Road Scholar : Home
On the Silk Road in Central Asia

Program Number: 18766RJ
Start and End Dates:
10/25/2012 - 11/13/2012; 6/6/2013 - 6/24/2013; 9/5/2013 - 9/23/2013; 9/26/2013 - 10/14/2013; 10/3/2013 - 10/21/2013; 10/17/2013 - 11/4/2013; 10/24/2013 - 11/11/2013; 4/16/2014 - 5/4/2014; 5/7/2014 - 5/25/2014; 5/28/2014 - 6/15/2014; 6/4/2014 - 6/22/2014; 9/3/2014 - 9/21/2014; 9/24/2014 - 10/12/2014; 10/23/2014 - 11/10/2014; 10/30/2014 - 11/17/2014;
Duration: 19 nights
Location: Kazakhstan/Kyrgyzstan/Uzbekistan/Tajikistan/Turkmenistan
Price starting at: $5,077.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: Activity Level: t (see description)
Meals: 50; 18 Breakfasts, 17 Lunches, 15 Dinners    
Meal Options: Vegetarian    

Two thousand years ago, caravans of pack animals and traders followed a route west from their home in China over the steppe of Central Asia and into the fertile valleys of Europe, bringing with them silk, porcelain and spices. When adventurous Europeans traveled the Silk Road in the opposite direction, they came back with knowledge that changed the destiny of Western Civilization. Experience the history, culture and people that link the living cities and ancient ruins lining the Silk Road.




Highlights

• Share tea with a sixth-generation ceramics master and enjoy a private exploration of his studio.
• At the Bukhara Ark Citadel, a local specialist discusses archaeological excavations throughout the region.
• Enjoy a performance of Kyrgyz Manas folk tradition in Bishkek.



Activity Particulars

Walking and standing up to two hours at a time on paved sidewalks, streets, packed dirt, mostly level terrain. Some stairs.



Itinerary Summary

Arrival Almaty (Kazakhstan), 2 nights; coach to Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), 3 nights; flight to Tashkent (Uzbekistan), 1 night; coach to Khujand (Tajikistan), 1 night; coach to Samarkand (Uzbekistan), 2 nights; coach to Bukhara, 3 nights; coach to Khiva, 2 nights; coach to Tashauz (Turkmenistan), flight to Ashkabad, 3 nights; departure.



Overnight flight from the U.S.A.
1 night
Arrival Almaty (Kazakhstan)
2 nights

Enjoy a panoramic overview of Almaty beginning at the St. Nicholas Cathedral. Stop in at the delightful Museum of Musical Instruments for a short performance.



Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)
3 nights

Visit Victory Park and enjoy an authentic dinner and Kyrgyz Manas cultural performance in a local restaurant. Make a trip to Burana Tower, one of the only existing watch towers remaining from the old Silk Road. Enjoy lunch with a Kyrgyz family and attend a demonstration of Kyrgyz horse games in a local village.



Flight to Tashkent (Uzbekistan)
1 night
Coach to Khujand (Tajikistan)
1 night
Coach to Samarkand
2 nights

In the crossroad city of Tashkent, share tea with a ceramics master and tour his studio. Then discover the ancient city of Khujand, Tajikistan. Voyage on to Samarkand, for 2,700 years the trade center of Central Asia. Experience awesome Registan Square, with its three massive madrassas.



Coach to Bukhara
3 nights

Find cool shade in the oasis town of Bukhara, just as camel caravans did hundreds of years ago. At the USAID-UNESCO Handicraft Development Center, see puppet makers, coppersmiths and jewelry makers at work.



Coach to Khiva
2 nights

Well-preserved Khiva today is a window into life as it was lived hundreds of years ago. Join an expert on a walk through the Old Town and discover the palace of the khans, a mosque with a forest of wooden pillars and the ancient well.



Coach to Tashauz (Turkmenistan)
Flight to Ashkabad
3 nights
Departure

Learn about the art of weaving the priceless handmade carpets of Turkmenistan, visit one of the largest bazaars in Central Asia and savor the sweet taste of traditional plov (pilaf).
Accommodations
Almaty: Quality hotel near National Museum. Bishkek: Four-star hotel. Tashkent: Four-star hotel renowned for excellent service. Khujand: Comfortable hotel. Samarkand: Very new hotel. Bukhara: Boutique hotel with beautifully decorated niches. Khiva: Quality hotel a two-minute walk from city wall. Ashkabad: Hotel near National Museum.

