On the Silk Road in Central Asia

This Road Scholar tour can seem somewhat overwhelming with visiting five countries in less than three weeks, but it is well worth it. In fact, it is probably my favorite Road Scholar trip, primarily due to our amazing leader, Jamshid Fayzullaev . Jama, as we called him, continually informed us of what we were seeing and the history pertaining to it. He is not only highly intelligent and personable, but also has a great sense of humor. This trip has encouraged me to spend more time in Central Asia which is something I was not interested in previously. I now see that, as an American, I have basically been sheltered from learning about this fascinating part of the world.

This is one of my top three trips - and I've traveled a lot, with Road Scholar, other groups, and individually! Credit goes mainly to our fantastic Group Leader, Jamshid Fayzullaev, who devised and led the program. The destinations are exotic, with long, complicated histories that few Americans are familiar with. But the program coordinated the disparate elements - antiquity, Silk Road, Soviet, post-Soviet/independence - so we could understand what we were seeing. And there was always an emphasis on educational experiences, not just sightseeing (but there was time for shopping!). So many memorable experiences! The bus ride through the mountains from Khujand to Samarkand along one of the ancient Silk Road trails; exploring an old neighborhood in Samarkand and learning about traditional family life; visiting bazaars in Bukhara, Almaty, and other cities; learning about nomad life and crafts and music; seeing the grotesqueness of Turkmenistan. Even the border crossings were fascinating. It's a strenuous trip and there's a lot of time on the bus. But the buses are new and clean (and the drivers are magicians!); the country guides are personable and knowledgeable; the hotels range from very good to excellent; the food was ample and interesting and well-done; the museums are mostly new and well organized, with knowledgeable, English speaking docents. I'll note that about half of our group (including me) were singles, but the group became very cohesive; we all supported and looked out for each other. I always felt safe. All in all, an outstanding trip unlike any other. Well worth the long plane rides!

Outstanding opportunity to visit cultural and historic sites along Silk Road in 5 countries. Great food and lodging. Highly recommended.

The Silk Road program was excellent. It was demanding and challenging, but also fun.

Silk Road Tour was fascinating and really fun. We covered over 2000 miles - many diverse activities including archaeological sites, cultural and artistic demonstrations, buildings and so much more. Jama was the best guide ever ensuring the experience surpassed all my expectations.

By and large, I enjoyed our trip to Central Asia. It was fascinating to visit 5 different countries, although we spent most of our time in Uzbekistan because it had Taskent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva. Food was tasty, but there was way too much of it at every meal. We knew we would be ON THE GO, but some days were too long. We felt someone was packing 10 pounds into a 5 pound bag! Did we have to see so many M's - mosques, mausoleums, and minarets? There were some important historic people to follow, but I felt the number of M's was excessive. Take us to the most important ones! Museum guides were informative. I loved the children's presentation! That was a welcome relief from being in the bus some more. The falcon farm was fun to go to - the presenter was a hoot! It was wonderful to see the horse games. That was a touch of culture. I would have liked MORE personal exchanges with the locals, to hear them talk about their lives. We visited 4 bazaars. The foods were fascinating to view. We were given very little time to shop at them. Some people like to take home souvenirs to friends and family. Don't take people to a bazaar if they can't shop for a while after at the souvenir shops around. If horsemeat and kumis are the foods that are popular in that area, I felt you should have had a tasting of those things as part of the experience. The hotels were fine. I especially loved the boutique hotel in Bukhara. Dilfuza and the cook made it especially nice at breakfast. Talk to the owner there about giving these ladies a raise! It was a nice intimate hotel. Our guides were pretty good. There is a fine line between telling good information and then just talking for the sake of talking. Quiet time is OK too. If guides would tell us a lot about the place we were planning to visit next while we were on the bus, then people wouldn't have to stand outside and listen to all of the information. I was glad I went on this trip. I learned so much. Mary Bowman

One of the best trips I’ve ever had. Learned and enjoyed a part of the world I was totally unfamiliar with.

I also meant to comment on the Tripcast app, would heve liked more participation by our group. could have been more encouraging

This trip confirmed that it will be the last one I’ll ever take with Road Scholar. I had looked forward to visiting the Stans in Central Asia for so long, but it was, in actuality, a tremendous disappointment. The destinations included were great, but the itinerary was boring, made increasingly more so by the guide who seemed intent on overwhelming us with an unnecessary level of detail that was neither interesting nor memorable. The stops leaned heavily on museums and mosques. After the first two or three which were interesting, they became monotonous, as the artifacts and architecture tended to be identical from one to the next. There was also very little variety in the meals served, and when we had the opportunity to do a home visit, there was zero interaction with our hosts. There was nothing cultural about these visits, which were actually just a different setting for a meal. For a trip that was titled “Silk Road”, there was minimal focus on the textiles that created the historical riches of this region. If anyone stopped to browse something that they might like to purchase, the guide admonished us that this wasn’t a shopping trip. Instead, time was spent listening to interminable lectures while standing for very long periods. There was so little free time on this trip, it felt like a forced march on a daily basis. I couldn’t wait to come home. I have friends who have visited this area and found it very enjoyable, but frankly they traveled with other tour providers who put together more well-rounded experiences for their travelers who could learn, eat, meet the locals, and take home some shopping memories. The 5 Stans were the 92-96th countries I’ve visited in my travels, and based on what I consider a good knowledge of what makes for an enjoyable trip, my impression is that Road Scholar invested limited effort in making this a well-rounded touristic experience. 3 final words: never me again.

It was a beautiful trip. Extremely well organized and managed.

The Silk Road tour opens up a part of Asia that is almost wholly unfamiliar to most Americans. We saw so many fascinating sights, learned a good deal about the complex religious histories of the various countries, enjoyed some wonderful demonstrations of music and crafts, and were excited, day after day, by what we were seeing and doing. The trip is physically challenging, but our efforts were well rewarded. I was delighted by this great tour!

Our trip was very good with a great group of 22 people. The best thing about our trip was our guide, Anvar. He was extremely knowledgeable, caring and patient. The weakest pat of the trip was the selection hotels. In most instances they were sub-par. I would love a trip like this to add a few days for people to do some nature related sight seeing given the mountains around.

This was a spectacular trip, encompassing history, culture, architecture, archeology and a glimpse into life in countries of the former Soviet Union. An enormous palette brought to life by our fantastic tour leader Jamshid (Jama). Jama is incredibly knowledgeable about the Stans and the Silk Road and shares his knowledge with clarity and enthusiasm. He makes the experience come to life. In addition, Jama is an ace tour manager, keeping everything smooth and in control, no matter what challenges. He reminded me of the proverbial duck that appears to glide smoothly over the surface of the water while paddling furiously underneath. Jama’s knowledge and expertise allowed us to completely enjoy the wonders the Silk Road has to offer.

This "Silk Road Tour" was as fascinating as it was comprehensive, but the real "value added" was our fantastic Tour Leader, Jamshid ("Jama"), who created this tour, shared his extensive knowledge with all of us, and repeatedly made magic happen when things went amiss. He is a treasure. This is a fascinating part of the world that few Americans visit (a shame), but has played an important role in shaping our civilization.

As my first RS trip, I was amazed, first of all, by the knowledge, care, and thoroughness of our guide Jamshid. Central Asia is a fascinating area and one that I knew little about; the ability to compare and contrast five countries gave me an appreciation of the people, culture, and history.

This was a fascinating experience with so much to see and learn about. As a result it can feel very intense at times but I wouldn't have given up any of the experiences. Just be prepared to feel mentally and physically exhausted by the end of it - but in a good way. I loved it!!

A+ trip to the 5 Stans. It included curated experiences of the similarities and differences in cultures, customs, religions, food, dress, natural resources, architecture, art and more as we stopped in many cities along the Silk Road. Jama, our primary guide, fostered great camaraderie and managed flawless logistics. So much fun!

Amazing and well planned tour of five countries along the Silk Road. Comfortable lodging and variety in meals. You learn about history and meet the people as you move along on this fast paced trip. You see cities and countryside, meet horses and even herds of sheep on the Pamir Highway. We can’t say enough good things about our tour manager Jama who did a superb job. Five stars for sure!

The “Silk Road” program is Exceptional in every aspect! Each Country with individual Story.ands Color! Culture,Scenic, History..accepting smiling ,people. From snow capped mountains to mesmerizing desert . Incredible lifetime memory! A Must experience!

