from $5,290* per person	21 Days	April, May, August-October
Comfort accommodations		Exertion level: 3
Operator: World Expeditions		12 people max

Samarkand was regarded as one of the most important markets on the legendary Silk Road between China and Europe. On our overland journey from Uzbekistan to Iran we trace the western section of the Silk Road, a bustling corridor through which caravans laden with goods would pass enroute to the ancient city of Constantinople. Travelling to the renowned Central Asian cities of Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Merv we gain a rich sense of the intricate history, before crossing the awesome expanses of both the Karakum desert and the high mountain passes that link Central Asia and Persia. Our trip coincides with the amazing Sunday camel market at Ashghabat before taking the dramatic mountainous drive across the Kopet Dag Mountains to Iran, a land of dramatic contrasts. Ranging from snow clad mountains, deserts, oasis towns and ancient cities that reveal a deep and rich history. We diverge from the traditional Silk Road itinerary with exciting excursions to Isfahan, Shiraz and Persepolis, the summer capital of the vast Persian Empire, before concluding this epic journey in the vibrant city of Tehran where you will see another side of Iran, mixing with locals in their own environment.