FROM ASHGABAT TO TASHKENT
A cultural tour of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan & Tajikistan

Central Asia's best treasures in culture and heritage are most evident in the two states of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Between these two states there are UNESCO recognized seven World Heritage sites. Our 13 days From Ashgabat to Tashkent tour has been so designed to cover the best in these countries including all the seven world heritage sites. The nostalgia that one gets from just hearing names of civilization epochs like Merv, Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand and Shakhri-sabz takes us back to the times of the Arabian Nights. Walking through the narrow lanes of these places gets us right to where it actually took place.

Day 1 Saturday: Arrive Ashgabat (TURKMENISTAN)
Khush Gelinis – welcome to Turkmenistan! This evening you are scheduled to arrive Ashgabat. Once clearing through Customs & Immigration, you will be met at the exit gate for the transfer to the hotel. Check in starts from 1400 hrs.
Overnight: Nisa Hotel, Ashgabat (3 nights) (D)

Day 2 Sunday: Ashgabat
Full day sightseeing tour of the capital city of Turkmenistan – we shall visit the Talkuchka Sunday Bazaar, also known as the Turkmen’s Carpet Bazaar then the famous archaeological site of Nisa, which served as the winter capital of the Parthian rulers. Next visit is the National Museum of History & Ethnography. There is a rich collection from the Neolithic sites along the slopes of Kopet Dag mountain ranges. The Bronze age period is highlighted by finds from Murghab river and from the sites of Margiana. The highlight of the museum is the remarkable collection of ivory rythons from Nisa. A vase collected from the main stupa structure in Merve is believed have contained body relics of an important Buddhist monk. The other galleries are dedicated to the ethnic collection from famous Turkmen jewelry to costumes of various Turkmen tribes. There is also a big collection of the bridal decorations for the horses. Our next stop is the city mosque and the Presidential Square. (B, D)

Day 3 Monday: Ashgabat/Merve/Asghabat
Travel to one of the ancient archaeological sites of Merve by taking flights in/out of Mary town. We shall have a detailed visit of Merve by visiting Gaiyur Kala, Erk Kala and Sultan Kala. We shall also see the impressive mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar one of the powerful Khorezmian ruler. The archaeological site of Merve often mentioned as Margiana by classical writers is a rich city, which was part of the Achaemenian empire in 6th century BC, the city was invaded by the Macedonians under Alexander the Great and passed through successive rulers till it was invaded by the Arabs in 8th century AD serving as part of a springboard for their invasion of Central Asia. In the Islamic era it was known as the ‘Mother of the cities’, which flourished as an important town on the Great Silk Road running to Parthia. It was invaded by the Mongols in 13th century who depopulated the city by mercilessly killing more than a million souls. The archaeological museum of Mary is situated in the town and was selected to house the finds from the archaeological sites. There is a fairly large collection of Bronze age sites of Gonur Tepe and the artifacts found are comparable with the Sialk and Baluch sites of the same age. There is also ethnic section dedicated to the local tribes. (B, Snack, D)

Day 4 Tuesday: Ashgabat/Tashauz/Khiva (UZBEKISTAN – Flight and drive)
Morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Tashauz. Meet & drive to Khiva via Kunya Urgench, this was the capital of once powerful Khorezmia, which was flourished under the Achaemenid rule in 6th century BC. Then was wrested away from the last of the Persian rulers the Sasanids by the invading armies of the Arabs. Later powerful Turkic tribes who were converted to Islam took reins of the Kingdom and under whose rule the city flourished when great scholars of the Muslim attended the court of Khorezmshahs. A powerful and merciless invasion of the Mongolid hordes put an end to the ruling dynasty.
Overnight: Hotel Asia, Khiva (2 nights) (B, Snack, D)

Day 5 Wednesday: Khiva
Today we explore the World Heritage Site at Khiva, a city where time has stood still. Our visit starts with the main site of Ichan Kala followed by Kalta Minor, the Kunya Ark, the Rakhimkhon Madrassah, the Mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud, the Friday Mosque and the Tashauli Palace and Harem. To complete the feeling, we climb the Khodja Minaret to take in the amazing fairy tale panorama. (B, D)

Day 6 Thursday: Khiva/Bukhara (Drive)
Our drive to Bukhara is through the arid setting of the Kyzyl Kum Desert. Along the way we stop for some refreshments and see how humans have survived over the centuries in this barren landscape. Prior to arrival in Bukhara, a visit will be made to Sitora-i-Mokhikhosa, the Summer Residence of the former Emirs of Bukhara.
Overnight: Hotel Zargaron Hotel, Bukhara (2 nights) (B, D)

