DAY 1 ~
Depart U.S. on overnight flight.  

DAY 2 ~

In flight; arrival in Europe and then board transfer flight to Tashken.

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 our  Silk Road experience with a city tour of Tashkent. We 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 ofAlisher 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, and travel approximately 30 km to Khiva, the capital of the ancient Khorezmian Kingdom. 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 5 ~ Bukhara
Today we will have a long drive through the Kyzlkum Desert to reach Bukhara, the pearl of Asia. On arrival you will have leisure time to rest or wander the old city centre, which is an open-air museum of historic architecture.

 

DAY 6 ~ 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 7 ~ 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 8 ~ 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 God.  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’sObservatory and the Aftroisab Museum.

 

DAY 9 ~ Tehran
We will drive to Tashkent today and transfer to the airport for our late afternoon flight to Tehran.After arrival at Tehran Airport and passing through customs and passport control, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.  Crowned by the Alborz Mountains, Tehran is the largest city in Iran, and has been the capital since 1789. It is an intriguing and sophisticated city, the center of Iran’s great museums which celebrate the renaissance of the Ghajar Dynasty, founded by Agha Mohammad Khan.

 

DAY 10 ~ Tehran
We begin our full day tour with a visit to the Archaeological Museum, one of the highlights of our trip. Its outstanding collections include a 6th century BC relief from the Treasures of Darius the Great from Persepolis and a stone winged lion of Shush. Near by is the Museum of Islamic Period with its fine selection of Islamic arts including calligraphy, carpets, ceramics, woodcarving, stone carving, miniatures, brickwork and textiles. Then on to the Carpet Museum, where we will see a collection of the oldest carpets in Iran, with beautiful and elaborate designs. The Glass & Ceramic Museum is  housed in a beautiful building which dates back to Oajar times and was the home of a prominent Persian family. Blending features of both Eastern and Western styles, the museum has a lovingly displayed collection of ceramics and glassware dating back to the  2nd  millennium BC, including works from Neishabur, Kashan, Rey and Gorgan .

 

DAY 11 ~ Shiraz
Our destination today is the beautiful city of Shiraz, the heartland of Persian culture, and known  as a center of learning and sophistication. It is a romantic city of nightingales, poetry, roses and wine (remember the Australian wine called Shiraz!). Before arriving in Shiraz we will make a detour to visit the amazing site of Bishaboor, including the Sassanian city, the Anahita Temple and the impressive bas reliefs of the Sassanian Kings .

 

DAY 12 ~ Shiraz
Of the many ancient sites we will visit in Iran, Persepolis is the crown jewel.  A most extensive, impressive, and inspiring site, it was just a summer capital or possibly a religious shrine of the Achaemenian Kings. After  2,500 years, the site is almost overwhelming, with it’s city walls, Entrance, Palace of 100 Columns, Apadana Palace and Staircase, Royal Palaces, Museum, Treasury and Tombs. Nearby we will visit the famous Necropolis( Nagsh-e Rostam) with its incredibly dramatic rock carving of the Royal Tombs of Elamide, Achaemenian and Sassanian Kings. We will also see the four fine Sassanian bas-reliefs at Naghsh-e Rajab from the regine of Ardeshir I and Shapur the Great before returning to Shiraz. In Shiraz we will spend the afternoon visiting the Tomb of the celebrated poet Hafez and the beautiful Orange Garden (Bagh-e Naranjestan) a pleasant garden with a pool and the Government Palace from the  Gajar period now contains art galleries, and finally the Koran Gate end our day.

 

DAY 13 ~ Shiraz
This morning we will have an excursion to Firuz Abad, where we will see some interesting Sassanian ruins including Palace of Ardesir I, founder of Sassanian dynasty. As an ancient fire temple, it is interesting to note that this was likely the first dome built on a square building and iwan. We will also see a fire tower from which the idea of minarets for mosques was developed. Here we will also see very colorfully dressed nomadic people crossing the Zagros Mountains. In the afternoon there are more treasures to explore in Shiraz; one of them is a stroll through the Bazar-e Vakil, probably the mostfamous bazaar in Iran with all kinds of spices, jewels, and carpets; the Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque, the most beautiful mosque in southern Iran with its unusually deep shade of exquisite tiles; and finally the Mausoleum of Shah-e Cheragh, originally built in 835 and an important Shiite shrine of pilgrimage.

 
DAY 14 ~ Yazd
After breakfast, our drive to Yazd takes us through many acres of pistachios with a stop in the city of Fahraj to visit the Jame Mosqueof Fahraj, one of the most important mosques in the history of Islamic architecture in Iran. Once in Yazd we will check into our hotel and start to explore the old city and the Bazaar with its covered street. There are many beautiful old buildings from 18th century feudal hexagonal houses with many elegant wall and window decorations. The weavers of Yazd are very famous for their silk brocades which still can be found. Marco Polo stopped here on the way to China and called it the “good and noble city of Yazd”. Located in heart of Iran between the Kavir and Lut deserts, it was a major stop on the Silk Road between Central Asia and India. Because of its dry climate, the architecture of Yazd is perhaps the most traditional Persian to be found. The city is dominated by beautifully designed wind towers which cool the private homes and Palaces, public buildings, gardens, pools which were supplied with water by water channels, called Qanate. Yazd also has an interesting mixture of cultures and religions; it is the center of the Zoroastrian religion which dates back to 550 BC as the state religion and then faded away with the Arab conquest. Today there are about 400,000 Zoroastrians left in the world, of which about 60,000 live in or around Yazd .

