The Central Asian Caravan Route
Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan
Ashgabat - Mary (Merv) - Bukhara - Khiva - Tashkent - Samarkand - Bishkek - Lake Issyk Kul - Almaty
About the Program:
Length: 16 days
Min/max: 6/15
Tour type: deluxe cultural expedition
Central
Asia, often referred to as the land of the "stans", is also known as
the "Land of the Caravans". As part of the fabled Silk Road this region
had a great affect on history and culture as previously isolated
societies blossomed with the arrival of newly opened lines of
communication and trade. The magical names of the Kara Kum Desert,
Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, evoke rich images of the ancient caravan
routes and the monumental architecture of the cities of Central Asia.
Set
amidst magnificent snow-capped mountains and vast deserts, colorful
markets, grazing camels and traditionally dressed people this is a land
where the past and the present co-exist. As we travel in the footsteps
of Marco Polo, Alexander the Great and Kublai Khan, it is the
juxtaposition of the ancient and the modern, the magnificent relics of
the past set amongst newly emerging modern republics that will make our
journey through these historic lands one of such interest and wonder.
With
the break-up of the Soviet Union travelers are now discovering this
once-isolated and remote region, as the world is reintroduced to the
wonders of Central Asia.
2011 - 2012
Contact us for more information.
COST (Per Person)
Land only (twin): upon request
Single supplement: upon request
Price Includes: Domestic and inter-city flights
Land transportation
Transfers in each city
4 & 5-star hotels in major centres and best available in remote areas
Meals indicated as B (breakfast), L (lunch) and D (dinner)
Guided sightseeing and entrance fees
Visa application supporting documents
Services of English speaking guides
Travel manual
Price Excludes:
International flights: home city to Ashgabat, Almaty to home city
Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
Visa fees
Gratuities to guides, drivers, porters and hotel staff
Personal expenses
DAILY ITINERARY
Day 1 Sat Arrive Ashgabat
Khush Gelinis – welcome to Turkmenistan! Upon arrival at Ashgabat
Airport, you will be met and transferred to the hotel. Welcome Dinner. D Hotel Nissa
Day 2 Sun Ashgabat
Today we enjoy a complete sightseeing tour of the capital city of
Turkmenistan. We visit the Talkuchka Sunday Bazaar, also known as the
Turkmen’s Carpet Bazaar, the famous archaeological site of Nisa, which
served as the winter capital of the Parthian rulers, and the National
Museum of History and Ethnography. Our last stop is the Carpet Museum,
on of the best in Central Asia. The carpets and designs come from the
Tekke, Yamud, Sarik and Chodor tribes. B/L/D Hotel Nissa
Day 3 Mon Ashgabat/Mary
Today we explore Mary (formerly Merv), the oldest and most completely
preserved of the oasis cities along the Silk Route in Central Asia. The
remains of this wide oasis span four thousand years of human history
and a number of monuments are visible, particularly from the last two
millennia. Merv is often mentioned as Margiana by classical writers and
was part of the Achaemenian Empire in the 6th Century BC until the
invasion by Alexander the Great. B/L/D Hotel Yrsgal
Day 4 Tue Mary/Bukhara
In the morning, transfer to the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan border at
Farap. Continue driving to Bukhara. B/L/D Asia Bukhara Hotel
Day 5 Wed Bukhara
One of the grandest of Uzbek centres, Bukhara is an open museum with
many mosques, madrassahs and a grand minaret. We spend the day visiting
some of the finest examples of Islamic Architecture in the world, where
exquisite tile and mosaic work complements the beautiful brickwork; it
is no wonder this city is a World Heritage Site. Our visit includes the
Lab-e-Khauz Complex with the Nadirkhon Devanbegi Madrassah, the Mogak
Attari Mosque and the Poi Kalon Minaret. We also visit the Madrassahs
of Aziz Khan and the Ulugbek Ark Fortress, the residence-cum-army
headquarters of the Bukharan Emirs that houses an interesting
collection of objects from those days and the Mausoleum of Ismail
Samanid, which features some of the best 10th century brickwork, with a
marked Persian influence. We conclude the day with a visit to
Sitora-I-Mokhikhosa, the Summer Residence of the Emir. B/L/D Asia Bukhara Hotel
Day 6 Thu Bukhara/Khiva
Our drive from Bukhara to Khiva is through the arid setting of the
Kyzyl Kum Desert. Along the way we stop for some refreshments and
observe how humans have survived over the centuries in this unforgiving
landscape.
