The Silk Route Cycling Expedition: A Cast Of Characters

Miles MacDonald was the chef and one of the lead organizers on the first 2 Silk Route expeditions in 2007 and 2008. Now as TDA’s Operations Manager, he reflects on the local partners and friends he has made over the years that make this tour possible.

From a logistical standpoint, one could argue that the Silk Route Bicycle Expedition is the most difficult that TDA organizes. While some of the challenges have gotten simpler since our inaugural edition in 2007, such as the tourist visa process for each country on route, other areas have gotten much more complex, especially due to wars and geo-political tensions disrupting parts of the traditional route.

One element that has remained the same since the first edition, including during the recently completed 2025 Silk Route, is the importance of the local contacts we work with in each country we cycle through. Their knowledge, expertise and logistical arrangements are a key ingredient to the success of the tour. We could not do it without them. In addition, over all these years, many of the people we work with have become our friends and it is a great pleasure communicating with them in the year before the tour, as well as working with them in person once arriving in their country.

To give you an idea of the cast of characters we are so fortunate to work with, and who help us facilitate such a complex tour, I’ll give a brief introduction to each of our local support people from the Silk Route:

China: Jimmy

Miles with Jimmy

We were lucky to first start working with Jimmy in 2012 with the scouting of the Chinese portion of the Bamboo Road (which went from Shanghai to Hong Kong and onwards to Vietnam). While not working in tourism before meeting us, his energy, local knowledge and love of heavy metal music has been our enormous gain to have experienced.

Mongolia: Aldra and Mongolia Expeditions

Aldra, his Mongolia Expedition company and amazing crew of drivers and guides have been assisting us in Mongolia since our first time in the country back in 2016. They are kind, efficient and good friends now. A special shout out goes to Balu, our lead driver of the Russian ‘Yaz’ vans who supports our tour while in Mongolia and who happens to be a wrestler extraordinaire.

Kazakhstan/Kyrgyzstan: Vadim & Lilo

Vadim (left) has been our go to support in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan since 2023. His mountaineering experience, and knowledge of the region is next to none and his 4×4 comes in handy too! Since 2018 Lilo (right)has been our main contact in advance of the tour, arranging accommodations and permits.

Tajikistan: Jovid & Alisho

Jovid (L) & Alisho (R in driver’s seat)

Jovid has been helping us in Tajikistan since 2014, he’s now based in the U.S., but assists with all logistics and communications with local officials. He’s seen us through thick and thin in the Pamirs, the most challenging portion of the Silk Route tour. Alisho was our in-person translator/guide on the tour this year and we look forward to working with him further.

Uzbekistan: Timur / Rustam

Our longest professional relationship along the Silk Route is with Rustam (above), who after 15 years had his son start supporting us on our Silk Route tour. Everyone who had a chance to work with Rustam has a story to tell, and his son Timur is a true pro that has continued the tradition. It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years working together.

During this year’s tour, we were fortunate to have a team of 4 Uzbekistan drivers (left) and their vehicles supporting us the entire time in Central Asia, while Fazli (right) was our translator/guide while in Uzbekistan.

Georgia: Zaza / David

Our first interaction with Zaza (left) saw him patiently waiting for us at the Georgian/Turkish border where we were supposed to arrive in 2008, but could not due to the bombing and invasion of Georgia by Russia at that same moment in time. After this difficult beginning, were have been fortunate to continue working with him, and his son David (right), during our time in Georgia, and also enjoying his wines from his vineyard in Ikalto along our route!

Turkey: Ozgur/Sinan

Ozgur (L) & Sinan (R)

Ozgur has been working with us for a decade and has been a tour leader or assistant tour leader on many trips with TDA and is an expert route researcher in Turkey and beyond. His accommodation arrangements and scouting of the route over the years have added much to the quality of tour while in Turkey and the local highlights we experience. Sinan has also been working with TDA on multiple tours and for many years, as well as being our guide and translator in Turkey, and is a friend for close to 20 years now.

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