Travel along the Silk Road from the foothills of High Asia, through the historic cities of Uzbekistan and cross the deserts of Turkmenistan, taking a ferry journey across the Caspian Sea to the Lower Caucasus countries of Armenia and Georgia. Tick off the iconic highlights of Central Asia and experience the varied landscapes, rich history, diverse cultures and warm hospitality of one of the world's most intriguing and unique regions.
Note: From this itinerary is being extended to take in the Pamir Highway en-route from Bishkek to Dushanbe. Kyrgyzstan's leafy, relaxed capital is a largely Soviet-built city, softened somewhat by its many boulevards and tree lined streets.
Bishkek is also home to a number of museums, including the Kyrgyz State Historical Museum and Zoological Museum, which have exhibits that explain more about Kyrgyzstan political and natural history, and there are a number of parks and other public areas worth visiting to watch local life pass you by, the main one being Ala-Too Square , which once was dominated by a large statue of Lenin this has now been moved to a smaller square in the city.
If we need Iran visas for our onward journey, then we may also pick these up from the embassy here. We leave Bishkek and drive through stunning mountain views and past the turquoise waters of Toktogul Reservoir, before arriving in Osh.
Make sure you visit the bazaar, which has occupied the same spot for over years and used to be a major stop along the ancient Silk Road. We start by heading south into the foothills and climb to our next bush camp near Sary Moghul.
