2010 Tours

• Classic Turkey
• Eastern Turkey & the Black Sea
• Biblical Journey Through Turkey
• Timeless Egypt
• Treasures of Jewish Heritage
• Classic Aegean
• Fairytale Land of Germany
• Discover the Balkans
• The Fertile Crescent
• Splendors of Persia
• Silk Road Treasures
• Textiles & Crafts of Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan
• Classic Morocco
• Seven Churches of Revelation
• The Footsteps of St. Paul and the Seven Churches of Revelation
• Walk & Sail
• Jewels of Central Asia
• Treasures of Caucasus, Armenia, Georgia and Eastern Turkey
• Terms & Conditions

Silk Road Treasures

For over 2 millennia, this area has formed a bridge between Europe and Asia, mingling people and trading goods via the thoroughfare that came to be known as the Silk Road. Central Asia's storybook history combined with stunning scenery will captivate you, and the generous instinctive hospitality of the people here will warm your heart. The atmosphere of the ancient trading posts and the evidence of nomadic empires is evident throughout your visit.

Day 1
Depart USA on overnight flight.

Day 2
In-flight; arrival in Europe and transfer plane for flight to Tashkent.

Day 3 ~ Tashkent
Arriving in Tashkent after midnight, you will be met at the airport and after clearing Customs and Immigration; you will be transferred to your hotel. After some sleep and a chance to freshen up, you will begin your Silk Road experience with a city tour of Tashkent. You will see the monuments and religious centers at the Hasti Imam Square, the ancient heart of Tashkent, (Barak-khan Madrassah, the Mausoleum of Kafal Shashi). We will explore the beautiful Amir Timur Square and the buildings around it, built in different periods over the last three centuries; the gorgeous Theater of Alisher Navoi, built by the Japanese in the middle of the 20th century, the Museum of Applied Arts with its refined samples of Uzbek handicrafts, and the Chorsu Bazaar.

Day 4 ~ Khiva
In the morning we will fly to Urgench, the modern city of the Khorezm region, we will be transferred to Khiva, the capital of the ancient Khorezmian Kingdom. After some rest in our hotel we will begin a sightseeing tour to get a feel of this magical and once fabled ancient Silk Road city.

Day 5 ~ Khiva
We will have a full day tour of Khiva, including a visit to Ichan Kala, the inner fortress; the Muhammad Aminkhan Madrassah and its minaret; Kunya Ark and the Juma Mosque with 218 wooden pillars; the Harem of Khiva Khans; and the Mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud, a famous ancient wrestler and poet who patronized Khiva.

Day 6 ~ Dashoguz (Turkmenistan)
This morning we will travel to the border crossing point at Dashoguz between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and after border formalities, we will drive to the famous city of Konye-Urgench whose almost complete annihilation by Genghis Khan more than 800 years ago is a palpable example of the incredible destructive power of Khan and the legendary Tamerlane. Rebuilt during the relatively calm period that followed, Urgench grew into an important trading city before Tamerlane, considering the area a rival to his own Samarkand, effectively completed its demolition.

Day 7 ~ Damla
This morning we will drive through the famous Karakum Desert (Black Sand), second largest in the World to nomadic village of Damla. Before Damla we will stop at Darvaza gas crater which was created of a massive gas explosion in 1986 when Soviet experts were surging for natural gas in Turkmenistan. Our final destination will be Damla Village where we experience real Turkmen nomadic life in Karakum Desert and to see how they leave, and to enjoy their hospitality and their way of living. After dinner we will sleep in Turkmen National Yurta.

Day 8 ~ Ashgabat
Leaving Damla, we will travel next to Ashgabat (‘city of love' in Arabic), the capital city of Turkmenistan since its independency in 1991 and it is undergoing through a dramatic changes. Once we arrive in Ashkhabad we will check in our hotel for some rest and than visit Fine Art Museum of Turkmenistan which has a fine collection of Russian and Turkmen paintings.

