THE GREAT SILK ROAD - 18 days

DAY 1: ARRIVE TASHKENT
"Khush Kelibsizlar" means welcome to Uzbekistan. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel for overnight. Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan. Although the ancient monuments of other Uzbek cities are far more famous, Tashkent exhibits a wide array of architectural styles - Persian, Russian, and Islamic. Though, people have been living here, where the western tip of the Tien Shan pans out into the Kizyl-Kum desert, for more than two thousand years - there is not much evidence of this history. An earthquake in 1966 razed nearly half the city; a plethora of typical Soviet modern architecture was built to replace the earlier, more atmospheric buildings. The city has a fine museum of Antiques and Jewelry, housed in the palace of Grand Prince Nikolai. With a present population of some 2.3 million, this city has long been a crossroads for numerous Asian and European travelers, and is the fourth largest city in the former Soviet Union.
DAY 2: TASHKENT - URGENTCH: Excursion to Khiva
Today's tour of the Uzbek capital includes Barak Khan Seminary, Kukeldash and Abul Khassim Medressas, Uzbek Museum of Applied Arts and the many gardens and fountains. In the afternoon transfer for the short flight to Urgentch where we depart for Khiva. Venture into a veritable time capsule. Khiva's mud streets and inward-looking squares are so well-preserved they sometimes feel like a film set. The object of some of the most intrepid overland expeditions of the 18th and 19th centuries, Khiva was then the most remote, and is now the most complete of the old Silk Route's oasis cities. The Friday mosque is the strangest and most alluring in Uzbekistan. Also, visit the Ichon-Qala gates, Muhammad Amin and Rakhim Khan's Medressas, Tosh-Khovli Palace, Islom-Huja Medressa and Minaret. We meet local folks still living within the walled. Khiva prospered, like her predecessors, as the last great oasis on the northern caravan route to Russia. Return to Urgentch for overnight. (B)
DAY 3: URGENTCH - BUKHARA
We experience a whole different landscape as we drive through the Kyzylkum Desert for Bukhara, one of the best places in Central Asia for a glimpse of pre-Russian Turkestan. Bukhara, with a history of over 2,500 years, still possesses much of its pre-Russian historical charm. The city was once the center of a powerful Islamic empire, second only to Mecca. The great library of Bukhara once held over 45,000 manuscripts, and was a major draw for doctors, astronomers, mathematicians and geographers in the region. Spend two nights at your hotel. (B)
DAY 4: BUKHARA
Enjoy a full day tour of this historic city. Visit the tomb of Ishmael Samani, the founder of the Samanid Dynasty, who was responsible for the construction of the exquisite Bolo-Khauz Mosque. This tomb dates back more than a millennium, and was a center for the Emirs of Bukhara. Later continue your tour with a visit to the Ark of Citadel. See the multi-shaped domes of Chashma-Ayub, the site of miracles, and the winter residence of the Emir.

Also, visit the Djuma Mosque, a stunning destination, situated near the town's highest point. From here, you can see the city's panorama, dominated by a plethora of mosques. Most of the town's center is held as an architectural preserve as the government continues restoration of former medrassas and fortresses. The old center has changed little in the past two centuries and offers visitors a glimpse of what daily life might have looked like then. (B)

