Once again recently Silk Road Treasure Tours was part of this annual extravaganza of dream travel. It’s always a whirlwind of fun and inspiration!

And the visitors! So many enthusiastic, curious travelers “roaming the world” in a day, stopping by and taking away great ideas for new destinations along the Silk Road with us. Many took advantage of the discounts we offered during the show and we’re looking forward to welcoming them to our part of the world which are Central Asia, Caucasus, China and beyond.

With over 30,000 visitors to the show over three days, our two presentations on the Asia stage were well-received. We had a packed audience for Uzbekistan guest dance artist Zamira Salim and then again for the dancers from the Georgian Cultural Center the following day. Gorgeous costumes and thrilling music played backdrop to my presentations on Uzbekistan and Central Asia and the countries of the Caucasus. 

Guests were full of questions and I truly enjoyed speaking with them. Most travelers are looking for “the authentic experience”. They want inspiration and challenge and the chance to explore this region so long closed off to the West. That’s certainly something that we have in Central Asia - plenty of authenticity and fabulous, transformative experiences! Just look at our current tours!

The first day of the show is exclusive to the travel industry and was filled with opportunities to meet other travel agents and operators, photographers, journalists and travel writers. Interest in Central Asia is high right now. Many of the professionals we met said clients are looking for new destinations to explore, citing frequent requests for the Silk Road and the Caucasus. Many were happy to know that Silk Road Treasure Tours is a US-based company, ensuring organizational details and easy access to experts that much less complicated. The fact that I have trusted multi-lingual staff and have overseen the staff training is a bonus. Many of the travel agents themselves are keen to go!

Navruz-The New Year is the most beautiful holiday in Central Asia, Iran, and Azerbaijan ... Most travelers come with their families and young children to enjoy this special spring festival and tour the destination. 

March 21st is the New Year on the ancient Persian calendar, a time for all-out fun and festivity with family parties, community celebrations and local and state sponsored events galore. For the children, it’s what they look forward to all year and I’m sharing some of our best memories of Navruz here.

Hashar is the community cleanup that ensures the neighborhoods are clean and decorated and new flowers planted. Zafar, our Instagram coordinator enjoyed the kite flying and singing competitions during Navruz but remembers the colorful decorations going up around the city most of all; the streets and buildings hung with bright colors and patterns. Our colleague Aziz always just couldn’t wait for the special desserts like nishalda and sumalak.

Silk Road Treasure Tours invites you to experience Kazakhstan! The 9th largest country in the world, it extends from the Caspian Sea to Mongolia, and offers a wealth of incredible landscapes, fascinating traditions and welcoming people. Nomads still live in yurts and hunt with eagles, yet the country has its feet firmly in the 21st century. Since Independence it has developed a strategic world position economically and politically, yet remains one of the last undiscovered countries for most travelers.

Silk Road Treasure tours invites you to experience the past and present in Kazakhstan.

Magnificent forested mountains and pristine lakes and rivers contrast the endless vista of the steppe and vastness of blue sky. Visit with a family of eagle hunters and local women's traditional handicraft workshops. Visitors are honored guests and you can experience this legendary hospitality sharing a meal with a nomadic Khazakh family, try the horse meat sausages and fermented camel’s milk! Step back in time to explore Kazakh history in the ancient Silk Road cities of Chymkent, Turkistan and Taraz. Stay at intimate boutique hotels like the Orbita (top-rated on Trip Advisor), accommodations hand picked by Silk Road Treasure Tours knowledgeable staff.