Day 9 ~ Ashgabat
This morning we will visit the ancient Nissa, the ancient capital of Parthian and probably the best preserved ancient site in Turkmenistan. In the afternoon we will visit the Carpet Museum of Turkmenistan where we will see the biggest carpet in the world which is included in Guinness’s books of Records and to learn about the history of famous Turkmen carpet weaving

Day 10 ~ Ashgabat
Today will be spent touring some of the sites in this ever-changing city. We will see the Arch of Neutrality (erected in 1998 to celebrate Turkmenistan's endorsement of a policy of political neutrality, the top of the structure reached by glass elevator, has a great view of the city); Independence Square, surrounded by extravagant palaces and ministry buildings, and the National Museum with its fine collection of historic artifacts and relics.

Day 11 ~ Ashgabat
This morning we will visit the World’s famous and Central Asia’s largest Tolkuchka Market to see the displays of Turkmenistan’s real source of arts and crafts; it is a feast for your eyes. The color and beauty of different people, carpets, kilims, felts, hats, belts, Kaftans, jewelries are breath taking and overwhelming. But there are other interesting things to see for instance camels are loaded or unloaded to/from trucks by cranes! In the afternoon we will visit Russian or Gulistan Bazaar a fascinating place for fruits, vegetables, nuts, flowers, people watch, etc.

Day 12 ~ Mary
This morning we will take an early flight from Ashgabat to Mary, the third-largest city in Turkmenistan. On arrival, we will travel to Gonur Depe or Margush, the largest archaeological excavation in the Near East where experts have confirmed it to be the site of the fifth great center of civilization (joining Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, and India). Some of the highlights of Gonur Depe include the palace excavations, the Zoroastrian temple "Temenos", the Necropolis, and the Temple of Water.

Day 13 ~ Bukhara (Uzbekistan)
Today we will explore one of Turkmenistan's greatest attractions, the historic city of Merv. Vast and complex, this is the country's only UNESCO World Heritage site and is considered of vital significance to the culture of Central Asia. We will visit the remains of Alexandria, Antiokhia, Sultan Kala, the Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, Ibn Zaid, and the medieval castle “Keshk”. Then we will cross the border today at Farap, traveling through the Kara Kum desert and crossing the Amu Darya River. After customs and border formalities, we will continue on to Bukhara Central Asia's holiest city, Bukhara's old town is essentially an architectural preserve that is being restored, and you will enjoy some time to wander the streets to absorb the atmosphere.

Day 14 ~ Bukhara
While in Bukhara, we will visit the old city, the Ark Fortress, the Bolo Hauz Mosque, Ismail Samani Mausoleum, Chashma Ayub, Kalyan Minaret, and the Trading Domes with all kinds of handicrafts, carpets and jewelry being sold there. We will also explore the Maggoki Attori Mosque, Lyabi Hauz Square, Kukeldash Madrassah, Nadir Divan Begi Madrassah, and the Indian style Chor Minor of the 19th century.
In the afternoon we will travel outside of Bukhara to visit the Bahautdin Naqshbandi Shrine, monument to the great Islamic scholar and Sufi spiritual leader, and the Bukhara Emir’s Summer Palace, Sitora-i-Mokhi-Khosa.

Day 15 ~ Samarkand
Today we will drive south-eastward to Samarkand, the 'Oriental Star', traveling via Shakhrisabz, the city where Tamerlane was born. In Shakhrisabz we will see the famous Ak Saroy (White Palace), Kok Gumbaz, Doru Saodat and Doru Tillovat. After lunch we will continue on to Samarkand, where we will check in at our hotel and have some leisure time.

Day 16 ~ Samarkand
We'll begin our exploration of Samarkand by visiting the Registan Square with its three Madrassah, where for centuries students learned the Law of God and some secular subjects. We will see the sumptuous gold-covered Tillya Kari Mosque, and then view the Tomb of Tamerlane, which also contains the tomb of Mir Seiid Bereke, Tamerlane's spiritual tutor. Then we will visit the Shahi Zindah complex, which contains the Mausoleum of Qusam Ibn-Abbas, who is considered the second most important figure in Islam after Muhammed. Next we will see the tremendous Bibi Khanum Mosque, built by Tamerlane's order to symbolize the power of Allah. In its yard you see the massive stone book-holder, which, as legend goes, was once used for the Holy Book kept in Tashkent. We will finish our day with a tour of the Ulug Beg’s Observatory and the Aftroisab Museum.

Day 17 ~ Tashkent
Today we will return to Tashkent at a leisurely pace. There will be time on arrival to do final exploring or shopping before our farewell dinner.

Day 18
Transfer to the airport for early morning departing flight to home.

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