A cycling adventure quite unlike any other - But for those ready for a challenge an epic 14-day overland journey in the heart of central Asia awaits!
(Updated March 2018)
From mountain gorges and desert oasis to the Great Steppe of Uzbekistan, this 505 km cycling odyssey encompasses the landscapes, sights and history that have shaped central Asia.
Running from Tashkent to Khiva, the itinerary is centered on the cultural melting pot of Uzbekistan, situated on the main junction of the Silk Road it has seen empires forged and broken over two millennia.
Here natural riches were cast alongside a sometimes turbulent history and today, diversity, architecture and tales of leaders span early Iranian nomads to flamboyant rulers, quarrelling sultans and Joseph Stalin's Soviet Union.
This tour features nine days of cycling, with a mix of sealed and unsealed roads through mountainous terrain, small remote villages and wide open steppe.
The route travels across the ancient cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, Shakhrisabz and Khiva, and the vastness of the Great Steppe, as well as experiencing modern Uzbekistan in emerging Tashkent and the ancient nomadic way of life in yurt camps on the old Silk Road.
"This tour is unique to Grasshopper, initially traversing the Nuratau Mountains at the fringe of the great steppe, then following ancient horse tracks high over the range in the footsteps of the nomadic tribes, sleeping some nights in serviced camps or local village home stays."
“It’s a journey along a section of the most famous trading route in history and into cities, the sheer mention of which, conjure up images of enterprising merchants, exotic enclaves and timeless charm.”
Grasshopper Adventures’ Expeditions Engineer, Blair Coburn
The 14-day Uz-biking-Stan trip includes most meals, all accommodation, high-quality mountain bikes, guides and is accompanied by a support vehicle throughout. It operates with a maximum of 14 people.
2018's Uzbekistan tour in September already has participants signed on for a guaranteed departure, which makes it perfect for a single rider or couple wishing to join a tour with others, and of course groups of 3 or more are welcome to join the adventure too!
So if you have always been interested in visiting one of the "Stans", but have put it off, be it for lack of a suitable tour that gets the right mix of adventure and attention to detail, or maybe safety concerns (rest assured Uzbekistan is quite safe and we've experienced no issues in our years of touring the country), then this is the perfect opportunity!
So what are you waiting for? Get ready to saddle up with others for this unforgettable journey of a lifetime, you'll be recounting to others for years to come. See the full Grasshopper Adventures Uz-Biking-Stan tour here.
