What to expect on a Silk Road tour
What is the Silk Road?
Contrary to its name, the Silk Road isn’t one road - instead, it’s a huge network of roads and trading routes formed over centuries to facilitate trade between Europe and east Asia. Silk was a hugely popular export from China, but the Silk Road also saw spices, cotton, wool, precious metals and more traded between East Asia and Europe. It served not just as a trade route, but also a framework for spreading religion, technology, art, even empires throughout the continent.
Where does the Silk Road run to and from?
It is generally agreed that the Silk Road starts in Xian, China, and traverses Central Asia and ancient Persia before ending in Istanbul, Turkey. From there, an existing network ferried goods into Europe.
What is the best time of year to visit the Silk Road?
The Silk Road spans the entire width of Asia, so the climate varies significantly depending on where you’re visiting. However, the spring and fall months tend to offer the most comfortable temperatures - cool enough in the hot desert countries like Uzbekistan and Iran, but still warm enough in more mountainous regions such as Kyrgyzstan or Georgia.
What is the best way to see the Silk Road?
There are a huge range of options for exploring these ancient trade routes. Fly into Xian to see the Terracotta Warriors – commonly agreed to be the city that the Silk Road began. From here you can travel dusty desert plains by high-speed trains in Uzbekistan, trek through the snow-capped mountains of Kyrgyzstan, rattle along isolated, bumpy routes by 4x4 on our small-group tour in Tajikistan, cycle parts of the stunning Caucasus mountains in Georgia, or even conquer the Silk Road on one epic trip with Explore’s Five Stans of the Silk Road trip.
Is the Silk Road a good place to travel solo?
Solo travelers can feel confident that our small group trips are designed to deliver an incredible experience for solo travelers. On average, around half of people on our trips are solo, meaning it’s a great opportunity to meet like-minded people and make new friends.
The Silk Road is not an easy place to travel completely independently. English is not widely spoken and infrastructure in many countries is limited. Fortunately, traveling in a group ensures all the complexities of logistics and travel arrangements are taken care of, allowing you to enjoy your chosen destination stress-free.
If you are comfortable sharing your room with another traveler of the same sex, we do not charge a single supplement. If you’d prefer to book your own room, we may charge a supplement, which depends on the specific tour chosen. Generally, single rooms are readily available for a supplement, but it's recommended to check each trip's page or contact our team to find out where single rooms are available.
Are Silk Road tours suitable for vegetarians?
The Silk Road covers a vast area, with many different cultures and cuisines, so the availability of vegetarian meals can vary significantly. In Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia, there are plenty of delicious options for vegetarians, so you’ll get to experience unique flavors and fresh local ingredients. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan’s cuisines tend to lean more on meat and dairy so you won't always find lots of choice if you are vegetarian. In all cases, your tour leader will help you navigate the local cuisine as much as possible.
What are some of the best books about the Silk Road?
The allure of the Silk Road has spawned a huge range of books. We would recommend reading Foreign Devils on the Silk Road: The Search for the Lost Treasures of Central Asia by Peter Hopkirk; Shadow of the Silk Road by Colin Thubron; and Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan.