Sep 25, 2024
Unveil the Magic of the Silk Road with Kudu Travel's Cultural Walking Holidays
At Kudu Travel, we believe in creating walking holidays that go beyond the ordinary. Our small group tours are designed to immerse you in the culture, history and natural beauty of each destination, allowing you to explore at a pace that lets you fully appreciate your surroundings. Whether you’re trekking through Kyrgyzstan’s remote mountain valleys, discovering Georgia’s ancient traditions or walking through Uzbekistan’s historic Silk Road cities, our tours promise an enriching and unforgettable travel experience.
From Tbilisi to Bishkek via Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, join us on the real road to the East.
Walking in Kyrgyzstan: Walks and Wildflowers in the Mountain Valleys
Our Kyrgyzstan walking holiday is perfect for adventurers looking to explore Central Asia’s wild and unspoiled beauty. Part of the exotic Silk Road of international trade for the last 2,000 years, Kyrgyzstan unfolds to greet the adventurous traveller, with 80% of the country dominated by the Mountains of Heaven or Tian Shan. Green meadows full of flowers and rivers carving pathways through the land give walkers time to experience this unique terrain as snow-capped peaks, rising to over 7,000 metres, reveal themselves on our gentle climbs. Walking at a moderate pace, you’ll encounter traditional Kyrgyz nomads, spend nights in authentic replica yurts, and experience a way of life that has remained largely unchanged for centuries. This journey offers both breathtaking scenery and meaningful cultural encounters, making it an unforgettable off-the-beaten-track experience.
Suitable for: this holiday is ideal for walking and flower enthusiasts and we are joined by a botanical guide for selected days of this trip.
Click here to read an account from our latest departure.
Exploring Georgia: A Cultural Walking Tour in the Greater Caucasus
As you travel around Georgia, you are struck by the contrasts. The lush wine-growing Kakheti region with its fortified Orthodox churches and monasteries; the beautiful walled town of Sighnaghi, perched on a hill with views stretching to snow-capped mountains and the haunting, rolling, flower-filled steppe that surrounds the Davit Gareja monastery complex and sweeps on towards the border with Azerbaijan.
On our Georgia Walking Tour, we start in Tbilisi, where we explore the ancient caravanserai district (an important stage on the Silk Route), where traders once rested on their long journeys. We visit remote, stunningly beautiful stone-carved churches and monasteries, savour exquisite wines from vineyards near the Azerbaijani border and trek through high mountain valleys adorned with ancient stone towers, before concluding our journey in the fascinating city of Batumi.
Our carefully designed walking routes allow you to explore this diverse landscape at a comfortable pace, while also enjoying the local cuisine, wine, and warm Georgian hospitality. The journey through Georgia is an opportunity to discover ancient churches, mountain villages, and vineyards that have produced world-class wine for over 8,000 years.
Suitable for: this holiday is ideal for food and wine enthusiasts.
Uzbekistan Cultural Walking Tour: Exploring the Silk Road
Step back in time on Kudu Travel’s Uzbekistan cultural walking tour, where you’ll explore the historic cities that once thrived along the Silk Road. Our tour not only covers the main Silk Route cities of Uzbekistan, but also includes walking in the Chatkal Mountains northeast of Tashkent and the Zarafshan Mountains south of Samarkand; an excursion into the Kyzylkum desert to see an impressive fort dating back to the 4th century BC and a visit to the fertile Fergana Valley, filled with pomegranate and apricot orchards and famed for its ceramics and silks.
Uzbekistan is a treasure trove of ancient architecture, from the turquoise domes of Samarkand to the mud-brick walls of Khiva and the elegant mosques of Bukhara. Walking through these cities, you’ll be transported to a time when caravans carried silk, spices, and stories across Asia. This walking tour offers a rich cultural experience, with opportunities to learn about the history of the Silk Road, engage with local artisans and witness the unique blend of Persian, Arab, and Mongol influences in Uzbekistan’s art and architecture.
Suitable for: if you love striking architecture, then this holiday is the one for you.
Join us on a walking holiday that takes you off the beaten track and into the heart of some of the world’s most extraordinary destinations.