SECRETS OF THE SILK ROAD in ‘THE FIVE STANS’ - 2021 UZBEKISTAN – TAJIKISTAN – TURKMENISTAN – KAZAKHSTAN – KYRGYZSTAN 24 DAYS | 27 AUGUST - 1 9 SEPTEMBER 202 1 Think Samarkand – with its Paleolithic origins, invaded by Alexander the Great, conquered by Genghis Khan, and ruled by Tamerlane. This is just one of the many secrets to be unveiled within these five former Soviet republics of Central Asia, collectively and colloquially known as ‘The Five Stans’. Located in one of the most diverse regions of the world, they’re comprised of spectacular mountains and valleys, scorched deserts and seemingly endless steppes. The ancient trade routes that connected these areas were responsible for cultural, economic, intellectual and religious exchanges from the Orient to the Mediterranean and became known as ‘The Silk Road’ due to the predominate trade in silk from ancient China to the west and to Europe. Follow in the footsteps of Marco Polo, but do it in style with a modicum of luxury, when our tour seeks out the oases, modern cities and some of the oldest towns in the world containing ancient mosques, citadels, mosaic-rich mausoleums, madrassahs and alluring bazaars, all contributing to the tapestry of the Silk Road. Every day presents an opportunity to spend time with the local people and absorb their history, their age- old traditions and their different ways of life while enjoying their towering mountain ranges, their fertile valleys, their crystal clear alpine lakes and undoubtedly, their unique cuisine! EXCLUSIVE TOUR FEATURES View the ruins of what was Central Asia’s largest Take in all of the Central Asian UNESCO sites, e.g. Mosque, Bibi-Khanam, in Samarkand ‘Ancient Merv’ and ‘Old Nissa’ in Turkmenistan Full day excursion to Penjikent in Tajikistan View & visit fabulous Mosques, Madrassahs, Visit the ruins of the ancient caravanserai Rabati Malik Mausoleums, Minarets, & Museums near Bukhara Drive to Issyk Gorge and picnic on the shores of the Enjoy Folklore Shows in Bukhara and Bishkek turquoise Lake Issyk Meet a local Uzbek family and taste their traditional Visit Almaty’s State Historic Museum with its ‘Golden dishes in Khiva Man’ and model of a Saka period burial mound Full day excursion to Issyk Kul Lake and the Open Air Petroglyphs below the Kungey Alatoo Mountains FEATURES AND INCLUSIONS A special hand‑crafted itinerary with included with a Kyrgyz folklore show and one in each of our sightseeing, scenic drives, excursions and leisure recommended local and hotel restaurants in time Tashkent, Samarkand (2), Bukhara, Mary, Ashgabat, Local English-speaking Tour Managers in each Khiva, Almaty (3), Issyk Kul Lake, and Bishkek (D) region visited throughout the tour 5 Economy Class flights during the tour to alleviate Escorted from Tashkent to Bishkek by EuroVista’s unnecessary long driving days experienced Tour Leaders Ken Bowie and Paul Leigh Ride the pride of Uzbekistan Railways, the 250kph 23 nights in 4 & 5 star hotels especially selected for Afrosiab Train, from Tashkent to Samarkand their style, comfort and location Air-conditioned motor vehicles for ‘on ground’ Daily breakfasts (B) transportation and sightseeing 13 lunches including a special lunch with an Uzbek All sightseeing, entrance fees and excursions as family in Khiva, picnics on the shore of Issyk Lake described in the itinerary are included in the price and in the Ala Archa National Park and one in each A ‘No Tipping’ policy which takes care of hotel of our recommended local restaurants in Tashkent, portage (1 piece of luggage per person), hotel and Penjikent (Tajikistan), Bukhara, Turkmenabat, Mary, restaurant service charges and taxes plus gratuities, Dashoguz, Almaty, Bishkek, Tokmok and Issyk Kul including gratuities for local guides and the end-of Lake (L) tour gratuities traditionally given to the Tour Manager 14 dinners including a ‘cooking class’ dinner with a and Driver. local family in Bukhara, a farewell dinner in Bishkek DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY Day 1 - Fri 27 August Independence Square, the Amir Timur Square, the Arrival Tashkent (2 nights) Museum of Applied Arts of Uzbekistan and the Alisher On arrival at Islam Karimov, Tashkent’s International Navoi Theatre, the home of Uzbekistan’s National Opera Airport you’ll be met by our representative and privately and Ballet. Tonight’s dinner is in a local restaurant. (BLD) transferred to our hotel centrally situated in the new part of the capital of Uzbekistan. Day 3 - Sun 29 August Accommodation: Hyatt Regency (or similar) Tashkent – Samarkand (3 nights) We start the day with an early breakfast before we’re Day 2 - Sat 28 August transferred to Tashkent’s Main Railway Station to board Tashkent – Sightseeing our Afrosiab (a high-speed fast train) for our journey to Tashkent is the biggest city in Central Asia and it’s Samarkand. We’ll