|
SILK
ROAD: FROM HUNZA TO SAMARKAND
Countries
visited: Pakistan, China, Kyrgyzstan & Uzbekistan |
 |
The Silk Road was probably
the most important development in human history, which brought
close trading and subsequently cultural contacts between the
east and the west. The route from Hunza to Samarkand is a
breathtaking route crossing both the Khunjerab and Torogart
Pass, driving alongside the conglomerate of mountain ranges
- Himalayas, Karakorums, Tien Shan, etc. It is also Shangri-la
in its different facets with an interesting experience of
cultures of the different small ethnic groups who take solace
from the huge mountains that engulfs them. This tour is timed
to experience the incredible Sunday Bazaar in Kashgar!
|
Tour
Summary
|
Map |
Day
|
Place
|
| 01 |
Arrive
Islamabad (PAKISTAN) |
| 02 |
Islamabad
|
| 03 |
Islamabad
/ Chilas |
| 04 |
Chilas
/ Gilgit |
| 05 |
Gilgit / Hunza |
| 06 |
Hunza |
| 07 |
Hunza
/ Khunjerab / Tashkurgaon (CHINA) |
| 08 |
Tashkurgaon
/ Kashgar |
| 09 |
Kashgar
Sunday Bazaar |
| 10 |
Kashgar
/ Torogart Pass/ Naryn (by road) (KYRGYZSTAN) |
| 11 |
Naryn
/ Dolon Pass / Tamga |
| 12 |
Tamaga
/ Barskoon / Karakol |
| 13
|
Karakol
/ Cholpan Ata |
| 14 |
Cholpan
Ata/ Bishkek (by road) / Tashkent (by air) (UZBEKISTAN)
|
| 15 |
Tashkent
/ Samarkand |
| 16 |
Samarkand |
| 17 |
Samarkand |
| 18 |
Samarkand
/ Shakre Sabz / Bukhara |
| 19 |
Bukhara |
| 20 |
Bukhara
/ Khiva |
| 21 |
Khiva
|
| 22 |
Khiva
/ Urgench / Tashkent |
| 23 |
Tashkent
/ departure |
|
|
 |
UNESCO
World Heritage Sites Visited
This tour has been tailored to include the following World
Heritage Sites |
| World
Heritage Sites in Uzbekistan covered in this tour |
| Historic
Centre of Khiva (1990) |
Along
with Samarkand and Bukhara, Khiva is an important and often
overlooked historical site on what was once the Great Silk
Road (Uzbek: Buyuk Ipak Yol'i). Famous for it's long and
brutal history as a slave trading post sandwiched in between
the vast Kyzylkum and Karakum deserts, Khiva is now a quiet,
sleepy oasis that awaits busloads of tourists instead of
caravans of captives. It's difficult imagine what exactly
ancient Khiva was like, considering the historical areas
were restored to a scrubbed and squeaky-clean look by the
Soviets in the 1970s. However, the clustered array of mosques,
madrassahs and tiled minarets within a area of less than
3km give you a sense of how crowded and bustling this town
must have been throughout it's history. |
| Historic
Centre of Bukhara (1993) |
Situated
on The Silk Road, Bukhara is more than two thousand years
old. It is the most complete example of a medieval city in
Central Asia, with an urban fabric that has remained largely
intact. The monuments of interest include the Ismail Samani's
famous tomb, a masterpiece of 10th-century Moslem architecture,
and a number of 17th-century medersas. |
| Historic
Centre of Shakhrisyabz (2000) |
The
historic centre of Shakhrisyabz contains a collection of
exceptional monuments and ancient quarters which bear witness
to the centuries of its history, and particularly to the
period of its apogee, under the empire of Timur, in the 15th
century. |
| Samarkand
- Crossroads of Cultures (2001) |
The
historic town of Samarkand is a crossroad and melting pot
of the world's cultures. Founded in the 7th century BC as
ancient Afrasiab, Samarkand had its most significant development
in the Timurid period from the 14th to the 15th centuries.
