Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan
Preliminary Day-by-Day Itinerary

October 17 Depart U.S.A.
Wednesday
Meet our group at JFK Airport this evening for the overnight flight to Istanbul. Alternate departures on Turkish Airlines may be from Washington DC, Chicago or Los Angeles.

Meals aloft

October 18 Connect in Istanbul
Thursday
Connect in Istanbul for the evening flight to Tashkent. Meals aloft

October 19 Arrive Tashkent
Friday
Welcome to Uzbekistan. We arrive in Tashkent at 4:00 AM where we are greeted upon arrival and assisted to Hotel Inter-Continental for immediate occupancy.

Welcome to Uzbekistan! The morning is at leisure to recover from jet lag. In the afternoon we have a sightseeing tour of Tashkent. We begin our visit in the old city, the real hub of an Old Tashkent. Though very little is left as far the real face of Tashkent is concerned, our guide will make you feel the way it was! See Hast Imam complex, a set of religious buildings that were recently reconstructed with traditional motifs and styles. We see Barak Khana Seminary, which has served as the seat of the grand mufti since the Soviet days. We then proceed to Tilla Shaikh Mosque and archives that houses some old manuscripts and copies of Holy Quran. This rare collection, revered by the population, contains the oldest copy of Quran written by Caliph Usman. Then at Chosu Bazaar, we step into the shoes of the traders of the caravans off loading the goods from distant lands. From there we see the 16th century Kukeldesh Madrassah facing the caravan route. Our next visit is Akbar’s House, a traditional potter’s family home, where the artisans are doing some marvelous designing with old pottery concepts. We next visit the Museum of Applied Arts. It was the house of a Russian commissioner who constructed the building in the Central Asian style. Our day ends with a visit to Navoi Theatre. Much of the interior is patterned after the famous Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, but this building was created at the end of WW2 as a Stalinist era monument built by prisoners of war. We’ll see the performance (subject to scheduling). End the day with refreshments of local cuisine in one of Tashkent’s best restaurants. Overnight Tashkent. (B-L-D)

Hotel Inter-Continental*****

October 20 Tashkent - Samarkand
Saturday
In the morning we visit the Fine Arts Museum and then begin our journey of 4-1/2 hours (210 miles) along the Silk Road to Samarkand. We make with short stops en route including a picnic stop on the pass near Jizzak, which offers a wide view of the valley. This huge high steppe must have seen by all the invading armies from the times of Alexander the Great and the Mongol armies, through the time of Tamerlane and during the wanderings of Babur the Great after his loss of Samarkand. Today it is a silent passage to Zarafshan valley.

We arrive at the entrance of Samarkand marked with huge mud mounds that were generations of buildings situated on the site of ancient Afrosiab. Our hotel is Malika Prime located in the shadow of Tamerlane’s mausoleum. After some relaxation we make a visit to Registan Square to see the sunset over the beautiful madrassahs. Overnight in Samarkand. (B-L-D)

Hotel Malika Prime or Hotel Grand Samarkand*** (boutique outlook)

October 21 Samarkand
Sunday
Our day begins with a visit to three madrassahs that make up Registan Square. As one can imagine, this is one of the superb squares of the world. The complex of buildings served as schools of theology, astronomy, mathematics and related sciences. After acquiring a huge empire for himself, Tamerlane (Timur) started planning for a ‘capital of the world’ . This controversial and intriguing personality employed architects and designers brought by him from Isfahan, Iran, and his creations paved the way for the cultural aspect of an empire. This was the time when grand buildings were constructed, gardens were laid out and commerce was allowed to flourish. This legacy continued through generations of princes and kings of the Timurid Dynasty. No doubt Samarkand was once great as the major city in a country known as Sogdiana. Alexander must have enjoyed the best climate and surroundings of this great center. But the city also saw the onslaught of Genghis Khan and the rule for generations of the Mongols. Travelers like Marco Polo appreciated the beauty of the city, and the imperial Russians always thought Samarkand to be their capital of the eastern boundaries. We visit Bibi Khanum’s tomb (wife of Tamerlane); the Juma Mosque built under her supervision was presented to Tamerlane as a gift for his successful campaigns. There is wonderful Sunday market close to the mosque, and we have the opportunity today to see the local folks at the bazaar. Later proceed to Shahi Zinda, the royal cemetery where the members of Tamerlane’s family are buried. Shahi Zinda necropolis is the only place where one can see the best tile and majolicas in all of Central Asia. This afternoon we visit Afrosiab Museum to see the murals taken from a wealthy man’s quarters in the site nearby. Later proceed to the memorable Ulugbek’s Observatory. The grandson of Tamerlane and the later king, Ulug Bek (Great Ruler) was best known for his astronomical works, and he is acclaimed the world over as one of the greatest astronomers ever. We come to the highlight of our visit to Samarkand - the mausoleum of Tamerlane – Gur Emir. This beautiful edifice representing the best of Central Asian architecture lies next to our hotel. As a farewell this evening, we are entertained with a local folkloric performance while we dine at an old caravanserai near the masters-at-work center. Overnight in Samarkand. (B-L-D)