Silk Road trip and our guide Jama and local guides exceeded my expectations. An absolute Grand trip!

On this program you'll learn about a wonderful part of the world that has brilliant cultures that developed outside the influence of European cultures.

The trip was fabulous is every way! I especially loved Almaty, Bukhara and Ashkabat. I have only a couple of comments/suggestions: --Lunches and dinners had TOO MUCH FOOD! In particular, the number of courses made lunch last too long. --I found the horse games n Bishkek to be objectionable due to the cruel treatment of the horses. I love horses and especially enjoyed the Turkmenistan Horse Stables, but the cruelty to horses is truly unethical, in my opinion. --I forget which city had the hotel that was recently renovated-- things were still falling apart and the level of cleanliness and general disrepair of the facility made it below the standards that Road Scholar travelers have grown to expect.

Central Asia is rich in history, culture, and generous people. This program included something for everyone and was well-worth the trip!

This was a well-organized tour and a highly memorable trip.

Don’t rely on program information materials. Money requirements are wrong. Travel luggage restrictions are incomplete. Deal with those inadequacies and enjoy the lushness of Central Asia. You’ll be very lucky to have Farrukh as your tour leader.

This tour was fascinating and exceeded my expectations. Abdu was an incredible leader and made the border crossings and daily logistics easy for us. I learned a lot about Central Asia and took home a new perspective on geopolitics.

The Silk Road tour is an outstanding program. The sites we visited are some of the most beautiful, interesting and moving in the world. This trip follows the crossroads of world history and culture and we learned so much. The local people we met shared their stories with us and gave us insight into a part of the world I knew little about. But it all came together because of the outstanding tour leader we had, Abdugolib Samadov, whose knowledge, patience, humor, and intelligence made this a tour I will not forget.

This is not a trip for those who have not traveled extensively before, as it can decidedly put one outside one's comfort zone. That said, it was an extraordinary experience for all us in our small group, and while we saw many new sights, most significantly, under the guidance of Abdu Samadov, we were often able to meet and talk with real people, which greatly expanded our understanding of this part of the world. His knowledge was deep and personal, both linguistically and historically, and I could not imagine a better leader for this trip. It made for this being very special throughout.

Five Stars. In summary, a great program, full of learning opportunities, magnificent buildings, history everywhere with conquering armies. Not an easy one (long coach rides, simple restroom facilities), but you will see places that not many people are able to visit. I would never have attempted this program without being in a tour group. Our program did not include Turkmenistan (May 2023), and there were substitute visits. Our tour leader, Anvar, was excellent and provided us with so much information.

The trip was very well organized and moved along very efficiently. Our main guide, Anvar, was exceptional. He was knowledgeable and always on schedule. His instructions and his discussion of all points of interest were clear and informative. In my own case, Anvar knew that I did not eat red meat and took steps to provide alternatives at all meals. I look forward to our next trip with RoadScholar.

Road Scholar provided a thorough tour of the Silk Road in which the five Stan countries were explored. Road Scholar offers an educational experience for those interested in learning more about the world. Their guides are knowledgeable and conscientious, eager to teach you about their regions.

This trip was pretty amazing, totally different world and culture. The people are extremely warm and welcoming, the guides are fabulous. But, one must be ready for a few things that Americans are not used to, i.e. Asian toilets are the only ones available in a few (very few) places. The food is very "meat-centric", served beef or lamb at nearly every meal. Meat is not aged and is extremely gamey; I lost weight! This is a very active trip with a lot of walking, getting on and off the bus, border crossings, etc. Arriving in Ashgabat is like going from the medieval world into a science fiction movie. For me, it was re-recognizing that my reality is not the only one, great for gaining perspective.

I highly recommend Road Scholars' Silk Road trip. The organization and execution of the trip were superb and flawless. All scheduled events and several extras, which were added to the itinerary at the request of our group, were executed on time. The transportation to and from our events was spacious and clean. Bottled water was generously available whenever we asked. Our local guides were knowledgeable, courteous, and friendly and the local home visits were excellent with plenty of delicious non-spicy food. I've visited 131 countries and regions of the Travelers Century Club's list. I have traveled with many tour groups some of which were led by very competent individuals; but the logistics, coordination, competence, and leadership demonstrated Jamshid Fayzullaev stands above all my previous experiences. He designed this tour, and in addition, he served as our local guide during what I believe was the heart of the tour – our visits to Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, Uzbekistan. The trip, especially this part, was outstanding.

