Bishkek To Bishkek (40 Days) Central Stans & Pamir Explorer (Cabb40)

DAY 1-5: BISHKEK TO TASH RABAT
We head East to explore the edge of Lake Issyk-Kul, a mountain lake in the northern Tien Shan Mountains, once used by the Soviets to test their submarine torpedoes! Famous for its magnificent scenery and with a surface area of 6,300 sq km, this is considered to be one of the largest mountain lakes in the world. The surrounding countryside is full of fruit trees and the local people transport their wares by traditional donkey and cart. We will find a place to camp under the stars tonight.

Travelling south and leaving behind Lake Issyk-Kul, we make our way to the isolated and breathtaking Lake Song Kol, where we stay in traditional felt Yurts. There will be an opportunity to either hike or horseback ride and explore the surrounding area. If we are lucky we may even see a game of Ulak Tartysh - a Kyrgyz version of polo.

We spend a couple of days driving south through the mountains towards the border with China. On the way, we cross vast high plains where Kyrgyz nomads, living in their traditional yurts, practice a lifestyle that has changed little over the centuries. We will stop off at Tash Rabat, an ancient Caravanserai on the old Silk Route, before turning inland and crossing the back of the country. Here we will be out in the wilds, camping in the countryside and enjoying the great outdoors.

DAY 6-7: TASH RABAT TO OSH
Today we arrive in Osh, Kyrgyzstan’s second-biggest and oldest city. Osh is your opportunity to stock up on provisions before our stretch of camping along the Pamir Highway. Make sure you visit the bazaar, which has occupied the same spot for over 2000 years and was historically a major stopping point along the ancient Silk Road.

DAY 8-11: OSH TO TAJIKISTAN
We leave Osh and begin our epic journey on the Pamir Highway. We travel South towards the Tajikistan border, and as we approach, you will start to see the snow-capped peaks of the mountains in Pamirsky National Park – it’s a breathtaking scene and an impressive first glimpse of our next country. After a final night under the stars in Kyrgyzstan, we cross the pass to enter the multi-coloured mountains of Tajikistan. We follow the highway through incredible landscapes with colours changing as the sun moves, camping in remote spots and soaking in the vistas – keep those cameras ready!

DAY 12-15: KHOROG
Khorog feels like a breath of fresh air after our long dusty drive. As the first major town you enter in Tajikistan, it’s a fantastic place to people watch and experience. Make time to sample the local coffee or sit and relax in the beautiful park, and you might also want to day trip to Kuh-i-Lal Mine, or sample the hot springs. If the timing’s right, take a trip to the Afghan Cross Border market in Ishkashim!

DAY 16-17: KHOROG TO DUSHANBE
The road from Khorog to Dushanbe is windy, narrow, spectacular and surreal; for the first day you will be so close to Afghanistan that you can actually see the villagers going about their daily lives! You will drive alongside the river, winding up and down with it, viewing rural life in both countries as it’s been for hundreds of years. Entering Tajikistan’s capital, Dushanbe, comes with a culture shock: paved wide roads, gleaming statues and flag poles – a far cry from the East of the country.

DAY 18: DUSHANBE
Dushanbe is Tajikistan’s largest city, and aptly its name means “Money” in the Tajik language. It’s a big showy entry to the country, in stark contrast to the East. You can pass the day strolling through parks, admiring the fountains and the wide boulevards punctuated with grand buildings. Visit “Flag Pole Park”, the bazaar, or make the most of being in a city with restaurants specialising in various cuisines!

DAY 19-22: DUSHANBE TO BUKHARA
We leave Dushanbe behind and depending on the border crossing timing we may camp en-route to Termez. Situated on the border with Afghanistan, is the ancient town of Termez and we have a full day to explore its many historical sites. Genghis Khan’s troops destroyed the city in 1220, but many mosques, monasteries and fortresses still stand testament to this regions resilience.

