Silk Road
The Silk Road conjures up images of mystical cities, Persian Princes and camel trains making their way across the desert. Despite the onward march of progress, it is still possible to discover some of the allure of this ancient trading route on adventure tours.
You can discover some of that magic yourself on Undiscovered Destinations Silk Road tours. From China through Iran, the taking in North Africa and to the gateways of Europe, the Silk Road trading routes connected the great dynasties of the past. Explore the countries and cities of the Silk Road across Central Asia and the Middle East, the Tian Shan mountains Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan and more.
Come with Undiscovered Destinations on one of our adventure holidays and experience our Silk Road adventures.
Connecting China and the Far East with North Africa, the Middle East and Europe, it is said that the Silk Road began back in the 2nd century when the Han Dynasty officially opened up trade with the west. Unofficially this gateway between east and west had been operating much longer, and nowadays travelling the Silk Road has become a popular option for adventure holidays.
For the modern-day explorer, Silk Road journeys along this trading route now offer a multitude of different countries, cultures and amazing historical sites to discover. The destinations of the route are a mix of ancient cities and modern development, so there’s plenty to see and learn on cultural tours that reveal the ancient Silk Road history.
At Undiscovered Destinations, we do not offer one whole ‘Silk Road Tour’ that covers the whole route. We believe in listening to exclusive travel advice, taking our time and having a much more in-depth experience, including tailor-made holidays. Therefore, we have broken our tours of the Silk Road into each individual country or a combination of countries.
Our ‘Heart of the Silk Road’ tour encompasses Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan is a great introduction to the region. For those wanting to start their Silk Road travels in the West and begin to explore the Central Aisa and the Midle East, our tours of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan will give you a taste of how different cultures met, merged and grew as trade developed.
Silk Road Tours
As Seen in…
Places to visit on our Silk Road Tours
For expert advice on Silk Road trips and Silk Road holidays, get in touch now with our passionate,
well-travelled team.
+44 (0)191 296 2674 from THE UK
1-800-614-2967 from THE US & CANADA
1-300-956-415 from AUSTRALIA
Why take a Silk Road Tour?
The Silk Road is primarily known as a trading route for Chinese Silk, hence the name. However, this ancient network connecting the East to the West is about so much more than that. It was not just silk that moved along the vast trade networks and the traders carried more than just merchandise and precious commodities. The lasting impact of the Silk Road was a combining together of cultures and knowledge that has contributed to our modern society.
It may have been named after the Chinese silk of course, but trade along the Silk Road also include salt, sugar, spices, ivory, jade, fur and other luxury goods. To call this trading route a road is a massive understatement as it is so much more than that.
The impact that the Silk Road has had on our modern Western civilisation is hard to imagine. Not only did merchandise flow along these routes but so did ideas, cultural identities and knowledge.
Rather than go into the vast history of travel along the Silk Road, we thought that it may be useful to suggest some reading to brush up on your ‘Silk Road knowledge’. Below are some of the must read books that we think will enhance your understanding of the countries and people that you may meet on one of our small group tours along the Silk Road.
The Silk Roads: A New History of the World by Peter Frankopan – A detailed, sweeping book and as good as you would expect from the Professor of Global History at Oxford University.
Silk Roads: Peoples, Cultures, Landscapes by Susan Whitfield – ‘Silk Roads is a book to experience rather than read beautiful, fascinating simultaneously erudite and accessible’ –Asian Review of Books
Lands of Lost Borders: A Journey on the Silk Road by Kate Harris – Simple, adventure travel and exploration on two wheels, along one of the world’s oldest and most evocative trade routes.
Foreign Devils on the Silk Road: The Search for the Lost Treasures of Central Asia by Peter Hopkirk – A fascinating insight in to the explorers and treasure hunters of the late 19th century as they ‘explore’ the Silk Road.
Why travel with us?
- Small Group Tours with a Maximum of 12 People
- Tailor-made Tours and Private Tour Options
- Expert Advice and First Hand Knowledge
Read more about our Silk Road Tours.
Undiscovered Destinations
1b St Oswins Place, Tynemouth, NE30 4RQ, England
© 2022 | UNDISCOVERED DESTINATIONS
