Dear Zulya:

Best  Silk Road Journey to Central Asia Stans

To begin, I must thank you for composing such a thoughtful and seamlessly executed journey through the Silk Road over 21 days. Your guides and drivers were all attentive, prepared, and eager to enhance every step of my travels, never failing to ensure my comfort with sincere caring and going above and beyond my expectations. When I arrived in Tashkent ill, Dilya and her driver brought me to the medical care that permitted me to travel on. I mention the guides and drivers first in my comments because their knowledge, kindness, and skill were the elements that brought an overarching value and appreciation to the entire experience.

My favorite destinations in Uzbekistan were as follows:

Tashkent: The Islamic Center, the Metro—especially the Alisher Navoi and Kosmonavtlar stations—the New City with its fountains and mall, the bread makers in the market, the WWII Memorial, and Amir Timur Square.

Samarkand: The impossibly beautiful Registan and its surroundings by day, and the breathtaking nighttime light extravaganza, including the adjacent Bibi-Khanym Mosque and the one-kilometer electric-car promenade. I also enjoyed the splendid tomb of Amir Timur and the Afrasiab archaeological site. The Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, however, impressed me with its unexpected spirituality. For a non-Muslim, sitting in prayer with the Imam and the faithful was unexpectedly moving and treasured.

Bukhara: I was quite touched by your hospitality, meeting your family over a delicious lunch, and receiving your generous handmade gifts—a true highlight of the trip. Bukhara itself is charming and filled with history. What made it special to me was my stay in the funky, hundred-year-old boutique hotel near the heart of the old city, the four-way merchant domes and vendors, and the lovely lake, park, and surrounding restaurants and tables. The fashion show and dancing were a nice touch as well.

For me, Bukhara was special for its history and surviving monuments, particularly the Kalon Minaret—which survived Genghis Khan and the Bolshevik bombings—and the adjacent mosque with its graceful courtyard. The reconstructed citadel and palace were made even more interesting by the story of the blundering British agent who insulted the Khan, was discovered to be a spy, and met his unceremonious end in a dungeon.

Not to be missed is the Chahar-Taq mausoleum, which combines Zoroastrian fire-temple architecture with Sogdian and Islamic symbols. Dilya and I also scrambled to the roof of the madrassa across from the park and lake to observe the replacement of ancient roof tiles. Abdulaziz was a remarkable historian, and I thoroughly enjoyed our conversations and his kindness.

Khiva: What made Khiva especially interesting to me was its proximity to the archaeological fortresses in the nearby desert, particularly Ayaz Kala. The old city itself, Ichan Kala, is remarkable for its post-Timur palaces, mosques, and madrasas. The scale and beauty of these monuments are overwhelming and well worth experiencing, particularly as part of an extended itinerary that includes Ayaz Kala and the lovely Nurullabay Palace outside Ichan Kala. My guide and I also had fun at one of the restaurants with the owner and another guide, all of us joking and laughing together.

Bishkek and Kyrgyzstan:

I enjoyed the Ottoman-style mosque, the Central Square with the Manas sculpture, the changing of the guard, the wonderful museum, and the bustling market—all wonderfully experienced with Chynara and her driver.

I loved the trip to the village and the serenity of the Kyrgyz countryside, the horse milking, and the quiet walk through the village. Issyk-Kul was a unique and worthwhile experience. The Seven Bulls Gorge and the eagle encounter are absolutely cannot-miss experiences, along with felt making. Traveling through the countryside also offered a fascinating view of a country developing rapidly and seriously investing in its future.

Kazakhstan and Almaty:

Asel was an excellent guide who accompanied me to the Soviet-era monument and the adjacent wooden museum with its remarkable collection of stringed instruments. A high point was the breathtaking Orthodox Ascension Cathedral in Panfilov Park, followed by a visit to Almaty’s wonderful market.

At night, we took advantage of the city’s active and hip restaurant scene and rode the cable car to the illuminated amusement park overlooking the city. Another major highlight was taking the gondola from the city into the spectacular mountains of the Shymbulak ski area, just an hour from Almaty. I truly enjoyed Almaty and would have loved to spend even more time exploring Kazakhstan.

This was truly an adventure, and my friends were quite impressed with the photographs and descriptions of my trip. I expect that many more travelers from the United States will soon be traveling along the Silk Road.

Many thanks to you and your staff for a truly unique and exciting introduction to the best of the Silk Road, Zulya. I am happy to share my experiences with any of your prospective clients and to offer my strongest recommendation.

Merv Thompson