The History of Five Stans

March 20 to April 07, 2022 Led by Dr. Mehreen Chida Razvi, PhD in the History of Art & Archaeology from SOAS, University of London.

Can be combined with our Belarus, Ukraine & Moldova tour (April 07 to 23, 2022) Central Asia presents a colorful melting pot of people and cultures. Since the end of the 2nd millennium nomads from the north have peri- odically occupied these regions, settling and mingling with the local population to create new cultures and civilizations. From the middle of the 1st millennium BC until the 10th century AD the territories of modern , , and were part of the Persian Empire. You will explore shimmering desert towns, UNESCO-listed palaces, stark soviet towers, bizarre oil-boom buildings and the history of the ancient trading routes between east and west. Stretching all the way from to the Mediterranean, the is a historic and cultural marvel. Caravans laden with, amongst many other things, gold, ivory, spices, furs, jade, exotic animals and of course, silk, trundled along the vast network of trade routes that made up the road for nearly two millennia. Not only were goods transported on the route but it also acted as a bridge that brought cultures and ideas together; Islam and Buddhism reached China thanks to the Silk Road while it facil- itated the spread of Persian, Greek, Roman, Indian, Arabian and Chinese influences around the world. Central Asia was a major center for three great religions: Zoroastrianism, Buddhism and Islam. Mosques, mausoleums, madrasas Ihab Zaki Managing Director, Spiekermann Travel

Sunday, March 20 Wednesday, March 23 USA - Ashgabat (Turkmenistan) Mary - Ancient - Ashgabat

