Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
RUSSIA
MONGOLIA
KAZAKHSTAN
Ürümqi
Almaty
BISHKEK
_
Kochkor
UZBEKISTAN
KYRGYZSTAN
AZERBAIJAN
Andijon
TASHKENT
Turkmenbashi
Tash Rabat
Torugart Pass
BAKU
_
_
TURKMENISTAN
CHINA
Bukhara
Osh
Kashgar
Irkeshtam
Pass
C A S P I AN
S E A
Samarkand
TAJIKISTAN
_
ASHGABAT
Merv
Saraghs
IRAN
PAKISTAN
Mashhad
AFGHANISTAN
INDIA
Central Asia Overland: The Silk Road
Much of this itinerary follows ancient Silk Road paths and modern travellers will likely
make the same route decisions as early traders, based on cost, ease of transport and the
time of year.
Western roads into Central Asia lead from Mashhad in Iran to Ashgabat in Turkmeni-
stan, or from Baku in Azerbaijan (by boat) to Turkmenbashi, also in Turkmenistan. If
you only have a transit visa for Turkmenistan you can travel from Mashhad to Mary (to
visit the Unesco World Heritage-listed ruins of Merv) in one long day via the crossing at
Saraghs, giving you more time at Merv and bypassing Ashgabat.
From Ashgabat (p374) the overland route leads to Merv (p388) and the Silk Road
cities of Bukhara (p187), Samarkand (p169) and Tashkent (p139). Figure on at least
three full days in Bukhara and two full days each in Samarkand and Tashkent, prefer-
ably more. In Tashkent take a ride on the grand metro, shop Chorsu Bazaar and visit the
History Museum and Fine Arts Museum of Uzbekistan, two of Central Asia's best.
From Tashkent head into the Fergana Valley and swing north along the mountain
road to relaxed Bishkek (p232). From Bishkek cross the border into Kazakhstan to
cosmopolitan Almaty (p56), visit the sights, attend the opera and make some excursions
from the city before taking the train (or bus) to Ürümqi in China.
An alternative from Bishkek is to arrange transport through an agency to take
you over the dramatic Torugart Pass (p310), visiting the summer pastures around
Kochkor (p276) and Song-Köl and the photogenic caravanserai at Tash Rabat (p284),
before crossing the pass to Kashgar. You can then continue along the northern or
southern Silk Roads into China proper.
A third alternative if you are in a hurry is to travel from Tashkent (p139) to Andijon
(p168) in the Fergana Valley, cross the border to the bustling bazaar town of Osh (p289)
and then take a bus, or a combination of bus and taxi, into the high and scenic Alay
Valley and over the remote Irkeshtam Pass (p310) to Kashgar.
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