Uzbekistan

3 Ways to Travel the Silk Road

We understand the wanderlust of your clients. And with our nearly four decades of experience crafting adventures in this part of the world, there’s no better recommendation we can make for a unique journey (one embodying the spirit of Serandipians’ singularity!) than traveling through the heart of the ancient Silk Road. This is the place to find real adventure: where the echoes of merchants, camel caravans, and Great Game players still resonate through the vast landscapes of Central Asia. Whether your clients seek the camaraderie of a group tour (which we can handcraft to match your agency’s style) or they prefer private travel to traditional festivals, the thrill of adventure, or the call of epic overland expeditions, MIR can help

Here are 3 ways travelers can experience this legendary region with MIR’s expertise.

1. The 5 ‘Stans as an Epic Small Group Tour

The “5 ‘Stans” of Central Asia. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are treasure troves of history, culture, and natural beauty. More than 2,000 years ago, the great trade routes linking Europe and China opened Central Asia to foreign cultures, customs, and religions. We can custom craft a group expedition along the route that matches the style and interests of your agency and your travelers.

2. Central Asia Through Festivals

Engage your travelers in the past and present of Central Asia through vibrant festivals. Travelers can wander through the backstreets and bazaars of Uzbekistan and attend Navruz, a 2,000-year-old celebration of spring. During this time, they will have experiences unique to the season.

Alternatively, in the fall of 2024, they can venture to the steppes of central Kazakhstan and visit the capital city, Astana, to witness the World Nomad Games. These games will highlight an eclectic range of nomadic traditions, cuisine, and sports from nomadic and semi-nomadic peoples across the region. It's an experience unlike any other!

3.Epic Overland Expeditions

Driving Tajikistan’s Pamir Highway along the Silk Road is the ultimate dream trip for adventurous travelers. The Pamirs form one of the planet’s most remote and stunningly beautiful landscapes. Snow-capped, craggy mountains ring a high-altitude plateau that is studded with azure lakes. Narrow river valleys trace verdant paths through the peaks, linking timeless villages where obscure languages have been spoken since before Marco Polo passed through. Whether travelers want to join a small group tour and let someone else do the driving for them, or if they’re enterprising enough to consider traversing the alluring lands of the Silk Road in their own Land Rover on a modern-day variation of a camel caravan, MIR has them covered.

Insider's Guide to the Top 8 UNESCO Sites & Experiences in Uzbekistan

Insider's Guide to the Top 8 UNESCO Sites & Experiences in Uzbekistan

Explore 8 breathtaking UNESCO historic and cultural treasures in Uzbekistan, a Central Asian country relatively undiscovered for decades. Thanks to a new, reform-minded government, it’s easier than ever to experience the authenticity and open-handed hospitality of this Silk Road country.

Up-and-Coming Uzbekistan: A Local's 7 Great Reasons To Visit Now

Up-and-Coming Uzbekistan:  A Local's 7 Great Reasons To Visit Now

Uzbek native Abdu Samadov has worked with MIR for years, sharing his beloved country with visitors. Abdu offers seven reasons why any traveler should experience Uzbekistan now, before the rest of the world catches on.

Secrets of Samarkand

Secrets of Samarkand

Born and raised in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Abdu Samadov is a true “insider’s insider” on his native country, using his knowledge to guide MIR travelers throughout Central Asia. Here, Abdu offers his insider tips on how to explore the legendary oasis city of Samarkand like a local.

Sounds of the Silk Route: Music of the Karakalpaks (video)

Sounds of the Silk Route: Music of the Karakalpaks (video)

Nukus is tucked into the western desert of Uzbekistan, and capital of the autonomous republic of Karakalpakstan. Here, musicians have long held an important role in Karakalpak society as both singers and storytellers; watch and listen as they perform at the famous Savitsky Art Museum.