Arrive in Istanbul, and transfer to your hotel. After a short tour briefing, the rest of the day is free to rest, relax or walk around to explore the city. Welcome dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( ISTANBUL ). [ D ]

Day 2 ISTANBUL

We spend the full day visiting the sights of Old Istanbul. We will begin at the ancient Hippodrome which was the center of the civil activities back in the Hellenistic and Roman times. At the Hippodrome the chariot and horse races and athletic runs took place for the entertainment of the people of Constantinople. We walk to the nearby Ibrahim Pasha Palace which houses the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art where we will see an impressive exhibit from the various periods of Turkish and Islamic art, ranging in date from the 7th C. to the 19th. Then we proceed to the Blue Mosque, famous for its blue tiles covering its interior walls and also for its six minarets which is a unique feature of this mosque. Nearby is Hagia Sophia Museum, the former Cathedral of Constantinople, considered as the masterpiece of the early Byzantine architecture. Hagia Sophia is renowned for its superb mosaic decoration as well as its architectural style. Back in Byzantine Empire, most emperors were crowned in this cathedral after a special ceremony. After lunch we will visit the Topkapi Palace, residence and administrative center of the Ottoman Sultans. In the grounds of the Topkapi Palace are many courtyards surrounded by old buildings each housing small museums with exhibits of jewelry, costumes, calligraphy and various objects that belonged to the Imperial treasury of the Ottoman Sultans. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( ISTANBUL ). [ B L D ]

Day 3 ASHGABAT

Turkish Airlines evening flight to Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan. Transfer to our hotel for resting. Visit the National History Museum with a fine collection of historic artifacts and relics from the Neolithic, Bronze Age and Margiana civilization. We will proceed to the Carpet Museum which is an excellent museum for anyone interested in the history of famous Turkmen carpets. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( ASHGABAT ). [ B L D ]

Day 4 ASHGABAT

Today we visit the Tolkuchka (Sunday) Market on the outskirts of Ashgabat which is truly one of Central Asia's greatest and most colorful places, where locals sell almost anything from carpets to cars, from food to textiles. We will meet in their home a family of jewelers, rug makers and handcraft artists who will show us the way of making of their traditional arts. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( ASHGABAT ). [ B L D ]

Day 5 KHIVA

We will take our Turkmenistan Air domestic flight to Dashogus, followed by crossing the border into Uzbekistan. We will arrive at the ancient open-air museum city of Khiva, the last oasis and resting-place of the ancient caravans before crossing the desert to Iran. We will take a short orientation walk in the town. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( KHIVA ). [ B L D ]

Day 6 KHIVA

We have all day to explore Khiva's historic and religious architecture and buildings. Khiva is a small but unbelievable photographers' dream town enclosed within the walls and packed with mosques, tombs, palaces, alleys, ceramic towers and madrasas (Muslim seminaries). Ichan-Kala, the old inner town is so tightly packed within its walls that contains some 16 madrasas, mosques and other religious, military and civil buildings. Dinner and musical entertainment in courtyard. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( KHIVA ). [ B L D ]

Day 7 BUKHARA 

We drive along the Amu-Darya (Oxus) river and across the Kyzylkum (Red Sand) desert to Bukhara, Central Asia's holiest city. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( BUKHARA ). [ B L D ]

Day 8 BUKHARA 

Full day tour of Bukhara. Bukhara which is located on the old Silk Road has been the cultural and religious center of Turkestan for many centuries. During our tour we will visit the Kalyan Minaret and Mosque, 150 feet high Kalyan minaret when it was built by the Karakhanid ruler Arslan Han in 12th C., it was probably Central Asia's the tallest building. We will walk around the Lyaub-i-Hauz (A Tajik name for "around the pool") complex which is a plaza where local enjoy their time chatting under the mulberry trees. In the bazaar area is one of the oldest madrasas of Central Asia , the Ulug Beg Madrasa with an elegant style in blue tiles which was built in 1417. We will have time to stroll through the covered domed bazaars where you can find a wide range of Central Asian arts from jewelry to textiles and ethnic crafts. We will visit the 10th C Samani mausoleum, one of the oldest monuments in the town, built for Ismail Samani the founder of the Samanid dynasty that established a powerful kingdom in Central Asia. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( BUKHARA ). [ B L D ]

Day 9 BUKHARA 

Excursion to the haunting village of Chor Bakr, a 16th C necropolis and town of mausoleums. One tradition relates the building of this mausoleum town in Shaybanid times in the 16th C. to Abu Bakr a good friend of the Prophet Mohammed and later the first caliph. We drive east of Bukhara to the village Kasri Orifon, where we will visit the Sufi Shrine of Bahoudin Naqshbandi the founder of the most influential of ancient Sufi orders. Huge complex houses many relics and the tomb of Naksibendi who was born and died here. Return to the city and continue to The Ark in the Shakhristan area was built as a fortress for the rulers of Bukhara 2000 years ago. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( BUKHARA ).[ B L D ]