Road Scholar Instructors
These instructors are participating on at least one date of this program. Please note that changes may occur.
Anvar Nasimov
Anvar Nasimov has been leading educational excursions in Samarkand, Uzbekistan for seven years. He studied languages at Samarkand State University, and is fluent in English, Russian and Tajik. Anvar spent a year working as the interpreter for a UN Consultant in Samarkand, and regularly leads study groups throughout Central Asia. He enjoys any opportunity to show off the beauty and culture of his native region.
 
Meals and Lodgings
   Astana International
  Almaty, Kazakhstan 2 nights
   Golden Dragon Hotel
  Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan 3 nights
   Tashkent Palace Hotel
  Tashkent, Uzbekistan 1 night
   Sugd Hotel
  Khujand, Tajikistan 1 night
   Asia Samarkand Hotel
  Samarkand, Uzbekistan 2 nights
   Sasha and Son B&B
  Bukhara, Uzbekistan 3 nights
   Asia Khiva Hotel
  Khiva, Uzbekistan 2 nights
   Ak-Altyn Plaza Hotel
  Ashkabad, Turkmenistan 4 nights
 Astana International
Type: Hotel
  Description: The European-style Astana International Hotel opened in 1996. Located in a quiet part of Almaty near the National Museum, the Astana is ten minutes from the city center and 30 minutes from the international airport.
  Contact info: 113 Baitursynov Street
Almaty,  050022 Kazakhstan
phone: +7 (727) 250 70 50
web: www.astana-hotel.info/page.php?lang=2
  Room amenities: All bedrooms offer satellite TV, individual climate control, hairdryer, safety deposit box, international direct dial telephone, minibar, and internet.
  Facility amenities: The Astana International Hotel offers a business center with secretarial and interpreting services, same day dry cleaning/valet laundry service, gym, sauna, massage, room service (24h), souvenir shop, beauty salon, car parking, car rental, and internet. There is a lounge bar, a restaurant with French and Kazakh cuisine, and a sports bar with billiard tables.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights prior: TBD Please contact the program provider MIR Corporation at 877-535-9815 for rates and bookings. Please note that additional nights pre-program affect visas in Kazakhstan. Extra nights in Almaty must be booked by the provider at the included hotel due to visa requirements and must be arranged prior to applying for visas, more than 90 days prior to the program date.

 Golden Dragon Hotel
Type: Four-Star Hotel
  Description: 35 kilometers from Manas international Airport
  Contact info: 60 Elebaev Street
Bishkek,  720005 Kyrgyzstan
phone: +996 (312) 90 27 71
web: www.gdhotel.kg/
  Room amenities: International telephone line, internet, minibar, safe deposit box, ironing and sewing accessories.
  Facility amenities: Outdoor swimming pool, business center with computers, internet, copy machine, scanner, fax, laptop rental, DVD player, VHS, camera; and several restaurants.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes

 Tashkent Palace Hotel
Type: Four-Star Hotel
  Description: The Tashkent Palace is one of the newest properties in Tashkent and is known for an excellent level of service.
  Contact info: 56, Buyok Turon Street
Tashkent,  700029 Uzbekistan
phone: +998 71 120 5800
web: www.tashkent-palace.com/
  Room amenities: Balcony, minibar, telephone, satellite TV, internet. Nonsmoking rooms are available.
  Facility amenities: Three international-style restaurants, three bars, a fully equipped health and fitness center with sauna and an outdoor swimming pool.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes

 Sugd Hotel
Type: Hotel
  Contact info: 179 Lenin Street
Khujand,   Tajikistan
phone: +998 662 235-8230
  Room amenities: TV, minifridge, hairdryer.
  Facility amenities: Lobby bar, shop, internet access in public areas.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes

 Asia Samarkand Hotel
Type: Hotel
  Description: Opened in 2008, the Asia Samarkand Hotel is well located, just across from the Registan.
  Contact info: 50 Kosh-Hauz Street
Samarkand,  140100 Uzbekistan
phone: +998 662 235 8230
  Room amenities: Telephone, satellite TV, hairdryer, windows that may be opened, minibar, air-conditioning.
  Facility amenities: Hotel bar, full service restaurant offering Uzbek and European food, open-air catering, conference facilities, non-smoking rooms, hotel safe, outdoor swimming pool, outside parking, sauna, massage, fitness room, disco/night club, business center, luggage service, 24-hour room service, currency exchange office, laundry service, evening entertainment, internet access
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes

 Sasha and Son B&B
Type: Boutique Hotel
  Description: This charming property is more a boutique hotel than a B&B and is decorated in the national style. Fashioned from several old merchant houses, it contains high ceilings, exposed beams and beautifully decorated niches.
  Contact info: Ishoni-Pir Street, 3
Bukhara,  705000 Uzbekistan
phone: +998 65 224 4966
  Room amenities: Air conditioning, mini bar, telephone, satellite television, internet.
  Facility amenities: The rooms surround a garden courtyard. There is a pleasant restaurant. Laundry services and massage are available.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes

 Asia Khiva Hotel
Type: Hotel
  Description: The Asia Khiva was built in 2004 and is located just outside of Ichon Qala, a two-minute walk from the city wall.
  Contact info: K. Yaqubova Street
Khiva,   Uzbekistan
phone: +998 362 375 76 83
  Room amenities: Satellite TV, air conditioner, telephone, internet, and minibar.
  Facility amenities: Bar, restaurant, cafe, business center, conference hall, beauty salon, non-smoking rooms, outdoor pool, outdoor pool bar, sauna, hotel safe, sauna, gift shop, billiards, 24-hour room service, laundry service, in-house doctor, luggage service, internet.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes

 Ak-Altyn Plaza Hotel
Type: Full Service Hotel
  Description: The Four Points Ak Altin Hotel was built in 1995. It is located in 3 km to the city centre and near Independent Monument, National Museum, Earthquake Victims Museum. Turkmenbashi Airport - 7 km. Railway station - 5 km.
  Contact info: 141 Magtum Guli Avenue
Ashkabad,  744000 Turkmenistan
phone: (+993-12) 512-181
  Facility amenities: 24-hour font desk, 24-hour room service, business center/services, car rental service, casino, concierge service, fitness facility, indoor heated pool, lounge, outdoor heated pool, wake-up service.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights after: TBD Please contact the program provider MIR Corporation at 877-535-9815 for rates and bookings. Please note that additional nights post-program affect visas for Turkmenistan.


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
The program begins at breakfast at the hotel on day 3. You will be staying at Astana International that night.
  End of Program:
The program ends after breakfast at the hotel on day 19. You will be staying at Ak-Altyn Plaza Hotel the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required. You will be sent a Road Scholar Health and Safety form prior to the program start date. This form must be completed and returned to the address shown on the document prior to your attendance in the program.
  Parking availability:
Parking is not available.
Transportation (For Independent Travelers)
To Start of Program
  Location:  Almaty
  Nearest airport:  Almaty International Airport (ALA)
  Transportation to site: A group arrival transfer is organized for all participants who purchased an air inclusive program and arrive on the group date. Program Only Participants can take the group transfer as long as their flight arrives at or around the same time as the group.
  From End of Program
  Location:  Ashkabad
  Nearest airport:  Ashkabad International Airport (ASB).
  Transportation from site: A group departure transfer is organized for all participants who purchased an air inclusive program and depart on the group date. Program Only Participants can take the group transfer as long as their flight departs at or around the same time as the group.
Elevation Note: Almaty, Kazakhstan, 5,577 feet.

Equipment Requirements: Please ensure that your Health and Safety questionnaire is completed and returned to the Program Provider as soon as you receive it. In addition, the following information must be very clearly written on your form: Name as it appears on your passport, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Passport Number, Date of Issue, Date of Expiration, Place of Issue, Occupation (if retired, state specific prior occupation) and Employer Name (if currently working).
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: Departures
(Thursday, October 25)
   
 In Transit Overnight: Depart on overnight flights from the U.S. Please Note: Regulations require three (3) color passport-type photos for Migration Service registration upon arrival in Turkmenistan. Photos should be 1.2" x 1.6" or 1.6" x 2". Please ensure that you have these photos with you when you arrive on the program.