Hotel Malika Prime or Hotel Grand Samarkand*** (boutique outlook)

October 22 Samarkand
Monday Shakre Sabz - Bukhara
We mark this day traveling to Bukhara, about 270 miles, taking about 7-1/2 hours. We travel through Takhta Karcha pass (5,190 feet), which Tamerlane used during his journeys to his birthplace Shakre Sabz (Shahrisabz), which means Green City in Persian. Earlier it was known as Kesh meaning “heart pleasing”. We visit the ruins of Ak Saray Palace (White Palace). When Don Clavigo, the Spanish ambassador to the court of Tamerlane, visited Ak Saray, he recorded the greatness of the palace. You can judge for yourself as you view the blue white and gold façade, the building’s only remaining mark. Later visit Dorus Tilavat seminary, the Kok Gumbaz mosque, Dorus Saidat, Tamerlane’s crypt (never used) and the Friday mosque. After a simple lunch we continue to Bukhara via Karshi through Kizilkum desert. We arrive in the late afternoon and settle into the comfortable Hotel Zargaron Plaza to begin a three-night sojourn. Overnight in Bukhara. (B-L-D)

Bukhara - Hotel Zargaron Plaza****

October 23 Bukhara
Tuesday
The city still retains the spirit of the old caravan days. Bukhara was the capital of once powerful Bukhara Khanate ruled by generations of the Sheybanid and Mangit clans of the later Uzbeks. It was an important seat of power when the Turkic tribes at the time of Arab invasion, eyed it as the beginning of their campaigns into the heartland of Central Asia. The ancient history of Bukhara goes back over two thousand years to the Persian Achaemenian times to 6th century BC when it was a settlement near the Oxus river. With a passage of time, the last of Sassanian (Iranian) rulers, were in turn replaced by the invading Arabs. Bukhara was then a titular state ruled by Turkic Bukhara Khudat. His death at the hands of Arabs marks the beginning of the spread of Islam in Central Asia. An entire conversion took place, and the old ruling classes found themselves under new religion. New dynasties appeared in Bukhara. The Samanids were in fact the last remnants of Sassanids, (the last pre-Islamic Persians) in this part but became a powerful local dynasty. Successive ruling dynasties continued with the last of the khanates appearing on the map of Central Asia. The late 19th century saw the beginning of the changing fortunes when the Great Game players (Britain and Russia) eyed Bukhara as a great piece of cake. Imperial Russians and the British started their overtures to the last of the khans who were played as pawns in the wake of powerful foes. However it was almost over with the advent of Bolsheviks and then communists overtaking the booty.

We shall start our tour with a visit to Lyabikhauz – the pond, madrassah Devanbegi, the Khanaga, Mogaki Attari mosque, the cupolas or the covered bazaars, the madrassahs of Ulugbek and Aziz Khan. Later walk to Poi Kalon minaret and mosque, the oldest part of which dates back to 9th/10th AD. We also see the living madrassah of Miri Arab, and later in the afternoon we visit Arg Fortress, Balakhauz mosque, the mausoleum of Ismail Samanid. We won’t forget Chasma Ayub (Job’s spring), where it is said the Prophet Job struck his staff into the ground and created a well. This evening we are entertained by a local folklore ensemble in a madrassah. Overnight in Bukhara.
(B-L-D)

Bukhara - Hotel Zargaron Plaza****

October 24 Bukhara
Wednesday Sitori-i-Mokhikhoas
This is another nice day to visit the outskirts of Bukhara. In the morning excursion to Sitora-i-Mokhikhosa, the summer palace of the last emir of Bukhara. The Russian interior of the building holds a collections of artifacts including a large display of Suzzanne embroidery masterpieces. Later on return visit the shrine of Sufi Saint Bakhauddin Nakshbandi – and the site of Sheybanid kings buried nearby.

This afternoon there is free time to explore the covered bazaars of Bukhara.

