Silk Road Motorcycle Journey: Germany to Kyrgyzstan

The Silk Road motorcycle journey begins in Germany. Over winding Alpine roads the route heads towards Venice, where the group meets in the evening after individual arrivals and sets off together before the actual eastward stage begins.

Arrival in Venice, the former endpoint of the historic Silk Road from which Marco Polo once set out. Motorcycles are prepared for the ferry crossing while the group spends the first shared evening in the lagoon city.

A free day to explore Venice before the actual Pamir Highway motorcycle tour heads east and the long ride through Europe draws to a close. Canals, bridges and St Mark's Square invite one last relaxed stroll.

Embarkation at the port of Venice; the ferry heads towards Greece. The night is spent at sea in two-berth cabins while the motorcycles are safely lashed down on board and the first major leg of the journey gets under way.

The ferry arrives in Igoumenitsa in the afternoon and the support truck takes over riders' luggage. A stage into the hilly interior leads near the famous Meteora monasteries, one of the most impressive stops on this Silk Road motorcycle journey.

Riding over fine Greek mountain roads past Thessaloniki, a calm transition day on this Silk Road motorcycle journey before the crossing into Asia, with winding passes and wide views over the Greek landscape.

Continuing to the Turkish border and crossing the 5.5 km-wide Dardanelles by ferry. Near Canakkale the Turkey motorcycle tour switches from the European to the Asian continent – a symbolic moment on the road to Central Asia.

Via Eskisehir the group reaches an impressive volcanic crater where an overnight stop is planned – a calm end to the day before continuing to Cappadocia on this Turkey motorcycle stage.

Country roads lead to Göreme in Cappadocia. The fairy chimneys – dwellings carved into tufa rock formations – are among the most striking stops on this eastward motorcycle stage and invite an extended photo break among the rocks.

Ascent to the iconic Nemrut Dag, whose centuries-old stone statues tell the story of the Commagene kingdom's kings. Enough time is allowed for the summit, the sunset and a wide view over the Anatolian plateau.

Riding to Lake Van, the large inland lake of eastern Turkey with its dramatic mountain backdrop – a landscape highlight of this Asia enduro tour shortly before the Iranian border, with quiet lakeside roads and snow-capped peaks in view.

Riding through the Turkish-Iranian border region with views of the snow-capped Greater Ararat. In Dogubeyazit the Ishak Pasha Palace stands above the plain, and the atmosphere of the old Silk Road trade route is still tangible in the lively border town.

Just 40 km to the Iranian border, then on to Tabriz. In the spacious El-Goli park the group experiences Iranian leisure culture for the first time, with picnics spanning all generations – a warm first encounter with this host country.

Continuing to Hamadan, where the world-renowned physician Avicenna found his final resting place. A fine waterfall near the city offers a chance to relax before the route heads on towards Isfahan.

Iran's mountain country leads to legendary Isfahan with its 17th-century bazaar, the 33-arch bridge Si-o-Se-Pol and the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque on Imam Square – with an optional side trip to nearby Persepolis.

On good roads the route enters the desert zone at Yazd, situated between the Dasht-e Kavir and the Dasht-e Lut. The fire temple, wind towers and Towers of Silence define this Iran stage and reveal the region's ancient Zoroastrian history.

Through the Dasht-e Kavir desert with an overnight stay in an oasis, then down over the Alborz mountains into the subtropical climate of Mahmud Abad on the Caspian Sea – a striking climate change within just a few riding hours.

This Caspian Sea motorcycle stage follows the southern shore through Golestan National Park, home to brown bears and the rare Asiatic cheetah, before the Kopet Dag range leads towards Turkmenistan.

Border crossing through the narrow mountain range into Turkmenistan and on to Ashgabat, founded in 1881 at the crossroads of caravan routes and defined by monumental buildings, wide boulevards and spacious parks.

On rough gravel-like tracks through the Karakum desert to the famous Derweze gas crater and north to the Turkmen-Uzbek border town of Dasoguz, where this Turkmenistan motorcycle stage ends.

Entry into Uzbekistan and a short ride to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Khiva, whose intact old town earns a well-deserved rest day on this Uzbekistan motorcycle tour before continuing to the next caravan cities.

Continuing to Bukhara, another gem of the Silk Road. Two nights are spent in an old madrasa now housing a small hotel, set in the heart of the impressive old town with its numerous historic monuments.

Under 280 km on good roads to Samarkand. Accommodation is in a charming garden guesthouse in the old town, not far from the world-famous Registan Square – the architectural highlight of this Uzbekistan motorcycle tour.

Through steppe-like hill country towards Termez, then border crossing into Tajikistan and on to the capital Dushanbe – the border closes as early as 4 pm, so time buffers are built in throughout this stage.

Following the roaring Panj, the border river with Afghanistan, to Khorog. A rest day is scheduled for the botanical garden at 2,200 m on this Tajikistan motorcycle tour before heading higher into the Pamir.

The route leaves the main road and heads to the remote Bulunkul Lake, where the group stays overnight in a tiny village at the edge of the Pamir – one of the most isolated stops on this Pamir Highway motorcycle tour.

Over an outstanding gravel track back to the main road and along the Chinese border on the Pamir Highway to Karakul Lake at 4,020 m, with views of the snow-covered peaks of the Trans-Alay range.

Over the 4,280 m Kysyl-Art Pass into Kyrgyzstan and down through winding roads into the Alai Valley. The Kyrgyzstan motorcycle tour reaches Osh, home to the largest open market in Central Asia, overlooked by the sacred Suleyman-Too mountain.

Riding to Arslanbob, a small town surrounded by ancient Kyrgyz walnut forests cultivated since the time of Alexander the Great and still among the world's largest natural walnut groves.

A rough track winds up to the mountain lake Son Kul in the middle of Kyrgyz high pastures dotted with summer yurt camps, where the group enjoys lakeside camp life at around 3,020 metres altitude.

Along the southern shore of Issyk-Kul and the flanks of the Tien Shan into the Barskoon river valley with its 100-metre waterfalls – one of the most visually dramatic sections of this Kyrgyzstan motorcycle tour.

Riding to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, over the final kilometres of this long Central Asia motorcycle adventure route before the group prepares for the journey's end.

This Germany-to-Kyrgyzstan motorcycle journey ends in Bishkek with motorcycle handover to the shipper. Return flight or individual onward travel closes this long Silk Road motorcycle tour.