Day 2: Arrivals in Almaty, Kazakhstan
(Friday, October 26)
   
 In Transit Overnight: Program air arrangements are on Lufthansa, with flight connections in Europe and Astana, Kazakhstan, and arrive in Almaty at approximately midnight (overnight Day 2-3). Transfer to the hotel.
   
Accommodations: Astana International

Day 3: Highlights of Almaty, Kazakhstan
(Saturday, October 27)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel.
 Morning: Start the day with an orientation by the group leader. Then, set out for an exploration of Almaty. First, explore the State Central Museum, a history museum with exhibits that detail the development of Kazakhstan and its people from the Bronze Age through the Russian Empire, the Communist Period and the present day. One of the exhibits is a miniature replica of the country’s chief archaeological treasure, the Golden Man, a warrior’s armor made from 4,000 gold pieces. There are also displays of Kazakh handicrafts and souvenir shops selling rugs and jewelry. Visit Kok Tobe, a 3,800-foot hill on the outskirts of Almaty.
 Lunch: At a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Continue a city discovery of Almaty including Panfilov Park with its candy-colored Zenkov Cathedral, built without the use of nails. Its yellow and green facade and golden domes are from the era of czars; it is one of the few buildings in Almaty that came through the devastating 1911 earthquake. Visit the local Green Bazaar where all types of produce, nuts and dried fruits are for sale.
 Dinner: Welcome dinner.
   
Accommodations: Astana International
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Drive to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
(Sunday, October 28)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel.
 Morning: Enjoy additional exploration of Almaty then travel approximately 30 minutes outside the city to the Small Almaty Gorge. The Gorge is 5,577 feet above sea level and home to the famous Medeo Sports Complex with its Olympic-sized ice rink.
 Lunch: At a restaurant in the Gorge with incredible views of the soaring Tien Shan Mountains.
 Afternoon: Drive to Bishkek.
 Dinner: In Bishkek on arrival.
   
Accommodations: Golden Dragon Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: The Countryside of Kyrgyzstan
(Monday, October 29)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel.
 Morning: Travel outside of Bishkek to Tokmak village. Pay a visit to the International University of Central Asia. Next visit the Burana Tower - one of the only existing watch towers remaining from the old Silk Road. The open-air museum here features a collection of ancient bal-bals, carved stone figures used as monuments.
 Lunch: In the private home of a local family. Enjoy the opportunity to meet the host and hostess and sample traditional Kyrgyz dishes.
 Afternoon: Attend a demonstration of Kyrgyz horse games at a local village.
 Dinner: In a local restaurant with a Kyrgyz Manas cultural performance.
   
Accommodations: Golden Dragon Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Highlights of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
(Tuesday, October 30)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel.
 Morning: An exploration of Bishkek includes visits to Victory Park, Ala Too and the National History Museum that features four floors of art and artifacts. Browse the State Museum of Fine Arts, featuring Kyrgyz embroidery, jewelry and unique felt rugs; then pause at Oak Park, the Village of Manas, and the monument "Manas on the Horse".
 Lunch: In a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Following lunch, observe a demonstration of the traditional Kyrgyz art of making felt, with an opportunity to make a small shyrdak for yourself. Later this afternoon, enjoy some independent time or visit Ala Archa National Park, centered on the steep forested gorge of the Ala Archa River and the mountains that surround it. An alpine park, Ala Archa includes over 20 glaciers and 50 peaks, which range from 12,000 to 15,000 feet. Soviet alpinists used to train at a camp here.
 Dinner: In a local restaurant.
   