Day 7 Friday: Bukhara
One of the grandest of Uzbek centers, Bukhara is an open museum with many mosques, madrassahs and a grand minaret. We spend the day visiting some of the finest examples of Islamic Architecture in the world, where exquisite tile and mosaic work complements the beautiful brick-work; no wonder the city is a World Heritage Site. Our visit includes the Lab-e-Khauz Complex with the Nadirkhon Devanbegi Madrassah, the Mogak Attari Mosque and the Poi Kalon Minaret. We also visit the Madrassahs of Aziz Khan and the Ulugbek Ark Fortress, the residence cum army headquarters of the Bukharan Emirs that houses an interesting collection of objects from those days and the Mausoleum of Ismail Samanid, which features some of the best 10th century brickwork, with a marked Persian influence. (B, D)

Day 8 Saturday: Bukhara/Gijduvan/Samarkand (Drive)
This morning we start off with our visit to a local family ceramic factory in Gijduvan then continue onto visit the World Heritage Site of Shakhrisabz, home town of Tamerlane. This historic centre contains a collection of exceptional monuments and ancient quarters, which bear witness to centuries worth of history, and particularly to the period of its climax in the 15th century under the empire of Tamerlane.
Overnight: Hotel Shedor, Samarkand (4 nights) (B, D)

Day 9 Sunday: Samarkand
The historic town of Samarkand is a crossroad and melting pot of the world's cultures and has been declared a World Heritage Site recently. Founded in the 7th century BC as ancient Afrosiab, Samarkand had its most significant development in the Timurid period from the 14th to the 15th centuries. We start our day with visit to the Urgut Market, which is known in this region. Next stop is the Afrosiab Museum, located on the site of ancient Afrosiab and the Historical Museum of Uzbek Culture & Art, with the wooden coffin of Tamerlane and a large copy of the Koran. We culminate the day with a visit to the Ulugbek’s Obervatory & Gur Emir, the mausoleum of Tamerlane. (B, D)

Day 10 Monday: Samarkand
We save the best for last. Our tour today takes us to the major monuments and includes the Registan Mosque and the adjoining madrassas, Bibi-Khanum Mosque, the Shakhi-Zinda compound. (B, D)

Day 11 Tuesday: Samarkand/Penjikent/Samarkand
Today we make an attempt at crossing into TAJIKISTAN. The border crossing is subject to rules that keep on changing, one of the notorious features of daily life in Central Asia. Our objective is to the see the site of the ancient city of Sogdiana at Penjikent. Should the border crossing not be possible then we return to Samarkand for a free day. (B, D)

Day 12 Wednesday: Samarkand/Tashkent (Drive)
Early morning depart for Tashkent. Upon arrival check in at the hotel then head out immediately to visit the old part of the city, the Kafelsashi Mausoleum, the Barak Khana, the Tila Shaikh Mosque and Archives, Kukeldesh Madrassah, the History Museum of Uzbekistan and the Navoi Theatre. The evening is free, with an opportunity to see a local opera or ballet (optional).
Overnight: Hotel Dedeman, Tashkent (1 night) (B, D)

Day 13 Thursday: Depart Tashkent
Our tour comes to an end as it is our time to bid farewell with “Sau Bolinizder”, as you are transferred to the airport for your flight out. Check out time is by 1100 hrs. (B)

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Departure Dates

2008 English Speaking Departures Apr 19, May 24, Jun 07, Jul 26, Aug 16, Sep 20, Oct 25

Inclusions

Tour Price Includes Tour Price Does Not Include Accommodation as mentioned or similar, including hotel taxes International Airfare Meal Plan as mentioned (B=Breakfast, Snack, D=Dinner) Insurance & Visa fees All sightseeing and transfers Drinks/Beverages with meals Services of local English speaking guide Tips/Gratuities to Drivers & Guides Entrance fees to museums and sites included in the itinerary   Domestic & regional air tickets required   Necessary visa supports

Tour Price

We accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA $ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for clients outside North America). Bestway Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received, and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please download download Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf Note: to read this file you must have Adobe Acrobat.

Departure Double Occupancy Single Room Supplement 2008 US $ 3935 • CA $ 3935 US $ 420 • CA $ 420

Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is NOT included in this tour

Canada - West Coast CA $ 2400 USA - West Coast US $ 2200 Canada - East Coast CA $ 2000 USA - East Coast US $ 1800

Participants

This tour operates on a minimum of 02 and a maximum of 15 participants.

Notes

Customised Itinerary If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you. Foreign Language Departures Please contact us for information on French, German, Italian and Spanish speaking departures. You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us 800.663.0844.