Motorcycle tour Silk Road – “In the footsteps of the caravans”
Motorcycle tour Silk Road – “In the footsteps of the caravans”
This trip is offered in two variants, one from Tbilisi to Bishkek and then back from Bishkek to Tbilisi.
In between there are almost 5,500 km of varied driving with something for everyone. Partly on well-maintained asphalt roads, but also on paths that are more reminiscent of off-road routes than roads. The motorcycles used on this trip, the NOMAD 500 ADV or the Royal Enfield Himalayan, have mastered all these road conditions with ease.
We visit some of the most famous stops on the historic Silk Road, an ancient trade route that for more than a thousand years linked the West with the fabulously rich countries of the Far East. In cities such as Bukhara and Samarkand we can marvel at numerous architectural witnesses from this time.
But this trip also has a lot to offer in terms of landscape. We cross dense forests and vast deserts, follow rapid rivers, circle huge lakes, drive through deep gorges and over high mountains and passes. It is a journey that will delight everyone with its diversity.
Route from Tbilisi to Bishkek.
Day 1: Tbilisi.
In the night to this day you will arrive in Tbilisi. After a few hours of sleep and a hearty breakfast, the adventure can begin.
Today belongs to Tbilisi. We take a lot of time to visit this beautiful city.
Overnight in Tbilisi.
Day 2: From Tbilisi to Yerevan (approx. 345 km).
For the first time we get on our motorcycles. We have a very beautiful and varied route ahead of us. The
Crossing the border to Armenia shouldn’t cause any problems. Halfway there we take a short rest in Gyumri. In the late afternoon we arrive in Armenia’s capital, Yerevan.
Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 3: Yerevan.
Free day in Yerevan.
Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 4: 06/09/21 – From Yerevan to Goris (approx. 235 km).
The journey to Goris takes us through mountainous landscapes. Experience has shown that it can become cool and damp. At the early
In the afternoon we reach Goris and still have enough time to stroll a little through Goris.
Overnight in Goris.
Day 5: 10.06.21 – From Goris to Tabriz (approx. 310 km).
The next border crossing lies ahead of us. It won’t be that fast this time. The bureaucratic effort is not without it and the border guards of Iran are not the fastest. But we still got over there.
Iran awaits us with an incredibly beautiful mountain landscape. After a short drive we reach the lively metropolis of Tabriz.
Overnight in Tabriz.
Day 6: From Tabriz to Qazvin (approx. 475 km).
We have a lot of kilometers to wind down. The roads are consistently in good condition and so we get there
Qazvin in the afternoon. The center of Qazvin is a single shopping zone, and from around 6 p.m. you get the feeling that the entire population is out shopping.
Overnight in Qazvin.
Day 7: Qazvin (approx. 200 km).
There are several ways to shape today. For one thing, Qazvin itself has some mosques that are worth seeing
and museums to offer. If you want to cycle a few more kilometers, you can go on a day trip to the Alamut fortress. Finally, you can take a bus to Tehran and visit the capital of Iran.
Overnight in Qazvin.
Day 8: From Qazvin to Semnan (approx. 375 km).
We are leaving Qazvin. The next two days are pure driving days. We advance further and further east until we reach the border with Turkmenistan.
In Semnan, the Friday Mosque, which dates from early Islamic times, is particularly worth seeing.
Overnight in Semnan
Day 9: From Semnan to Sabzevar (approx. 435 km).
Overnight in Sabzevar.
Day 10: From Sabzevar to Ashgabat (approx. 295 km).
This ends our short stay in Iran and we travel to Turkmenistan. It is to be hoped that we will quickly overcome all bureaucratic hurdles. The destination is the ultra-modern and somewhat unreal-looking capital Ashgabat.
Overnight in Ashgabat.
Day 11: From Asgabat to Derweze (approx. 265 km).
Today we go to the gate to hell. We visit the famous crater at Derweze in the Karakum desert. It was created in 1971 when looking for gas deposits. Since then, the crater has been on fire because of the escaping gas, which is what gave it its name.