Accommodations: Golden Dragon Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Tashkent, Capital of Uzbekistan
(Wednesday, October 31)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel.
 Morning: Early morning, fly to Tashkent on a short flight. (Because flights on this route operate infrequently, this early time is the only available flight.) Following some leisurely time this morning to rest from the early flight, visit the highlights of Tashkent: the Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet Theater, built in 1947 by Japanese prisoners of war and survivor of the terrible 1966 earthquake; the Shahid Memorial Complex, its blue-domed rotunda reminding the nation of Uzbek leaders, artists and poets shot in 1938 during Stalin's purges; the Courage Monument, named for the workers who rebuilt the city after the earthquake; and Independence Square, its history revealed in its parade of names -- first "Cathedral", then "Red", then "Lenin," and finally in 1992, "Independence."
 Lunch: In a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Visit the private studio of a sixth-generation Uzbek ceramicist whose family has been making pottery since the 1790s. They have revived the lost art of natural dye use, and are teaching contemporary Uzbek ceramicists their rediscovered techniques.
 Dinner: In a local restaurant.
   
Accommodations: Tashkent Palace Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Journey to Tajikistan
(Thursday, November 1)
   
 Breakfast: Early breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: Depart early driving south for a few hours and head across the Tajik border today to nearby Khujand. Khujand, situated at the entrance to the Fergana Valley on the Syr Darya River, is the second largest city in Tajikistan. Its origins have been attributed to both Alexander the Great (in 329 BC) and Cyrus the Great of Persia (several centuries earlier); whichever is true, the city is an ancient one. A former religious center and a Silk Road center, Khujand is home to several medieval monuments. Upon arrival depart for a city tour of Khujand including a visit to the exciting Panshanbe Bazaar. Khujand's pink-painted covered bazaar is overflowing with goods to buy. The huge columned structure shelters orderly rows of tables covered with bags of brilliant spices and nuts, straw-bedded melons with macramé handles, hanging haunches of meat and piles of vegetables.
 Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: This afternoon check in to the hotel. Later we enter the new Historical Museum of Sogdiana through a reconstructed medieval city gate. Displays include ancient Sogdian artifacts and exhibits from more recent Tajik history. Next visit the Muslihiddin memorial complex. 12th century leader and poet Muslihiddin Khudjandi is buried here in the Muslihiddin memorial complex, which has been rebuilt many times since that time. Today the complex includes a 16th century mosque and 19th century minaret as well as the poet's mausoleum. Next visit the Timur Malik Fortress. On the left bank of the Syr-Darya in the middle of Khujand are the remains of its 10th century citadel, restored in 1999. Archaeological excavations around the walls have uncovered artifacts from the 4th century BC.
 Dinner: In a local restaurant.
   
Accommodations: Sugd Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Along the Silk Road
(Friday, November 2)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel.
 Morning: Return to Uzbekistan, arriving this afternoon in perhaps the most well known of Silk Road towns, Samarkand, fabled oasis on the fringes of the Kyzyl Kum Desert that has been settled since the 6th century BC. Because of its location on the plains where the Zeravshan River spills out from the Pamir Mountains, Samarkand became a major Silk Road crossroads. It has been visited through time by many of the world's conquerors -- Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and Tamerlane. Alexander said of Samarkand, "Everything I have heard about the beauty of the city is indeed true, except that it is much more beautiful than I imagined." Tamerlane made it his capital city and gathered the finest architects, builders and artisans of the time to enhance its beauty.
 Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Discover Registan Square, the centerpiece of Samarkand and the most recognizable landmark for visitors. Three emblematic madrassahs frame the square and loom over the empty space in the center. It was this central space that originally gave the place its name, for “registan” simply means “place of sand.” This sandy place was at the center of ancient Samarkand and was a public square and marketplace before Ulug Bek built the Ulug Bek, Tillya-Kori, and Shir Dor madrassahs. In its reconstruction, the square maintains the majesty that it has radiated through the ages. Visit Gur-Emir Mausoleum, the final resting place of Tamerlane, built at the turn of the 15th century. The interior of the mausoleum has been restored and is brilliant in gold leaf and fresh tile. The heavily gilded central dome opens over the set of tomb-markers resembling sarcophagi. All are marble, with the exception of Tamerlane's, which is a slab of solid jade reportedly from Mongolia.
 Dinner: In a local restaurant.
   
