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The Silk Road of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan
Join a springtime journey - specially-crafted for alumni from the colleges of Smith and Bryn Mawr (and now open to the public) - to the great Silk Road cities of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
For more information, contact Dmitry Rudich at 1-800-424-7289 or via email at dmitry@mircorp.com.
Day by Day Itinerary
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May 9-10: Depart USA / Arrive Tashkent
Depart from your hometown and fly to Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Tashkent Palace Hotel or similar (Light snack)
May 11: Tashkent
Embark on a city tour of Tashkent, an odd mix of wide tree-lined boulevards, oversized 20th century Soviet buildings and reconstructed traces of the old city. (B, L, D)
May 12: Tashkent / drive to Samarkand
Drive overland along the same Silk Road that many a merchant has traveled to Samarkand. Visit the Registan, the centerpiece of Samarkand, and the most recognizable landmark for visitors. This sandy place was at the center of ancient Samarkand and was a public square and marketplace before the Ulug Bek, Tillya-Kori, and Shir Dor madrassahs were built. In its reconstruction, the square maintains the majesty that it has radiated through the ages. Hotel Asia Samarkand or similar (B, L, D)
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May 13: Samarkand
Admire the Bibi Khanum Mosque, built by Tamerlane to be the largest mosque in the Islamic world, and dedicated to the memory of his favorite wife. Wander the row of tombs and mausoleums collectively called Shah-I-Zinde, or "place of a living king," stretching between the present and the past. The afternoon is yours to explore independently. Admire the superb tile work, which uses every motif permitted in Islamic art - floral images, geometric patterns, spirals and bands of Kufic calligraphy. Gather this evening for a folk performance or a visit to the workshop of a local artist. (B, L, D)
May 14: Samarkand / drive to Bukhara via Shakrisabze
Depart for UNESCO-listed Shakhrisabze, the birthplace of Tamerlane. Admire the ruins of Ak Saray (White Palace), built in the 14th century and one of Tamerlane's most expansive undertakings. Remaining is a massive portal covered with incredible blue, white and gold ceramic tile mosaics and standing over 131 feet high. Sasha & Son B&B or similar (B, L, D)
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May 15: Bukhara
Spend today exploring Central Asia's most ancient living city. The Old Town in Bukhara has a unified feel, drawn together by a central reflecting pool and plaza, by commonality in the structure of the domed bazaars and by the major monuments ringing the Old Town: the Kalon Assembly, the Zindan Prison, and the Ark Citadel. Meet with a local Bukharan architect to discuss the current state of historical architectural renovation in Bukhara. (B, L, D)
May 16: Bukhara
Explore the Summer Palace of the last Emir and stop at its Museum of National Crafts. The afternoon is open for independent exploration or just relaxing in the old town of Bukhara. This evening, visit a local madrassah to dine and enjoy a performance by local artists. (B, L, D)
May 17: Bukhara / drive to Khiva
This morning, head for the last great city on the Uzbek part of your itinerary, Khiva. The drive today takes you across long stretches of the Kyzyl Kum, or Red Sands, Desert. Arrive in Khiva in time for dinner and overnight. Hotel Asia Khiva or similar (B, L, D)
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May 18: Khiva
Spend the day exploring Khiva on foot. Highlights include the Tash Hauli Palace, once the home of the Khan and his four legal wives, and an open courtyard for enthroning the khans. Admire the 9th century Dzhuma Mosque with its unusual wood ceiling and 115 carved wood columns, creating a forest-like effect. (B, L, D)
May 19: Khiva / drive to Tashauz / fly to Ashkabad
Today cross the border into Turkmenistan and transfer to the airport for a flight to Ashkabad. Hotel Grand Turkmen or similar (B, L, D)
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May 20: Ashkabad / Tolkuchka Market
Spend the morning at the Tolkuchka Oriental Bazaar, one of the most exciting open markets in Central Asia; its name means, literally translated, "a lot of elbowing." The huge market is brimming with all types of goods, including traditionally patterned carpets, Turcomen jewelry and animals for sale. Later, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the ancient Parthian Kingdom of Nisa. (B, L, D)
May 21: Ashkabad
Today's tour includes visits to the Lenin Monument, the new mosque and Turkmen-Turkish cultural and spiritual center, a local bazaar and the Berzenghee Settlement. Ashkabad's excellent Museum of Carpets and Textiles displays an abundance of gorgeous carpets, kilims, cushions and costumes and explains the nuanced differences in carpet and textile patterns among different Turkmen tribes and regions. This evening, gather for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B, L, D)
May 22: Ashkabad
Depart Ashkabad in the early morning. (Inflight)
Signature Features
- Visit Uzbekistan's capital city, Tashkent, to get a glimpse of modern life in the country's biggest urban center
- Admire graceful Registan Square in blue-tiled Samarkand, where Tamerlane assembled the greatest pool of artisans and craftsmen in the world
- Learn the full process of production at a local carpet factory, where vivid silk and wool carpets take shape on traditional looms
- Meet with a talented Bukharan architect to discuss ongoing renovations to the ancient Ark Citadel in Bukhara
- Spend a day walking the museum town of Khiva, looking much as it did as the weary caravans made their way through its gates from the harsh desert
- Wander one of Central Asia's most exciting open-air bazaars, the Tolkuchka Sunday Market, near Ashkabad, Turkmenistan's capital
Trip Details
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Map - Click to Enlarge
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