Day 18 Friday 29 May - WEA adult learning · were built by Timur, a 14 century Turco--Sarai,...

EDUCATIONAL and CULTURAL TOURS

223 Angas Street, Adelaide SA 5000 T (08) 8223 1979 ● E [email protected]

ATAS A11046

E&OE

PHOTOGRAPHS:

Jean-Pierre Dalbera; Tim Griffin; Fulvio Spada; Benpaarmann; Unitpografico; Upyyernoz; David

Stanley; John Pavelka; Peretz Partensky; Shutterstock

Day 14 Monday 25 May Day 18 Friday 29 May

Day 19 Saturday 30 May

Dashoguz to Ashgabat

Take a flight to Ashgabat this morning. On

arrival you have a guided tour of the fine

National Museum of Turkmenistan before

visiting Independence Park and checking in

to your hotel where lunch is served. Continue

touring Ashgabat in the afternoon visiting the

Arch of Neutrality, the ‘Bagt Koshgi’ Wed-

ding Palace with its lovely views and the

National Memorial Complex “Halk

Hakydasy” with its WWII and Earthquake

memorials. Dinner is arranged at a city res-

taurant and you return to your hotel through

the illuminated streets of the new town.

Overnight Ashgabat

Breakfast ● Lunch ● Dinner

Day 20 Sunday 31 May

Arrive in Adelaide

Arrive in Melbourne and connect with your

Adelaide bound flight.

Day 15 Tuesday 26 May

Ashgabat

Enjoy some morning sightseeing including

the spectacular Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque,

known as the Spiritual Mosque and one of the

largest mosques in Central Asia. Continue to

UNESCO World Heritage listed Old Nisa

fortress the earliest of the Parthian Empire

capitals. Located at the foot of the Kopet-Dag

Mountains, Old Nisa is a beautiful landmark.

The fort accommodates two semi-excavated

complexes of the Parthian period (III c. BC –

III c. AD) structures designated as a royal

residence and a temple complex. Conclude

with a light lunch before enjoying a free after-

noon in Ashgabat.

Overnight Ashgabat

Breakfast ● Lunch

Day 16 Wednesday 27 May

Ashgabat to Mary

Take an early flight to Mary and on arrival

drive to Merv, a fabulous oasis city on the old

Silk Road and a UNESCO World Heritage

site. Sightseeing is with your local guide visit-

ing the Erk Kala, Gyaur Kala, Sultan Kala,

Bayram Khan Kala, Abdullakhan Kala, Sultan

Sanjar and Ibn Zeid Mausoleums, the ruins of

the Muslim Mosque (Beni-Makhan), the Bud-

dhist Temple and Grand & Little Kyz Kalas.

Return to Mary for lunch. In the afternoon

you tour the Mary History Museum then

explore the city visiting the Russian Ortho-

dox church, one of the oldest in Turkmeni-

stan and the Central Bazaar before checking

in to your hotel for dinner.

Overnight Mary


Day 17 Thursday 28 May

Mary to Ashgabat

Return to Ashgabat this morning and visit

Turkmenistan’s largest and most incredible

market Tolkuchka Bazaar. You can browse

here for traditional embroidery, jewellry and

carpets before having lunch in a city restau-

rant. After checking in to your hotel and

freshening up you head out in the afternoon

along the former Silk Road to Anau. Here

you visit the former medieval citadel of

Bagabad which features an important Ti-

murid Period center and the ruins of the

Seyitjemaleddin Mosque. Many centuries

ago this area accommodated a population of

early Central Asian farmers who developed

the world renowned Anau culture, evidence

of which was excavated in the 20th century.

In Anau you see the ruins of a 15th century-

mosque destroyed by an earthquake in 1948

and the tomb of Seyit-Jemalletdin a holy

shrine much visited by local pilgrims. Re-

turn to Ashgabat and sample local food to-

night at your leisure.

Overnight Ashgabat

Breakfast ● Lunch

Geokdepe & Ashgabat

After breakfast you drive to a rural property in

Geokdepe to see some of the world renowned

Turkmen horses called Akhal Teke. Return to

Ashgabat for lunch before visiting the Carpet

Museum which has the largest collection of

antique and modern, hand-made Turkmen car-

pets, including the largest carpet in the world

as registered by the Guinness Book of Records.

The remainder of the afternoon is at your lei-

sure. A farewell dinner has been arranged for

you tonight.

Overnight Ashgabat

Breakfast ● Lunch ● Farewell Dinner

Ashgabat to Dubai Transfer to Ashgabat airport early this morning

for your flight to Dubai. Here you connect with

your flight via Melbourne to Adelaide.

