Why should you choose Koryo Tours?
Choosing to travel to unusual destinations such as North Korea is a big decision, and choosing the right people to take you is an incredibly important part of that. Learn about how we facilitate tourism responsibly in some of the most interesting and unique destinations on our planet, and at the same time ensure you get the most out of your once-in-a-lifetime experience.
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Koryo Tours runs expertly curated odysseys across the four neighbouring Stans; Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan. Now the most celebrated slice of Central Asia awaits, with the most spectacular cities and stories.
It's the perfect time to visit Uzbekistan, as renewed confidence courses through the land.
No longer demolishing Soviet cultural heritage, the capital now celebrates its architecture as Tashkent Modernism.
Enjoy the blockbuster sights in Samarkand and Bukhara. From Tamerlane’s tomb and the stately Registan to Silk Road bazaars and caravanserais.
Uncover hidden treasures on this Uzbek adventure!
Our full Uzbekistan tours are led by Koryo Tour's founder Nick Bonner and accompanied by Calum MacLeod who will give guest lectures. We also have Uzbekistan tours you can combine with other Central Asian countries. Calum co-wrote the first dedicated guidebook to Uzbekistan in English (Odyssey, with Bradley Mayhew).
"One of those rare travel guides that is a joy to read whether or not you are planning a trip" - The New York Times.
Note: We require all travellers on international and North Korea tours to have valid travel insurance.
Uzbekistan Tour Page Images ©Calum MacLeod.
A 21-Day Odyssey across Central Asia following the ancient
Silk Road; Exploring highlights & getting off the beaten
path!
From 5450 USD per person
Please apply by 1st October, 2024.
A 21-Day Odyssey across Central Asia
following the ancient Silk Road; Exploring
highlights & getting off the beaten
path!
From 5450 USD per person
Spend 3 weeks ticking off all 5 of the 'Stan Countries'!
This trip, curated and led by our expert tour leaders and in-country partners, is designed to show you the best of Central Asia in the limited time we have. All with a special Koryo-Twist that makes all of our tours so unique.
It will take you from the mountainous republic of Kyrgyzstan on a 3-week adventure. You'll walk the path of the ancient Silk Road, as we wind between vast mountain ranges, cross stunning rivers, traverse great deserts, and rub shoulders with local people from across Central Asia.
Having worked in Central Asia for over two decades, Koryo Tours are extremely happy to be able to announce this trip that has been years in the making. Truly the ultimate trip for those travellers wishing to get a thorough insight into Central Asia from those who know and love it best. Crossing multiple borders by land can be tricky... Sit back and let us do all the hard work and planning - leaving you more time for enjoying!
Let's take a look at an introduction to what you can expect from each of these unique countries.
This journey begins in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, known for its incredible mountain ranges and ancient history.
We’ll spend a couple of days in the country, both in the capital and in the surrounding region, exploring the beauty and history of this great country.
No true adventure to this region would be complete without a visit to Almaty, Kazakhstan.
This ancient city is still a thriving hub in this intriguing and enigmatic country, and also the perfect gateway from which to fly into the heart of Central Asia.
Another great mountainous republic, Tajikistan is home to a handful of incredible cities. We’ll begin in Dushanbe. Perhaps the most laid-back, and beautiful capital in the region.
Home to ancient cultural traditions, and the more modern trappings of the Soviet Union.
Once home to ancient Persian capitals.
Uzbekistan is where we transition from towering mountains to blistering deserts as we journey to explore what remains of Samarkand and Bukhara. Once a hub of Islamic culture and architecture, and still home to some of the most beautiful sites in Asia.
One of the strangest offerings from this adventure.
Whether you’re looking to marvel at ancient cities in Merv & Mary, stare into the gateway to hell at the Darvaza Gas Crater, or wonder at the pure white marble capital, Turkmenistan has something for everyone!
Looking for something shorter? We run individual and combo tours to all of the above countries, as well as private tours for those travellers looking for something more flexible.
Please apply by 1st October, 2024.
We follow the ancient Silk Road to remote, fascinating Karakalpakstan, where
the shrinking Aral Sea has become the world’s youngest desert, and a treasure
trove of art awaits.