depart at 08:00 and the 344 kilometre known the world over as a city of friendship. After a trip, in business class seats, will take about 130 minutes. leisurely breakfast we’ll commence our full day tour in On arrival in Samarkand we’ll check into our hotel and the old part of the the afternoon and evening is ours to do with as we wish. city including the (B) Khast Imam Accommodation: Grand Samarkand Superior (or similar) Architectural Complex, the Day 4 - Mon 30 August mediaeval Samarkand – Sightseeing Kukeldash Samarkand is close to the birthplace of the legendary Madrassah and conqueror Amir Timur (also known as Tamerlane) and it Tashkent’s most well-known market, the impressive boasts the biggest Mausoleums, Madrassahs and Chorsu Bazaar. We’ll enjoy an included lunch before Mosques in Central Asia. This morning’s agenda takes in visiting the city’s new area where we’ll explore the the Gur Emir, the Mausoleum where Amir Timur and all his family are We’ll complete Passport and Customs formalities then, buried and the later in the evening; we’ll be back at our hotel in Bibi-Khanam Samarkand in time for dinner. (BLD) Mosque, which, built by the eldest Day 6 - Wed 01 September wife of Samarkand – Bukhara (3 nights) Tamerlane as a The ceramics of Gijduvan are internationally famous gift to her thanks to Abdulla Narzullaev, Master of Ceramics of husband, was the biggest Mosque ever built in Central Gijguvan. En route to Bukhara we’ll visit the Narzullaev Asia. Our next stop is in Registan Square with its world family’s house-museum-workshop to see how this famous complex of three Madrassahs and the Golden beautiful pottery is created. Photo opportunities abound Dome Mosque. Close by is the Siyob Bazaar, a unique as we travel the 278 kilometres from Samarkand to place where we can get acquainted with the life of the Bukhara so we’ll stop for views of cotton fields, a cotton Samarkand people and spend some time for lunch. This factory and at the ruins of the ancient Caravanserai afternoon our first visit is to the Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis, Rabati Malik, a ‘motel’ for traders built along the Great a holy site and cemetery established over 1000 years Silk Road. On arrival in the fairy-tale city of Bukhara, an ago. It has been expanded over the centuries and now oasis that the Silk Road merchants never missed, we’ll houses the remains of a great number of people, both have time to relax before dinner in our hotel. (BD) famous and unknown, including the graves of members Accommodation: Asia Bukhara (or similar) of the Timur dynasty and the Day 7- Thu 02 September grave of Kusam Bukhara – Sightseeing ibn Abbas, Bukhara is unlike any other city in Uzbekistan and today purported to be a its architectural wonders beckon to us! Along with our cousin of the local guide we spend the whole day amongst them. Prophet There’s so much to see! Our first stop this morning is in Muhamed. Our Samani Park where we’ll visit the Samanid Mausoleum, sightseeing day the oldest preserved building of Central Asia. It was finishes with a visit to the Ulegh Beg Observatory, an completed in 905 for Ismail Samani (the founder of the incredible structure built in the 15th century for studying Samanid dynasty), and contains his grave along with the astronomy, and then we’ll return to Registan Square graves of his father and grandson. Next we’ll visit the where there’ll be free time to browse in the bazaar before Chashma-Ayub (Well of Job) Mausoleum where, legend returning to our hotel for dinner. (BD) has it; Job struck the rock with his staff and created a spring of pure water with healing powers. Old Bukhara is Day 5 - Tue 31 August a fascinating Samarkand – Excursion to Penjikent (Tajikistan) area of the city After breakfast we’ll leave our hotel at 08:00 and a 60 and here we’ll minute drive will bring us to the Uzbekistan-Tajikistan visit the Poi border at Jartepa. Here we’ll complete Passport & Kalon, an Customs control on both sides, cross the border (a walk ensemble of of around 100 metres), then meet our local Tajik guide striking buildings and take a 40 minute drive to Penjikent, 30 kilometres including the east of the crossing. In Penjikent we’ll first visit the Kalon Minaret (built in 1227 and over 46 metres high), Rudaki Museum, a museum of local history featuring the Emir Alim Khan Madrassah, the Kalon Mosque frescoes from the ancient city of Penjikent. Afterwards (started in the 12th century, finished in the 16th century we’ll visit the Central Bazaar followed by lunch at a local and boasts 288 domes) and the Mir-i-Arab Madrassah. restaurant. Penjikent was a major Sogdian city dating This Madrassah is still a fully functioning Madrassah back to the 5th century but was destroyed by Arab today, and in the Soviet era was the only one allowed to conquerors in the 8th century.