Overnight in flight

Breakfast Pack ● Meals in flight

…..enriching lives through cultural exchange

20 Days $8550 Twin Share plus airline taxes $290 (June 2019) & Visa USD $70 (June 2019)

Single Supplement $880 ● Balance Due 13 Feb 2020

Great Silk Road Cities - Samarkand ● Shakhrisabz ● Bukhara

Khiva ● Tashkent ● Koneurgench ● Dashoguz ● Ashgabat ● Mary

U zbekistan and Turkmenistan boast some of the world’s oldest

civilisations. Join WEA Travel on this unique tour along the

Great Silk Road discovering its grand cities; Tashkent the

Uzbek capital, Samarkand with its 2,500 years of history,

Bukhara where the entire old town is a living museum, the fairy tale city

of Khiva and amazing Ashgabat and Mary. This famous route was used

by silk traders as well as by thousands of caravans plying spices, gems,

carpets and leather along its 13,600 km land and sea route. The Great

Silk Road thus gave rise to a huge melting pot of customs, cultures and

religions; all leaving their mark along the way. This is your chance to

explore Uzbekistan’s and Turkmenistan’s ancient Silk Road Cities, their

landscapes and archaeological sites, and to meet their most hospitable

people and share their exotic culture and history.

Tour Leader: Dr Karen Adams has a vast background as an educator

and university lecturer and a passion for cultures, music and travel. An

experienced and articulate tour leader she is looking forward to returning

to Uzbekistan.





Adelaide to Dubai

Depart Adelaide this evening with Emirates to

Dubai.

Overnight in flight

Meals in flight

Dubai to Tashkent

Arrive in Dubai in the morning and depart in

the evening on your flight to Tashkent. A hotel

has been arranged for your convenience to

relax in comfort.

Overnight in Tashkent

Meals in flight

Tashkent to Samarkand

Travel to Samarkand today. This oasis is a

UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the

grandest Silk Road cities, founded according

to legend over 5,000 years ago by King

Aphrasiab. Its documented history dates from

329 BC when Alexander the Great proclaimed

the city to be ‘more beautiful and majestic

than I could have ever imagined’. On arrival

you have a light lunch then begin touring this

ancient treasure at Registan Square, once the

centre of old Samarkand where three magnifi-

cent madrassas flank the central marketplace.

Dating from the 15th century these wonderful

structures are adorned with fine mosaic panels

in stunning hues of turquoise, gold and white.

You also visit Gur Emir Mausoleum and Ti-

murids’ family tomb.

Overnight Samarkand


Tour Includes: Adelaide to Adelaide return flights ● Fully escorted

sightseeing & all entrance fees ● All meals as per itinerary ● All ac-

commodation ● Local Guides ● All transport including internal flights

and trains ● Pre & Post Tour Meetings Study notes

Tashkent

Arrive in Tashkent in the early hours and

transfer to your hotel. After a relaxing morning

you begin exploring Tashkent, which has been

a significant trade route junction for centuries.

It became a Muslim city in the 8th century and

traces of its fine ancient architecture remain

despite being ransacked by Genghis Khan in

the 13th century and occupied by Russia during

the 19th century. It became the capital of an

independent Uzbekistan in 1991. The Old

Town is the focus this afternoon. You visit

Chor-Su Bazaar where people in traditional

dress can be seen. It is said that over one hun-

dred nationalities inhabit this ancient city cre-

ating a vibrant and diverse melting pot of cul-

tures. You also visit the Peoples’ Friendship

Square, Amir Timur Square and the statue of

Amir Timurid on horseback, then tour the Mu-

seum of Applied Arts which has wonderful

displays of ceramics, carpets, rugs and jewel-

lery. A welcome dinner has been arranged this

evening.

Overnight Tashkent

Breakfast ● Welcome Dinner

Day 4 Friday 15 May

Tashkent

Enjoy a morning of sightseeing in Tashkent

including Kokaldosh Madrassa and the Khasti-

Imam Complex before having lunch in a local

restaurant and a free afternoon. Good exploring

options for your afternoon include walking to

the Alisher Navoi Theatre and Independence

Square with its impressive fountains, monu-

ments, parks and adjacent cozy streets or ride

the famous Metro.

Overnight Tashkent

Breakfast ● Lunch

Day 6 Sunday 17 May

Day 7 Monday 18 May


Day 13 Sunday 24 May

Samarkand

Samarkand has an astonishing collection of

ancient monuments. This morning you visit

the 11 domed mausoleum of Shakhi-Zinda

(the Living King Necropolis) which dates

from the 15th century and has some of the

richest tilework in Central Asia. Legend has it

that Kusam Ibn Abbas the cousin of Mu-

hammed is interred here. Continue exploring

at the well known Siyob Bazaar and Bibi

Khanum Mosque. After lunch you visit the

significant archaeological site of Afrosiyob,

the capital of the ancient nation and site of the

original Samarkand (500 BC-1220 AD). You

tour the museum here which houses 7th centu-

ry frescoes, terracotta and bronze artefacts

and the tomb of the prophet Daniel. See the

15th century Observatory of Ulugbek also.

