Kathmandu to Istanbul

From our starting point of Kathmandu in Nepal, join Odyssey for an incredible 3-month journey west towards Istanbul. Travelling via the mighty Himalayas, Everest Base Camp and the fascinating sights and cultures of Tibet and China and the stunning scenery of Kyrgyzstan before retracing the ancient Silk Road through Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan and then finally into Georgia and Turkey, this expedition offers so much. Historical and cultural sights abound, as does incredible natural beauty, wide open spaces and awe-inspiring mountains and lakes, with plenty of opportunity to get involved in the local ways of life and enjoy unforgettable hospitality.

Details of Upcoming Expeditions

Please remember, due to the nature of these expeditions they book up a long time in advance, so book early to avoid disappointment.

Overview

Join Odyssey Overland for an epic overland expedition from Kathmandu to Istanbul via the Silk Road and the Himalayas.  Our 12-week expedition takes you through 9 countries and gives you the opportunity to explore and experience parts of the world that others have never even heard of, let alone been to!

Our expedition departs from Nepal and then goes via Tibet, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Georgia before finishing in the incredible city of Istanbul in Turkey.

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HIGHLIGHTS

It is hard to narrow down a list of highlights for our expedition, but here is our attempt! The Route Plan has more detail, a week-by-week itinerary and some amazing photos taken by expedition members to whet your appetite…

• Kathmandu, an iconic city with plenty to explore.

• Bungy jumping, canyoning and rafting in the north of Nepal.

• Tibet and Everest Base Camp and the high roads through the Himalayas.

• The magical and holy Lhasa with the Potala Palace, once the home of the Dalai Lama. Visit the Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka Palace, as well as the Sera and Drepsung Monasteries.

• Visit Turpan the second lowest point on earth at 152m below sea level.

• Visit a section of the Great Wall from the Han Dynasty.

• Visit the impressive Mogao Caves in Dunhuang with their gigantic sitting Buddhas.

• Visit the town of Kashgar with its amazing Silk Road history as well as its place in the Great Game played between Britain and the Russia.

• Through the Tian Shan Mountains and over the Torugart pass into Kyrgyzstan.

• Bushcamps and hiking galore around the stunning lakes of Song Kol and Issyk-kul.

• Stay with local families in Yurts, local homes and camp out as we get to know the local people and their customs.

• Explore the ancient Silk Road cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva in Uzbekistan.

• Cross the Karakum Desert, the hottest desert in Central Asia.

• Turkmenistan – totally wacky. Visit the Darvaza Gas Crater and explore the surreal Ashgabat.

• Cross the Caspian Sea, an adventure in itself!

• Azerbaijan where the oil oozes out of the soil as well as ancient Silk Road caravanserais and the funky city of Baku. Visit the Maiden’s Tower and the Shirvan Shakh Palace.

• Fantastic Georgia, friendly people, the home of wine, amazing mountains, great trekking with lots of Christian history.

• Explore Tbilisi the Georgian capital.

• Host a village party.

• Take a dip in the Black Sea.

• Checkout the Stalin Museum in Gori, his birthplace.

• Visit the amazing town of Mestia high in the Caucasus Mountains where they only built the road in to it in 1935 and play spot the tourist between some great trekking and exploring the feud towers of the area.

• Float high above the crazy landscapes of Goreme in Cappadocia in a hot air balloon.

• Historic Istanbul, the meeting place of European and Asian cultures.

This is only just scratching the surface of all the amazing things we will see and experience as we travel along this incredible route.

TRANSPORT

A custom-built Mercedes Benz overland truck, designed especially for this expedition will be our home whilst on the road. The truck gives us the flexibility to get off the beaten track and head into the wilds of countries like Georgia and Kyrgyzstan. For more information about the truck and other equipment that we carry, please see the Our Trucks page.

But you won’t just be travelling on the truck – along the way we use many other forms of transport taking us to those more inaccessible areas required to get us to see as much as possible while en route. It might be camels in the deserts, a local rickshaw, an old jeep to get us up some small mountain track, or down the back streets of some ancient Silk Road city. Even an old Russian ferry to cross the Caspian Sea! It's all an adventure and as an expedition member you can do it all and be involved in every stage. The more you are involved, the more you will enjoy it!

FOOD & ACCOMMODATION

We camp about 50% of the time during our expedition from Kathmandu to Istanbul, with the remaining time spent in small local-run hotels or guesthouses. Don’t worry if you haven’t camped a lot in the past, we do it in style with large, easy-to-erect tents, comfy camp chairs, and amazing food cooked over an open fire or the gas cooker using fresh ingredients from the markets we visit along the way. Most of our ex-expedition members rate camping as a highlight of the trip as it really allows us to get off the beaten track, away from the crowds (other than curious locals!), and to experience some breathtaking scenery – from snow capped peaks to mud volcanoes, beautiful mountain streams to desert lakes – and everything in between!

Remember that we run small groups (up to 22), with a focus on really exploring all the amazing places we will pass through on this incredible journey. Our itinerary allows enough time to see all the incredible sights along the way, as well as time to chill out and relax. We have been there and done it and have the knowledge and skills to make this the trip of your lifetime, and we are there to give you as much or as little help as you want along the way. This is a traveller’s journey, no packaged holiday!

So take the plunge, do your research and book onto the expedition of a lifetime. Due to the nature of these expeditions, they do book up a long way in advance, so if you are considering it, don’t delay, and get in touch with us.

Click here to get details of how to book, and let the adventures begin!

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Want to know more?

Click on the links below to find out everything you need to know about this epic expedition:

• Overview and highlights
• Weekly route plan
• Optional activities
• Food & accommodation
• Pre-trip planning
• Costs & booking