The major monuments include the Registan Mosque and madrasahs,
Bibi-Khanum Mosque, the Shakhi-Zinda compound and the Gur-Emir
ensemble, as well as Ulugh-Beg's Observatory. |
| World
Heritage Sites in Pakistan covered in this tour |
| Taxila
(1980) |
From the ancient Neolithic tumulus
of Saraikala to the ramparts of Sirkap (2nd century B.C.) and
the city of Sirsukh (1st century A.D.), Taxila illustrates
the different stages in the development of a city on the Indus
that was alternately influenced by Persia, Greece and Central
Asia and which, from the 5th century B.C. to the 2nd century
A.D., was an important Buddhist centre of learning. |
| Detailed
Itinerary |
Day
01: SAT Arrive Islamabad (PAKISTAN)
Khush Amded. Welcome. Upon arrival at Islamabad, we are warmly
received and transferred to our hotel located in the city centre
of the capital city. Check in time starts from 1400 hrs.
Overnight: Islamabad Hotel (2 nights) (D)
Day 02: SUN Islamabad
Our Silk Road journey starts with the UNESCO World Heritage
Site of Taxila located off the Grand Trunk Road. It dates back
to the Gandhara period and contain ruins of the Gandha¯ran
city of Taksasila - an important Hindu and Buddhist centre.
When Alexander the Great visited Taxila, he found the Julian
University functioning. Our tour includes the Taxila museum,
Sirkap ruins, Julian monastery and Mohra Muradu. We then take
a tour of the British garrison town of Rawalpindi and at Islamabad
visit the folk heritage museum, Daman-e-Koh, Saidpur village
and Shah Faisal Mosque – a majestic mosque designed in
Turkish architecture. (B, D)
Day 03: MON Islamabad / Chilas (by road)
An early morning drive first to the scenic town of Abbotabad
and from there we join the incredible Karakorum Highway with
spectacular mountain scenery alongwith the mighty Indus. We
make several photo stops including at Besham, Dassu and Shittal
Rock Carvings before arriving at the small mountain town of
Chilas located almost at the foot Nanga Parbat.
Overnight: Panorama Hotel (1 night) (B, D)
Day 04: TUE Chilas / Gilgit (by road)
Another day of spectacular scenery as we cross the Himalayan
mountain ranges over to the silk road town of Gilgit. Here we
take a tour of Gilgit to include the suspension bridge, the
Rock carving of Buddha at Kargah before retiring for the day
at our cozy hotel. Evening we may be fortunate to witness a
polo match – subject to availability.
Overnight: Rupal inn (1 night) (B, D)
Day 05: WED Gilgit / Hunza (by road)
Continuing on the KKH, we first visit Aliabad and continue further
to have the most spectacular view of the majestic Rakaposhi
Mountain before reaching the capital of Hunza, Karimabad. Hunza,
John Hilton’s lost Shangri-la, has stood the test of time
and offers the most incredible scenery one can imagine. Until
recently, life span here used to run to over a hundred years.
Hunza is the gateway not only to China but also to the many
mountaineering expeditions from across the globe. Evening, a
walking tour of Karimabad where we meet many of the very friendly
Hunzakuts and get to know more of their life style.
Overnight: Hunza View Hotel (2 nights) (B, D)
Day 06: THU Hunza
Hunza Valley - a mountainous valley with green terraced farming
on the slopes of the Karakorums. Here one sees peaks like Ultar
Sar, Rakaposhi, Bojahagur Duanasir II, Ghenta Peak, Hunza Peak,
Diran Peak and Bublimating (Ladyfinger Peak) - all 6000 metres
(19,685 ft) or higher. Our morning tour starts with a visit
to Duiker (Eagle’s nest) to see the spectacular sun rise
along with breakfast. We then visit the Nagar Valley –
another very spectacular valley and see the Hoppar glaciers
in its many different forms. Evening, an optional visit to the
Baltit Fort. (B, D)
Day 07: FRI Hunza / Khunjerab / Tashkurgaon (CHINA)
(by road)
Going northwards, we visit the village of Gulmit – another
spectacular town of Upper Hunza before making the border crossing
at Sust into China. Getting into our Chinese vehicles we cross
the mighty Khunjerab which at 15800 feet is the highest border
crossing in the world. We arrive at the sleepy town of Tashkurgaon
in the early evening and after the entry formalities are transferred
top our hotel.
Overnight: Hotel Crown Inn (1 night) (B, D)
Day 08: SAT Tashkurgaon / Kashgar (by road)
An interesting drive through the Taklamakan gets us to the Karukuli
Lake where one can see the reflection of the enchanting Muztaghata
Peak. We have free time at Karkuli to enjoy the serenity before
continuing to Kashgar – a major Silk Road town in the
Xinjiang province of modern day China.