Khiva, the former capital of Khorezmia, flourished under the Achaemenid
rule in the 6th century BC and was subsequently wrested away from the
last of the Persian rulers, the Sasanids, by the invading armies of the
Arabs. Later powerful Turkic tribes who were converted to Islam took
the reins of the Kingdom and under whose rule the city flourished when
great Muslim scholars attended the court of Khorezmshahs. A powerful
and merciless invasion of the Mongolid hordes put an end to the ruling
dynasty. B/L/D Hotel Asia Khiva
Day 7 Fri Khiva
Today we explore the World Heritage Site at Khiva, a city where time
has stood still in the age of the Arabian Nights. Our visit starts with
the main site of Itchan Kala followed by Kalta Minor, the Kunya Ark,
the Rakhimkhon Madrassah, the Mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud, the
Friday Mosque and the Tashauli Palace and Harem. To complete this
extraordinary day, we climb the Khodja Minaret to take in the amazing
fairy tale panorama. B/L/D Hotel Asia Khiva
Day 8 Sat Khiva/Tashkent
Drive to Urgench airport for our flight to Tashkent, the capital of
Uzbekistan. The remainder of the day will be at leisure. B/L/D Tashkent Palace
Day 9 Sun Tashkent
Our visit of Tashkent takes in the old part of the city, the Kafelsashi
Mausoleum, the Barak Khana, the Tila Shaikh Mosque and Archives,
followed by the Chorsu Bazaar, Kukeldesh Madrassah, the Friendship
Square and the Navoi Theatre. In the afternoon we will have time to
visit the History Museum of Uzbekistan and the Museum of Fine Arts. The
evening is free, with an opportunity to see a local opera or ballet. B/L/D Tashkent Palace
Day 10 Mon Tashkent/Samarkand
This morning we will drive to Samarkand. The remainder of the day is at leisure. B/L/D President or Asia Hotel Samarkand
Day 11 Tue Samarkand
Today we enjoy a day excursion to visit the World Heritage Site of
Shakhrisabz, hometown of Tamerlane. This historic centre contains a
collection of exceptional monuments and ancient quarters, which bear
witness to centuries of vibrant history, particularly to the period of
its climax in the 15th century under the empire of Tamerlane. B/L/D President or Asia Hotel Samarkand
Day 12 Wed Samarkand
The historic town of Samarkand, recently declared a World Heritage
Site, was and is a crossroads and melting pot of the world’s cultures.
Founded in the 7th century BC as ancient Afrosiab, Samarkand had its
most significant development in the Timurid period from the 14th to the
15th centuries. Our tour takes us to the major monuments and includes
the Registan Mosque and the adjoining madrassas, Bibi-Khanum Mosque,
the Shakhi-Zinda compound and the Gur-Emir Ensemble, as well as
Ulugh-Beg’s Observatory. Our afternoon tour also includes the Afrosiab
Museum, located on the site of ancient Afrosiab, and the Historical
Museum of Uzbek Culture and Art, which houses the wooden coffin of
Tamerlane. B/L/D President or Asia Hotel Samarkand
Day 13 Thu Samarkand/Bishkek
Drive back to Tashkent to take a short flight to Bishkek, the capital
of Kyrgyzstan. Our tour of the city starts with the History Museum
famous for it s collection of Bolshevik Revolution artefacts. This is
followed by a visit to Frunze’s House, named after the Soviet General
Michael Frunze, who won Central Asia for the Bolsheviks in the Civil
War. Next stop is the Burana Tower Archaeological Museum, which is
situated on the site of a caravan town dating from the 10th Century. B/L/D Golden Dragon Hotel
Day 14 Fri Bishkek/Lake Issyk-Kul
Drive from Bishkek to Lake Issyk-Kul. The scene surrounding Lake
Issyk-Kul is enchanting in its surreal beauty. It is surrounded by high
mountains, with 134 rivers flowing into the lake and traditional yurts
dotting the landscape, this truly is a picturesque landscape. B/L/D Sinegorje Hotel
Day 15 Sat Lake Issyk-Kul
Our tour includes a visit to the Preshevalsky Museum, dedicated to the
memory of Nikolai Michailovich Preshevalsky, an enthusiastic explorer
accredited for his excellent works on flora and fauna of the Issyk-Kul
region. He was also known for breeding a tiny horse on the steppes of
Tibet, which later came to be known as the Preshevalsky Horse. This
afternoon we have time for leisure to enjoy the beautiful scenery
around the lake. There are many water sports as well as spa activities
on offer. B/L/D Sinegorje Hotel
Day 16 Sun Lake Issyk-Kul/Almaty
Driving through the heart of the Zailiysky Steppes, with their wide
greens filled with beautiful poppy fields we head off to Kazakhstan,
one of the largest countries in the world. B/L/D Otrar Hotel
Day 17 Mon Almaty
Today we enjoy a full day tour of Almaty, including a visit to the
Zhenkov’s Cathedral, an extraordinary Russian Orthodox Church built of
wood, after which we will take a walk through beautiful Panfilov Park.
Later we visit the Central State Museum, which exhibits more than 40
different musical instruments; even today in remote villages, music is
a part of a Kazakh’s way of life. The evening if free for us to enjoy
at leisure. B/L/D Otrar Hotel
Day 18 Tue Depart Almaty
Our route of the Caravans comes to an end today as we bid farewell to
the last of the Central Asian Republics. After following many branches
of the silk trader’s routes, it is our time to bid farewell with “Sau
Bolinizder”, as we are transferred to the airport for our departure. B