This trip along the Silk Road in Central Asia was my lifetime trip, as this is my all-time favorite part of history. I had big expectations, and they were more than met. The richness of this experience: the culture, people, artisans, history, and architecture; will leave me in a state of gratitude forever.

This was my first international trip with Road Scholar and my third visit to Tashkent and Samarkand, Uzbekistan (1994 and 96). I’m impressed with what I saw and learned. Five countries in twenty days was fast paced, but the excellent pre-trip assistance from Nathan Cox and on-site leadership of (Jama) Jamshid Fayzullaev provided an exhilarating program with few glitches. Hotels were comfortable and convenient and food plentiful. I especially enjoyed meeting and traveling with a congenial group of seasoned travelers, one of whom may be a cousin a few generations removed. Visits to museums and historical and UNESCO sites were generously combined with special presentations and demonstrations—a master class in the art of making Bukhara Plov (pilaf), Kyrgyz felt making for domestic use, carpet construction, paper from mulberry tree fiber, and up close encounters with Kazakh falcons, Kyrgyz games on horseback, and the famous Akhal-Tekke horses of Turkmenistan. These and other encounters with local families, teachers, and Americans living/working in Central Asia provided opportunities to experience Central Asian hospitality and to better understand the area from multiple points of view. The Tashkent I knew in 1994 and 96 has received a face lift making it difficult to recognize some of the historical sites from the outside. Samarkand was much more familiar as the Registan Square and the tombs and mausoleums of legendary people were as I remembered them. Traffic and construction of buildings, roads, airports and train depots give the appearance of progress in Central Asia. Yet there is evidence that work has only begun. While the history of the Silk Road took center stage, the 21st century Silk Road, under construction on the old roadbeds, begged to be recognized. I would love to revisit the area in five years. Meanwhile, I'll look for other adventures with Road Scholar.

5 Stars! Having just returned, I continue to reflect on this historic region about which few Americans have any knowledge. A vast area that exceeds a third of the continental US, it contains high mountain ranges, fertile valleys, and expansive deserts, and is home to a diverse population of ethnic groups. The tour touches upon each of these features and visits many of the cities of the ancient trade routes between China and the West. The reading I had done beforehand came alive, and I was better able to understand the geopolitics of both the ancient conquests and current events including China's Belt and Road Initiative. Seeing the 'Stans for myself also enhanced my understanding of the former Soviet Union, the dynamics of which I had originally experienced in my prior profession. Key to the success of our trip was Jamshid Fayzullaev, our knowledgeable and articulate guide, who is not only an expert on the history and culture of Central Asia but also a master logistician. He made the many long bus rides, border crossings, hotel registration procedures, internal flights, etc. relatively easy and uncomplicated. He always went the "extra mile" to ensure that all of our (sometimes unreasonable) needs were more than met. After reading other reviews, I am somewhat mystified by some of the commenters on other tours regarding, for example, transportation issues, hotels, presentations, and entertainment. Traversing five countries in two weeks, staying in multiple locations, and dining in an array of restaurants can involve minor inconveniences--but that is part of the experience of this region. Fortunately, the members of our group took it all in stride, and we had a wonderful time together. In short, for me, the trip couldn't have been better.

The journey on the silk road opened my mind to a region I'd vaguely recognized as post-Soviet, but never quite realized the huge differences between the countries, both in the past and in the 21st century. Jama is a gem. Without hesitation I'd travel on any tour he led. I hope road scholar keeps that in mind.

An outstanding trip. If you can get Jamshid (Jama) as your guide, you must go. He is one of the best R.S. guides I have enjoyed in the past 8 trips. Bring along your sense of humor and some money for silly hats!!

Great pre-program service with Nathan Cox. Fantastic trip, Great guides in every countries. Jama's printed hand out were full of precious informations. Good accommodation "almost" everywhere. Good group but too many people. Groups should be smaller. Competitors offer group of 16 people maximum. Road Scholar should aim to have the same.

the BEST director JAMA he will amaze you. He has a love for his job and will give it to you. All the history and sites are unbelievable.