10 stunning Silk Road sites, to Naples by train, Venice without the crowds
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Good evening. A major new exhibition at London’s British Museum shines a light on the Silk Roads - the ancient trading routes that once criss-crossed a vast array of countries, linking the east to the west. As our writer Caroline Eden says "the term 'Silk Roads' is a convenient label for sprawling geographies, fuzzy-edged spiritual territories and a timeline stretching from roughly 200BC to AD1400.” Silk was but one precious item that travelled along vast interlocking networks through deserts and mountains, crossing countless borders. A regular traveller to central Asia, Caroline describes a journey from Tajikistan into Uzbekistan, visiting places where “you don’t need all that much imagination to picture how it once was”. From sprawling bazaars to mosaic-covered mosques, from tea made with classic Silk Roads spices like cardamom and saffron to huge tombstones carved from jade, there are countless treasures to unearth, surrounded by landscapes of soaring peaks and apricot fields. Though much has changed over the centuries, much remains the same. “You’ll find people haggling over the price of gold and bolts of beautiful ikat fabrics in rainbow colours, just as they have always done,” says Caroline. No wonder connecting the Silk Roads dots became addictive, drawing her back to the region year after year. Elsewhere Caroline picks 10 of the greatest Silk Roads sites, from hilltop İshak Pasha palace in Turkey to the oasis city of Dunhuang in China - places sure to inspire wanderlust. | Andy Pietrasik Head of Travel |
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| On the Silk Roads: adventure and historical riches in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan Read more |
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Our travel picks of the week | | | |
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Featured trip | The Silk Road - save £100pp
| | Follow in the footsteps of ancient traders as you journey through Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on this immersive small group tour. Wonder at the architecture of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva’s walled city, Itchan Kala, explore traditional cultures including spending a night in a Kyrgyz yurt plus enjoy the spectacular landscapes of lakes and the Tien Shan mountains. | View deal |
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| ‘Majestic brightness’: Warsaw’s Museum of Modern Art finds a new permanent home |
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This week's favourite trips |
| | Pompeii, Capri and the Bay of Naples Enjoy a guided tour of Pompeii, a full day on Capri, a visit to the beautiful Rufolo Gardens and the chance to explore the Amalfi Coast. | View deal |
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| | Imperial cities of Morocco This classic tour takes in the sights of Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat and Fez plus the fascinating Roman site of Volubilis. | View deal |
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| | Spirit of Krakow Explore the historic sights of Krakow including the beautiful medieval old town and the spectacular state rooms of Wawel Castle. | View deal |
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| ‘I stood on the sunny hilltop imagining I was a Roman’: readers’ favourite ancient sites in Europe |
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Deal of the week | On safari in South Africa - Karongwe Reserve - save up to 14% | Go in search of the ‘big five’ in their natural habitat on morning and late afternoon game drives with an experience tracker, enjoy a special dinner in the heart of the bush under the stars and spend seven nights full board at a luxury tented camp in the Karongwe reserve. Save up to 14% on January to March 2024 departures, subject to availability. Prices shown include the discount. | | View deal |
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| Image of the week | A car-free trip around Aberdeenshire: I saw natural beauty I thought was out of reach
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