From 2670 USD per person
Please apply by 10th October, 2024.
We follow the ancient Silk Road to remote, fascinating
Karakalpakstan, where the shrinking Aral Sea has become
the world’s youngest desert, and a treasure trove of
art awaits.
From 2670 USD per person
Join experts in Central Asian travel, Koryo Tours, on our inaugural Uzbekistan tour. Enjoy the blockbuster sights of Uzbekistan, the heart of the Silk Road... And explore its hidden treasures, too!
Tempted by the Golden Road to Samarkand? Uzbekistan’s highlights have drawn travellers for centuries. From the showstoppers in Tamerlane’s blue-domed capital to Holy Bukhara, where the sky-scraping Tower of Death so impressed Genghis Khan he spared it from the city-wide orgy of destruction.
Uzbekistan boasts many more survivors against the odds. On this Uzbekistan tour, we voyage into the remote northwest, Karakalpakstan, where trawlers lie beached far from the tragic Aral Sea. Here, we will see spell-binding paintings saved from Soviet authorities who had killed some of the artists.
This Uzbekistan tour, taking you by road, rail and air, will unlock amazing human survival stories. On a collective farm outside Tashkent, we’ll learn about the Koreans deported here en masse from the Soviet Far East. Some ended up Heroes of Socialist Labour as they grew the best rice for plov, the Uzbek pride and joy, and embodied the spirit of internationalism.
An Uzbekistan Tour like no other. Relish the oasis cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. And discover Soviet thrills like a top-secret solar furnace built, surely, for a Bond villain...
Scroll down for an overview of the Uzbekistan and Karakalpakstan Tour highlights, tour itinerary, transport options, Uzbekistan visa information, and extra add-ons. Nick Bonner and Calum MacLeod will accompany this tour.
Looking to see more? Our Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan Adventure Tour offers you the chance to experience two incredible stans in one tour!
Calum explored Uzbekistan in 1992, the first year of independence. He has been returning ever since to enjoy more of its cultural and natural treasures. He co-wrote the first dedicated guidebook to Uzbekistan in English (Odyssey, with Bradley Mayhew) and has designed Koryo’s inaugural tour.
Calum worked as China correspondent for The Times and The Independent, and Asia correspondent for USA Today. But says nothing beats a round of shashlik kebabs, on a plate of warm naan bread, at an Uzbek bazaar.
✍️ A Night Train to North Korea; Hop Aboard the First-Ever Koryo Tour (1993).
Images ©Calum MacLeod.
All hotel rooms on our all-inclusive group tours to Uzbekistan feature twin beds, and will be shared. If you'd like a room to yourself, you can upgrade for an extra USD 50 per night.
To apply, simply click on the application button listed with this tour.
Fill out the online form, upload a passport copy and photo (or send it to us by email, if you prefer) and you can consider yourself to be booked on this adventure!
For any questions, comments, etc about this trip get in touch with Nick Bonner at [email protected]. We ask for applications to be completed a minimum of one month in advance of the tour. Ideally, at least six weeks or more if possible. Please also indicate where you plan to join the tour from and where you’re headed after the tour. We can offer advice on this. We also require a deposit to be paid at this time as we start taking on administrative costs as well as an obligation to pay for the visa invitation as soon as we send off an application.
We ask for a deposit of 50% of the tour fee.
Please note that if you require a visa for Uzbekistan you will need to pay this fee yourself. Most visitors do not require visas. Check here for more information.
We practice the same cancellation policy with this tour as we do with our DPRK tours. This is listed on our website T&C. We do not seek profit from people who cannot go on tours, but we do make arrangements and commit to payments in good faith once a booking is received and payment is made. So we always try to refund more than the minimum.
As with any trip, it is best to be as sure as possible that you will be able to attend the trip when making the final booking. If the tour is cancelled by Koryo Tours for any reason, then a full refund is of course made. In all cases, we return as much as we can. We do not charge a fee for a client's cancellation.
Please be sure that you will be joining the tour when you send all application details.
Please apply by 10th October, 2024.
