We are interested in visiting the 5 "Stans" along the northern route of the silk road. Can anyone recommend a top-notch tour operator for this journey?

I haven't done this yet, but if I were going higher end I'd probably look at MIR. Possibly Bestway or Geo Ex.

In UK I would recommend Audley Travel.

Another UK agent who covers this area is Regent Holidays.

http://www.coxandkings.co.uk/far-eas...-road-explorer

Best value for upscale www.affordabletours.com other options

http://www.geoex.com/adventure-trave...ury-trains.asp
Super upscale if lots of time...
Boutique operators like silk road tours out of Uzbrekistan
best for catching a many of the stans as you can Asia Tours
also but not upscale.Have not made all the Stans tried for Turkmenistan in the past from Baku borders were closed.

My very good friend is very well traveled. He's in his 70's and lost his travel partner, so is doing more group tours.

He loved this agent's tour of the 'Stans' so much he did it in 2010 and then again this fall:

Christine Robison
http://barakajourneys.com/barakajourneys/Home.html
If you contact them, you can mention Richard A. from Hawaii
(and no he won't get a kick-back!)