Silk Road holiday
| country: | Uzbekistan |
| location: | Silk Road |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2008: 13 Jun, 18 Jul, 8 Aug |
| price: | From £1829 - £1929 (13 days) including flights from the UK. From £1099 - £1169 excluding flights. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
check out similar holiday ideas...
introduction to Silk Road holiday
Journey through the fabled lands of Central Asia
The Silk Road & Khiva
The Silk Road wound its way from China to the Mediterranean, and all along the route, fantastic cities sprung up. Your discovery starts in Tashkent, a vibrant mix of modern architecutre and lively markets. On to the former caravan halt of Khiva, said to have been founded by the tribe of Shem (Noah’s son). You’ll explore the myriad of alleyways, mosques and palaces in what is perhaps the most intact of all the Silk Road cities. Head to the ruins of Ayaz Qala and across the desert of Kyzyl-Kum.
Bukhara & Nurata
From here you head to Bukhara where wandering through the mudbrick walled streets and ancient centre gives a real insight into how life was during the 10th century – you can almost hear the cries of the merchants and traders echoing through the streets. The hilltop citadel of Alexander the Great at Nurata looks out over the mountains and the village of Sentab gives you a tase of village life.
Samarkand
Samarkand is a feast for the senses! It's home to ornate blue and turquoise tiled buildings and the city boasts a breathtaking main square surrounded by stunning minarets and domes. You return to Tashkent for one final chance to wander the streets of this fine city.
The Silk Road & Khiva
The Silk Road wound its way from China to the Mediterranean, and all along the route, fantastic cities sprung up. Your discovery starts in Tashkent, a vibrant mix of modern architecutre and lively markets. On to the former caravan halt of Khiva, said to have been founded by the tribe of Shem (Noah’s son). You’ll explore the myriad of alleyways, mosques and palaces in what is perhaps the most intact of all the Silk Road cities. Head to the ruins of Ayaz Qala and across the desert of Kyzyl-Kum.
Bukhara & Nurata
From here you head to Bukhara where wandering through the mudbrick walled streets and ancient centre gives a real insight into how life was during the 10th century – you can almost hear the cries of the merchants and traders echoing through the streets. The hilltop citadel of Alexander the Great at Nurata looks out over the mountains and the village of Sentab gives you a tase of village life.
Samarkand
Samarkand is a feast for the senses! It's home to ornate blue and turquoise tiled buildings and the city boasts a breathtaking main square surrounded by stunning minarets and domes. You return to Tashkent for one final chance to wander the streets of this fine city.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Depart London Depart London on overnight flight to Tashkent, arriving early hours of tomorrow morning. On arrival you will be transferred to your hotel. Hotel (2 nts) |
| Day 2: | Arrive in Tashkent Depending on the arrival time of your flight into Tahskent, you have today free to discover this great city for yourself. Once a crossroads on the great Silk Road, Tashkent has much to recommend it. There are great monuments, imposing squares and great museums as well as tree lined streets and impressive fountains. Spend some time wandering the streets or relax in your hotel before the start of your trip. |
| Day 3: | Discover Tashkent With most of its historic buildings flattened in an earthquake in 1966, the Tashkent we see today is a fine a example of Soviet-era architecture and city planning. As the capital of Uzbekistan, this surprisingly green city contains many interesting examples of 1960s architectural styles and enjoys a cosmopolitan mix of cuisines and influences. The ancient heart of the city still beats in the shady squares and vibrant markets of the old town. Families still live in communities of courtyards and imams from small medrassas and mosques still call the faithful to prayer. You explore this charming city with a tour that includes the Museum of History, Amir Timur Square, Barak Khan Madrassah, Kukeldash Madrassah and the Chorsu Bazaar. In the eveing we board an overnight train to Khiva. On this train ride there is a chance to mix with the locals where you will find their stoic appearance opens up to warmth and laughter. Berth on overnight train (1 nt) |
| Day 4: | Khiva You arrive in the morning to the museum-city of Khiva. As legend has it, this place has a history that dates back to the time of Shem, son of Noah. A settlement was certainly established here by the 8th Century AD and began to flourish in the early 16th Century. A colourful procession of conquering Khans, Silk Road traders, Great Game spies and Russian invaders has long captured the imagination of writers and poets. It is also a photographer's delight, particularly in the evenings when the sun begins to set. This beautifully preserved town is perfect for exploring on foot, with impressive walls that mark the boundaries of the old city. Upon entering through its gates you are greeted by towering minarets and numerous medressas. Your guide takes us through these many monuments, including the Kunya Ark (fortress), the Pakhlavan Makhmud complex, the Djuma Mosque and Muhammed Amin Khan Madrassah. At night we enjoy a special meal in the Bikajon-Bika Madrassah. Hotel/guesthouse (1 nt) |
