Along Central Asia’s Silk Road

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Overview
Highlights
- White marble city of Ashgabat
- UNESCO archaeological sites of Nisa and Kunya Urgench
- Historic walled city of Khiva
- Visits with local artisans
- Extensive Bukhara touring
- Petroglyphs at Sarmishsay Gorge
- Home-hosted lunch in Bukhara
- Desert excursion and yurt camp overnight
- Legendary Samarkand
- Central Asian bazaars in six cities
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Details
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Destinations
Activities
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Trip includes
- Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; all flights within itinerary
- 15 nights’ accommodations: 14 nights in Superior First Class and First Class hotels; 1 night in yurt camp
- 36 Meals: 15 Breakfasts, 10 Lunches, 11 Dinners
- Extensive sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees
- Services of local Odysseys Unlimited Tour Directors
- Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip
- Luggage handling for one bag per person
- Gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers
- $100 frequent traveler credit towards your next Odysseys Unlimited tour ($200 after 3 tours; $300 after 10 tours)
Itinerary

Upon arrival in the Turkmen capital late tonight, we transfer directly to our hotel.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
After time to rest this morning, we have lunch on our own, then meet our Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director and fellow travelers at a welcome briefing. We begin our journey along the Silk Road with a panoramic tour of this showpiece ci...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning we visit the UNESCO archaeological site of Nisa, ancient capital of the Parthian Empire dating to the 3rd century BCE. After exploring here, we travel on to an Akhal-Teke horse stud farm, where we witness the beau...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
We fly this morning to Dashoguz, Turkmenistan, where we visit the Yzmikshir Fortress, which dates back to the Parthian Empire and contains remnants of a unique 80-foot-high double wall. We continue to the Uzbek border crossing...
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
We get a taste of Khiva’s storied past as a major Silk Road trading post on a morning tour of the Itchan Kala, the “inner city” whose entirety is a UNESCO site. Here we see the turquoise-tiled Kalta Minor minaret – enormous, stout, an...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning we board a high-speed train for the journey through the Kyzylkum Desert to Bukhara (approx. 4 ½ hours), with lunch on board. Upon arrival in this ancient city of Silk Road commerce and religious piety, we visit th...
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Today begins with a walking tour of the 16th-century Lyab-i Hauz religious complex. We continue to the domed Taki-Telpak Furushon bazaar known for its headgear: embroidered skull caps, turbans, and heavy fur hats; then on to a bazaar ...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinnner
We set out today on a thrilling overnight excursion, boarding 4×4 vehicles through the Kyzylkum Desert bound for Aydar Lake. We stop first in Gijduvan to visit a renowned ceramicist, then see some of the 4,000-plus Bronze Age...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning we visit the remote mountain village of Sentyab, where we meet with a local family in their home. Then we travel on to Samarkand, legendary stop on the Silk Road. This afternoon we take an orientation tour of one ...
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan left their marks on Samarkand, as did Tamerlane (Timur), who made it capital of his Islamic empire in the 14th century; he or his descendants built many of the historic buildings and monuments we s...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Our discovery of this crossroads of culture continues today at the Shakhi Zinda necropolis and temple complex, whose 20-plus buildings date from the 11th to 19th centuries; the Afrasiyab Museum, a huge archaeological site and ...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
En route by motorcoach today to the Uzbek capital, we stop at Jizzakh to seeJilanuti Pass, the “Gates of Tamerlane” passage between the Nuratin and Turkestan hills. We continue on to Tashkent, arriving early this afternoon. We...
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
A morning tour of Uzbekistan’s capital begins in the Old City at the Khazrati Imam Complex of mosques and madrassahs. Here we see the world’s oldest surviving Islamic holy book, the 8th-century Uthman Quran, brought to Tashkent by Ta...
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
At the Museum of Applied Arts this morning, we see fine examples of Uzbek crafts, including embroidery, jewelry, ceramics, and carpets. Afterwards, we call on the studio of renowned ceramicist Akbar Rakhimov. Then we transfer to the airport for our flight to Almaty
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Kazakhstan’s largest city and cultural and commercial center, Almaty has a decided Russian flavor, as we see on this morning’s tour. Highlights: Panfilov Park, Holy Ascension Cathedral, and the Museum of Kazakh Musical Instruments. T...
Meals: Breakfast
Very early this morning we depart for the airport for our connecting flight to the U.S.
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Pricing Details:
$499 airline taxes and fees
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The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
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Accommodation
- Nusay Hotel
- Hotel Asia Khiva
- Hotel Zargaron Plaza
- Oxus Resort Yurt Camp
- Hotel Grand Samarkand Superior
- Hyatt Regency Tashkent
- InterContinental Almaty
15 Breakfasts, 10 Lunches and 11 Dinners
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