A spectacular traverse of the fabled Tien Shan and adjacent Pamir Alai, that stretch for hundreds of kilometres from Central Asia to connect with western China and encompass a rich variety of landscapes and habitats from alpine turf to steppe and pencil spruce forests. These support a tremendous diversity of flora from vast drifts of primulas and trollius to the elegant spires of foxtail lilies, the remarkable giant bell flower, Ostrowskia magnifica and fabulous alpines that encrust the slopes of high passes reaching nearly four thousand metres. Woven into this are traces of the old Silk Road, with remote caravanserai and ancient petroglyphs left by the ancestors of nomadic peoples that still spend their summers herding livestock in the vast mountain wilderness. A pre-tour looks at areas of Uzbekistan with vast displays of foxtail lilies and rare endemics.
A 16-day tour with Chris Gardner
We can organise cultural pretours to see the wonderful Timurid architecture of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. PLease ask for details.
Departure from Istanbul in the late afternoon of 25 May.
For those joining the tour today, you will have departed from Istanbul (25 May) arrived in the early morning (26 May) and transferred to the same hotel. After breakfast we’ll set off to search for one of the loveliest flowers in Central Asia, Ostrowskia magnifica. They are found in many locations, but the best is in cool shady walnut woodlands where the tall stems are topped by outrageous big white bells. In the afternoon we’ll visit a second locality before continuing higher to a fine area of flowers with thousands of Eremurus hissaricus mixed with stands of E. robustus, Iris hoogiana, Dictamnus albus and the pretty shrub Restella alberti. Overnight Dushanbe.
Today we travel to the Darvaz Mountains crossing large areas of steppe filled with vast numbers of spiny thistles, the pale-yellow plumes of Delphinium semibarbatum, elegant stands of Incarvillea olgae and robust spires of Verbascum songaricus. There is also another chance to see Ostrowskia magnifica, this time growing with Rhaponticoides gontscharovii. Our route then hugs the Tajik-Afghan border, formed by the rushing Panj River and following a deep and impressive gorge. Overnight Darvoz.
The dry hills yield to altogether greener heights with graceful golden spires of Eremurus stenophyllus, tumbling masses of lovely big-flowered Lathyrus mulkak amongst robust clumps of Polygonum coriarium. There are wonderful combinations of Eremurus robustus and Allium stipitatum, the purple of Iris darwasica, elegant arching stems of large-flowered Rosa corymbifera laden with big pink flowers, cerise Paeonia intermedia and the superb pink spikes of Phlomoides lehmanniana. Overnight Darvoz.
A gem of a valley lies tucked away in the hills, undetectable from the dry Panj River valley. A rough road leads to a fascinating area of scattered walnut woodlands and vast and lush big herb meadows dominated by architectural Prangos pabularia, fabulous stands of Phlomoides lehmanniana and the abundant Rosa kokanica perfuming the air. It is all a million miles away from the hot dry lowlands. We’ll take a straightforward walk along the valley, serenaded by nightingales the whole way. Overnight Darvoz.
The complexities of Central Asia’s borders and creaky road network make it necessary to retrace our steps to Dushanbe. For those with the energy we can take a short but steep hike up to the ancient Karon castle and although the ruins are rather scant the views of the mountains and into Afghanistan are stunning. We'll also stop to look for Eremurus bucharicus, Salvia sclarea and Scabiosa songarica and the fine landscapes above Nurek reservoir. Overnight Dushanbe.
A short morning flight has us in Kyrgyzstan by lunchtime. If we arrive on time there will be an excursion to Ala Archa national park near the city with fine views along a quintessential Tien Shan valley and for those with the energy the chance to hike to a waterfall where the lovely Primula minkwittsiae grows on the rocks. Overnight Bishkek.
