DESCRIPTION:

In the 19th century, agents of the British Empire and Imperial Russia carried on a covert struggle for supremacy over a huge swathe of territory that separated Russia from British India. Called the “Great Game” by one of their numbers – British intelligence officer and explorer Arthur Conolly, beheaded by the emir of Bukhara for his participation – the conflict was played out over the old Silk Road routes through the mountains that divide Western China and Central Asia.

 

At stake was the security of India, key to the wealth of the British Empire. When play began early in the 19th century, the frontiers of the two imperial powers lay two thousand miles apart, across vast deserts and almost impassable mountain ranges; by the end, only 20 miles separated the two rivals. The two great empires played out a subtle game of exploration, espionage and imperialistic diplomacy throughout Central Asia. The conflict always threatened, but never quite developed into direct warfare between the two sides.

 

Follow in the footsteps of disguised British spies and wily Russian Cossacks up and over the sheer passes of the majestic Tien Shan and Pamir Mountains – newly accessible after decades of isolation – through the busy cities, secluded villages and remote ravines of Western China, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, the very territory so passionately desired by both Britain and Russia.

 

Browse the unparalleled Kashgar Sunday Market, Western China’s most exciting bazaar, and drive over magnificent Torugart Pass into the green pastures of Kyrgyzstan. Survey the Fergana Valley from UNESCO listed Suleiman’s Throne in Osh, Kyrgyzstan’s second city. Enter rarely-visited Tajikistan, at the heart of the Silk Road, on the dramatic Pamir Highway. Be some of the first travelers to appreciate the commanding views and wild beauty of Tajikistan, a nation rich in ancient cultures now on the cusp of a new era.

 

Along the way, local experts will talk about local history, politics, and sights. See for yourself the daily lives of people in this isolated corner of the world; a place where great powers have often been outwitted.

 

CONSIDER:

This is a trip for the true adventurer. Accommodations can be rustic and roads rough, but long drives are rewarded with sights and scenes rarely witnessed by travelers. You will not readily find this trip offered elsewhere. This is a rigorous program with extensive travel at high elevations ranging from 7,000 to over 15,000 feet. The highest points on the itinerary are Kyzyl Art Pass at 14,050 feet and Ak Baital Pass at 15,270 feet. A significant amount of driving is required to experience the spectacular scenery; drives may be more than six hours and have significant segments along unpaved or poorly maintained roads.

 

OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS & ADD-ONS:

Please inquire.