In the evening we dine at a local madrassah with light classical music. Overnight in Bukhara. (B-L-D)

Bukhara - Hotel Zargaron Plaza***

October 25 Bukhara - Khiva
Thursday
What a beautiful time of year to make the 280 mile, 8 hour drive to Khiva. We pass through the heart of Kizilkum desert as it comes to life after the hot summer slumber. We are here in time to see the desert biennials flowering again, the marmots, the migratory birds and the slow moving turtles that become a common sight in autumn. Enjoy a picnic stop in a nice setting. In the afternoon we view the vast expanse of Amudarya (Oxus river) flowing to its slow death in the desert further north. There is very little water left to the dying Aral Sea; the disaster at the hands of mankind, is now a much debated subject of the region. We arrive at Khiva in the late afternoon and settle into Hotel Asia Khiva. Time permitting, make short walk to the walled city. Overnight in Khiva. (B-L-D)

Hotel Asia Khiva***

October 26 Khiva
Friday
Another of the last khanates, Khiva, after having survived earlier attempts of the imperial Russian invasion, finally succumbed to great pressure that marked the end of the ruling dynasties. Khiva was part of the great Khorezmian empire dating back to 6th B.C. when it was a subject nation to the Achaemenian (Persian) rulers. Herodotus called this area in today’s western Uzbekistan and northern Turkmenistan a “country of a thousand fortresses”. Down through the time of the Sassanians, Persians continued to hold their last territories until the end of 7th AD when they were replaced by the invading Arabs. Today Khiva stands as a silent witness to its past – the last of the living cities.

In Khiva, we visit the Ichan Kala, Kalta minor (half minaret), Kunya Arg, and madrassah Rakhimkhon, the workshops for the development of local handicrafts under the supervision of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Pakhlavan Makhmud mausoleum, Islam Khodja minaret and museum, the Friday mosque with its numerous pillars, Tashauli harem and the Caravan Bazaar. Overnight in Khiva. (B-L-D)

Hotel Asia Khiva***

October 27 Khiva -Tashauz
Saturday Kunya Urgench
Tashauz - Ashgabat
This morning we drive 2 hours, 50 miles to Turkmen border point, and after the border formalities, continue to Tashauz (Dashgavouz). From there we make an excursion to Kunya Urgench – the first capital of Khorezm, to see pre and post-Mongol period monuments. Kunya Urgench was once a flourishing court of the famous Khorezmian rulers. It was a hub of commerce and learning, where great scientists, mathematicians and musicians prospered under the patronage of state. The Mamunid dynasty is associated with Al Buruni (scholar and astronomer), Ferdosi (Persian poet of national epic Shah-nameh), Avicenna (physician) and Al-Khwarizmi (inventor of algebra). The great Khorezmian empire thrived and extended up to the Tienshan range until it was destroyed by the Mongols. Through arrogance and political maneuvering by it leaders, Khorezm felt the wrath of the Mongol armies under Genghis Khan in the 14th century who destroyed everything in their sway. We visit the mausoleum of Turabek Khanym, Il Arsalan’s tomb, Kutleg Temir minaret, Sultan Tekesh mausoleum, Caravan Sarai and the graveyard. Later visit Najmuddin Kubra’s shrine and the museum. Return to Tashauz in time for the short flight to Ashgabat. On arrival transfer to Hotel President Palace for a four night stay. Overnight in Ashgabat. (B-L-D)

Hotel President Palace

October 28 Ashgabat - Nisa
Sunday Ashgabat
A full day of activities begins with a visit to the famous Sunday market at Tolkuchka Bazaar where we see a huge congregation of the multi-ethnic population. In a world of its own we find a great color of humans beings coming together for buying and selling. This is a sight that a photo enthusiast would envy and a carpet buyer would excel. The carpet section is full ethnic Tekes, Saryks, Yomuds and many others selling their tribal carpets in designs that have made their names synonymous to carpets.

Afterwards we visit the History Museum to see its wonderful collection of objects from all over Turkmenistan. The wonderful collection of carved ivory rythons from the Nisa site is well worth seeing. We shall then proceed to the archaeological site of Nisa. It was the winter capital of the Parthians and also the burial place of some of their kings. It dates back to 1st century BC and was continually inhabited until the destruction by the rival invading armies. Overnight in Ashgabat. (B-L-D)

Hotel President Palace

October 29 Ashgabat - Mary
Monday Ashgabat
Today we are off for a day trip to “history in the dust”. We travel to Mary by flight to reach the famous archaeological site of Merv (Margush in Persian). It dates back to 6th century BC when it was part of the Achaemenian empire. Then came the Macedonian army under Alexander the Great to assert their claim over the lost provinces of the Persian Empire. Later it fell under successive rulers with the Sassanians being the last ones in 7th century AD, until Arabs destroyed their kingdom paving a way for a city that then was known in the Arab world as ‘uroos-ul-bilad’, the mother of the cities.

