Bandar-E Abbas - Finish

TURKMENISTAN Tashkent Bokhara - Start

Persian Chardzhev Samarkand Mary Trilogy Mashad TAJIKSTAN

Follow the western line of the Silk Road along the Tehran trade routes between Tashkent and .

The Persian Trilogy is an ideal touring style Esfahan programme for travellers who want to experience one AFGHANISTAN of Central Asia’s great stories; the influence of Persian culture on the great civilizations of central Asia. Shiraz PAKISTAN - Finish Our programme traces the path of migration, trade and conquest between Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan Trip Details and Iran where we explore ancient Persia’s cultural heritage. DURATION - 22 days MEALS - Included

AVERAGE TEMP - 10oC - 25oC SIGHTSEEING COSTS - Included

ACCOMMODATION STYLE DATES OF TRIPS - Hotels - Commences Tashkent 14 April 2015 NZ$ 8,250pp TRAVEL STYLE - Concludes Shiraz - Tourist coach, soft sleeper All inclusive, prices subject to change. 5 May 2015 Based on twin share. Single Room supplement NZ $785 berth train Escorted by SRA tour leader for more than 6 travellers. MAXIMUM GROUP SIZE - 12 Local English speaking escort for 6 or less travellers.

Daily Itinerary

DAY 1 DAY 5 Arrive Tashkent Samarkand Arrive Tashkent. Morning visit to the mausoleum of Imam al Bukhari (short drive from Samarkand) and history Museum. Afternoon free time to DAY 2 revisit Reghistan Square for late afternoon photography or relax Tashkent DAY 6 Sightseeing to include the Old City, Tillya Sheikh Mosque, Navoi Theatre Square. Lunch and dinner at local restaurants. to Bakhara via Gijduvan This morning, depart for 5 hour drive to Bukhara. En route visit the DAY 3 ruins of Rabbat Malik Caravansarai, also visit ceramic workshop at Tashkent to Samarkand Gijduvan. Morning in Tashkent including a visit to the Ethnographic Museum DAY 7 and Chorsu . After lunch depart for drive to Samarkand. Bakhara DAY 4 Full day sightseeing will include Bolo Hauz Mosque, Ark Fortress, Samarkand Chasmal Ayub, Labi Hauz complex, Kalan Mosque, Trade Domes, Ismail Samani mausoleum and tandir. Finish the day with an Full day sightseeing of Samarkand including a visit to Reghistan evening folk show at Nodir Devonbegi Madrassah. Square, Bibi Khanum Mosque and bazaar, Gur Emir mausoleum, the observatory of Ulug Bek and Afrasiab Museum. Dinner tonight at a national Uzbek family restaurant. DAY 8 DAY 14 Bakhara to Mary Tehran - Drive to Depart for 2 - 3 hrs drive to the Uzbek/Turkmen border. After This morning visit the National Museum of Iran and the Glass completing border formalities, transfer to Turkmenistan transport to museum. Afternoon drive via the Imam Khomeini Mausoleum and continue to Mary. Qom to Kashan. Overnight in a traditional house. DAY 15 Kashan Sightseeing in Kashan including the ancient bazaar of Kashan and Tabatabaeis’ traditional house. Overnight in a traditional house. Tashkent - Start DAY 16 Drive to Esfahan This morning drive south to Esfahan. Enroute visit Village and the Jame Mosque in .

DAY 17 Esfahan A full day sightseeing around Esfahan is planned for today - including Naghsi-I Jahan Square, Iman Mosque, Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque and the bridges of Esfahan. We also plan to visit Esfahan bazaar. AFGHANISTAN DAY 18 PAKISTAN Esfahan Sightseeing today will include the Jame Mosque, , Chehel Soutoun and Hasht Behest.

DAY 9 DAY 19 to Gonur Tepe/Merv Drive to Shiraz Today we are off into the desert in 4X4 cars to visit the recently Full day’s drive today to Shiraz. We have time to visit the old excavated ruins of the 2000BC city of Gonur. Caravanserai at Izadkhast and Pasargad UNESCO World Heritage Site. DAY 10 Merv/Merv DAY 20 Shiraz Full day visit today to Merv, the ancient oasis city located 25km from Mary. Sightseeing will include the mausoleum Sultan Sanjar Sightseeing today will include Narenjestan (Qavam House), Nasir (XII century), Kyz Kala, Bola Kala, Gyaur Kala and Erk Kala. mosque, , Bazaar, Shahe Cheraq, , Sadi tomb, Karimkhan citadel. DAY 11 to Mashaad via Sarakhs border DAY 21 Shiraz - We depart for Mashaad Iran today. It’s 200km to the Sarakhs border and a further 200km to Mashaad. Full day visit to Persepolis including Naqsh-e rajab and Hafez tomb.

DAY 12 DAY 22 Mashhad depart Shiraz Full day sightseeing will include the Bazaar-e-Reza spice Transfer to airport for departure flight. bazaar, Imam Reza Shrine and Astan-e Ghods-e Razavi, and Gombad-e Sabz (Green Dome). This evening we take the soft sleeper express to Tehran.

DAY 13 Tehran We arrive in Tehran around 7.30am. Transfer to the hotel to freshen up and begin our sightseeing programme at Sad Abad Palace, the local Bazaar at Tajrish, and the National Jewels Museum.

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