Accommodations: Asia Samarkand Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Ulug Bek, Son of Tamerlane
(Saturday, November 3)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel.
 Morning: Today resume discovering Samarkand, visiting the Bibi Khanum Mosque, Ulug Bek's observatory, and the bazaar. Bibi Khanum Mosque, built by Tamerlane to be the largest mosque in the Islamic world, and dedicated to the memory of his favorite wife. Architects from India and Persia were brought in to build the mosque, and 95 elephants were used to transport the marble and other building materials from India to Samarkand. The row of tombs and mausoleums collectively called Shah-I-Zinde, or "place of a living king," stretches between the present and the past. At its front is living Samarkand, and at its back the dusty slopes at the edge of ancient Afrosiab. Even on hot summer days the mausoleums remain shady and cool, and seem to lure the traveler to approach the oldest tomb at the far end. Behind the complex and set into the hill lies an active cemetery with gravesites dating back as far as the ninth century, and as recently as the present day.
 Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Visit the local Carpet Factory Workshop. Observe the entire process of dying the thread and weaving carpets. Visit the workshop where hand-crafted paper is made according to traditions handed down from the 8th century, when paper making began in Samarkand. Founded in 1997 with the support of UNESCO, the workshop of Abdurakhim Mukhtarov produces lovely paper crafts and stationery as you watch.
 Dinner: In a local restaurant.
 Evening: Attend a dance performance by a young local troupe.
   
Accommodations: Asia Samarkand Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: Along the Silk Road to Bukhara, Uzbekistan
(Sunday, November 4)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel.
 Morning: Continue along the Silk Road, to Bukhara. Stop en route at a ceramics master’s home and studio in Gijduvan to learn about traditional ceramics and take a private visit of his workshop.
 Lunch: Share lunch with the ceramics master in his home.
 Afternoon: After arrival in Bukhara, take a short orientation walk around the center of the Old Town. In the mid 19th century 2,500 families of prosperous merchants were estimated to have been living here. Cut off in the 15th century from contact with other Jews, the Bukharan Jews developed their own dialect of the Tajik-Persian language that incorporates many Hebrew words, their own style of dress and their own unique form of Judaism. The only Bukharan synagogue allowed by the Soviets to remain is an unassuming place near the Lyabi-Hauz pool. Almost underground and still somewhat run-down, the synagogue is the center of life for Bukhara's greatly diminished Jewish community. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, more than 70,000 Jews have left Uzbekistan.
 Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant.
   
Accommodations: Sasha and Son B&B
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: Bukhara: A Surprise Behind Every Corner
(Monday, November 5)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel.
 Morning: Explore the Lyabi-Hauz plaza. With the feel of a true oasis in an oasis town, the Lyabi-Hauz plaza is at the center of Bukhara's old town and is -- as it has been throughout history -- a place to meet friends, to eat, to drink, and to relax in the shade. The atmosphere is cooled by the long rectangular reflecting pool that makes up the center of the plaza, and by the shade of the trees that ring the plaza. The mulberry trees here are hundreds of years old and frame the 16th- and 17th-century madrassahs that make up three of the four edges of the ensemble. Visit Poi Kalon, also called the Bukhara Forum. The 12th-century Kalon assembly, including the Kalon Mosque and Minaret, and the Mir-i-Arab Madrassah, surrounds an open plaza teeming with merchants and local vendors.
 Lunch: Lunch in a local restuarant overlooking the plaza.
 Afternoon: Continue to explore Bukhara, including its Ark Citadel -- the original fortress of Bukhara that likely dates back two thousand years or more. The current structure has been built and rebuilt on the same site throughout its history, and has preserved something of the form, purpose and function of the first ark. Like the medieval castle complexes of Europe, the Bukhara Ark served the Emirs of Bukhara as a residence, audience hall and as protection from neighboring enemies. An expert discusses the bountiful archaeological excavations in the Bukhara region at the Ark Citadel.
 Dinner: Dinner at a private house. Dinner today includes a master class in the art of making plov (or pilaf), Central Asia’s most ubiquitous dish. Learn how the freshest ingredients are combined to create the savory concoction that you will then consume.
   