You will arrive to Ashgabat very early in the morning of March Have breakfast, and then head to the east of Mary (25 km), to- 13. Upon arrival, transfer to Yildiz hotel or similar for check in, have wards Bayram-Ali, the contemporary and modest suburb of the some rest, relax and refresh after your journey. Late in the morn- glorious Ancient Merv (UNESCO World Heritage Site). One of the ing, we’ll head to visit the fabled Sunday Bazaar of Tolkuchka major archaeological sites of Central Asia is Merv, which played (Opens on Sat & Sun). Attracting colorfully dressed people from an important part in the development of the Silk Road for more all over the country to buy/sell camels, cattle poultry, amulets, than 2,000 years. Beside the remnants of the cities of Merv, we will carpets, jewelry, and other goods. From the market, we head back visit the VI-IX cc. AD forts of Big and Little Kyz-Kalas, excellent ex- to the hotel for some rest then we will enjoy our dinner in the city. amples of the so-called corrugated Koshks; the splendid XII cen- Overnight at the hotel. (B,D) tury mausoleums of Sultan Sanjar and Muhammed ibn-Zeyd, Note: Hotel is available for early morning check in on March 20. demonstrating exquisite Seljuk period brickwork and architectur- al décor. After sightseeing, we head back to Mary. Upon arrival, we Monday, March 21 will visit local History Museum, presenting a wide array of archae- Ashgabat ological finds. Transfer to Mary airport for your afternoon flight back to Ashgabat. Upon arrival, transfer to Yildiz hotel or similar In the morning, we head to visit the fortress of Old Nisa (UNE- for check in and overnight. (B,L,D) SCO World Heritage Site), the earliest of Parthian Empire capitals. En-route visits the Spirituality Mosque, biggest in Turkmenistan, Thursday, March 24 and the family mausoleum of the first President. We will also vis- Ashgabat – Dashoguz – (Uzbekistan) it the Park of independence with its independence monument, and Neutrality Square, famous for its Arch of Neutrality topped by After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight a rotating gold-plated statue of the first President of Turkmeni- to Dashoguz. Upon arrival, head to Kunya Urgench for a visit; stan, and Wedding Palace -“Bagt Koshgi” and National Memo- once the capital city of the powerful state of Khorezm and its rial Complex with WWII memorial and the Earthquake Memorial territories. It was the center of scholars in mathematics, astron- dedicated to the victims of the 1948 earthquake. In the afternoon, omy, chemistry, and literature under the patronage of Khorezm we’ll visit the National Museum of History and Ethnography Shah. Your visit will include the mausoleums from the pre- Mon- (displaying more than 327,000 exhibits) to see the exclusive an- gol period and the later Mongol period, the Tomb of Turabeg cient artifacts from numerous historical & archeological sites of Khanum, and an ancient caravanserai with a 62m Kutlug Temir the country. Return to the hotel for your overnight. (B,L,D) minaret and winding brick staircase. Drive back to Dashoguz and cross Shavat border to Khiva and transfer to Silk Road hotel Tuesday, March 22 or similar for check in and overnight. (B,L,D) Ashgabat – Mary (Gonurdepe) Friday, March 25 Transfer to the airport for your morning flight to Mary. Upon arriv- Khiva al, you’ll be met and begin your tour of Margush (northeast from Mary - 40 km Off Road), where the first agricultural settlements ap- We’ll start our day with exploring the UNESCO World Heritage peared in the delta of Murgab River as old as 3 millennium BC. Fer- site of Khiva, which is described as one of the best-preserved cities along the Silk Road and the most homogenous agglomer- tile silt from the mountains, plenty of water and moderate climate ation of medieval Islamic architecture in the Islamic world. This had created favorable conditions for good crops to grow and the compact, walled city was once isolated and a haven for slave development of the ancient economy was continuing for several traders. The fortunes and importance of Khiva rose when Amu- centuries. The “Boston Globe” an American newspaper wrote that Darya changed its course leaving the capital town of Kone- before we knew the four oldest centers of the world’s civilizations: Urgench in almost oblivion when all the attention was drawn Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and China, and due to the fantastic re- towards Khiva. Explore Ichan Kala, a forest of tall minarets and sults of the Margiana expedition it is quite possible to think that domed roofs surrounded by dwellings and public buildings re- there was another, the fifth center. We will enjoy our picnic lunch at flecting rich traditions of popular oriental architecture. Return to the archeological site then drive back to the city of Mary and trans- the hotel for your overnight. (B,L,D) fer to Mary Hotel or similar for check in and overnight. (B,L,D) Saturday, March 26 dens and riches. Marco Polo spoke of its booming trade and gardens. Tamerlane made Samarkand his capital and called it the “capital of the Khiva - Bukhara world”. Visit Gur Emir, the 15th century mausoleum of the family of Have breakfast then continue your sightseeing of Khiva by visit- Amir Timur and Registan Square, the site of a 14th century bazaar. See ing the madrassas of Amin Khan and Mukhammad Rakhim Khan. three madrassas: Ulugbek a monumental madrassa built by a grand- Tour Kunya Ark a massive, fortified citadel at the center of the city, son of Tamerlane and was the greatest University in Central Asia in the which was once the residence of the rulers of Khiva. Built in the 12th 15th century, Sherdor Madrassa and Tillya-Kari Madrassa, both were century by Ak Sheikh Bobo and later expanded by the khans of the built in the 17th century. A few more stops including the Observatory 17th century, it consists of living quarters, a mosque, the palace of Ulugbek, the Afrosiyab Archaeological Museum with murals from of the khan, the residence of his harem, the mint, the arsenal, the the 7th century. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant then return to the stables and the jail. Continue to the Mausoleum of Pahlavan Mah- hotel for your overnight. (B,L,D) mud, the Shir Gazi Khan Madrassa, the Islam Khodja Madrassa and Minaret, the Mosque, and Tash Khauli. In the afternoon, trans- Wednesday, March 30 fer to Bukhara by road crossing Kyzul Kum, or Red Sand Desert, the Samarkand - Penjikent - Dushanbe same route taken by loaded Silk Road camel caravans. Upon arrival Early morning drive (1hr) to the Uzbekistan-Tajikistan border crossing at in Bukhara in the late evening transfer to Omar Khayyam hotel or Jartepa. After customs and passport control on both sides, cross similar for check in and overnight. (B,L,D) the border, meet the Tajikistan local guide and driver and head to Sunday, March 27 Penjikent via the settlement of , included in the UNESCO list. Penjikent is the birthplace of Abu Abdallah Rudaki, considered Bukhara by many to be the father of Persian Poetry. You will visit the Rudaki Museum, the ancient Penjikent - ruins of old Sogdian town, found- After breakfast, you will explore Bukhara, the “pearl of the east” – ed in the 5th century and abandoned in the 8th century by the the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as one of Central Asia’s Arabs. Foundations of houses, a citadel with a couple of Zoroastri- most ancient living cities. The ancient town of Bukhara goes back an fire temples and city bazaar are visible in the excavated ruins. in history for more than 2500 years. It was one of the important Continue your drive to the capital Dushanbe and to Hilton hotel towns along the caravan route and the richest of the Transoxi- for check in and overnight. (B,L,D) ana countries. Some of the sights you will visit include the Ark Citadel, home of the Bukhara rulers for over a millennium; the Thursday, March 31 Mausoleum of the Samanid Dynasty, the rulers of Iran in the 9th Dushanbe and 10th centuries; the Kalon Complex with the oldest Minaret in the city; Ulugbek Madrassa, one of three built by Tamerlane’s Have breakfast, then start your guided city tour with a visit to the grandson Ulugbek; Abdul Aziz Khan Madrassa; Magoki Attor, National Museum of Antiquities in Tajikistan (closed on Mon- where archaeologists found the remains of a 5th century Zoro- days) that includes the exhibits of history, natural history and art astrian temple destroyed by the Arabs and an earlier Buddhist (Buddha in Nirvana is one of the valuable exhibits of the muse- temple underneath. Wander through the covered bazaars, spe- um). Continue to Hissar Fortress (30 km from Dushanbe), where you can see Madrasah Kukhna then return to Dushanbe and cialized markets in town that were built at the junction of cara- head to visit the Gurminj Musical Instruments Museum, Statue van routes. Explore the Lyabi Khauz in the heart of the city, the of Ismail Somoni and Rudaki Park. Return to the hotel for your Jewish Quarter and the synagogue. Enjoy a walk in the old city, overnight. (B,L,D) attend a folkloric performance in the evening then return to the hotel for your overnight. (B,L,D) Friday, April 01 Dushanbe - Khujand - Tashkent (Uzbekistan) Monday, March 28 Bukhara - Shakhrisabz - Samarkand Begin your day with a drive to Khujand through the Anzob tunnel. Enjoy lunch at the local Chaikhana (tearoom). Upon arrival, head Have breakfast, then head to the city of Shakhrisabz, the birth- to visit the Museum of Archeology and Fortification, Shaikh place of Tamerlane and known as Amir Timur. Upon arrival, start Muslihiddin Mosque, Panjshanbe Bazaar, the biggest bazaar in your tour with a visit to the magnificent architectural monu- Tajikistan, Arbob Palace named after S. Urunhodlaev (20th cen- ments of the Timurids. See the remains of the Ak-Saray palace tury). Continue the drive to Oybek and cross the border point to of Tamerlane, the Mausoleum of Djehangir; the Khazrat Imam Uzbekistan. Arrive in the capital Tashkent and transfer to Ichan Mosque; the Mausoleum of Sheik Shamsiddin Kulal; the Gum- Qala hotel or similar for check in, dinner and overnight. (B,L,D) bazi Saidon Mausoleum; the Kok Gumbaz Mosque and the Chorsu trade dome. Drive to the city of Samarkand and transfer Saturday, April 02 to Malika Prime Boutique hotel for check in, free time to explore Tashkent the surroundings, have dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B,L,D) Begin your day exploring the metropolis and capital of modern Tuesday, March 29 Uzbekistan, the city along the Silk Road, known as the “City of Samarkand Friendship and Peace”. The background of the low-lying Tien-Shan Have breakfast, then explore Samarkand which was coveted by invad- range gives Tashkent a pleasant climatic condition. It became a ers who wished to make it part of their empire. The “Jewel City of the place to show the power of the Communist Party in 1966, Tour Silk Road”, Samarkand has always been admired for its beautiful gar- the old city complex of Khazrat Imam where you will see the mosque, Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum, Tillya Sheikh Mosque, Barak Khan Madrassa and the Museum of Islamic Books. Continue to “We reserve the right to change the order of activities or the State History Museum, that houses the archaeological dis- places visited due to unforeseen schedule conflicts or in order coveries from ancient to modern times in Central Asia, Indepen- to make the itinerary run smoothly” dence Square, with its Arch of Independence and the Memorial to the Victims of World War II. Wander through the Chorsu Bazaar be- fore returning to hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

