|
THE
SUNDAY BAZAARS: KASHGAR TO ASHGABAT
A
World Heritage Sites Tour of China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan,
Tajikistan & Turkmenistan |
 |
The growth of bazaars was
a natural phenomenon as the silk road and caravans routes
started growing. A weekly day for the bazaar made the caravan
routes even move important and interesting. All across Central
Asia weekly bazaar days have become a prominent event of the
week – not only for the purchases but also as a meeting
place of people – all in their different attire accompanied
by the animals and goods – all for a barter! The most
prominent of the weekly bazaars are the Sunday Bazaars in
Kashgar and at Ashgabat – and this 19days journey will
absorb you to the hey days of the Silk Road.
|
Tour
Summary
|
Map |
Day
|
Place
|
| 01 |
Arrive
Urumqi (CHINA) |
| 02 |
Urumqi
/ Kashgar |
| 03 |
Kashgar
– Sunday Bazaar |
| 04 |
Kashgar
/ Urumqi / Almaty (KAZAKHSTAN) |
| 05 |
Almaty / Tashkent (UZBEKISTAN) |
| 06 |
Tashkent
/ Ferghana |
| 07 |
Ferghana
/ Khujend (TAJIKISTAN) |
| 08 |
Khujend
/ Samarkand (UZBEKISTAN) |
| 09 |
Samarkand
|
| 10 |
Samarkand |
| 11 |
Samarkand
/ Baimurat |
| 12 |
Baimurat
/ Bukhara |
| 13
|
Bukhara
|
| 14 |
Bukhara
/ Khiva |
| 15 |
Khiva
/ Nukus |
| 16 |
Nukus
/ Tashauz /Ashgabat TURKMENSITAN |
| 17 |
Ashgabat |
| 18 |
Ashgabat
/ departure |
|
|
 |
UNESCO
World Heritage Sites Visited
This tour has been tailored to include the following World
Heritage Sites |
|
World Heritage Sites in Uzbekistan covered on this tour |
| Historic
Sites of Samarkand, Uzbekistan (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. |
| City
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. |
| Historic
Sites 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 m�dersas. |
| Historic
Sites 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. |
| World
Heritage Sites in Turkmenistan covered on this tour |
| Historic
sites of Kunya-Urgench (2005) |
Kunya-Urgench
is situated in northwestern Turkmenistan, on the south side
of the Amu Daria River. Urgench was the capital of the Khorezm
region, part of the Achaemenid Empire. The old town contains
a series of monuments mainly from the 11th to 16th centuries,
including a mosque, the gates of a caravanserai, fortresses,
mausoleums and a minaret. The monuments testify to outstanding
achievements in architecture and craftsmanship whose influence
reached Iran and Afghanistan, and later the architecture of
the Mogul Empire of 16th-century India. |
| Historic
sites of Merv, Turkmenistan (2005) |
Merv
is the oldest and best-preserved of the oasis-cities along the
Silk Route in Central Asia. The remains in this vast oasis span
4,000 years of human history. A number of monuments are still
visible, particularly from the last two millennia. |
| Detailed
Itinerary |
Day
01: FRI Arrive Urumqi (CHINA)
Our exciting tour starts off as we arrive at Urumqi, the capital
city of Xinjiang – China’s most western province
– a semi autonomous region. We are warmly received and
transferred to our hotel. Check in starts from 1400 hrs. Subject
to time permitting we visit the Xinjiang regional Museum to
see archaeological treasures from the Silk Road and Xinjiang’s
minority nations and a display of the well-preserved 3000 years
old mummies excavated from the Taklamakan desert.
Overnight: Hotel Mirage B Tower, Urumqi (1 night) (D)
Day 02: SAT Urumqi / Kashgar (by air)
Short flight to Kashgar, where we are met and transferred to
our hotel. Evening we visit the China Idkah Mosque – the
largest in China followed by Apak Khoja’s tomb –
Sufi who died in 1640 and then culminated the day with a visit
to the handicraft street in old Kashgar.
