The Silk Road: Empires of Central Asia (land tour)

Dates: September 11, 2013 - September 27, 2013 (17 days)
Tour Leader: Claudia Chang

Bukhara, Uzbekistan

The Silk Road: Empires of Central Asia with optional post tour extension to Iran

• Discover for yourself six incredible UNESCO World Heritage sites: Turkmenistan’s Merv, Nisa, and Kunya Urgench; and Uzbekistan’s Bukhara, Shakrisabze, and Samarkand.
• Explore the archaeological sites of 3rd century Izmukshir, whose fortress wall was originally 5,000 feet long; and Paikent, with a tour of the site museum led by one of the site’s archaeologists.
• Travel in 4x4 vehicles on a day trip to Gonur-Depe, capital of the ancient Margush state.
• Meet with a local Bukharan architect to learn about the current state of historical architecture renovation in Bukhara.
• Visit the private art studio of a sixth-generation Uzbek ceramicist in Tashkent.
• Admire a variety of museum collections, including Ashkabad’s National Museum of History and Ethnography and Museum of Carpets and Textiles, Bukhara’s Museum of National Crafts, and Samarkand’s Afrosiab History Museum.
• Stroll through old town shops and bazaars, such as Altyn Asyr Oriental Market, one of the largest bazaars in Central Asia.
• Choose an optional, post-tour extension to Iran, with five UNESCO World Heritage sites (Persepolis, Pasargadae, Imam Square, Bagh-e Fin, Isfahan’s Friday Mosque); city tours of Tehran, Shiraz, and Isfahan; and more!

Main Tour Pricing: $6,995 per person double occupancy.
Single Supplement: $795

Post Tour Iran Extension Pricing: $3,995 per person double occupancy.
Single Supplement: (limited availability) $745

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Itinerary

Wednesday, September 11, 2013 - Depart Home
Thursday, September 12 - Ashkabad, Turkmenistan
Friday, September 13 - Ashkabad
Saturday, September 14 - Ashkabad | Mary | Merv | Mary
Sunday, September 15 - Mary | Gonur-Depe | Mary
Monday, September 16 - Mary | Ashkabad | Nisa | Ashkabad
Tuesday, September 17 - Ashkabad | Tashauz | Kunya Urgench | Izmukshir | Khiva, Uzbekistan
Wednesday, September 18 - Khiva
Thursday, September 19 - Khiva | Nukus | Khiva
Friday, September 20 - Khiva | Bukhara
Saturday, September 21 - Bukhara
Sunday, September 22 - Bukhara | Paikent | Bukhara
Monday, September 23 - Bukhara | Shakrisabze | Samarkand
Tuesday, September 24 - Samarkand
Wednesday, September 25 - Samarkand | Tashkent
Thursday, September 26 - Tashkent
Friday, September 27 - Tashkent | Home OR Tashkent | Tehran, Iran

View Detailed Itinerary

OPTIONAL POST Tour Extension to IRAN: September 27 – October 5, 2013 (9 days)
At the crossroads of East and West, ancient Persia (modern Iran) nurtured a host of civilizations and attracted numerous invaders. On this in-depth extension, learn about the Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sassanian dynasties; as well as the exploits of Alexander the Great, Arab armies, the Mongols, and others. Visit the monumental rock carvings at Naghsh-e Rostam and the grand site of Persepolis, which was the heart of the great Achaemenid Empire that stretched from western India to northern Greece. Admire Iran’s magnificent mosques, madrassahs, and shrines, such as those of Isfahan—one of the most majestic collections of buildings in the Islamic world—and the treasured classical Persian garden of Bagh-e Fin. Explore the exquisite collections of Tehran’s National Museum, Reza Abbasi Museum, and Abgineh Museum of Glass and Ceramics. And, amidst these extraordinary cultural wonders, experience the genuine warmth and hospitality of the Iranian people.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at aia@studytours.org (and include your full name) or call us toll-free at (800) 748-6262 (toll: 603-756-2884).