19 April to 2 May 2008

Following the historic Silk Road, this stage follows in the footsteps of famous traders and explorers like Marco Polo or Sven Hedin. The steppes of Kazakhstan promise pure off-road pleasure, whilst the Cosmodrome in Baikonur gives us an enticing insight into the world of space travel.

8 people

3,799 EUR

Individual arrival in Astrakhan, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Astrakhan

Organizational matters/vehicle instruction, sightseeing with visit to the Kremlin in Astrakhan, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Astrakhan

Stage for the day: Astrakhan – Atyrau (360 km), cross the border from Russia into Kazakhstan, take the old Silk Road through desert landscapes beside the Caspian Sea, camp overnight in the Zhajyk delta nature reserve on the Caspian Sea near Atyrau

Stage for the day: Atyrau – Sagiz (300 km), cross the continental border from Europe into Asia, travel through the Kazakhstan steppes, camp overnight near Sagiz

Stage for the day: Sagiz – Quandyyaghash (250 km), off-road through the Kazakhstan steppes, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Quandyyaghash

Stage for the day: Quandyyaghash – Shalqa (260 km), off-road through Kazakhstan steppe and desert country, camp overnight near Shalqar

Stage for the day: Shalqua – Aral (220 km), drive to the Aral Sea and over what used to be the bottom of the sea to the "Ships' Graveyard" to look at the various shipwrecks, camp overnight by the Aral Sea near Aral

Stage for the day: Aral – Qyzylorda (470 km), guided tour of the Cosmodrome at Baikonur*, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Qyzylorda

Stage for the day: Qyzylorda – Zhabagly (550 km), travel along the Kazakhstan Silk Road to the monument complex of Hodzha Achmed Yassawi's burial mosque, visit the Bögen reservoir, dinner together and overnight in a guesthouse in Zhabagly

Stage for the day: Zhabagly – Zhabagly, choose between a riding trip through the Aksu-Zhabagly nature reserve or an off-road day trip to the Aksu Canyon*, dinner together and overnight in a guesthouse in Zhabagly

Stage for the day: Zhabagly – Taras (230 km), visit the mausoleum of Aysha Bibi, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Taras

Stage for the day: Taras – Almaty (550 km), travel along the Talas Mountains, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Almaty

Sightseeing in Almaty, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Almaty

Individual departures from Almaty