Istambul to Bishkek It is a combination trip made up of three sections. Section 1: The the caucasus & trans caspian is one section of the combination trip. OK, so the Caucasus may not be on the top of your adventure travel wish list at the moment, but chat to those who have been there and we think it will soon come very close to the top. Lets look at the various elements of travel that make Georgia adventure holidays so much more appealing than your average holiday. Local community involvement and traditional Georgian home-stays with wonderfully hospitable people; great Georgian feasts and copious local wines (Georgian wine tastes great in Georgia); hundreds of years of history, culture and religion; ancient sites and spectacular setting; remote mountains for trekking adventures; no tourists and tourist restrictions; unspoilt countryside and freedom. Overland travel through Georgia and Azerbaijan unlocks all these and more. It really is the only form of adventure holiday to get you up close and personal with these two countries. Georgian tourism has not yet taken off (for that matter neither has Azerbaijan tourism) and so we have the country to ourselves. This adventure tour actually starts in Turkey, as we travel overland to Cappadocia, visiting the moonlike landscape and underground cities of the Goreme Valley. Turkey tourism is massive and we tend to stay away from the main Turkish tourist sites and head north to the Black Sea. Here our adventure journey takes us into Georgia to witness the spectacular mountain scenery of the Caucasus. We visit many monasteries and churches of Orthodox Christianity. Georgia is an amazingly friendly destination, and our Georgia home-stays allow us to meet the locals in their own homes. In Azerbaijan, we spend a night in a beautiful ancient Caravanserai and visit a remote metal smith village. The people in this country rarely see visitors and are exceptionally hospitable. Moving east we cross the Caspian Sea and enter the vast Karakum Desert of Turkmenistan. The trip ends in the surreal extraordinary modern city of Ashgabat, an oasis of modernity in a desert of antiquity. Section 2: The samarkand & tamerlane's testament is one section of the combination trip. To begin with we traveled the Southern Silk Road through Iran but in 2000 we were the first (and still are the only) overland travel company to have opened up the Central Silk Road from the UK through to the Central Asian countries of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Our overland route then heads up into the mountains of Kyrgyzstan and on to Western China. From there the route either heads to Beijing, Hong Kong or across Tibet overland to Kathmandu. The Silk Road or the Silk Route, call it what you will, was the great trading route of the middle ages that linked China and India with Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Along its length caravans and armies pushed one way or the other. Before the ships of the Portuguese had opened the sea roads this was the only route along which the East and West could communicate. Hence it's history and mystery. In a period of ten years, starting from his capital Samarkand, Tamerlane the Magnificent annexed an empire from the Mediterranean to Delhi. His heartland was the Oxus River Valley and the surrounding Karakum and Kyzylkum deserts. We will follow his routes, traveling overland by truck, crossing the vast Karakum Desert and meeting the nomadic Turkmen that live there. We will take a Bactrian camel safari out into the Kyzylkum and overnight in a yurt home-stay with local Uzbeks. Thene we explore the Oxus Valley, including the great Khanate and Emirates of yesteryears, Bukhara, Samarkand and Khiva. Samarkand tourism is thriving, but the little city of Khiva sees few tourists. Central Asia travel is still in its infancy and places like the amazing Sunday Market in Ashgabat are still geared for the locals and not the tourist hordes. This is arguably the world's most impressive local market and is a fantastic experience; where else will you find flying camels except for on our trip. Samarkand & Tamerlane's testament (STT) Section 3: The mountain kingdoms of kyrgyzstan is one section of the combination trip. This is adventure travel at its finest. We believe that our adventure holidays, should include stunning remote regions, off the beaten track travel, local community involvement, (preferably with home-stays), plenty of time to explore, some trekking and hiking, opportunities for horse riding adventures or other adventure activities and of course culture and history. Well this adventure tour has it all, in buckets. Let us explain with an example. Imagine yourself having traveled along the Silk Route through the fertile plains of the Fergana Valley in Uzbekistan and then traveling overland high into the Altai Shan Mountains of Kyrgyzstan, to the yurt homes of Kyrgyz shepherds on the shore of Son Kul Lake. Here you will sample the traditional hospitality, food (and don't forget the vodka) of these semi nomadic people. The next day, try out the ponies; learn how they herd the fat bottom sheep and the ultimate a game of Goat Polo. Beware, you are not a good enough horsemen to join in, this is a killer sport of raw aggression, but it is an amazing spectator sport (not great for the goat however). Occasionally one brave member of the group may attempt to play, but you have been warned. Walking Holidays and trekking holidays is what Kyrgyzstan travel is all about and this overland adventure is definitely for lovers of trekking and mountainous regions, with much of the time spent traversing some of the most beautiful mountains in the world. We allow time for you to hike in a variety of places in the mountains. |
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Istanbul to Bishkek |
| Length: 7.5 Weeks Route: Istanbul to Bishkek Next Departure 23rd May '07 Note: Combination trip. Price from: USD 690 per week (Confirm full conditions with us) |
| When you book with Easyticket Ltd. you are buying total peace of mind. From the moment you step abroad the plane it only gets better from them on. |
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