The 2027 Silk Route Cycling Expedition: An Update

No two editions of the Silk Route Bicycle Expedition have ever been the same, with each year bringing route adjustments, small or large, based on road conditions, geo-politics, accommodation changes and the general goal of improving the experience each edition.

For 2027, we’re excited to say that we’ve made some small, but we believe very beneficial changes to the route.

The Trans-Siberian in Mongolia

The first change is the inclusion of a segment of the Trans-Siberian railway, from the China – Mongolia border to the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar on The Great Wall section. This will be an overnight journey, removing a stretch of highway cycling which was less ideal due to heavy truck traffic. The train itself will be a unique experience, with its colourful Soviet era train cars, perhaps best enjoyed with a sip of Mongolian vodka as you gaze out at the Gobi Desert.

>>Click here for all the details for the 2027 Silk Route Cycling Expedition

Arial view of Erdene Zu Monestary

It also gives the cyclists more time to explore the wild steppe of Mongolia after Ulaanbaatar, including a visit to Erdene Zu in Kharkorin, the oldest surviving Buddhist monastery in Mongolia.

Spices, Jayma Bazaar

We also added an extra rest day at the end of the Mountains and Meadows section as well as one on the Pamir Highway section. These two sections are two of the most challenging and beautiful sections of TDA tours due to the mountainous terrain and remote locale. The extra days off the bike will give a chance for recovery, as well as a chance to explore the over 2000-year-old Jayma Bazaar in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, our double rest day location in-between the two sections.

Tashkent metro station

After cycling on the Golden Road section of the Silk Route to the ancient Silk Route and UNESCO world heritage cities of Samarkand and Bukhara in Uzbekistan, we have adjusted our route to avoid a stretch of desert highway, and travel by another Soviet era train to the capital of Uzbekistan, Tashkent. Though destroyed by Ghenghis Khan in 1219, the city has made a remarkable comeback! It’s art filled metro stations are a must visit.

Georgia vineyard

During the Across the Caucasus section through Georgia we’ve kept our same route, and our same visit to the Ikalto vineyard of our local support person Zaza, where we highly recommend trying his wine! In Türkiye many of our cyclists have commented that the country has been their favourite place to cycle during the tour, but also that it was a very tough country to cycle due to the ever-undulating terrain and longer distances.

For this reason we’ve added a rest day in Sebinkarahisar, with the village’s name meaning “The Black Fortress of Seb” with the “Seb” being an Armenian word, showing the previous ethnic diversity of the village. The fortress referred to, perched above the village, being built and rebuilt over 2000 years by multiple civilizations. In addition, we’ve been able to break up a few of the longer cycling days, so that we can savour the scenery a bit more! We’re excited for the adventures ahead!

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