Overnight Samarkand


Samarkand to Shakhrisabz & Bukhara

Today you drive to the ‘Green City’ of

Shakhrisabz which is the birthplace of Amir

Timur. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage

memorial site, founded more than 2,700 years

ago and one of the most beautiful small cities

in Uzbekistan. Most of the attractions here

were built by Timur, a 14th century Turco-

Mongol conqueror. Your touring includes the

White Palace of Ak-Sarai, originally the most

grandiose of Timur’s constructions adorned

with blue, white and gold mosaics, the House

of Contemplation or Kok Gumbaz- two blue

domed 15th century mosques, the Dor-us-

Sydat and the Dor-ut-Tilovat complexes. All

date from the 14th- 17th centuries. Continue on

to Bukhara to check in to your hotel.

Overnight Bukhara


Samarkand

Enjoy a day at leisure exploring this fascinat-

ing Silk Road gem.

Overnight Samarkand

Breakfast


Bukhara

Bukhara is likened to a living museum. Cen-

tral Asia’s holiest city and one of the oldest in

the Orient, being over 2500 years old, it

reached the height of its glory in the 10th C as

a large commercial centre for the Great Silk

Road to China. The ancient capital of the

Emirate of Bukhara also became the centre of

intellectual and religious renaissance around

this time. It became a Russian protectorate in

1868. Today you have a tour of the UNESCO

World Heritage protected old city and visit

Citadel Ark the palace of the Bukhara rulers,

Bolo Hauz Mosque with its beautiful col-

umned ayvans and the Mausoleum of Sama-

nids, another unique architectural master-

piece. You also visit the Mausoleum of

Chashma Ayuba, Magoki Attor Mosque, Toki

Zargaron the trading dome of jewelers, Ab-

dulla Khan Tim a center of silk trade and Toki

Telpak Furushon the trading dome of hat

sellers. The tour ends at Labi Hauz pond in

the heart of old Bukhara, an oasis where lo-

cals gather to chat with a cup of green tea.

Overnight Bukhara




Bukhara

Today you drive from Bukhara to the sacred

Memorial of Bakhouddin Nakshbandi the

founder of the Nakshbandi Sufi order. Thou-

sands of followers and ordinary folk come to

visit this place of pilgrimage. Next you visit

the summer residence of the Bukhara Emirs-

Sitora-i Mokhi Khosa Palace. This piece of

Russian tsarist heritage was purpose built to

host Tsar Nicolay Romanov II during his visit

to Bukhara. Stop also at the Chor Bakr Ne-

cropolis a memorial to former rulers, nobility

and aristocracy.

Overnight Bukhara


Day 11 Friday 22 May

Bukhara to Khiva

Travel through the sandy Kyzylkum Desert

from Bukhara to Khiva today (by train if

running otherwise coach). On arrival in Khiva

you check in to your hotel. This evening you

might choose to explore old Khiva and the

Ichan-Kala which means ‘inner fortress’

where locals still reside today. Walk through

the old streets soaking up local culture and

traditions and marvel at the rhythms of life.

Overnight Khiva

Breakfast ● Dinner

Khiva

Khiva was the capital of the ancient Kingdom

of Khwarezm, also known as Khorezm, from

the 16th century onwards. This wonderful Silk

Road city is UNESCO World Heritage listed

and exudes all the charm of an ancient oriental

city with a medieval town centre. It is noted for

its masters of handcrafts, skilful wood and

stone carvers, metal workers and jewellers.

Khiva’s hand woven carpets and hand embroi-

dered ‘suzannies’ are renowned world wide.

Original items can be purchased directly from

the workshops which line the narrow streets.

You explore the old town known as Ichan-Kala

with your guide this morning. As you walk

through the fascinating old citadel, imagine

Silk Road travellers arriving in this paradise

after weeks in the harsh desert. Visit the spec-

tacular 10th century Kunya-Ark Citadel, the

earliest residences of the Khiva Khans with its

exquisite tiling and workmanship and fine

views over Khiva. You also visit the 19th centu-

ry Tash-Hovli Palace and Harem. The palace is

well preserved with ornate gates, majolica,

wood and marble carvings and painted ceil-

ings. Visit the Minar Minaret and the Juma

Mosque and the Mausoleum of Pahlavan

Mahmud which is set in a beautiful courtyard.

Overnight Khiva


Khiva to Turkmenistan This morning you drive to Shavat, the border

entry point to Turkmenistan where you cross the

1.5 km neutral zone and obtain your visas. You

are then met by your Turkmen guide and driver

to transfer to Koneurgench to explore the mau-

soleums of Turebek Khanym, Sultan Tekesh,

Sultan Il Arslan, Najmad-din-Kubra and Sultan

Ali. You also visit Kutlug Timur and Kyrk Mol-

la Hill. After lunch locally you return to

Dashoguz to check in to your hotel.

Overnight Dashoguz


Day 18 Friday 29 May - WEA adult learning · were built by Timur, a 14 century Turco--Sarai,...

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