Join us as we venture across the deserts of Turkmenistan, ancient
cities of Uzbekistan, and meet the local people who call this incredible
region home!
From 3750 USD per person
Please apply by 10th September, 2025.
Join us as we venture across the deserts of
Turkmenistan, ancient cities of Uzbekistan,
and meet the local people who call this incredible
region home!
From 3750 USD per person
This adventure will take us through the heart of Central Asia, beginning with a journey across Turkmenistan’s vast deserts, experiencing the stunning Darvaza Gas Crater and the shining white capital city of Ashgabat, built entirely of marble. Plus, you will take a visit to the far west of the country to venture through the mysterious Awaza Resort.
After Turkmenistan, we’ll make a crossing into neighbouring Uzbekistan for a trip through time as we visit the ancient capitals of Samarkand and Bukhara. After here, you'll head north to round off your adventure in the nation’s capital, Tashkent. It's home to incredible history and a few secrets which few know about!
If you’re looking for a true adventure in Central Asia, this is the trip for you. Hitting all the highlights of these two great republics, you can mix ancient history with stunning modernity. All in the company of Koryo Tours and local experts.
A truly great Central Asian adventure that you won't find anywhere else!
Please apply by 10th September, 2025.
A 21-Day Odyssey across Central Asia following the ancient
Silk Road; Exploring highlights & getting off the beaten
path!
From 5700 USD per person
Please apply by 30th August, 2025.
A 21-Day Odyssey across Central Asia
following the ancient Silk Road; Exploring
highlights & getting off the beaten
path!
From 5700 USD per person
Spend 3 weeks travelling to all the stans, ticking off all 5 of the 'Stan Countries'!
This trip, curated and led by our expert tour leaders and in-country partners, is designed to show you the best of Central Asia in the limited time we have. All with a special Koryo-Twist that makes all of our tours so unique.
It will take you from the mountainous republic of Kyrgyzstan on a 3-week adventure. You'll walk the path of the ancient Silk Road, as we wind between vast mountain ranges, cross stunning rivers, traverse great deserts, and rub shoulders with local people from across Central Asia.
Having worked in Central Asia for over two decades, Koryo Tours are extremely happy to be able to announce this trip that has been years in the making. Truly the ultimate trip for those travellers wishing to get a thorough insight into Central Asia from those who know and love it best. Crossing multiple borders by land can be tricky... Sit back and let us do all the hard work and planning - leaving you more time for enjoying!
Let's take a look at an introduction to what you can expect from each of these unique countries.
This journey begins in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, known for its incredible mountain ranges and ancient history.
We’ll spend a couple of days in the country, both in the capital and in the surrounding region, exploring the beauty and history of this great country.
No true adventure to this region would be complete without a visit to Almaty, Kazakhstan.
This ancient city is still a thriving hub in this intriguing and enigmatic country, and also the perfect gateway from which to fly into the heart of Central Asia.
Another great mountainous republic, Tajikistan is home to a handful of incredible cities. We’ll begin in Dushanbe. Perhaps the most laid-back, and beautiful capital in the region.
Home to ancient cultural traditions, and the more modern trappings of the Soviet Union.
Once home to ancient Persian capitals.
Uzbekistan is where we transition from towering mountains to blistering deserts as we journey to explore what remains of Samarkand and Bukhara. Once a hub of Islamic culture and architecture, and still home to some of the most beautiful sites in Asia.
One of the strangest offerings from this adventure.
Whether you’re looking to marvel at ancient cities in Merv & Mary, stare into the gateway to hell at the Darvaza Gas Crater, or wonder at the pure white marble capital, Turkmenistan has something for everyone!
Looking for something shorter? We run individual and combo tours to all of the above countries, as well as private tours for those travellers looking for something more flexible.
Please apply by 30th August, 2025.
My next tour will be to:
[email protected] | + 86 10 6416 7544
WhatsApp (message only): +44 7822 014058
Room A409, Jucai Building. No. 76 Caoyuan Hutong.
Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100027, PR China
中国北京市东城区草园胡同76号聚才大厦A 座409 室,
邮编:100027
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