ITINERARY / WHEN TO GO - SILK ROAD FROM TURKEY (ISTANBUL) TO CHINA (XIAN)

[nicolas.mt]

Hello all!

I am planning to cross Asia in the near futur. I love hiking and nature. I'm looking for tips as to when to go and which direction should I go (from Turkey to China or the opposite).

So far my itinreray will include:
Georgia / Armenia / Azerbadjan: 3 weeks;
Turkménistan: 1 week (on a transit visa);
Ouzbékistan: 1 week (might be more - it is suggested more in the books);
Tadjikistan: min. 2-3 weeks (Fan mountains and Pamir Highway);
Kyrgyzstan: to be determined but I would like to hike, do a horse trek and stay in yourts

I intended to start in the middle of July but I'm realizing it might be too late in the season when I'll be arriving in Kyrgyzstan as described below
Georgia / Armenia / Azerbadjan: July;
Turkménistan: 1 week: August
Ouzbékistan: 2 weeks: August
Tadjikistan: min. 3 weeks: September
Kyrgyzstan: Late september / october

Any tips and / or advices?

[Christian77]

You've chosen the worst possible time to be in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. It will be unbearable hot. And you will have problems with weather at higher elevations in Kyrgyzstan on the dates you've chosen. Tajikistan should be fine for the time frame you've chosen.

You would have a better time being in Kyrgyzstan in August and then hitting Tajikistan after that, then getting to Uzbekistan/Turkmenistan after the summer ends...