Bukhara, our next stop, is situated on a sacred hill and was founded in the 13th century BC and it is home to over 350 mosques and some 100 Islamic colleges. The city is intrinsically linked to the history of the Silk Road and later the ‘Great Game’ that played out in the nineteenth century between Russia and Great Britain. One of the most famous individuals involved in this historical period, the Englishman Alexander Burnes, was known as ‘Burnes of Bukhara’ and the books he authored based on his adventures in this part of Asia gave him celebrity status in Victorian England.

Bukhara today is an attractive city with narrow streets, green parks and gardens, and is a pleasure to wander around and there will be the opportunity for a bout of good-humoured haggling in the bazaar.

DAY 23-26: BUKHARA TO TASHKENT
The Kyzylkum Desert is about 300,000 sq km and lies between the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya rivers. This is a vast arid plain with several isolated bare mountains rising to 900 metres and we journey across it on our way to Samarkand. Scheduled permitting, we may opt to take the local train and rejoin the truck on arrival.

Samarkand itself is the second-largest city in Uzbekistan. It dates back 2,500 years, making it as old as Babylon or Rome. Here we have a couple of days to explore the splendid architecture such as the 15th-century Bibi-Khanum Mosque which when it was built was considered to have the largest dome in the Muslim world. Today it stands next to a noisy and colourful Oriental market. No trip here is complete without a wander around the three edifices of the Registan, once Medieval Samarkand's commercial plaza and today quite possibly the most awesome sight in Central Asia.

From here we drive northwards to Tashkent, the present capital of Uzbekistan. This modern, cosmopolitan city hosts a mixture of Islamic, Soviet and twenty-first-century buildings, and is a pleasant place to spend a couple of nights. Riding the city’s metro is an experience in itself, with many of the stations ornately decorated, much like the more famous underground in Moscow, and there is also some lively nightlife to check out.

DAY 27-32: TASHKENT TO ALMATY
We drive north away from the city to the border with Kazakhstan. Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve is our main stopping point and we spend some time taking in the stunning scenery of green valleys, rushing rivers and snow-capped peaks. Here we stand a chance of spotting bears, ibex and golden eagles. There are hiking and horse riding options around the reserve.

Following the Kyrgyz border, we head East to Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest metropolis and capital until 1997. Almaty is the largest and most ethnically and culturally diverse city in Kazakhstan. Set in the foothills of the Trans Lli Alatau mountains, the area has a ski resort (Shymbulak) at an elevation of 2,200 meters and enjoys a great amount of snow from November through to May.

The city has many sights and attractions, including Ascension Cathedral in Panfilov Park; Abay Opera House; Golden Warrior Monument in the Republic Square and the giant Almaty Tower. Or for adrenaline lovers, why not ride the ‘Fast Coaster’ roller coaster, which is located on the side of a mountain and reaches speeds of 45 km per hour.

DAY 33-38: ALMATY TO LAKE ISSY-KUL
We cross the border and enter Kyrgyzstan at the Eastern end of Lake Issy-Kul, which was used for testing Submarine Torpedoes in Soviet times!

The area of Altyn Arashan and its surroundings offer the outdoor lover many hiking and horse riding opportunities and we spend a few days here to take in the amazing scenery.

We visit the vast red stone cliffs in Jeti-Oguz and visit the town of Karakol with its attractive houses and tree-lined streets. Behind it are the Terskay Ala-Too Mountains, an unspoilt wilderness populated only by nomadic shepherds.

As we travel around Kyrgyzstan we camp, but we also may have the opportunity to use some family homestays, where we are welcomed into a local home for the night. These are subject to availability, but if we can arrange them they offer a fantastic experience, allowing us to feel part of the family for a night and make some new friends!

DAY 39-40: LAKE ISSY-KUL TO BISHKEK
We take a leisurely drive along the south side of Lake Issy-Kul, camping under the stars for one final night, before arriving in Bishkek, the Capital.