Sunday, April 03 Tashkent - ()

Transfer to the airport for your morning flight toBishkek . Upon arriv- al, meet your guide and driver and head to Ala Archa national park (50 min drive), which attracts visitors because of its beautiful mountain scenery and hiking trails. Fast flowing Ala-Archa River runs through the alpine gorge surrounded by snowy peaks with steep forested slopes. Enjoy free time or a hike and in the after- noon return to Bishkek for a city tour visiting the Oak Park, Ala-Too Square, Statue of Manas. See the Philharmonic Hall and Victory Monument - great examples of Soviet architecture. Transfer to Hy- att hotel or similar for check in and overnight. (B,L,D) Monday, April 04 Bishkek - Issik Kul

Have breakfast, then drive to Issyk-Kul Lake, one of the wonders of the country. En-route stop to see the 11th and 12th century AD caravan town ruins of Balasagun, was once an important center of trade and commerce. Early Chinese texts state that the city was founded in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD by the Sogdians. The Buddhist monasteries and rock drawings found in Chui valley signify that the town was of great importance. Today you may see an 11th century tower that was once part of a religious complex, the only remnant of this great history. Mongol armies raided the town in 1220. Visit a small museum dedicated to the Turkic tomb- stones in the courtyard. Continue to Issik Kul Lake. And transfer to Raduga hotel or similar for check in, dinner and overnight. (B,L,D) Special Trip Remarks: We reserve the right to change the order of activities or places visited due to unforeseen schedule conflicts or Tuesday, April 05 in order to make the itinerary run smoothly. Some of the hotels Issik kul - Almaty () can be rather Spartan and plain especially in small towns. You must Depart after breakfast for a boat ride on Issyk Kul Lake known as be in good health to participate as there are days with long walks, the “Hot Lake” because it never freezes even at this high altitude. some on uneven ground. Elevations can reach up to 3,000 ft. above Explore an open-air museum of , with examples sea level in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Some drive days are very from the Bronze Age. Return to Bishkek and transfer to the airport long and can be exhausting in nature, but we will be making fre- for your flight to Almaty. Upon arrival, transfer toRoyal Tulip hotel quent rest stops. Bathroom facilities along the way may be rather or similar for check in, dinner and overnight. (B,L,D) primitive and at times that will mean “in the wilderness”. Wednesday, April 06 VISAS: The process of obtaining all visas is simple. Tajikistan visa is Almaty obtained online at https://www.evisa.tj and Uzbekistan visa also can be obtained online at https://e-visa.gov.uz and no visa support Start your day with a tour of Almaty, known locally as the ‘father of letter is required. No visa required for Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. apples’ because of the delicious, juicy apples grown in the region. The Only Turkmenistan requires letter of invitation or visa support let- town is set in the Tien Shan range giving it a very subtle climate. ter to claim your visa. For all travelers we will assist with arrange- Explore Panfilov Park where the Holy Ascension Cathedral, the ments of letter of invitation. We need to start applying for the letter Museum of Kazakh Musical Instruments, the State Museum of of invitation 3 months prior to the start date of the trip, WITHOUT History, the Grand Mosque and Republic Square are located. Re- need for actual passport, just a scanned copy of it. In very rare turn to hotel for dinner and overnight. occasions letter of invitation may not be secured by issuing author- Thursday, April 07 ities with no given reason. On basis of approved letter of invitation, Almaty - USA you are eligible to claim tourist visa at the Turkmenistan Embassy in Washington, DC or upon arrival to international airport in Ashgabat. Enjoy breakfast in the morning. Transfer to the airport for your Please use the visa company recommended by us. flight back home or continue your next trip. Tour cost (land only) per person sharing in double occupancy 4 - 5 travelers: $7,750.00 6 - 7 travelers: $6,850.00 8 - 10 travelers: $6,250.00 Single Supplement: $850.00 Price based on a group size of minimum 4 participants and maximum 12 participants Trip Grade: II Lodging Level: ***_****

About your Lecturer… Dr. Mehreen Chida Razvi: Earned her BSc and BA from the University of Florida, Gaines- ville, before moving to London, England where she completed an MA in Art History at the Courtauld Institute of Art, and a second MA and a PhD in the History of Art & Archaeology from SOAS, University of London. She specializes in the history of Islamic art, architecture and material culture in the early modern era, with a particular emphasis on the Persianate regions of Mughal South Asia, Iran and Central Asia. Dr. Chida-Razvi’s primary research examines the history of architecture and the built environment and she has carried out extensive fieldwork and site-research in Pakistan and India. Another area of particular interest is the cultural and artistic interactions between Europe and the Persianate world and the social and historical circumstances which allowed for such connections to take place. Since 2007 Mehreen has given lectures and taught courses on Islamic art and architecture in London and Oxford, and has furthermore been an academic contributor and consultant for a documentary on Taj Mahal.

Tour includes: Tour does not include:

• Tashkent – Bishkek, Bishkek-Almaty flight & domestic flights • International round airfare as per the itinerary. • Consular visa fees to Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and • Airport transfers and air-conditioned motor coach. Tajikistan (Approximately $185.00 at time of printing). • 5* hotels in capital cities, Superior 4* and 3* hotels in smaller cities. • Photography and video making fees. • English-speaking private guides in each country. • Dayroom/overnights necessitated by changes in • Tour lecturer throughout the trip. airline schedules or early arrival. • Meals as per the itinerary • Expenses of a personal nature such as: beverages with (B: Breakfast, L: Lunch and D: Dinner). meals, telephone, email, laundry bills, camera fees, etc. • All activities described in the tour and entrance fees to all sites • Activities and sites not described in the itinerary. mentioned unless listed as optional. • Travel Insurance (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED). • Invitation visa letter for Turkmenistan. • Bottled water on the bus daily. • Folk Show in Bukhara & Boat ride in Cholpon Ata (KRG). • Gratuities to guides, drivers and porters.

Trip Grade: II Active - Some hikes, slightly more demanding walks at or to sites, few elevations, comfortable but busy schedule and some long rides and extensive drives.

Lodging Level: *** Superior - Lodges and hotels with additional amenities, refined service and comfort level acceptable to western standards. (3 or 4 stars)

**** Luxury - Regular style- usually large- hotels, typical western stan- dard with ample venues, and full amenities. (4 or 5 stars)

Spiekermann Travel Service, Inc. 18421 East Nine Mile Road, Eastpointe, MI 48021 Phone: 1-800-645-3233 Fax: 586-775-9556 www.mideasttrvl.com [email protected]