Small group hosted journey with World Journeys

29 Day Tour

Departs 7 September 2027

From $22,850 per person twinshare (2027 pricing)

This 29-day small group hosted tour covers all five Stans of Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Ancient trading cities, mountain lakes, desert fortresses and bazaars that have run for centuries, travelled with a World Journeys host from New Zealand and back. World Journeys is the New Zealand tour company we book these tours through; the group is capped at 18 and departure is guaranteed. The updated tour departs 7 September 2027, from NZ$22,850 per person twin share based on 2027 pricing.

Where the tour goes

The route runs east to west along the old trading roads, crossing all five countries in sequence.

• Kazakhstan. Almaty, then out to Charyn Canyon and the Kolsai and Kaindy Lakes, some of the most striking scenery in Central Asia.
• Kyrgyzstan. Bishkek and the Issyk-Kul lake region, a waterfall walk in the Dzhety-Oguz gorge, a 37 kilometre ridge of bright red rock, and the thermal wells and historic sites of Karakol.
• Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The Fergana Valley, where you watch the famous Khan Atlas silk being made in Margilan, then Tashkent, Khujand and the Payshanba bazaar, the largest oriental bazaar in Central Asia, and the lake country around Iskanderkul.
• Samarkand and Bukhara. The cities the Silk Road is remembered for: Registan Square in Samarkand, the cities of Tamerlane, and the medieval streets of Bukhara.
• Turkmenistan and Khiva. Ashgabat with the Nisa fortress and the famous Akhal-Teke horses, Kunya Urgench, and finally Khiva, a beautifully preserved medieval walled town, before flying home via Tashkent.

Along the way the group eats traditional regional cooking, including meals made by locals in a yurt, and spends unhurried time in the markets rather than being marched past them.

What is included

Included: economy airfares from Auckland or Christchurch, a World Journeys host with the group for the whole trip, 4 star accommodation (or the best available in remoter stops), meals as shown in the full itinerary, all transport by air, road and train, transfers, sightseeing, entrance fees and gratuities. Business and Premium Economy upgrades are available on request.

Not included: travel insurance (mandatory), visas and personal spending. Central Asian visas involve more paperwork than most destinations, and World Journeys provides the documentation for the applications. We guide you through the rest.

What it costs

From NZ$22,850 per person twin share, or from NZ$27,295 travelling solo, based on 2027 pricing. Treat both as indicative: pricing on a trip through five countries moves with exchange rates and departure dates. Get in touch and we will confirm current pricing, check availability on the September 2027 departure, and take it from there.

Who this tour suits

This one suits curious, well-travelled people more than first-timers. The rewards are cultural and scenic: the accommodation is comfortable, the days are full, and the places sit a long way off the usual routes. You need to be able to walk at least 4 kilometres unaided, and the tour is not suitable for travellers with mobility issues. In return you see cities and scenery most people never will, with a host handling every border, transfer and hotel along the way.

How booking through YOU Travel Napier works

The price through us is the same as booking with World Journeys directly. What we add is everything around the tour: the mandatory insurance sorted properly, visa guidance for five countries, and any extra nights or stopovers you want on either side of the trip. We are a locally owned, family-run agency at 86 Tennyson Street, Napier, and you deal with one person from enquiry to homecoming. If a set-departure tour is not your style, our custom itineraries service is the other way in.

Frequently asked questions

How hard is the travel day to day?

Days are full and some involve long road stretches between cities, with walking of up to 4 kilometres at historic sites. It is a comfortable trip that needs reasonable mobility and a bit of stamina, nothing more athletic than that.

What about visas for five countries?

This is the part that puts people off doing Central Asia independently, and it is largely handled for you. World Journeys provides the documentation needed for each application, and we help you through the process step by step well before departure.

Can I fly Business or Premium Economy?

Yes, upgrades on the international sectors are available on request and priced at the time of booking.

When should I book for the September 2027 departure?

Early. The group is capped at 18 and places go in booking order, so get in touch as soon as it is a serious thought and we will check availability and current pricing for you.

The Silk Road in pictures

Presented by YOU Travel Napier, 86 Tennyson Street, Napier. A small group hosted journey operated by World Journeys. Last updated August 2026.