| Day 5: | Ayaz Qala Khiva is enchanting at dawn, with its empty streets and sense of thousands of years of history making an early-morning stroll well worthwhile. After breakfast you embark on an 80km journey to Ayaz Kala, northeast of Khiva on the fringes of the Kyzyl-Kum Desert. Ayaz Qala and its sister ruins of Toprak Qala and Qavat Qala are relics of the Khorezm towns that existed here in the Amu-Darya Delta some 2000 years ago. The most impressive of the sites is Toprak Qala, which was settled in the 1st Century BC and later flourished in the 3rd Century AD, as capital of the region. Qavat Qala was a substantial oasis that fell to the brutal treatment of Genghis Khan's marauding troops. To its east lies Ayaz Qala, an impressive mud-walled hilltop fortress from the 6th-7th Centuries. We also visit Qoy Qyrylghan Qala, a temple mausoleum of Khorezm Khans dating from the 4th Century BC and home of Uzbekistan's oldest known inscriptions. Your desert adventure continues this evening as we stay in traditional Central Asian yurts and swap your own tales under the stars. Yurt (1 nt) |
| Day 6: | Kyzyl-Kum Ample opportunity to relax with free time this morning. With the impressive sights of Bukhara and Samarkand ahead of us, this is an ideal opportunity to catch up on some reading, or simply sit back and imagine you are a trader - relieved to have made it safely through the desert! Your own journey continues this afternoon as you drive the 450km to Bukhara through the Kyzyl-Kum (meaning 'red sands') desert. Along the way we meet the Amu Darya River – once known as the Oxus. This river bubbles up far to the south-east in the Pamirs and then runs west through the area now bordering modern Afghanistan - once famous throughout the ancient world for its lapis-lazuli mines. Curling slowly northward the river bisects the Kyzyl-Kum and Kara-Kum (‘black sands’) deserts, before stretching toward the southern tip of the shrinking Aral Sea. It was the Greeks who named this part of Central Asia ‘Transoxiana’ – literally ‘beyond the river’ – a name that echoes through the ages in literature and poetry - and the imagination of travellers. Guesthouse - 1 night |
| Day 7-8: | Bukhara A UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, Bukhara is widely regarded as Central Asia’s holiest city. With more than one hundred officially preserved monuments, there is a lot to see and we have an extensive sightseeing program here to make the most of our time. On your explorations over two days we visit, amongst many other sites, the imposing Poikalon complex (comprising the Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and Mir-i-Arab Madrassah), Samanid Mausoleum, Chor Minor and, of course, the Ark Fortress, the ancient heart of the city and the scene of several gruesome events! With its many monuments dating from the 8th to the 18th Century AD, Bukhara has a vast span of history and architecture to uncover and the meticulous restoration of many of the mosaic and majolica decorations give you a true sense of how these buildings looked in their original glory. The twilight hours lend themselves to wandering the areas around the Lyab-i-House Pool, a central gathering place where we enjoy a traditional chaikhana (tea-house) style dinner one evening. Trading domes near here still offer an intriguing and colourful array of goods including embroideries, jewellery, spices, handicrafts and all manner of Silk Road treasures. This is the place to test your haggling skills, as well as share a joke or two with friendly local merchants. This is truly a magical place and it is sure to cast its spell on us too! Guesthouse - 2 nights |
| Day 9-10: | Nurata; Sentab village With regret, you leave captivating Bukhara and continue east towards Samarkand. The next destination is Nurata, formerly known as Nur and founded in the 3rd Century BC by Alexander the Great. This ancient town was once regarded as the frontier between the cultivated lands and the steppes, and the ruins of Alexander’s hilltop citadel stand testament to its ancient history. The city was also an important Muslim place of pilgrimage, reaching its peak in the 10th Century AD as devotees flocked to its many significant graves and memorials. You visit the Chashma, a complex of religious constructions that serves as the central point for such pilgrimages. After lunching in a local teahouse we continue onto the Nuratau-Kyzylkum Biosphere Reserve just south of Aiderkul Lake. We must change to smaller vehicles to navigate the narrow local roads as you climb into the mountains to reach the tiny village of Sentab. Here, as part of a UN Development Program project, local families have established small private guesthouses and welcome