After a very successful 45 day Beijing to Paris self drive tour in 2009 – featured in NZ4WD magazine in Ausgust and September last year - Rally Tours NZ is expanding its horizons into central Asia.

Company Director and expedition leader Greg Paul has announced they will be venturing into Turkey, Iran Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in central Asia then following the famous Silk Road route through China to Beijing.

This will link into the company’s popular and now annual Beijing to Paris trip via Mongolia and Siberia to Paris.

An exploratory trip involving three NZ Registered Landcruisers and seven crew will leave the UK bound for Beijing via Istanbul on May 19 and pass through historical cities such as Tehran, Bukhara, Samarkand, Kashgar and Xi’an in China (home of the terracotta warriors). The 13,000 km journey will take 45 days.
 
Greg Paul says this will be a true adventure passing through countries that have amazing heritage and history and due to recent political changes are now not only accessible but are encouraging visitors across their borders.

“We will be some of the first to traverse these countries in a commercial 4WD convoy.

“Rally Tours is looking forward to escorting subsequent groups through these regions in the future.

“New Zealander Murray Reedy of Silk Road Adventures, will accompany this year’s Rally Tours reconnaissance trip.

“Murray has vast travel experience in this area and will assist with refining our future tour itineraries.  The terrain will necessitate 4WD vehicles as the weather will be changeable with snow expected in eastern Turkey and on the 5,000 metre passes in Tajikistan.

“China will be hot and dry and temperatures could be in the ‘40s.”

The trip will be covered by NZ4WD.