DAY 5: BUKHARA - SHAKHRISABZ - SAMARKAND
This morning we depart for Shakhrisabz to tour the birthplace of Tamerlane including the Ak-Saray Palace, Kok-Gumbaz Mosque, the House of Meditation, Crypt of Timur - the man who made a tremendous impact on Central Asia. Continue on to Samarkand and transfer to your hotel for one night. (B)
DAY 6: SAMARKAND - TASHKENT
"Rome of the Orient" - a city which was already flourishing when Rome and Babylon were founded. The Samarkand full day tour offers the world famous Registan Square, Bibi Khanum Mosque, Mausoleum of Tamerlane, observatory of Ulughbek, Shahi- Zinda necropolis and a stroll through the old town where we meet Uzbeks, Tajiks, Russians, Georgians and other Central Asian nationalities living side by side. Late afternoon departure by road to Tashkent. Transfer to your hotel for one night. (B)
DAY 7: TASHKENT - BISHKEK
Depart this morning for Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, which during Soviet days was known as Frunze. En route, you will cross into Kazakhstan. Bishkek, is a cool, modest city 806m above sea level, located at the foot of the Tien Shan Mountains. Upon arrival early this evening transfer to your hotel for overnight. (B)
DAY 8: BISHKEK - NARYN
After a morning city tour of Bishkek depart on a scenic drive to Naryn. Stop along the way to visit with shepherds in their yurt homes. We visit their homes and join the families for soup and bread. Upon arrival in Naryn, spend one night in local accommodation. (B)
DAY 9: NARYN - KASHGAR
Depart today for one of the most breathtaking border crossings in the world. Traveling along old trading routes you will reach the border with China. Here at the Torugart Pass (elevation:12,300ft) enjoy spectacular vistas as you straddle the border with Kyrgyzstan and China. Cross over to the Silk Road center of Kashgar. Spend two nights at a local hotel. (B)
DAY 10: KASHGAR
Today's full day tour includes the tombs of Abakh Hoja, Yusup Hazi Hajip, Sayyid Ali Asla Khan, the famous Id Kah Mosque and the unique "old town" filled with typical Uyghur-styled homes. Explore the various shopping alleys full of noodle shops, bakeries, teashops, blacksmiths and carpenters. Explore and mix with the locals. (B)
DAY 11: KASHGAR - SUNDAY BAZAAR - TASHKURGHAN
This morning tour the famed Sunday Market. This popular bazaar is a melting pot of various Central Asian ethnic groups gathering to sell or barter everything from chickens to camels. There are not many places in the world where horses and camels are still test-ridden. This historical Sunday Bazaar brings well over a 100,000 people of varying nationalities and ethnic groups. They come on foot, horsebacks, bikes, modern motorcycles, and donkey carts. In the afternoon, depart for Lake Karakol, with its excellent view of the Muztagh Ata peak on the Pamirs before reaching Tashkurghan, where you will overnight. (B)
DAY 12: TASHKURGHAN - KHUNJERAB PASS - HUNZA
Traversing the world's highest border crossing, we descend on the last living "Shangri-La" at the Lost Horizon valley of Hunza. Considered one of the world's most scenic drives, the views stretch across mountains over 7-8,000 meters with a beautiful verdant valley and the mighty Indus River roaring southbound. We arrive early evening at Karimabad, the capital of Hunza, and have some opportunity to meet the locals and get to know the secrets of the longevity of the Hunzakuts. Spend two nights in a local hotel. (B)
DAY 13: HUNZA
Our visit starts with the Tibetan style Baltit Fort and the 900-year-old Altit Fort. We will also visit a home of a local Hunzakut and walk through the one street town of Karimabad. Walking through the valley, we observe their ingenious irrigation system grafted to a challenging and difficult terrain. The afternoon is at your leisure to wander in the Hunza valley. Evening optional tour to Baltit Fort. (B)
DAY 14: HUNZA - GILGIT - CHILAS
Continuing on the world famous Karakorum Highway with its majestic scenery and cultural experiences we reach the ancient Silk Road town of Gilgit. We visit a local school, the home of a Gilgiton, and a local bazaar before visiting the impressive rock carvings of Lord Buddha near Kargah. It is likely that a trade route linking southern China with the neighboring countries once ran along this route. Afterwards, continue the drive to Chilas for an overnight stay. (B)
DAY 15: CHILAS - SWAT VALLEY
A spectacular drive over the gorgeous Shangla Pass gets us to the enchanting Swat Valley, the "Switzerland of the East." En route, we stop to meet various local peoples and picturesque sites. Transfer to your hotel for overnight. (B)
DAY 16: SWAT VALLEY - PESHAWAR
Begin today with a tour of Saidu Shariff and its colorful twin town of Mingora with a visit to the impressive Swat Museum, which is richly stocked with local artifacts. Later, we descend on the Malakand Pass for the historic city of Peshawar. Spend two nights at a local hotel. (B)
DAY 17: PESHAWAR: Excursion to *Khyber Pass
Walking back into history with a visit to the Khyber Pass - a silent witness to countless invasions by the Greeks, Buddhists, Huns, Moghuls etc. It is also reputed that the army of Alexander the Great crossed this pass in 327 BC. An afternoon tour of Peshawar city includes the Museum which houses a rich treasure of art, sculpture and historical relics dating from the Gandhara period (300 BC to 300 AD). We then visit Yadgar Square, the beautiful Mahabat Khan Mosque and the mystical Qissa Khawani Bazaar (storyteller's bazaar). Return to your hotel for overnight. (*Always subject to permit.)
DAY 18: PESHAWAR - TAXILA - ISLAMABAD
Driving on the historic Grand Trunk Road, we stop at Taxila, a fallen world of glories and once the seat of Oriental culture. Taxila is famous for the rare specimens of stucco from the Gandhara period excavated from Sirkap and for various Buddhist Stupas and Monasteries. The inscriptions of Darius the Great at Bistoun first mention Taxila as a territory of the Great Archaemenian Empire of Persia in the 6th century BC. It was later invaded by Alexander the Great in an attempt to assert his claim over the lost provinces of the Archaemenian Empire, then ruled by Mauryas such as Ashoka the Great, Bactrian Greeks, Scythians, Parthians and the Kushan kings. It came to an inglorious end around 450 AD when it was ransacked by hordes of White Huns. The museum here houses various objects and sculptures dating from the 4th century BC to the 5th century AD. The excavations are spread out over an area of over 5 miles. Continue for Islamabad Airport for your evening *international departure " Khuda Hafiz" - a warm farewell from your friends.