The Flaming Mountains, China
Stretching over 100km long and 10km wide, the mountains are so named because, under the relentless heat of the midday sun, they radiate a fierce heat and appear to be on fire.

The Terracotta Warriors of Xi’an, China
Six thousand intricately carved, life size clay statues of terracotta warriors and their horses stand in battle formation, and have been protecting the mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor in Chinese history, for over 2,200 years.

Bukhara, Uzbekistan
This living medieval city is packed full of ancient architecture and bustles with life and atmosphere.

Dunhuang, China
Once an oasis town and stop-off for weary travellers, Dunhuang’s magnificent Mogao cave temples are a fascinating remnant of days bone by.

Samarkand, Uzbekistan
This grand city features exquisite Islamic architecture on a majestic scale, along side Soviet-style avenues and green spaces.

As we are talking about a vast range of countries and climates, there is no one great time to go. Generally speaking we’d say April through to October, but we’re happy to advise on any specific itinerary you choose.

My journey through the Silk Road was everything I dreamt it to be! The colourful yet clean bazaars brimming with fresh fruits (oh my goodness the fruits were incredible), beautiful breads neatly stacked and the exquisite fabrics and tapestries caught my eye at every turn. It would be hard not to talk about the Silk Road and not mention the architecture – truly a photographer’s dream with vibrant blue mosaics taking on a whole new shade especially in the early morning sun. Walking the streets the locals were genuinely warm and friendly and did not feel the need to harass tourists to buy trinkets or souvenirs making the experience charming and relaxing. Who would have thought Uzbekistan was such a fabulous place to buy Christmas decorations!

The real surprise of the journey was lesser-visited Kyrgyzstan – a country still developing its tourism which made it an even more authentic place to experience. Apart from more friendly people (who were so excited to welcome us to their country) it was the pristine scenery that captivated me – something the Kyrgyzstan government is working hard to protect. Travelling past snow-capped mountains and turquoise blue rivers we arrived at Lake Issy-Kul located in the Tianshan Mountain range where locals greeted us with an incredible display of traditional sports and games – an absolute highlight of the trip. To top it off there was an opportunity to hold a Golden Eagle weighing an impressive six kilos!

This part of the world is still untouched in so many ways, which is what makes it so special. You won’t find big fancy hotels, large attractions or even great roads at times – what you will find is a region in which the simplest things become the highlights.

Davina Bennetto