Honored to get 2022 Conde Nast Traveler Award, Post Covid travel experiences

It may be summer already, but we have lots to tell you about!

This spring Silk Road Treasure Tours was again honored to be named the Top Travel Specialist for Central Asia and the Caucasus by Condé Nast Traveler.

This makes the 12th year running! We're excited to update our website and social media with the new logo and hope you'll follow us on both Facebook and Instagram.

I would like to dedicate this award to my team, my colleagues, travel managers, and my travelers, to thank them for their exceptional work and travel services, and for the trust and loyalty shown during these very challenging times. Those who could travel experienced the same level of care and service you've come to expect from Silk Road Treasure Tours. We assisted with vaccine cards, PCR testing, and guaranteed standards of personal health protection. Our clients were able to rebook or postpone their travel, and those who did go in 2021 and 2022 found uninterrupted and flexible services, and that same warm hospitality from their host nations. Be sure to check out our Testimonials for great trip ideas!

Our destinations in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia opened fairly quickly and visitors found themselves welcome at festivals, socially distanced home visits and with increased outdoor activities to choose from. Clients participated in the Silk, Spice and Gold Embroidery Festival, the Flower Festival and the annual summer melon festivals (this is HUGE in Central Asia, with melons the likes of which you've never seen before!)

Our travelers made pilaf (plov) in Uzbekistan, khachapuri in Georgia, Kazakhs Beshbarmak in Kazakhstan and baked Uzbek bread in clay ovens. They hiked the spectacular Fann Mountains, day-tripped to Chimgan, rode camels, trekked on ponies and spent evenings under the stars in the desert or at yurt camps. Even less crowded than usual, tourists found themselves some of the few visiting regional monuments and UNESCO sites like Khorezem, Merv, and Nisa, and the ancient cities of Samarkand and Bukhara.

2022 saw an easing of Covid restrictions, more flexible e-visas, and the return of wanderlust! For those who could travel, it was the start of long-awaited adventures on the Silk Road. It heralded the return of human connection, and new desires to experience eco-villages, slow culture, improved vegetarian menus and the burgeoning sustainable travel market.

We also saw the return of our educational visits, welcoming Arizona University professors and instructors for a month of study and exploration in both Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. See our video on the Agro Tourism Experience

Loyal clients discovered new destinations. Top US travel agent Sandy Colony returned with another group to tour both Central Asia and the Caucasus. Condé Nast editor-in-chief Sarah Khan came to visit and our partners at Ker-Downey were special guests along with many other travelers to the legendary lands of Central Asia.

Since early this year, most COVID restrictions have been lifted in Central Asia, but all are free to continue whatever level of masking makes them comfortable. Safe distancing and other protections remain in place and, as always, we work to accommodate any requests for our travelers. Covid and unforeseen conflicts in the world continue to determine our clients' travel decisions. Nonetheless, we are so very grateful for their continued trust, loyalty, and intrepid curiosity as worlds open again up for international travel.

It will be Fall festival time soon, and with cooler temperatures it's the perfect season to travel the Silk Road! New hotels and experiences are opening, more areas of the Central Asia region are easily accessible, and adventure awaits! Browse our website and give us a call to see how we can craft your custom trip-of-a-lifetime!