Overnight: Hotel International, Kashgar (2 nights) (B,
D)
Day 09: SUN Kashgar Sunday Bazaar
If one would like to see a place where time has stood still
it is Kashghar (Kashi). Walking through the narrow lanes of
this old town evokes a scene from the Arabian Nights. Kashgar
has remained sheltered from outside influences with locals who
are very friendly. Amongst the most popular professions are
coppersmiths, carpenters, jewelers and cobblers, all using tools
of bygone days. Our tour of Kashgar also includes the Abak Hoja
Tomb, the Id Koh Mosque and the old town where we might even
take a ride on the donkey cart taxi. One of the most popular
events in the town is the weekly Sunday Bazaar that draws a
variety of ethnic groups like the Uyghur, Tajik, Kyrgyz and
Kazakh to the streets of Kashgar. They come on foot, bikes,
horsebacks, modern motorcycles and donkey carts, all with the
hope of selling merchandise that ranges form scissors to camels.
(B, D)
DAY 10: MON Kashgar / Torogart Pass/ Naryn (by road)
(KYRGYZSTAN)
We cross the majestic Torogoart Pass (3752 meters) from China
into Krgyzstan. Border formalities completed we enter the Central
Asian country of Kyrghyzstan. The 197 Kms drive to Naryn is
a panorama of wide open valley surrounded by the Tien Shan ranges.
The steppes are dotted with Kyrgyz nomadic huts (Yurts) with
their cattle grazing in the nearby slopes with horses going
wild during the season. We visit a yurt and meet the warm hearted
Kyrgyz nomads with an offer of ‘koumis’ mare’s
fermented milk. Late afternoon we arrive at the first settlement
of Naryn!
Overnight: Celestial Mountain or Yurts (1 night) (B,
Snack, D)
DAY 11: TUE Naryn / Dolon Pass / Tamga (by road)
After a visit of the one street town, we depart for Issikul
region with various stops to get the enchanting scenery. This
is a long and an interesting day. The Tienshan scenery becomes
more verdant with small farmlands hamlets with immense poplar
trees lining along the route near the villages. At Kochkorka
village we see the felt makers house and their collections of
nomadic embroidery is a good insight into the nomadic culture.
Continue with lengthening shadows of the trees we arrive on
the southern side of the great lake Issikul(warm waters) we
shall transfer to a nice private Guest House of Lyuda &
Sasha’s private home with a nice garden awaiting us for
a BBQ dinner.
Overnight Lyuda & Sasha’s Guest House (1 night)
(B, D)
DAY 12: WED Tamaga / Barskoon / Karakol (by road)
Our destination today is Karakol. An interesting and breathtaking
scenery with several stops gets us to the Barskoon Valley –
the gold mine of Kyrgyzstan. It is a scenic spot which was a
popular resort site of the Soviet Cosmonauts who used to come
here for rest and recreation. Yuri Gagarin is known to have
spent his leisure hours walking the alpine valley and the valley
still maintains his monument at his favorite spot. We then continue
on the on the track to Karakol with a visit of Djeti Oghuz the
Kyrgyz nomad’s meadows.
Overnight: Hotel Amir, Karakol (1 night) (B, D)
DAY 13: THU Karakol / Cholpan Ata (by road)
Morning we tour Karakol and visit the Russian Orthodox Church
with its beautiful wooden structure and rare icons that survived
the worst periods of communist purges. Visit Dungan mosque with
chaste Chinese architecture – Dungans were a Han Muslim
Chinese community who escaped the civil wars of 50’s now
are an ethnically assimilated population. Next we visit the
famous Preshevalsky Museum and monument before reaching Cholpan
Ata and visit the mountain town including seeing the local museum
and the rock drawings dating back to 1st BC.
Overnight: Caprice Resort Hotel (1 night) (B, D)
DAY 14: FRI Cholpan Ata/ Bishkek (by road) / Tashkent
(by air) (UZBEKISTAN)
Early morning we visit the Silk Road Burana caravan town ruins
dating 11th/12th AD including the tower, the ruins of the complex
mosque, the Turkic tombstones and the small archaeological museum
nearby. Later we continue to Bishkek with an orientation tour
of the town before we drive to the airport for our flight to
Tashkent. Upon arrival at Tashkent we are met and transferred
to our hotel.
