Along the Silk Road

Istanbul between Europe and Asia, the madrasas of the Registan in Samarkand and Almaty at the foot of the mountains, three stops on the old Silk Road.

Day by day Open the itinerary in the app

Istanbul → Samarkand → Almaty · 7–9 days

The route on the map, in the itinerary’s order.

TurkeyIstanbul
Days
3–4
When
Apr–May · Sep–Oct
Per person/day
Average 40–70 EURMid-range · per person/day
Cost scope
Per person per day: accommodation, meals, urban transport, visits and a small allowance for extras. Flights excluded; larger purchases vary. Editorial estimate, not a quote.
UzbekistanSamarkand
Days
2
When
Apr–May · Sep–Oct
Per person/day
Average 60–90 USDMid-range · per person/day
Cost scope
Per person per day: accommodation, meals, urban transport, visits and a small allowance for extras. Flights excluded; larger purchases vary. Editorial estimate, not a quote.
KazakhstanAlmaty
Days
2–3
When
Sep–Oct
Per person/day
Average 18,000–36,000 ₸Mid-range · per person/day
Cost scope
Per person per day: accommodation, meals, urban transport, visits and a small allowance for extras. Flights excluded; larger purchases vary. Editorial estimate, not a quote.

Who it is for

For history lovers who want Central Asia, which few people visit.

Not for anyone who wants few flights, since the legs are long.

The strategy

The trip follows the old trade route from west to east, from Istanbul to Almaty. Samarkand sits in the middle, with the Registan at dusk.

What you will see

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul. Basilica completed in 537, a mosque from 1453, a museum from 1935 to 2020, and a mosque again since July 2020.
Registan square, Samarkand. Three madrasas facing each other: Ulugh Beg (1417–1420), Sher-Dor (1619–1636), and Tilya-Kori (1646–1660).
Green Bazaar, Almaty. A covered market on Zhibek Zholy, dating back to the late 19th century, with the current pavilion from the 1970s.

Day by day