Overnight: Hotel International, Kashgar (2 nights) (B,
D)
Day 03: 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 all sort of merchandises. (B, D)
Day 04: MON Kashgar/Urumqi/Almaty (Flight) (KAZAKHSTAN)
Morning flight to Urumqi and we continue our sightseeing of
Urumqi. We start with the picturesque Hong Shan Park from where
you can enjoy panorama of Urumqi city, Red Hill Pagoda, Grand
Bazaar or Erdao Qiao Market to get some traditional Uygur silk
and Chinese cotton and see variety of different nuts and dry
fruits, herbs, aroma oils. Later transfer to the airport for
departure flight to Almaty where we are met and transferred
to our hotel.
Overnight: Otrar Hotel, Almaty (1 night) (B, D)
Day 05: TUE Almaty / Tashkent (Flight) (UZBEKISTAN)
Morning we shall fly to Tashkent the metropolis of Uzbekistan.
On arrival sightseeing tour of Tashkent – visit old city,
Hast Imam Complex, Barak Khana seminary, Tilla Shaikh archives,
Chorsu market, later visit 16th century Kukeldesh madrassah,
Akbar’s traditional pottery house and the museum of Applied
Arts, Old City of Tashkent, which is one of the oldest cities
of Uzbekistan. Its history goes back to the Silk Road days when
it was a transit station. There used to exist several settlements
in the outskirts with several fire temples as is significant
from the excavations, which date back to 2nd to 7th AD. During
the course of time it grew with changes and became an important
Silk Road town called Chach. It saw the ravages of Mongol armies
and later became the governorate of later Mongols by then changing
its name to present as Tashkent – the town of stones.
By 15th century it had grown as an important commercial stop
into a huge walled city. After the great earthquake of 1966
Tashkent grew into a huge metropolis with new buildings, well
laid out gardens and fountains. The background of low-lying
TienShan ranges give Tashkent a pleasant climatic conditions.
Overnight: Dedeman Silk Road Hotel (1 night) (B, D)
Day 06: WED Tashkent / Ferghana (Flight)
Morning flight to Ferghana valley and take a full day sightseeing
tour of the valley – our first visit will be to the traditional
Yodgarlik Silk factory – this will be an interesting experience
as we see cocoon to silk fabric making going through various
processes turning one of the finest examples of Central Asia
silk pattern. We will have chance of interacting with the weavers
at the job. Later we shall visit Hoja Ihsan Madrassah where
we will meet the masters in silk weaving, carpet makers and
cloth stamping. Our next visit will be Rishton to see the local
pottery works – Ferghana pottery is famous for its design
and coloration. We shall visit master Rustam Usmanov’s
workshop where he has a small pottery museum. Later proceed
to Kokand to see the residence and fort of Khodoyar Khan the
last Khan of Kokand once extending his rule over up to Yarkand
in China. We shall see the museum and later visit Nurbatabey
Mosque before returning to Ferghana for the night.
Overnight: Hotel Asia, Ferghana (1 night) (B, D)
Day 07: THU Ferghana / Khujend (Drive 255 kms / 158 miles) (TAJIKISTAN)
This morning we depart for Tajikistan follow Syrdarya, the Jaxartes
of the classical writers who wrote Alexander the Great history.
After passing the border formalities we continue to Kandibadam
– famous for almond groves and was a favorite resting
place of Babur the Mughal King who hailed from Ferghana valley.
We shall make a short visit of a local house en-route to see
the Tajik way of life. Late afternoon we shall make a short
sightseeing tour of Khujend – the Alexandria eschate,
was one the extreme of many Alexandrias’, attributed to
Alexander the Great who fought against the Sogdian armies, finally
wining their submission with the killing of their general Spitamenes.