Accommodations: Sasha and Son B&B
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13: Bukhara: The Riches and Power of the Past
(Tuesday, November 6)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel.
 Morning: Explore the Summer Palace of the last emir and its Museum of National Crafts. A short distance outside of the city sits the Palace of Moon and Stars, or the Summer Palace of the last Emir of Bukhara, built at the turn of the century after the Russians took control of Bukhara. The palace itself is something of a showpiece, as it was designed to keep the emir in luxury, but removed from the city, in isolation and politically impotent. The main palace is a mixture of local materials, regional influences and Russian style. Western furniture abounds, but design choices reflect traditional Uzbek decorations. Witness artisans at work in the USAID-UNESCO Handicraft Development Center near Lyabi-Hauz Plaza. Learn about the history of their crafts at a special presentation by the artisans themselves.
 Lunch: In a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Free time.
 Dinner: Your choice to explore local fare.
   
Accommodations: Sasha and Son B&B
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 14: Through the Desert to Khiva
(Wednesday, November 7)

Note: The highway between Bukhara and Khiva is currently under construction and delays are possible. Expect a very long drive. Unfortunately there are no direct flight alternatives so this drive remains the best method of getting between these cities.
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel.
 Morning: Depart Bukhara and drive to Khiva, one of the best-preserved cities along the ancient Silk Road. Legend says that the oasis of Khiva was founded at the place where Shem, son of Noah, discovered water in the desert, and that the city got its name from Shem’s joyful shout, “Hey va!” at the discovery. Today the living city is part museum town, part re-creation of life hundreds of years ago. Archaeologists have found traces of human habitation around Khiva dating from the 5th century BC. It was for hundreds of years a stop on the old Silk Road and a fortress town, but it was not until the 16th century that Khiva became the capital of the Khorezm Khanate. The khanate ruled the surrounding area for over 300 years, and was a well-known slave-trading center.
 Lunch: Stop for a picnic lunch en route on the shores of the Amu Darya River.
 Afternoon: Arrival in Khiva and check into the hotel.
 Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant.
   
Accommodations: Asia Khiva Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 15: Walk Through Ancient Khiva
(Thursday, November 8)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel.
 Morning: Spend the day exploring Khiva on foot. An expert-led walk explores the monuments of the Old Town, or Ichon-Qala, including the Tash-Hauli Palace, or Stone House, built in the 19th century for the reigning khan and his four wives.
 Lunch: In a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Continue the guided walk of Khiva. The late afternoon is free for independent exploration.
 Dinner: Dinner in a local restaurant.
   
Accommodations: Asia Khiva Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 16: Cross the Uzbek-Turkmen Border and Fly to Turkmenistan
(Friday, November 9)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel.
 Morning: This morning visit Toza Bog Summer Residence. Built in the late 19th century, the fortress-like Toza Bog Summer Palace united Central Asian and European design. Tall windows from St. Petersburg were placed in the adobe brick walls, and western chandeliers hang from the ceilings. Khan Muhammed Rakhim II constructed the palace outside the city and had it planted with orchards and flower gardens.
 Lunch: In a restaurant in Khiva.
 Afternoon: Drive to the Uzbek-Turkmen border crossing. Customs formalities can be time consuming; after clearing customs, continue to Tashauz.
 Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant in Tashauz.
 Evening: Fly over the Kara Kum (black sands) Desert to Turkmenistan’s capital, Ashkabad. Check into the hotel.
   
Accommodations: Ak-Altyn Plaza Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 17: Ashkabad, the Capital of Turkmenistan In All Its Glory
(Saturday, November 10)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel.
 Morning: A guided excursion of Ashkabad includes visits to the Lenin Monument, the new mosque and Turkmen-Turkish cultural and spiritual center, and a local bazaar. In spite of its location on a trade route, Ashkabad never achieved the status and influence of other Silk Road cities like Khiva or Bukhara. Originally known as Konjikala, the city was destroyed by Mongols in the 13th century. In 1881 the Russians built a fortress on the site as a buffer against English-dominated Persia, and by the early 20th century Ashkabad was a prosperous and flourishing city. In 1948 a massive earthquake leveled Ashkabad, killing over two-thirds of the population. Recently Ashkabad has seen a boom in new construction, which has had a major impact on the look of the city.
 Lunch: In at a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Visit the National Museum of History and Ethnography with its superb collection of carved ivory drinking horns from Nisa. Also visit the Museum of Carpets and Textiles with its priceless handmade Turkmen carpets.
 Dinner: In a local restaurant.
   
