Silk Route Odyssey: Caravan Across Uzbekistan
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"Very unusual and very well done tour - experiences from A to Z: gorgeous architecture, fascinating dress of the local people, the thrill of seeing Bukhara and Khiva - I loved it all! MIR is about the best company I've ever used! Thanks!"
Virginia Britton
East Boothbay, ME
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The center of Central Asia, Uzbekistan is home to three of the most renowned of the Silk Road oases - Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. Journey through these UNESCO Sites and the lush Fergana Valley, where Central Asia's silk production began with two cocoons hidden in the headdress of a royal Chinese bride.
Days 1-4: Tashkent, Fergana Valley
Gather in the modern Uzbek capital, Tashkent. Drive to the fertile Fergana Valley, heartland of Uzbekistan. Bordered by the Tien Shan Mountains, the valley is an oasis of cotton fields and melon plantations, dotted with ancient villages distinguished for their silk production and ceramic tiles.
Days 5-7: Samarkand, Shakhrisabze
Continue to Samarkand, the grand capital of the Tatar conqueror Tamerlane. Admire the grace of the blue-tiled Registan, and visit Ulug Bek's Observatory. The grandson of Tamerlane, Ulug Bek spent his life constructing the best-equipped observatory in the medieval world.
Day 8: Navoi, Nurata, Kyzyl Kum Desert
Explore the vast Kyzyl Kum Desert, whose red sands protect the remnants of Alexander the Great's ancient well system, and learn the art of producing the traditional round bread of Central Asia. Spend the night in a yurt camp, relaxing around a campfire under a dome of stars.
Days 9-15: Bukhara, Khiva, Tashkent
The next stop is Bukhara, whose densely inhabited UNESCO-listed ancient city center is a maze of mud-walled homes, mosques and stone bazaars, and whose 2,500th anniversary came and went in 1997. The final stop is Khiva, the last great oasis on the northern caravan route. The odyssey concludes in Tashkent with an Uzbek feast and farewell toasts.
Trip Details
| Length of Trip: |
15 Days |
| Departures in 2009: |
2 |
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May 30-June 13 |
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September 26-October 10 |
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| Land Tour Cost |
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| 4-12 travelers |
$3,995** |
| Partial Single Supplement |
$395* |
| **Land tour cost includes internal flight costs which are subject to
change; see the Descriptive Daily Itinerary for details. |
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MIR Signature Features
- Visit local craftsmen in their workshops in their workshops
- Take an introductory camel ride across the red sands of the Kyzl Kum Desert
- Exploreall 4 of Uzbekistan's UNESCO Heritage sites
Map - Click to Enlarge
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| Day 1: |
Tashkent |
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| Day 2: |
drive to Fergana* |
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| Day 3: |
Fergana Valley |
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| Day 4: |
fly to Tashkent* |
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| Day 5: |
drive to Samarkand |
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| Day 6: |
Samarkand |
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| Day 7: |
Samarkand, day trip to Shakhrisabze |
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| Day 8: |
drive to Navoi, Nurata, Kyzyl Kum Desert |
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| Day 9: |
drive to Bukhara |
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| Days 10-11: |
Bukhara |
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| Day 12: |
drive to Khiva |
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| Day 13: |
Khiva |
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| Day 14: |
fly to Tashkent |
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| Day 15: |
Tashkent |
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*Route could be by land or air depending on schedules.
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Suggested Extensions
Combine this tour with
a customized extension to Tajikistan - ask for our suggested tour.
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Images on this page courtesy of Peter Guttman
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