 

DAY 15 ~ Yazd
This morning we will  start our full day tour of Yazd,  including the Jame Mosque with the highest portal and minarets in Iran and the Amir Chakhmaq Complex in Amir Chakhmaq Square, a stunning three-story façade and one of the most recognizable and unusual buildings in Iran. From the top we will have a magnificent view over the sun-baked roofs crowned with wind towers. Nearby is the Water Museum which has ancient qanate equipment and a display of qanate systems showing how it was engineered. Next we will tour Bagh-e Doulat Abad, the residence of the former ruler Karim Khan Zand. Here we can see how the wind towers actually work and cool the pool next to it in its beautiful garden. Then there is the Zoroastrian Fire Temple where the sacred flame has apparently been burning since about 470 AD, followed by the Tower of silence, the burial site of Zoroastrian. This is a most intriguing and historical site. In accordance with Zoroastrian beliefs about the purity of the earth, dead bodies were not buried in the earth, but left in these uncovered stone towers so that vultures could pick the bones clean. Certainly this  is a custom going back to Neolithic time (7000 BC) which was practiced in Catalhoyuk in central Anatolia.

 

DAY 16 ~ Esfahan
This morning we will drive to Esfahan via Naeen and Mohammadiye. In Mohammadiye, a small but very interesting ancient village, we will visit a textile workshop so interesting that it will remind you of the bible stories of your childhood. Then on to Naeen, to visit the early Islamic Jameh Mosque and Pir-nia House which was the house of a former wealthy carpet merchant. Than it is time to open our arms to Esfahan, the jewel of Iran’s cities. Shah Abbas I initiated one of the world’s grandest experiments in city planning, moving the capital from Qazvin to Esfahan in 1598 where it remained until 1722. Mosques, palaces, bazaars and public parks were built under the monarch’s personal supervision over the next thirty years. The central focus of this fascinating city, which never failed to inspire European merchants and ambassadors to the Safavid court, is the immense rectangular Royal Square. Four jewels of 17th century architecture adorn each side of the square, symbolizing the political, economic and religious spheres of Safavid Persia.

 

DAY 17 ~ Esfahan
Today we have the pleasure of a full day to explore Esfahan. We will start with the fascinating Jameh Mosque which provides a bridge between some of the most important periods of Persian history, a veritable museum of Islamic architecture displaying styles from the 11th to the 18th centuries, from the stylish simplicity of the Seljuk period, through the Mongol period  and on to the more baroque Safavid period. We will stroll through the magnificent Royal Square with its impressive buildings such as the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, probably the most beautiful mosques in Iran; the Ali Qapou Palace with some very fine paintings, tiles, and wood carvings; and the Emam Mosque, covered  beautifully with colorful tiles. Than it is time for Chehel Sotun Palace (Forth Columns) standing in a very pretty garden with its beautiful frescoes and paintings. There are more fascinating sites coming: the Armenian Vank Cathedral, a great gift of a Safavid ruler with a curious mixture of styles, Islamic tiles and designs alongside Christian imagery; the Armenian Museum which has a fine collection of Armenian art-and history in Iran; the Shaking Minarets; the Hasht Behesht Palace, famous for its charming mosaics and stalactite moldings, and of course - the landmarks of Esfahan - the bridges over the Zayandeh River, the Peugeot Towers, and the historical Bazaar.

 

DAY 18 ~ Tehran
We have still more treasures to find before arriving in Tehran and preparing for our early morning (next day) flight. Our first stop will be attractive Natanz, with a very interesting Jame Mosque, and than wecontinue on to the fascinating village of Abyaneh, once a Zoroastrian village with its magnificent view across the valley. Under the protection of UNESCO, the city is dominated by ochre-colored houses with lattice windows and fragile wooden balconies. Our next stop will be the attractive small oasis city of Kashan, once a favourite of Shah Abbas I who beautified it and asked to be buried there. Here we will visit the Bagh-e Tarikhi-ye Fin or the Fin Garden, a beautiful garden and a classical Persian vision of paradise; and Khan-e Borujerdi, or  Broujerdi’s House, aformer 19th century private residence with a lovely courtyard, flanked by summer and winter houses. We will arrive in Tehran in the evening for our farewell dinner in a traditional local restaurant and will have a chance for a brief rest before departing for the airport.

 

DAY 19 ~
Early this morning (shortly after midnight) we will be transferred  to the airport for our flight to the USA.