Expeditions

Epic Expeditions

Silk Road & Tibet

Highlights

The fabled Silk Road traverses a formidable expanse of territory, with a rich tapestry of cultures to uncover and extraordinary roads to ride. We take the road less travelled, through countries where tourism is only in its infancy. The Pamir Highway in Tajikistan, the Tibetan Plateau and the route to Everest are just some of the extraordinary roads to ride on what is an extremely challenging and unpredictable journey, testing your abilities both on and off the bike. Once in Eastern China, the Giant Pandas, Terracotta Army and Great Wall await!

Route Map

View Silk Road East - London to Beijing in a larger map

Is it for me?

Number of Days/Duration	80 days (11 weeks)
Approx total miles	13,000
Accommodation	85% hotels & 15% home-stays (plus 1 night camping)
Meals Included	All Breakfasts. 11 Group Evening Meals plus any Evening Camp Meals
Culture Shock Rating	Intense
Riding Difficulty	Moderate to Difficult

Riding Conditions

This is our toughest expedition and is only suitable for those with advanced road riding skills, experienced in riding up to 400 road miles in one day and be confident at tackling up to 250 miles on challenging, unpaved roads. Three weeks of riding is at high altitudes over 4,000 metres, where it is often cold. Ideally you should also have other travel experience in developing countries, either on or off the bike.

What's Included?

Pre-Expedition:

Two Days off road skills training
One Days advanced rider course
One Days FBOS first aid course
Two Days preparatory and final briefing meetings
GlobeBusters guidance handbook
Access to the GlobeBusters forum

On the Road:

All accomodation as described
All breakfasts
One group dinner per week
Motorcycle Guide
Second Motorcycle Guide if group is over 12 riders
Support Vehicle
Second Support Vehicle in China
Detailed daily route notes with GPS information
Local guides as required for travel
Permissions and permits for travel*
Return sea freight of your motorcycle to UK (UK/EU Price Only)**

* Excludes Personal Visa costs and Letters of Invitation costs.

** For a price including bespoke freight requirements please contact us.

Detailed Itinerary

Week 1 - Europe

An intense ride across Europe to reach Istanbul, Turkey approximately one week after departure. Our route will see us crossing France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria & Greece. Enter Turkey and ride across the Bosphurus, declaring itself the gateway into Asia.

Week 2 & 3 – Turkey, Georgia & Azerbaijan

Enter Turkey and onto the old imperial capital, Istanbul where Europe meets Asia. Visit the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia & Topkapi Palace or maybe just bargain in the Grand Bazaar! Depart over the Bosphorus Straits and ride through the heart of Turkey. Explore the unique moon-like landscape, underground cities, cave churches and houses carved in the rocks in Cappadocia. Soak in the thermal springs at Kangal, being nibbled by fish! The ancient fortress and ruined hammam in Kars and the uninhabited medieval Armenian city of Ani.

Georgia and the capital, Tblisi. The oil rich country of Azerbaijan. Through the Northern Caucasas Mountains to Sheki and stay in an ancient caravanserai. Baku, the capital city, where we catch our overnight boat across the Caspian Sea.

Week 3 & 4 – Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan

Desert roads in Turkmenistan to the marble white capital city of Ashgabat. North through the Karakum Desert. Stopover in a teahouse and head for a night viewing of the Darvaza Gas Crater, known locally as “The Door to Hell”!

Follow in the tracks of Genghis Khan, as we head into Uzbekistan and continue to follow the Silk Road. The ancient walled city of Khiva, where you can wander through the narrow alleys to see the mosques, minarets and madrasahs. Onto Bhukara and then Samarkand, with the UNESCO listed Registan and its three madrasahs. Break bread with the locals and enjoy fresh kebabs cooked over coals.

Week 5 - Tajikistan

The capital city, Dushanbe. Ride the Pamir Highway through the sparsely populated mountain regions of Tajikistan. With its peak at 4,655m, this is the second highest altitude international highway in the world. It’s a challenging dirt road along the Wakhan Valley, bordering Afghanistan. The 2nd century Yamchun Fortress, with magnificent views of the Hindu Kush. Stay with local families in home-stays and try yak with onions.

Weeks 6 & 7– Kyrgyzstan & China, Xinjiang Province

A one night yurt home-stay in the south to try the culinary delights of plov, manti or lahgman! Enter China via the Irkestam Pass to Xinjiang Province. The ancient city of Kashgar and its Sunday livestock market is not to be missed. From here, we ride to some of the remotest settlements in the world, with often freezing conditions. Tuck into fresh duck soup and fried cabbage. Grit your teeth on some of the corrugated dirt roads!

Weeks 8 & 9 - Tibet

Over the Khitai Davan Pass at 5,300m. Enter Tibet, the ‘Roof of the World’. High altitude riding continues past the sacred Mount Kailash. Stop in a local teahouse alongside the holy Lake Manasarovar and explore the tiny Buddhist monastery. Ride east in the shadow of the Himalayas and take the spectacular road to Mount Everest Base Camp. Rongbuk Monastery and spin the golden prayer wheels. Lhasa! Visit the Potala Palace and the Buddhist temples of Jokhang and Barkhor. Tibet is not over yet! There’s a week of riding the Tibet-Sichuan Highway, with another three 5,000m passes to cross. This is a rare and unique opportunity to travel by your own motorcycle through towns that foreigners rarely get to see.

Week 10 – China, Sichuan Province

Arriving at Mount Emie is a welcome relief. You can breathe again! We rest here for a few days at the best spa in town to soak those tired limbs. Mount Emie is littered with Buddhist temples, and you can explore the lush green mountains, feed the monkeys and burn incense. Now refreshed, we ride north to Chengdu, where you can visit the Giant Panda Research Base. Feast on a dumpling banquet, whilst you gasp at the Chinese acrobatics.

Weeks 11 - Northern China

Onto Xi’an to view the warrior figurines of the Terracotta Army, take a walk around the ancient city walls and to the Bell & Drum Tower. We plough through the big industrial cities to the Chinese capital, Beijing. With all the dense traffic, it’s combat motorcycling! We take the bikes for freight in the port of Tianjin before returning to the capital and time to wander through Tian’anmen Square and the Forbidden City. There’s time to walk the Great Wall of China, before we have a final celebration meal and head home.

Expedition Preview

Dates & Prices

	2013 (UK / EU) Includes Freight	2013 (Rest of World) Excludes Freight
Start Date	26 April 2013	26 April 2013
End Date	12 July 2013	12 July 2013
Rider Price	£19,995	$30,495
Pillion Price	£10,495	$16,395
Specific Prices	Single Room £4,500	Single Room $7,100
Availability	Available to book now	Available to book now
	Book Now	Book Now

Useful Information

Country/Region Information

Check out country information on the websites below.

Weather Information

The weather will be extremely variable through the trip and altitude also impacts the temperature.

Visas Information

UK Citizens will need to obtain visas in advance of travel for Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and China. All these countries have their Embassy in London. They will normally only acccept applications within 3 months of travel. GlobeBusters will co-ordinate LOI for the group members. Individuals will then need to apply direct to the Embassy or via a visa agent for their visas.

Travel Health Information

You must visit your GP or a specialised travel clinic to get advice on the recommended vaccinations and other health protection measures needed for the countries on this trip. As background, the websites listed below may prove useful.