visitors to their homes. As your hosts are ethnic Tadjiks, this is a unique opportunity to hear another regional language, eat delicious home-cooked local specialities, and see the day-to-day life of the village. Accommodation is in the traditional style - the group will sleep on mattresses in communal rooms (usually divided by gender), a similar experience to staying in a yurt. The bathroom facilities are also basic but manageable - with very simple shower and toilet arrangements. Such things are minor inconveniences however as you lounge on tapchan (daybeds) under the walnut trees, with the sound of the stream running nearby, and an once-in-a-lifetime cultural exchange unfolds. This is the perfect place to relax, or for those wanting to stretch their legs there are numerous local walks nearby which your hosts will be happy to show us. You have more time to relax the following morning, and after lunch we depart for Samarkand. Basic guesthouse (1 nt) |
| Day 11: | Samarkand You have a full day of sightseeing and exploration in Samarkand, a city that evokes the romance of the Silk Road perhaps more than any other. From its founding in the 5th Century BC, this crossroads of cultures, religions, peoples and languages has been a centre of artisans and traders, as well as the prize for many a conquering army. Alexander the Great stormed its walls in 329 BC and many other rulers chose to make it their capital in the centuries that followed. Even the Soviet occupiers declared it the original capital of the Uzbek SSR in 1924, although it only kept that honour for four years! One highlight of your visit will be standing in the iconic Registan Square, with the three medrassas (Ulugbek, Sher Dor and Tillya Kari) towering over us. Close by stands Bibi Khanum Mosque built by the 14th Century ruler Timur and often compared to the Taj Mahal, as it was built as a grand and timeless symbol of a man's love for his wife. This mosque overlooks a busy and colourful bazaar, where photographers will delight in taking photos of the many bustling stalls and huge array of produce, as well as encounter friendly greetings from the local traders. Your sightseeing also includes several more key sites including the Shah-i-Zinda Mausoleum complex, Gur Amir Mausoleum and Ulugbek Observatory. Hotel (2 nts) |
| Day 12: | Samarkand to Tashkent This morning is left free for you to enjoy just a little more time in Samarkand. Perhaps a visit to the local bazaar where you can sample delicious fresh produce, or you might like to return to the many stalls nestled in the Registan Ensemble to find that perfect souvenir. Your adventure in Uzbekistan is almost complete as you leave Samarkand and return to the capital for your final night. Tonight you have a farewell dinner to mark the end of your travels together, and reflect on all you have seen. If you are flying on the group flight to London then you transfer to the airport for your flight this evening |
| Day 13: | Fly to London Overnight flight to London. |
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places. how this holiday makes a difference
|
As with most of our trips we try and use a local agent from the country in which we operate, and Uzbekistan is no different. Our agent books our accommodation, provides the transport and, importantly, our group leaders. This provides work for a great number of people - whether in the office or on the road and, along with our stays in small hotels and meals in local restaurants, means more Uzbeks benefit from our visit.
Our Responsible Travel Code: Clients who travel with us will automatically receive a copy of our Responsible Travel leaflet. This contains details and advice on how you can make a positive difference when you travel. If you would like a copy in advance of travel please contact us. Charity Partnerships: We work in partnership with Plan International. Plan works with some of the world’s poorest communities where three out of four children die before the age of five. We also support Friends of Conservation – an international charity committed to working with local people to develop a balance between their needs and the wildlife with which they share the natural habitat and ecosystems. Carbon Balancing: Global warming is a real issue and is a direct result of your travel. We have teamed up with Climate Care to give you the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions from your flight. You’ll be asked upon booking if you want to donate – with set amounts from £5. As a company we offset the carbon emissions from all staff travel in full. Our Foundation: We’ve highlighted a few of the ways in which we offer our support, financially or otherwise, and now you can, too. We have set up our own foundation, which will administer funds donated by you. A small donation of £1 per person will be taken when booking a holiday and that money will be put to good use by one of our carefully selected projects. If you don’t want to make the donation, just tell us when you book. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |
check out similar holiday ideas...