Silk & Wine Routes

Travelling with Jo is like going on a perfectly curated holiday with a good friend. Not only does she make sure that everything goes to plan, she also knows the best places to shop in the bazaars, the traders you can trust and where to go for a drink and supper afterwards and maybe some live music later! 
Always calm, super knowledgeable and great fun to be with. Thank you Jo. 

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Sarah Barclay, Uzbekistan, October 2025

 

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What a great trip!  I’ve long wanted to go to Albania and this was the perfect trip to start with – an eight-day tour around towns and small villages, ancient archaeological sites and breathtakingly beautiful churches, modern and traditional architecture as well as beautiful scenery and friendly people.  And on top of this, fabulous food and wine!  A great introduction to this country with its intriguing past, all seamlessly organised by Jo Weir and her team – thank you!

Jane Collins, Albania, June 2025

 

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We enjoyed the most amazing trip with Jo through Uzbekistan – visiting amazing cities, staying in great hotels and enjoying the expert insight of Jo and her local expert guide.

 

Richard Lander, Uzbekistan October 2025

 

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I’ve been very fortunate to have travelled to different countries over the years, but I’ve never experienced anything like Kyrgyzstan. The scenery is breathtaking, endless mountain ranges and beautiful lakes. Being in a small group is so much fun, we all became great friends and I’m still in touch with people from the trip. It’s also nice to have the opportunity to do your own thing if you want to, it’s very relaxed. 

 

We stayed in charming guest houses, but my favourite was the yurt, set in a beautiful meadow surrounded by wild flowers and horses. We didn’t want to leave! Some of our group went horse riding with local guides and they loved it. 

 

Our tour guide was with us the whole time and was very knowledgeable and explained everything about the history and culture of Kyrgyzstan, we all adored him! There are many highlights of the trip, but my favourite was the eagle hunting demonstration. It was such a privilege to experience first hand how the locals live and their culture. I can’t wait to return!

 

Caroline Lacey Kyrgyzstan 2024

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Mosques, museums, and Mosoleums! I was not prepared for the majestic beauty I found in the sights and people of the Silk Road, where we immersed ourselves in the foods, spices and cultural traditions of this historic land. Lead by our seasoned hostess Jo and exceptional tour guide Khurshid, our small group were provided with celebrated tales of the region, making every day an unforgettable experience.

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Kim McNally, October 2023

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My wife , Anne, and I have just returned from a really enjoyable 9 day trip to Uzbekistan. Every time you think that you can't see anything more interesting or beautiful.... you do! And Jo is a great tour leader.

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Claude Green

Film Producer, November 2019 

 

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If you want to travel anywhere on the Silk Road, there is no one better to organise your trip than Jo. We spent a wonderful few days in Georgia in March 2019 and she set up the hotels, local guides and a number of trips deeper inside the country that were fascinating and fun. We’re so happy we went before the region gets too popular (and it will) and can’t thank Jo enough for making it so memorable.

 

Johnny Baile

Traveller, March 2019

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II was a bit apprehensive as I had heard some less than positive rumblings about the Ukraine. However, I like to make up my own mind and I joined Jo and a group of amazing women, none of whom I had ever met before. I thought I might feel a bit isolated, but nothing could be further from the truth. We all gelled on many levels and I thoroughly enjoyed the range of adventures we  experienced in two intriguing cities (Lviv and Kiev). The activities were wide -ranging and well-paced. I loved the fact that there was always time for wine (albeit that I fell in love with Ukraine’s vodka) and me being a picky eater, the food was divine everywhere. The local guides were superb in their knowledge and organisation. This is the very best kind of trip to discover new places, new experiences and make new friendships.

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Fola Ademoye

Pilates Instructor and Seasoned Traveller, May 2019

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If you wish for a relaxing, well-organised trip with an experienced traveller, then I recommend going with Jo. After many years of travelling in the region, Jo has established contacts everywhere which ensures good local restaurants, excellent guides and you will be part of a select, small group. 

Dr Carolyn Greenwood
Travelle2018

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Autumn in Uzbekistan, a fantastic time of the year to visit. Our journey through these ancient cities was full of wonder and discovery. The medieval Islamic architecture was a sight to behold. I fell in love with the beautiful embroidery, ceramics and carpets. The organisation of the tour was excellent, thanks to our charismatic tour leader.

Ingrid Montbazet
A Fellow Traveller
October 2017

 

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“Fascinating tour of Georgia put together expertly, showcasing the best of what Georgia has to offer. With just the right mix of touring and relaxing, staying at great boutique style hotels. I would certainly recommend this trip to anyone.

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Tracy Hart
Operations and Programme Manager
Education Sub Sahara Africa (ESSA)
May 2018

 

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During a 10 day, 4 city tour - Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, our varied group of 8, surprisingly had no complaints.

We travelled to 3 of the cities on new, sleek, high-speed trains. The accommodation in all 4 cities was central and terrific.

We were provided with introductory tours by experienced guides in all 4 cities, which gave us the confidence and the knowledge to subsequently explore the 2 smaller cities by ourselves. Our group leader coached us on where to roam and what to buy, and at what price. We were provided with directions for lunch and dinner venues, where we met if we wanted to, and provided with tips on local cuisine so we knew what to order. We had drivers in the 2 larger cities to take us to additional far-flung sites.

Uzbekistan is a thrilling place to visit. The cities we toured were all on the ancient Silk Road and have long, rich and interesting histories. They also boast magnificent, architecturally impressive and historically significant mosques, madrasahs, minarets, monuments and mausoleums. All have food markets that are worth a detour and detour we did.

Our experienced and knowledgeable tour leader delivered all she promised and then some. I am now looking forward to the Georgia tour she is organising for us.

 

Maureen Marlowe
Traveller
October 2017

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I have recently been on two trips with Silk and Wine Routes. The first was to Uzbekistan, where we saw truly spectacular architecture, shopped in the amazing silk markets and enjoyed feast after feast in every location. Then in May I toured beautiful unspoilt Georgia, from exciting bustling Tbilisi to the breathtaking Caucasus mountains.

I went with a small group of friends and everything was seamless. Our local guides were knowledgeable and genuinely proud of their respective countries.

The benefits of travelling in a small group are that you have access to small, family-run establishments where we were treated like family and the hospitality was endless. I’d highly recommend both trips. In fact – I’m going to book again.

 

Caroline Lacey

Uzbekistan 2017 and Georgia 2018

 

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From lively Tiblisi to the spectacular Caucasus mountains and the lush wine-growing areas in the east, Georgia is captivating. Silk and Wine Routes’ small group approach is accessible and personal. It’s a perfect way to see the country close up. Special mention must be made of our tour leader’s in-depth knowledge of the country and her superb local guides and contacts, a combination that ensured a terrific experience all round.

 

Tracey Steggall

Georgia 2018

 

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