Leaving the capital, we head south along a deep valley rising to the Tor Ashu Pass and exiting onto the vast Suusaymyr Plateau. A large colony of Paeonia intermedia will be flowering as will the first Aconitum leucostomum. Traversing the plateau, flowers are plentiful with drifts of blue Myosotis asiatica mixed with Pedicularis dolichorhiza, Trollius altaicus, Dactylorhiza umbrosa and as we progress oceans of Primula algida. Detouring onto the Otmok Pass we’ll find abundant Viola altaica, Dracocephalum nutans, Trollius komarovii, Chorispora macropoda and golden Tulipa dasystemon before descending to our pleasant if rustic riverside accommodation nestled among woods with abundant Codonopsis clematidea. Overnight Chichkan.
Incredible populations of lilac-pink Primula algida paint the high turf of the pass, where we will also find swathes of orangey Trollius altaicus, Allium fedtschenkoana and pink Pedicularis alberti. Lower areas of steppe have Scutellaria adenostegia, Phlomoides speciosa and purple Phlomides oreophila mingled with the dainty drumsticks of Polygonum nitens and rank upon rank of Eremurus fuscus. Overnight among the spruces at Chichkan.
Recrossing the Ala Bel Pass and more of its floral magnificence, we then traverse extensive pastureland crossing the grassy steppe we pass numerous photogenic yurts and herds of horses before we enter rugged gorges with spectacular scree slopes and coloured rocks, which the lovely Chesneya ferganica calls home. There are some impressive old graveyards, abundant Iris halophila, Clematis songaricus and the curious deep-red Lindelofia stylosa alongside stands of Ligularia grandifolia and fields of Thermopsis turkestanica. Overnight Kochkor.
Surrounding the huge expanse of Song-Kul are alpine areas rich in flowers. Below the pass the incomparable Trollius lilacinus flowers near snow patch with Tulipa heterophylla, T. dasystemon and deep purple Allium atrosanguineum, whereas rocks overlooking the limpid waters of the lake are encrusted with saxifrages, androsaces and dracocephalums. Descending from the lakeland plateau we find Primula brotheri, Doronicum turkestanicum and Corydalis gortschakovii. Overnight Naryn.
A classic remnant of the old Silk Road the restored caravanserai at Tash Rabat embodies the harsh realities of travel along the road. Nearby cliffs have the refined beauty of Paraquilegia caespitosa and Cortusa brotheri, whilst hidden waterfalls have tumbling masses of Clematis alpina subsp. sibirica and Ligularia narynensis. Overnight Naryn.
A delightful little valley full of Dactylorhiza umbrosa, Codonopsis clematidea and Primula matthioli amongst other things interrupts the drive to the immense Issyk-Kul, the lake at the heart of the Kyrgyzstan. Peculiar dark brown parasitic Cynomorium songaricum burst from the bare ground among a host of new steppe flowers at the colourful Fairytale Canyon, a complex of red, orange and yellow rocks and clays. Overnight Tamga.
A high, wide and wild plateau lies between mountain ridges, where drifts of Trollius lilacinus and golden Ranunculus albertii colour the wet turf and clumps of Allium semenovii nestle near the many alpine tarns. Heavy screes have countless Callianthemum alatavicum, and the localised gem Desideria flabellata whose lilac-pink flowers appear with intense magenta Primula nivalis. Overnight Karakol.
A diverse botanical mixture sees first tall meadows with Aconitum leucostomum, Polemonium caucasicum, Codonopsis clematidea, Veratrum lobelianum and wine-red Aquilegia atrovinosa before we climb to the high pass with screes peppered with Chorispora bungeana, Aster alpinus, androsaces, saxifrages, and the incomparable beauty of Corydalis fedtschenkoana. Views from the pass are spectacular. Overnight Karakol.
We follow the shore of Lake Issyk-Kul stopping to look at the petroglyphs at Cholpon-Ata and the Burana Tower as well as fine displays of Alcea nudiflora. Overnight Bishkek.
25 May - 10 June 2027
Per person (twin share): 6500 USD (tbc).
Deposit 1000 USD
Single Supplement 800 USD
Included:
*Minimum number of participants 5, maximum 12.
*Minimum number for pre-tour and extension is 5, maximum 12.
For more information on our tours
Turkey: +90 535 4125286 | UK: +44 (0)795 854 6807
