. Kunya-Urgench and Mary, once powerful cities, have long since become ruins, while Ashgabat has risen to become the grand capital of Turkmenistan. Head to Baku next, to immerse yourself in the charm and character of the Caucasus. Enjoy the prehistoric petroglyphs and royal palaces of Azerbaijan, and the mountain churches and warm flavors of Georgia. Both countries are full of multicultural traditions and stunning landscapes, sure to leave you with vivid memories. The Essentials of the Silk Road Tour does more than just take you to these places - you’ll get to taste regional dishes, meet with locals, and share your experiences with like-minded travelers from around the world in your group.
Participants need to be in good health, be able to walk on average 4-6 hours every day at moderate speed, climb stairs and low hills, and be able to carry their own luggage for 600 meters across borders.
Tour itinerary:
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Note: At Darvaza camp you will be accommodated at a yurt or there is an option to have 1- or 2-person tents. In both cases, toilets and basic washing facilities are outside.
Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
After lunch break, we will drive to Gobustan to visit the Petroglyphs Museum and explore petroglyphs dating back to 10,000 BC. The Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pay a visit to the Petroglyphs Museum and explore rock carvings dating back to 10,000 BC. Weather permitting, we will experience an adventurous drive to mud volcanoes in Gobustan Reserve (change of vehicle). Gobustan is home to almost half of the world’s mud volcanoes. Return to Baku. Enjoy a welcome dinner at a national restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 10-11 hours
Driving distance: 150 km
Meals: welcome dinner
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Driving distance: 50 km
Duration of sightseeing tour: 10-11 hours
Driving distance: 340 km
*Lahich will not be reachable during 2025 due to the road construction.
Driving distance: 180 km
Meals: lunch in a winemaker’s family
Optional Group Tour to Telavi
A journey to the capital of the Kakheti region, Telavi encapsulates visits to two families where you get to meet locals who produce wine and cheese. A delicious family-style lunch awaits you!
Experiences: family hospitality, museum, wine amphoras, wine, cheese, local lunch.
- In Telavi, we will step into the past at the Royal Castle History Museum “Batonistsikhe” originally built in the 17th century.
- We will then visit Kbilashvili family which for many decades makes Qvevri, the amphora-shape clay vessels used to produce wine in Georgia. We will see how Qvevris are made and taste locally produced wine.
- Our next stop beckons at a family boutique cheese factory and cellar. We will indulge into the world of cheeses and then taste five types of locally produced cheeses. Here, the family will greet us with a delicious lunch.
- We will finish our tour by having a short walk through the charming streets of old Telavi and stop for a photo at the monument to Erekli II and the giant 800-year-old plane tree.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Driving distance: 25 km
Price per person: $80 (including the museum entrance fee, wine tasting, and cheese tasting with lunch).
Having enjoyed the hospitality of our hosts, we will drive to the royal town of Sighnaghi, which is surrounded by defensive walls with 23 towers and was an important point on the Great Silk Road. We will also visit the Bodbe Convent – according to legend, this is the burial place of St. Nino, who converted Georgia to Christianity in the 4th century. We will arrive in the capital of Georgia at about 18:30–19:30. Overnight at the hotel.
Driving distance: 160 km
Meals: traditional lunch in a family
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Driving distance: 5 km
Meals: welcome dinner
We will arrive at our hotel in Gudauri at about 19:00 for overnight.
Driving distance: 210 km
Meals: lunch
Duration of sightseeing tour: 9-10 hours
Driving distance: 250 km
Meals: lunch
For wine lovers
Sample delicious Georgian wines and learn about the local winemaking visiting wineries in the region Kartli.
One-Day Kartli Wine Tour from Tbilisi
Canyons and natural sites
Explore the breathtaking scenery of the Samegrelo region by visiting one of the most memorable places in Georgia, Martvili Canyon.
Martvili Canyon Day Tour
Explore the beautiful Tsalka Canyon on a day tour from Tbilisi
One-day Tour to Tsalka Canyon
Hiking
Immerse yourself in beautiful nature and enjoy quality hiking time in the vicinities of Tbilisi, Birtvisi.
Day Hike to Birtvisi Canyon
Sightseeing tour to cave monastery
Experience the beauty of an ancient cave town and mysterious fortresses with one day to Varzdzia.