We shall visit the local museum and Panjshanbe bazaar and the
tomb of Shaikh Moslehuddin, a much respected Saint of the region.
See the beautiful dome in lapis lazuli stone and the interior
décor with gold.
Overnight: Hotel Sugd, Khujend (1 night) (B, Snack,
D)
Day 08: FRI Khujend / Samarkand (Drive 300 kms / 186
miles) (UZBEKISTAN)
In the morning we shall re-enter Uzbekistan by continuing to
Aibek border point and after the border crossing this will be
a countryside drive through miles of cotton plantations on both
sides of the road. Often on the roadside near the villages we
see local folks selling their produce of different fruits and
during the melon season (Sep/Oct) one can see wonderful varieties
of melons grown in the region.
Overnight: Hotel Malika Prime, Samarkand (3 nights)
(B, D)
Day 09: SAT 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 10: 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, Snack, D)
Day 11: MON Samarkand / Baimurat (Drive 327 kms / 203
miles)
Morning depart for ‘off the beaten track’ journey
to the Kizilkum desert camp of Baimurat. Today we shall have
an exotic experience of traveling to a least visited part of
Uzbekistan, see the villages all along the route for trip that
gives us an insight of the rural communities of Uzbekistan.
Our first stop will be a visit of Eski Forish a small shepherds
village set in the foothills of Nuratau mountain range. We shall
visit the house of Komil Shakirov who looks after the Nuratau
Nature Reserve and welcomes us to his traditional hospitality.
We shall have snacks at his place and later walk through the
village. First two weeks of April is flower season and we can
see wild tulips around the fields. Later continue to our Baimurat
as we bypass Aidorkol lake a large water reservoir fed by Syrdarya
(Syr river).
Overnight: Yurt, Baimurat (1 night) (B, Snack, D)
Day 12: TUE Baimurat / Bukhara (Drive 215 kms / 133
miles)
Morning depart for Bukhara going through the desert (for wild
tulip lovers first two weeks of April is a good month to see
them in their natural habitat). We shall make our first stop
at Nurata for a local visit see the legendary grave of a soldier
of Alexander the Great and the wall of an ancient fortress.
Later we continue our drive coming out of the desert to a super
highway. While nearing Bukhara we shall make a visit to the
summer residence of the last ruler of Bukhara – see the
early Russian architecture – the palace was a gift from
the Czar with imperial Russian interior décor. Sitora-i-Mokhikhosa
was the summer palace of the emir of Bukhara but was converted
into a hospital during the communist era but it has been converted
into a museum of its own. There is an exclusive display of suzzanne
embroidery spread out in several rooms. Later proceed to Bukhara.
Overnight: Hotel Zargaron, Bukhara (2 nights) (B, D)
Day 13: 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 till 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 14: THU Bukhara / Khiva (Drive 460 kms / 286 miles)
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 Malika Khivaek, Khiva (1 night) (B,
Snack, D)
Day 15: FRI Khiva / Nukus (Drive 165 kms / 102 miles)
The living museum of Central Asia, Khiva is an important World
Heritage site – the walled city reminds us of ‘thousand
and one night’ feeling while walking through its brick
structures. Khiva was the seat of Khiva Khanate that was subdued
with great efforts by the Russian army in 1873 after failing
in the earlier attempt of 1839. The fortunes and importance
of Khiva rose when Amudarya (Amu river) changed its course leaving
the capital town of Kunya Urgench in almost oblivion when all
the attention was drawn towards Khiva. A walking tour will reveal
the mysteries of this legendary town going piece by piece from
one corner to another. The time has still not changed the character
and culture of this walled city, which still thrives on its
past glory. In the late afternoon we shall depart for Nukus
the remote corner of Uzbekistan. En-route we shall see the last
stages of Amudarya before its final destination to the Aral
Sea.