Accommodations: Ak-Altyn Plaza Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 18: Altyn-Asyr, One of Central Asia's Largest Bazaars
(Sunday, November 11)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel.
 Morning: Set out early to explore the Altyn-Asyr Bazaar, one of the largest in Central Asia, located about an hour's drive from the city center. The huge market is brimming with all types of goods including traditionally patterned carpets, Turkomen jewelry and animals for sale. Visit a horse-breeding farm devoted to the renowned Akhal-Tekke horse, arguably the oldest cultured breed of horse in the world.
 Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Explore the ancient settlement Anau that has been inhabited since Neolithic times. Archaeologists have recently uncovered evidence of a sophisticated town from around 2300 BC, the time of the early cities of Mesopotamia and ancient Iran. Up until a severe earthquake in 1948, Anau was well known for its beautiful 15th century mosque, decorated with a tiled mosaic of two dragons. Although the site of the old mosque is today mainly of interest to archeologists, a new mosque has arisen, built of bricks from the rubble of the old one.
 Dinner: In a local restaurant.
   
Accommodations: Ak-Altyn Plaza Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 19: Ancient Parthian Kingdom of Nisa
(Monday, November 12)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel
 Morning: Visit the site of capital of the ancient Parthian Kingdom of Nisa. More than two thousand years ago the Parthian Empire spread out from Nisa and took its place among such kingdoms as the Achaemenid under Cyrus the Great and the Macedonian under Alexander the Great. Though Nisa was ruled by a succession of dynasties, it remained an important center in the ancient world until the 13th century, when the Mongols sacked it. Today archaeological work continues at Nisa, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. Meet with a local archaeologist while visiting the excavations that continue to reveal more about this ancient city. On the way back to Ashkabad, make a stop at Kipchuk village to admire Turkmenbashi’s personal mosque. The huge $100-million-dollar mosque in former Turkmen President Niyazov’s hometown of Kipchuk was inaugurated in 2004. The mosque is big enough to hold 10,000 people, and its 164-foot golden dome had to be lowered in place by helicopter. Verses from Niyazov’s own spiritual book, the Ruhnama, are etched on the walls alongside Koranic verses. Niyazov was buried here in the family mausoleum that he built, along with the mosque, with government funds.
 Lunch: Farewell lunch, complete with a fashion and folk show of Turkmen dancers.
 Afternoon: Free time this afternoon. (International flights take off in the early hours tomorrow.)
 Dinner: Dinner tonight is independent.
   
Accommodations: Ak-Altyn Plaza Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 20: Depart Ashkabad
(Tuesday, November 13)
   
 Breakfast: Available at the hotel. However Lufthansa flights out of Ashkabad depart in the early morning hours, in which case, breakfast is on board the flight.
 Morning: Departures. *Note: All flights to Europe with connections to the U.S. depart very early in the morning.
   
Meals Included: Breakfast

Free Time Opportunities
  
  Tashkent Tour of the Underground Metro
Tashkent boasts the only subway in Central Asia. Begun in 1977, each station has a different theme, some incorporating Central Asian decorative motifs and some resembling Russian palaces. With granite and marble, chandeliers and mosaics, the stations on Tashkent’s three lines are meant to be “art galleries for the people.” The Group Leader will accompany those interested in visiting some stations.
  Evening Cultural Performances
Evening at the circus or local theatre or other evening performances from current events on site. Tickets are usually $10 per person or less.
  Bukhara Paikent Archaeological site
Travel outside the city to the Bukhara Oasis and the dig site of the ancient city of Paikent, whose 15-foot-thick fortress walls date back to the ninth-century B.C. Conquering Arabs destroyed Paikent in 706 B.C. Tour the small museum of unearthed treasures. A guide is required. This requires a private car to get there and back, which can be arranged on site. Approximate cost for car with driver for a full day is approximately $150 per car.
  The Jewish Synagogue
Visit the Jewish Synagogue, located in the old town of Bukhara near the Labi Hauz complex.
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


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