Silk Route Odyssey: Caravan Across Uzbekistan
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"Very unusual and very well done tour - experiences from A to Z: gorgeous architecture, fascinating dress of the local people, the thrill of seeing Bukhara and Khiva - I loved it all! MIR is about the best company I've ever used! Thanks!"
Virginia Britton
East Boothbay, ME
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The center of Central Asia, Uzbekistan is home to three of the most renowned of the Silk Road oases - Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. Built from baked desert earth and decorated to reflect the desert sky, these cities beckoned the ancient caravans like shimmering mirages.
Daily Itinerary
Days 1-4: Tashkent, Fergana Valley
Gather in the modern Uzbek capital, Tashkent. Drive to the fertile Fergana Valley, heartland of Uzbekistan. Bordered by the Tien Shan Mountains, the valley is an oasis of cotton fields and melon plantations, dotted with ancient villages distinguished for their silk production and ceramic tiles.
Days 5-7: Samarkand, Shakhrisabze
Continue to Samarkand, the grand capital of the Tatar conqueror Tamerlane. Admire the grace of the blue-tiled Registan, and visit Ulug Bek's Observatory. The grandson of Tamerlane, Ulug Bek spent his life constructing the best-equipped observatory in the medieval world.
Day 8: Navoi, Nurata, Kyzyl Kum Desert
Brave the vast Kyzyl Kum Desert, whose red sands protect the remnants of Alexander the Great's ancient well system, and spend time with a local family. After an afternoon of camel riding, spend the night in a yurt camp, relaxing around a campfire under a dome of stars.
Days 9-15: Bukhara, Khiva, Tashkent
The next stop is Bukhara, whose densely inhabited ancient city center is a maze of mud-walled homes, mosques and stone bazaars. The final stop is Khiva, the last great oasis on the northern caravan route. The odyssey concludes in Tashkent with an Uzbek feast and farewell toasts.
Trip Details
| Length of Trip: |
15 Days |
| Departures in 2008: |
4 |
| Dates: |
March 15-29 |
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May 31-June 14 |
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August 23-September 6
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October 11-25
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| Land Tour Cost |
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| 4-12 travelers |
$3,395 |
| Partial Single Supplement |
$295* |
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MIR Signature Features
- Visit local craftsmen in their workshops in the rural Fergana Valley
- Trek across the red sands of the Kyzyl Kum desert on camelback
- Meet a local family and learn the art of making traditional Uzbek round bread
- Recognize the timeless character of Bukhara's Old Town
Map
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| Day 1: |
Tashkent |
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| Day 2: |
drive to Fergana* |
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| Day 3: |
Fergana Valley |
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| Day 4: |
fly to Tashkent* |
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| Day 5: |
drive to Samarkand |
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| Day 6: |
Samarkand |
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| Day 7: |
Samarkand, day trip to Shakhrisabze |
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| Day 8: |
drive to Navoi, Nurata, Kyzyl Kum Desert |
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| Day 9: |
drive to Bukhara |
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| Days 10-11: |
Bukhara |
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| Day 12: |
drive to Khiva |
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| Day 13: |
Khiva |
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| Day 14: |
fly to Tashkent |
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| Day 15: |
Tashkent |
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*Route could be by land or air depending on schedules.
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Suggested Extensions
Combine this tour with Essential Iran or enjoy a customized extension to Moscow for as many nights as you'd like.
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