Overnight in a tent next to the “Gate to Hell”
Day 12: From Derweze to Khiva (approx. 405 km).
Today we cross a national border again, to Uzbekistan. We have a long desert drive ahead of us and arrive in Khiva late in the afternoon.
Overnight in Khiva.
Day 13: Khiva (approx. 70 km).
Sightseeing
Overnight in Khiva.
Day 14: From Khiva to Bukhara (approx. 250 km).
On the way to Bukhara we cross a hostile country, the desert landscape of Kyzylkum (red sand). It
is about 200,000 square kilometers of sand and gravel desert, which extends over the territory of Turkmenistan,
Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan extends. We make a short stop on the banks of the Amu Darya, which borders the Kyzylkum in the southwest.
Overnight in Bukhara.
Day 15: Bukhara.
Today is dedicated to Bukhara. We visit the Kalon Mosque, Miri-Arab Medrase, the Magoki-Attori-Mosque, Madrasah of Ulugbek and Abdulaziz Khan, the splendid trade domes, the Lyabi-Khauz complex, the Chor Minor Madrasa and other famous ones Mosques and madrasas of the Islamic world.
Overnight in Bukhara.
Day 16: From Bukhara to Samarkand (approx. 295 km).
On our way to Samarkand we stop in Shahrisabz. Timor once had the plan to move the capital of his empire to his birthplace in Shahrisabz, which was then still called Kesch. For this reason he had numerous monumental splendid buildings erected in Kesch, the remains of which we can still marvel at today.
Overnight in Samarkand.
Day 17: Samarkand.
Samarkand looks back on a long history. It was founded around 750 years before our time under the name Afrasiab. It has prospered through trade with the northern and eastern regions and its location on the Silk Road. The city was conquered and destroyed by the troops of Genghis Khan in 1220. In the 14th century the city was rebuilt under the name of Samarkand, and the Mongol ruler Timur made Samarkand the capital of his empire in 1369. We will use the whole day to visit the numerous sights, some of which are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Overnight in Samarkand.
Day 18: From Samarkand to Tashkent (approx. 330 km).
Tashkent is north of the Great Silk Road. The city is the cultural, economic and political center of Uzbekistan. Since independence in 1991, Tashkent has developed into a powerful, modern, representative metropolis. Only in the old town in the northwest can you still enjoy a touch of the oriental flair.
Overnight in Tashkent.
19. Day 19: From Tashkent to Osh (approx. 440 km).
Osh, the destination of our trip today, looks back on 3,000 years of history. It is also called the “second capital” of Kyrgyzstan. If the opportunity arises, we will visit a traditional craft shop.
Overnight in Osh.
Day 20: 25.06.21 – From Osh to Kazarman (approx. 265 km).
Kazarman is a former gold rush town. Since the mine has been closed, the place has been quietly dusting.
Overnight in Kazarman.
Day 21: 26.06.21 – From Kazarman to Song Köl (approx. 165 km).
A nice ascent and a rustic night lie ahead of us. Today we spend the night in a special kind of “hotel”, in a yurt, the traditional home of the local people
Overnight at Song Köl.
Day 22: 27.06.21 – From Son Köl to Bishkek (approx. 325 km).
In the late afternoon we reach Bishkek and check in at the hotel for the last time. In the night your plane goes back home and our Silk Road adventure comes to an end.
We look forward to welcoming you again soon on one of our motorcycle tours, on another tour through Central Asia, in Georgia, Tajikistan or in Kyrgyzstan.
The tour price includes the following services:
Overnight stay with breakfast in very good, typical middle class hotels
Assistance in obtaining the necessary visas
Rental motorcycle
German-speaking guide on the motorcycle
City tour in Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand.
Escort vehicle
The following costs also apply:
The flight to Tbilisi or Bishkek and back
Personal expenses
Tips
Visa fee
Customs duties
Insurance
Entry fees
Entrance fees for sightseeing
Meals except breakfast
The personal contribution in the event of damage or an accident to the motorcycle is a maximum of 1,500 euros
If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to contact us.