Overnight: Hotel Jipek Joly, Nukus (1 night) (B, D)
Day 16: SAT Nukus/Tashauz/Ashgabat (Flight) TURKMENISTAN)
Morning we shall visit Krakalpakstan Regional Museum more known
as Savitsky Museum. Here we see rare Russian avant-garde period
paintings of known and unknown masters. The collection was hiding
in the cellar of the museum for a long time. The first Director
of the museum Igor Savitsky hid them in this remote part of
the former Soviet Union from the destructive eyes of Stalin
era purges. After the political changes these paintings found
a more respectable place at his museum. The museum also displays
a valuable collection of nomadic gillims, carpets, dresses,
horse bridles and Yorta decorations. A small section is dedicated
to the display of archaeological finds from the desert sites.
We then head to Turkmen border point at a close by distance
from Nukus. At the border after the formalities we say goodbye
to our Uzbek guide and depart for Turkmen side.
You are met and assisted at the immigrations and customs. The
borders here are quite slow and procedures of crossings may
consume sometimes. We shall then proceed on to Kunya Urgench
for a visit - once capital city of powerful Khorezm State with
large territories as far as ancient city of Otrar in Kazakhstan.
It was the center of many scholars in mathematics, astronomy,
chemistry and literature under the patronage of Khorezm Shah,
the king. Chengiz Khan, destroyed the city in 1226/27 killing
all male souls to avenging the killing of his emissary sent
earlier by him to the court of Khirezm Shah. We shall visit
the monuments of pre and post Mongolid periods. Head for Tashauz
for the evening flight to Ashgabat.
Overnight: Hotel Grand Turkmen, Ashgabat (2 nights)
(B, Snack, D)
Day 17: SUN Ashgabat
We shall spend a wonderful morning visiting the famous Tolkuchka
Bazaar, the Sunday market of Ashgabat. The most interesting
sight is the carpet sellers – where one can see the Turkmen
tribal faces of Saryks, Yomuds, Tekkes and others selling their
carpets known for their designs world over. Later visit the
famous State Museum of History – a house of wonderful
displays from pre-historic periods to a wonder full collection
carpets. The exhibits in the Parthian era hall is very interesting
– see the wonderful collection of Parthian rhytons and
many objects from site of Nissa was once the winter capital
of Parhtian kings. Later we shall visit the archaeological site
of Nisa dating back to 1st BC in the foothills of Kopetdag mountain
range. Later we shall visit the sights of the capital of Turkmenistan
and the grand mosque of the city. This evening we shall be having
a farewell dinner at a local restaurant to exchange our views
on the last day of a wonderful tour of the “Stan”
countries. (B, D)
Day 18: MON Depart Ashgabat
Check out and transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
OR extend your stay to visit Merv. (B) |
|
B
= Breakfast
|
L
= Lunch
|
D
= Dinner
|
|
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|
Departure Dates |
|
2012
Apr
13, May 11, Jul 13, Sep 07 & Oct 05
|
| Prices |
| Departure |
Tour
Price US$ |
Single
Sup US$ |
|
2012 |
4660 |
595 |
| |
| Tour
Price Includes |
Tour
Price Does Not Include: |
•
Accommodation as mentioned or similar, including hotel taxes
• Meal Plan as mentioned (B=Breakfast,
Snack, D=Dinner)
• All sightseeing and transfers
• Services of local English speaking guide
• Entrance fees to museums and sites included in the
itinerary
• Visa Support as required |
•
International Airfare / Departure Taxes
• Domestic
airfares (from $1150.00)
• Travel Insurances
• Visa Fees
• Drinks / Beverages with meals
• Tips / Gratuities to Drivers & Guides |
| Domestic
/ Regional Airfare NOT INCLUDED in Tour Price |
| Ashgabat
/ Tashauz and Tashkent / Khiva. |
| Estimated
International Airfare(not
included in tour price) |
| East
Coast |
US
$ 2000 |
| West
Coast |
US
$ 2400 |
| Please
note:
This tour operates with a minimum of 02
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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