The Route 2008

Now you have the opportunity to re-discover the magic and adventure of this historical, trans-continental journey. Join a free-spirited group of cyclists as you traverse the modern countries of Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and China; crossing borders, making friends, overcoming obstacles, experiencing new ideas and cuisines - all with a view from the best seat in the house – your bicycle seat.

As a Silk Route Rider, you will camp below sea level in the stunning deserts of China's Xinjiang province and cycle to the top of the world, climbing to over 3600 m through the Taldyk Pass in Kyrgyzstan. You will stay in ancient caravanserais and shop in markets that have thrived for two thousand years. You will be amazed at the layers of history emerging from the sand, shake your head at all that has been lost and take heart from all that is being preserved and created.

The Tour begins at the Buyuk Camlica Hill, the highest point in Asian Istanbul, a perfect site to gaze out over this astounding city. For the next several days we will be cycling through the towns and cities of Anatolia, stopping for a rest day in the ancient city of Amasya. Set on a secluded section of the Yesilirmak River, it boasts some striking Ottoman wooden houses and historic Pontic ruins. Crossing into Georgia, we will experience its beauty in many forms; from the lush habitat of the Adjara region, to the tree-covered hinterland and the ruggedness of the Caucus Mountains. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of this land, however, will be the hospitable locals with their traditional dinners of toasting, dancing and singing.

It will be difficult to leave Tbilisi, the most charming city of the Caucasus, with its gracious tree-lined boulevards, ancient churches and enjoyable public baths but move on we must. We will bike through Kaheti, the heartland of the famed Georgian vineyards, towards Lagodekhi and Azerbaijan. Crossing the border we will cycle the little-used but fascinating Seki-Samaxi route, riding from high mountain forests down to the arid plains that signal our approach into the cosmopolitan oil capital of Azerbaijan, Baku. Here you will have a rest day, perhaps exploring the 15th century Palace of the Shirvan Shahs before boarding a ferry that will take us to Turkmenbashi in Turkmenistan. After another day of rest dealing with bureaucracy, we are off to Ashgabat, the capital of the most enigmatic of the countries on our route.

After a day of rest in Ashgabat, a city being transformed into a fantasy of white marble palaces, modern apartment blocks and large fountain complexes, we set off east towards an ancient Silk Road city, Merv, once one of the most important capitals of the Islamic world. Close by is the modern city of Mary, where we will take a day off, allowing us to visit the restored mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, ruler of the Seljuk Empire. Turning north we will continue though this unusual and spiritual land, inhabited by people of proud traditions, magnificent Ahal Tekke horses and vast natural beauty.

From the Turkmenistan border it is a day's ride through the Uzbek countryside to Central Asia's holiest city, Bukhara. Here you will explore buildings with histories spanning thousands of years as well as sights seemingly drawn from the mediaeval fairy tale of flying carpets. From this magical place we cycle off to Samarkand where your eyes will feast on the minarets and domes of Uzbekistan's most glorious city. As James Elroy wrote in the "Golden Journey to Samarqand",

We travel not for trafficking alone By hotter winds our fiery hearts are fanned For lust of knowing what should not be known We take the Golden Road to Samarqand

We will find it hard to leave Samarkand but the next few days will bring us face to face with the complexities left by the troubled disintegration of the former Soviet Union. Our route will take us briefly into Northern Tajikistan for a couple of days, then back into Uzbekistan and finally into Kyrgyzstan. In addition to providing a lesson in modern Central Asian history, this route will take us through the fertile Fergana valley, an area blessed with an abundance of seasonal fruit, exceptional crafts, beautiful mountain vistas and densely populated with hospitable people.

From Fergana, we cross into Kyrgyzstan and bike to the country's second largest city, Osh, just 5km from the border. After a rest day we begin a most difficult climb up the Irkeshtam Pass, at 3615m, the highest elevation we will reach on the entire trip. At the summit, we will be rewarded by some astonishing views; the Pamir Mountain range, covered with permanent snow and glaciers, close by on the right and important nomadic pasture land to the left. The spectacular vistas will continue to delight the cyclists until their arrival in the Chinese city of Kashgar, another of the great stops on the Silk Road.

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region occupies fully one sixth of Chinese territory and is home to an astonishing mix of 13 ethnic nationalities. It is a region of stunning contrasts; from Turpan, the lowest point in China, to Tian Shan, commonly known as the Heavenly Mountains. Our rest day in the fabled city of Kashgar is a step back in time, a brief glimpse at an ancient Central Khanate. Then we head off along the edge of Takla Makan desert which in Uygur means 'enter and never return'! To the north of us stretch the incredible peaks of the Heavenly Mountains. Along the route we will visit several cities and oasis; highlights include the Bezseklik Thousand Buddha caves near Turpan, the red sandstone hills of the Flaming Mountains, the Kizil caves northwest of Kucha and a myriad of spectacular sand mountains. It is here, in the heart of the Silk Road, that the volatile mix of eastern and western cultures has left some superb relics; cities, caves, temples and tombs.

This is an area that exudes the romance, the fear and the mystery of the harsh environment which in the past swallowed many caravans and today intimidates all but a handful of cyclists. There are not many souls that are prepared to face the inhospitable climate and the light dust storms that generate an eerie creeping fog around the base of sand mounds and scattered ruins. Fortunately for us these dust storms tend to manifest themselves in spring and summer. By the time we will hit this area the season for the storms should be over... we hope!

Dunhuang, at western end of the Hexi Corridor, a narrow and long passage stretching for about 1000 km to the modern city of Lanzhou, was considered the brightest pearl of the ancient Silk Road. Having experienced the joy of exploring the renowned Mogao caves, the tour will now face the trails and tribulations of this historic corridor. Sandwiched in between the snow-covered Qilian Mountains to the south and the Beishan mountainous area and Alashan Plateau semi desert to the north are fertile oasis, sparkling jewels surrounded by the vast, bleak expanse of Gobi desert. This area is known for its winds, gusts that will test the mettle of each and every rider. Among the highlights that the cyclists will visit are the 34.5 meter long reclining Budha in Zhangye and the Jiayuguan pass and fort, known as 'The Greatest Pass under Heaven', which formed the westernmost extremity of the Great Wall during the Ming dynasty. After a day of rest in Lanzhou, we head to Xian, a capital of the Chinese empire at times in the past and today a place filled with droves of tourists.

After spending two days in Xian, visiting the world famous Terracotta warriors, we will bike north-east and cross into Shanxi (meaning 'west mountains') province, widely considered the birth place of Chinese civilization. The tour will bike through a series of valleys, bounded on the east by the Taihang Mountains and on the west by the Luliang Mountains, stopping in the ancient city of Pingayo, a World Heritage site. Further along the cyclists will pass by the spectacular Wutai Shan Mountain, a major Buddhist pilgrimage destination, which soars to an altitude of 3058 meters and is covered with many sacred temples. From there it is matter of a couple more days before we arrive at our final destination…the Forbidden City in the heart of Beijing.