Overnight: Hotel Dedeman Silk Road (1 night) (B, D)
DAY 15: SAT Tashkent / Samarkand (by road)
Morning tour of the capital city famous for its gardens and
fountains. We commence our sightseeing with a visit of the Old
city, see the new Hast Imam complex that rises on the secular
buildings 16th to 20th AD is the neo Islamic architecture reviving
the old Central Asian styles. We visit Barak Khana seminary
– the seat of the Grand Mufti of Tashkent and Tilla Shaikh
archives to see the famous 7th AD copy of Othman Quran. We continue
to explore the traditional part of Tashkent including the famous
Chosu Bazar where people are always dressed in colorful attire.
We visit Kukeldesh which in true Central Asian style used to
offer solace to the caravans. We continue our drive to the most
renowned city in Islamic architecture. Upon arrival at Samarkand
we are transferred to our hotel.
Overnight: Hotel Grand Samarkand (3 nights) (B, D)
DAY 16: SUN Samarkand
Sunday is the market day in the whole of Central Asia but we
choose Urgut as one of the few Central Asian Sunday markets
still retaining its olden spirit of bazaars. We shall see a
culmination of countryside folks thronging into the market with
their produce, selling and bargaining the Central Asia way!
You may have a best buy of famous suzzanne embroidery from the
village folks, wooden carved pieces or local rugs are all here.
Afternoon we head for Shakre Sabz, the birthplace of Tamerlane.
We shall be traveling over the beautiful pass – the route
always taken by Tamerlane for his travel between Shakre Sabz
and Samarkand. Tamerlane started building his cities and Shakre
Sabz being his native town never was forgotten where he built
a grand palace, as was recorded by ‘Don Clavijo’
the Spanish minister at the court of Tamerlane. Ak-Saray –
the white palace surpassed in Persian architecture, which Tamerlane
was keen in employing in his favorite buildings. After seeing
some interesting Timurid period monuments we shall return to
Samarkand. (B, D)
DAY 17: MON Samarkand
The Jewel city of the Silk Road – Samarkand has always
been praised for its beautiful gardens and richness. Samarkand
was admired and prized by the invaders who always wanted this
city as part of their empire. The important town of a once prosperous
Sogdiana served as the major halting station for caravans of
the Great Silk Road whose impacts could be seen in the great
archaeological finds – the murals, the statues and other
objects. Everyone who passed by the city talks of its greatness
– Alexander the Great fought with the last of its ruler
and the legend says that he got his beautiful wife ‘Roxane’
from Samarkand. Marco Polo talks of its booming trade and gardens,
Tamerlane made Samarkand as his capital and called it as the
“capital of the world”. The changed life of Tamerlane
found solace in his beautiful gardens in the company of his
favorite granddaughter and poetess - Zebunnisa Begum. Our tour
of Samarkand ravels the beautiful monuments – The madrassah
complex of Registan a fascinating square with three madrassahs.
We continue visiting other monuments of Timurid period and should
never miss the old site of Afrosiab, which goes back in our
historic times. (B, D)
DAY 18: TUE Samarkand / Shakre Sabz / Bukhara (by road)
An interesting drive gets us to Kesh (Shakre Sabz) the birthplace
of Tamerlane – a UNESCO World Heritage site. We visit
Ak-Saray Palace ruins of Tamerlane’s lovely palace once
described by Don Calvijo as the palace of grandest of architecture
while in attendance at the court of Tamerlane. We shall then
visit the secular buildings of Dorus Tilavat seminary, the Kok
Gumbaz mosque, Dorus Saidat, the crypt of Tamerlane that was
never used and The Friday mosque before continuinbg on for Bukhara
– another World Heritage Site.
Overnight: Hotel Zargaron (2 nights) (B, D)
DAY 19: WED Bukhara
Today we shall be touring the powerful seat of Bukhara Khanate
which swayed her control in all the neighboring states. Bukhara
was the first oasis, which caught the eyes of invading Arab
armies to explore and expand into the heartland of Central Asia.
The ancient town of Bukhara goes back in the history to more
than 2500 years and kept exchanging hands from one ruler to
another. It was one of the important towns of the caravan countries
and was the richest of the Transoxiana countries. It kept changing
its seat from the early Persians down to the Turkic heathen
tribes and remained as the master of the lands. The last of
the powerful Turkic ruler, Bukhara Khudat was killed by the
Arab invaders thereby replacing its rulers and converting the
locals to Islamic faith. Bukhara continued to flourish as an
important trading center before the caravans continued to the
Persian empire’s mainland where the rich commodity was
sold out. Bukhara remained in the hands of Sheybanid rulers
and later into the hands of their splinter groups t ill the
annexation of its territories by the expanding Russian rule.