Merv was a great center of commerce on the Silk Road with the Parthian empire controlling the trade with the west, making them the middle man between the Romans and the Chinese. Merv prospered until the invasion of Genghis Khan’s army who completely destroyed the city and put its more than a million souls to the sword. The destruction was on such a mammoth scale that for decades no one would dare set foot in the destroyed town. Today we visit the place, which is divided into many smaller sites like Sultan Kala, Gaiyur Kala, Erk Kala and Kys Kala and try to imagine the archaeological myth that was the great city of Merv. We return to Mary to visit the archaeological and ethnological museum. We will be on time for the return flight to Ashgabat where we overnight. (B-L-D)

Hotel President Palace

October 30 Ashgabat - Erbent
Tuesday Ashgabat
Our focus today is an insight into Turkmen nomadic culture with an excursion deeper into the Karakum Desert . Here we visit the settlement of Erbent to see everyday life- the milking of a camel, the bread makers, the tasting the local food and camel milk, the carpet weavers - all great photogenic moments. Return to Ashgabat in the late afternoon for a farewell dinner in the evening at one of the best restaurants in the town. Overnight Ashgabat. (B-L-D)

Hotel President Palace

October 31 Ashgabat - Istanbul
Wednesday U.S.A.
Early this morning we transfer to the Ashgabat airport for our flight by Turkish Air to Istanbul connecting to New York or other Turkish Airlines gateways. Welcome home!

Note: Flight schedules always subject to change.

A Taste of Persia
Preliminary Day-by-Day Itinerary

October 31 Ashgabat
Wednesday Robat-e-Sharaf
Mashad
For those continuing on to our optional “Taste of Persia” extension tour, we make a one-hour drive to the Turkmen Iranian-border point for exit formalities. A shuttle takes us through the pass to the Iranian checkpoint, where after entry formalities we are warmly greeted met by our Iranian guide. En route to Mashad we visit to Robat-e-Sharaf, a Royal Seljuk Caravanserai, considered by many to be a gem on the ancient Silk Road. The museum has intricate brick decoration and great architecture. This 12th century monument was founded by Sharaf-eddin, a minister of Sultan Sanjar of the Seljuk Dynasty, and ranks among the most important monuments in the Khorasan Province. We then pay our respects to Iran’s greatest epic poet Ferdosi, author of the Shah-nameh or Book of Kings, with a visit to his tomb in Toos (Tus). Continue to Mashad for dinner and overnight. Mashad owes its importance, as a great pilgrimage center, to the Shrine Complex of Imam Reza, the Eighth Shiite Leader who was martyred there in the 8th century. (B-L-D)

Homa Hotel

November 1 Mashad - Nishapur
Thursday Mashad
We make an excursion to Nishapur, an important stop on the Silk Road. Here we learn about Omar Khayyám, mathematician, astronomer and poet whose 1000 quatrains became to be known as the Rubáiyát (A jug of wine, a loaf of bread and thou beside me singing in the wilderness). Kamal-al-Molk, Iran’s greatest contemporary painter whose works include “The Fortune Teller of Baghdad”, and Farid al-Din Attar, the 12th century Sufi poet and mystic, are also buried in Nishapur. Return to Mashad in the afternoon and drive by the golden-domed Shrine of Imam Reza and the magnificent Teymurid-period Gowhar Shad Mosque. This huge pilgrimage site is closed to non-Muslims. Overnight Mashad. (B-L-D)

Homa Hotel

November 2 Mashad - Tehran
Friday
Morning flight to Tehran. Espinas Hotel for check in and lunch; in the afternoon visit the extensive Sa’ad Abad Palace and Museum Complex, in north Tehran, with several palaces/museums to be visited including the White and Green Palaces; dinner at local restaurant. (B-L-D)

*****Espinas Hotel

November 3 Tehran
Saturday
Full day visit to major museums in Tehran, to include the Archaeological, the Abguineh Glass and Ceramics and the Carpet Museum; time-permitting visit the Reza Abbasi Museum of Miniatures and Calligraphy; lunch at local restaurant; dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B-L-D)

*****Espinas Hotel

November 4 Tehran - Istanbul
Sunday U.S.A.
Early morning transfer to Tehran International Airport IKA for flight by Turkish Air to Istanbul connecting to New York or other Turkish Airlines gateways. Welcome home!

Note: Flight schedules always subject to change.