14 V i s i t www.theculturalexperience.com C a l l 0345 475 1815 Early Periods the golden journey to samarkand The silk roads of uzbekistan Uzbekistan, intriguing and historically rich, is a cradle of culture from where a mesmerising collection of sapphire and gold buildings, monuments and magnificent cities have arisen reflecting the influence of the diverse cultures that have passed along the ‘Silk Road’. Some of the oldest settlements in the world conjure up images of sandy-coloured buildings adorned with turquoise domes, intricate wall tiles in magnificent rich colours that fill entire rooms, and bustling bazaars complete with patterned carpets and the smell of spices swirling through the air all of which will transport you back to a time when these places were the centre of world trade. Situated in the heart of the Eurasian Steppe, the country boasts a dramatic geography of unforgiving deserts, sumptuous oases and fertile valleys watered by the Amu Darya, the ancient River Oxus. From its fast modernising capital Tashkent, to the small oasis of the ancient Islamic world in Khiva a trip to Uzbekistan offers a truly pioneering once in a lifetime opportunity, all to be enjoyed in the company of Paul Wordsworth, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Oxford University’s Faculty of Oriental Studies and an expert on Islamic archaeology and the history of the Caucasus and Central Asia. 22 September – 3 October 2017 & 28 September – 9 October 2018 12 days with Dr Paul Wordsworth Activity Level 2 Essentials Return flights from London, internal flight, rail fares, 3 and 4 star hotels, buffet breakfast, all lunches, 3-course dinner with drinks each evening, all entrance fees and expert guide throughout. Tour price: £3050 Single supplement: £165 Deposit: £300 Without flights: £2600 TheSilkRoadswereaseriesoftraderoutesthat stretched from China to the Mediterranean, established during the Han dynasty. Not only were these routes crucial to the trade of goods including textiles, spices and of course silk, arguably its most important export was culture. Religion, language, philosophy and technology all travelled with the merchants and were introduced to societies all over the civilised world. The Silk Road was closed off in the mid-fifteenth century by the Ottoman Empire, which wasn’t a total disaster, as traders were forced out to sea, giving birth to the ‘age of discovery’. Uzbekistan played an important role on the route and flourished. After a turbulent history in which it has been conquered by Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Imperial Russia as well as a period of oppressive Soviet regime, it has been left with a rich and diverse legacy. Day 1 - Depart. Fly overnight from London Heathrow to Tashkent. Day 2 – Tashkent. Arrive Tashkent early morning and check-in to the Wyndham Hotel. After some rest and recuperation, we will re- group for lunch and an afternoon visit to the Fine Arts National Museum where there is an extensive collection of paintings, ceramics, royal regalia and Syuzani and enjoy a special visit to its Institute of Restoration. Day 3 - Shohruhiya and Tashkent. Drive through the Uzbek countryside to the ancient settlement of Shohruhiya, the first large city of Tashkent oases, situated on the Great Silk Road through Yaksart. Return to Tashkent to explore the old city or “eski shakhar” including its spiritual heart, Hast Imam Square, the Tellya Sheik Mosque and the striking brand new Mosque of Hazrati Iman. Day 4 – Khorezm Oasis. Check-out of our hotel and take an early morning flight to Urgench from where we explore the remains of two of the ancient desert castles on the edge of the Khorezm Oasis: Ayaz Kala and Toprak Kala, the latter known as the fortress in the wind. After lunch in our Yurt restaurant we drive across the entire oasis to Khiva, the most isolated of Uzbekistan’s Silk Road cities situated on the edge of the Karakum desert. Check-in to our Hotel Orient Star, a former Madrassa, for two nights. Day 5 – Khiva. We spend the whole day exploring this wonderful city on foot. AlthoughitwasvirtuallydestroyedbyGenghis Khan, much of what was subsequently rebuilt is impressive. Particularly its designated World Heritage inner fortress of Ichan Kala home to the Kunya Ark, the Khan’s fortress, the Kalta Minor Tower, the Djuma Mosque, the superbly tiled Pakhlavan Makhmud and many other mosques and Madrassas. This evening we dine besides Lake Kharrat and enjoy the wonderful sunset over the Kizilkum Desert. Day 6 – Journey to Bukhara. We take a long drive the through the desert, enjoying a picnic en-route and stopping at the widest expanse of the Amu Dayra (River Oxus) to see how its waters have been diverted by the Soviets causing the Aral Sea to dramatically recede. We arrive at Bukhara mid-afternoon allowing time to visit the beautifully located Samani and Chashma Ayub mausoleums and the Bolo Khauz Mosque before we check-in to our hotel for the next two nights.