With changing of fortunes in the imperial Russia, Bukhara too
was effected and the last ruler had to escape to Afghanistan
leaving the state into the hands of Bolsheviks. The last Emir
of Bukhara suffered humility at the hands of the Great Game
players ho saw these enemies vying for power at his court till
the imperial Russians succeeded in reducing the emir to a mere
pawn in their hands. Buildings, madrassahs, the mosques and
the covered bazaars keep Bukhara as an oldest living city of
the caravan days. (B, D)
Day 20: THU Bukhara / Khiva (by road)
Today we shall leave for Khiva and this will be a long drive
through the heart of Kizilkum desert (the red sands). This wasteland
was the route of the invaders coming form the north as nomadic
hordes or armies of the Persians or Alexander the Great marching
his troops through the heart of desert to cities of his Persian
enemy. Genghiz Khan’s devastating troops crossed these
deserts to enter the mainland of his enemy. You will notice
the expanse of Amudarya as it spreads its branches to a network
of canals serving as a watering base for the huge cotton economy
of the whole region our arrival will mark a quiet late afternoon
entry into Khiva.
Overnight: Hotel Asia, Khiva (B, Snack, D)
DAY 21: FRI Khiva
A walk into the past – the walled city (a UNESCO World
Heritage Site) has not changed its character from the khanate
days with its fortress walls still surviving – Khiva is
described as the living museumof Central Asia with its still
surviving living quarters. We visit the Ichan Kala – the
inner city, Kalta Minor that was never finished, Kuya Arg –
the ruling quarters, madrassah Rakhimkhon, the UNDP workshops
forthe development of local handicrafts, the mausoleum of Pakhlavan
Makhmud is a wonderful example of tile work which was though
very little used but exquisite. The minaret of Islam Khodja
and the Friday Mosque with its old pillars still surviving.
Later we visit Tashauli harem and the Caravan Sarai. (B,
D)
DAY 22: SAT Khiva / Urgench (by road) / Tashkent (by
air)
Morning depart for Urgench airport for flight to Tashkent. Transfer
to the hotel. Balance of the day is free for shopping. Evening
an optional, subject to availability visit to the theatre for
an opera. We visit the famous Tashkent underground station followed
by a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight: Hotel Dedeman (1 night) (B, D)
DAY 23: SUN Tashkent / departure
After traveling on the Silk Road caravan route from
China all the way to central Asia, we bid farewell as we are
transferred to the airport for our departure flight. Check out
time is 1100 hrs. (B) |
|
B
= Breakfast
|
L
= Lunch
|
D
= Dinner
|
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|
Departure Dates |
|
2012
May
05 & Sep 08
|
| Prices |
| Departure |
Tour
Price US$ |
Single
Sup US$ |
2012 |
5360 |
665 |
| Tour
Price Includes |
Tour
Price Does Not Include: |
-
Accommodation as mentioned or similar, including hotel
taxes
-
Meals as mentioned (B=Breakfast, S=Snack,
D=Dinner)
-
All transfers as mentioned as mentioned in the tour itinerary
-
Sightseeing with services of local English speaking guide
-
Entrance fees to museums and sites included in the itinerary
- Necessary
visa supports
|
-
International Airfares
-
Domestic air & train tickets (currently from US$ 450.00)
-
Insurance& Visa fees
-
Drinks/beverages with meals
-
Tips/gratitude to drivers & guides
|
| Estimated
International Airfare(not
included in tour price) |
| East
Coast |
US
$ 1650 |
| West
Coast |
US
$ 1850 |
| Please
note:
This tour operates with a minimum of 2
and a maximum of 12
participants. |
| Other
Dates / Customized Itinerary / Languages |
In addition to our set programs we are also pleased
to offer customized tours.
Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your
individual needs.
Customized tours can be conducted in English, French,
German, Spanish or Italian. Each departure is conducted
in the designated language only. |
| Contact
Information |
|
|
Fax:
+1-604-264-7774
|
| 206–8678
Greenall Ave |
Phone:
+1-604-264-7378 |
| Burnaby
B.C., Canada |
Toll
Free (US & Canada): 1-800-663-0844 |
| V5J
3M6 |
Email:
bestway@bestway.com |
|
33
years in small group journeys
|
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Site
updated Nov 07, 2011
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