Vardzia and Rabati Fortress Tour
If you decide on spending your free day in Tbilisi, we suggest the following activities and places:
- Georgian National Museum on Rustaveli Avenue – to visit the “Archaeological Treasury” exhibition;
- National Gallery on Rustaveli Avenue – to see the works of the famous Georgian artists Niko Pirosmani, David Kakabadze, and Lado Gudiashvili;
- Tbilisi flea market at Dry Bridge – where you can find antiquities (many of which are from the Soviet era), paintings by local artists, and handmade Georgian souvenirs;
- David Agmashenebeli Avenue – a recently-renovated pedestrian street full of historical buildings that have beautiful facades in the art nouveau, pseudo gothic, and classicist styles with a mix of typical Georgian ornamentation and balconies. All along the street there are plenty of cozy art cafés, galleries, shops, and wine bars;
- Dezertirebi Bazaar – which sells local, natural products including Georgian sweets (such as churchkhela); various types of dried fruits, nuts, and spices; and Georgian cheeses;
- Funicular railway to Mtatsminda Mountain – which offers a beautiful view of Tbilisi;
- Wander in Sololaki – a neighborhood full of art nouveau houses.
- In the evening, you can visit the famous Tbilisi sulphur bath houses to relax in the hot, naturally sulphur-enriched water after a long day of exploring (both public and private rooms are available, but private ones should be booked in advance).
- For those who are interested in culture, we suggest visiting the State Opera House of Georgia to enjoy a ballet or opera performance (opera.ge). You can find out what other cultural events are on in Tbilisi, and book tickets, at tkt.ge.
We will have lunch in a hospitable Armenian family before continuing our way to Lake Sevan, one of the largest high-mountain freshwater lakes in the world (and considered to be the “Jewel of Armenia”). The lake’s coastline is rich with dense woods, white cliff faces, mountain steppes, and Alpine meadows. Visit Sevanavank Monastery, which is situated at Lake Sevan and is surrounded by mountains. We will arrive in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, in the evening. Overnight at DoubleTree by Hilton hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 9-10 hours
Driving distance: 370 km
Meals: lunch in a family
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Driving distance: 50 km
We will finish today’s tour by visiting the Areni Cave complex, where in 2008, an ancient wine storage and the earliest shoe in the world were discovered. Arrive in Yerevan at around 18:00. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 9-10 hours
Driving distance: 240 km
Meals: lunch in a family
You will have a free afternoon to explore more of Yerevan. Here are our suggestions:
- History Museum;
- Souvenirs market “Vernisage”;
- Dried fruit market (GUM) located at Khoryenatsi M. str. 35, one of the best places to buy local food and snacks;
- Stroll around Kond, the oldest district in Yerevan, for those who are eager to feel the aura of a small, but old district in a modern capital.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Driving distance: 80 km
Meals: farewell dinner
Price includes:
- All transfers;
- Accommodation based on double/twin room sharing, breakfasts included;
- Entrance tickets to sights as per itinerary;
- Economy class tickets for flights: Mary-Ashgabat, Urgench-Tashkent, Tashkent-Baku;
- Economy-class tickets for trains: Tashkent-Samarkand-Bukhara (on rare occasions when the high-speed train is unavailable, we will replace this with the most-comfortable class of regular train);
- Visa support letter for Uzbekistan triple entry visa;
- Visa support for Turkmenistan tourist visa;
- E-visas to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan;
- National folklore show in Bukhara on Day 6;
- Meals: lunch and dinner on Seven lakes on Day 3, lunch in Penjikent on Day 4, lunch in Mary on Day 7, camp style dinner at Darvaza on Day 8, dinner in Khiva on Day 10;
- Meals in Caucasus: 15 breakfasts, 6 lunches (including 4 lunches in families), and 3 dinners with folk show;
- English-speaking local guides in each country;
- Wine tour and tasting in Kakheti, Georgia.
Price doesn't include:
- Surcharge for staying in a single room;
- Full board (lunches and dinners not specified above);
- Hotel charges for additional services;
- A tax of 2 USD per night in Turkmenistan, paid to the hotel upon check out;
- Personal travel insurance;
- Consular fees for Turkmenistan tourist visas (80 USD) and migration tax (14 USD);
- Consular fees for Uzbekistan tourist visa at Tashkent International Airport (60-80 USD);
- Visa support for Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan tourist visas (if necessary);
- E-visas to Georgia and Armenia (if necessary);
- Outbound and inbound flight tickets.
Dates & Prices, per person
100% guaranteed departures – even if there is only 1 traveler.
Group size: 1-16 persons
Please note that itinerary and prices are subject to change due to airline and train schedule changes, currency fluctuations and other unforeseeable events.
We strongly recommend NOT to purchase airline tickets for 2026 tours without discussing it with your travel consultant.
Accommodation
Tour Request
Essentials of the Silk Road Reviews
Once we transferred to the Caucauses we were met by Yuriy from Tbilisi Advantour Office who also was very professional and helpful. Our Tour Leader was Anna Uturgauri. Again Anna excelled at her role - knowledge of the countries of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia and ensured that all passengers were comfortable, well fed and aware of each days proceedings.
The tour itself was fast paced as there is so much to see in all of these countries but we did not feel that we were rushed or it was merely a job for the guides. They genuinely immersed themselves in the history telling and ensured that we sampled the local culture and food.
Overall an excellent experience and would recommend.