Day 10 SAMARKAND 

In the morning visit the Sitorai-Mokhi-Khosa, the summer palace of the last Emir of Bukhara built in the 19th C. We will depart Bukhara and continue overland to Samarkand, the oldest city in Central Asia and the former capital of Tamerlane the Conqueror. Along the way we will visit a master ceramic artist in his studio. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( SAMARKAND ).[ B L D ]

Day 11 SAMARKAND 

In the morning we will make an excursion to the Urgut Sunday market. We will continue our exploration of this ancient city. The Registan square, is the most spectacular architectural complex in Central Asia and it is surrounded by madrasas and mosques covered with blue and green tiles of great beauty. In the Registan square, we have three madrasas to visit, each is decorated with beautiful tiles. We will begin with Ulug Beg Madrasa the oldest of the three, which was built by Ulug Beg who have taught mathematics and other sciences here. Nearby is Sher Dor (lion) Madrasa decorated with roaring lions. In between the two is Tilla-Kari Madrasa (Gold-Covered) which dates from 1660. A visit to the ethnographic collection of the State Museum is a quite worthwhile. We will walk to the Gur Emir, the mausoleum of Tamerlane which is an impressive structure. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( SAMARKAND ). [ B L D ]

Day 12 SAMARKAND 

We will begin in the morning with the pilgrimage site Shah-i-zinda Ensemble with its array of blue-green tiles is an interesting place in Samarkand. In addition we will visit the Observatory of Ulug Beg set up on a hill-top where the founder studied the space. We will proceed to the shrine of Chupan-Ata, mythical patron of the shepherds, at the entrance of the site is Afrosiab Museum which is famous for a 6th C frieze of a caravan of the gifts for the ruler, a fine example of Sogdian art. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( SAMARKAND ). [ B L D ]

Day 13 SAMARKAND 

We continue our exploration of this historic city. We will visit in the town center, Bibi Khaunum Mosque which is one of the finest mosques built by Tamerlane for his chief wife Bibi Khaunum. We will walk to the Kolhoznaya Bazaar, where local people sell their products. Visit the studio of a famous local artist. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( SAMARKAND ). [ B L D ]

Day 14 TASHKENT

Depart for Tashkent, capital of modern Uzbekistan. Walking tour of Old Town of Tashkent. We will visit the 16th C. Kukeldash Madrassa, after serving as a seminary for centuries, was converted to a state museum. We will spend some time in the Old Bazaar. Next, we will visit the State Art Museum, whose exhibition halls are filled by numerous arts and crafts created by Central Asian artists. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( TASHKENT ). [ B L D ]

Day 15 FERGANA

A most remarkable drive across the mountain pass into the Fergana Valley, considered by some to be the heart of Central Asia. This densely populated high fertile valley is home to silk and ceramics. . Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( FERGANA ). [ B L D ]

Day 16 Fergana AND MARGILAN

We visit the silk factory in Margilan famous for its fine quality silk, to observe first-hand silk worm culture and silk production as well as visit local block print artist and silk weaving family in their home studios. We will return to the town center to stroll through the colorful streets in the local Bazaar. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel (  FERGANA ). [ B L D ]

Day 17 TASHKENT 

We take the Uzbek Airways flight back to Tashkent. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( TASHKENT ). [ B L D ]

Day 18 BISHKEK 

Full day drive to Bishkek. We will cross the border into Kyrgyzstan and continue to Bishkek (formerly Frunze) the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( TASHKENT ). [ B L D ]

Day 19 BISHKEK

Full day tour of Bishkek and surrounding area. We will begin with the History Museum (former Lenin Museum), with an interesting collection of archaeological findings, a mummy, carpets, embroidery and Kyrgyz applied arts. We will visit the Frunze House-Museum, with exhibits of the posters, flags and statues from the Bolshevik revolution. Mikhail Frunze was the general in the Soviet army who won Kyrgyzstan for the Bolsheviks during the civil war. We will make an excursion to the ancient site of Balasagun, founded by Sogdians, later became the capital of Karakhanids. On the other side of the mound is a very nice collection of Turkic Balbals, totemlike stone figures from the Turkish graves. We will also see the famous Burana Tower which dates from the 11th C. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( BISHKEK ).  [ B L D ]

Day 20 ALMATY

Drive to Almaty. We will take a walk in Panfilov park, the central park of Almaty, in which we will visit the Zenkov Cathedral whose name comes from its architect Zenkov who accomplished to build this 170 ft. high wooden church without using even one nail. Visit the State Museum of Kazakhstan which contains a nice collection from early history to Soviet and modern history. Proceed to the Kastayev Museum of Fine Arts which has the best collection of art in the country. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( ALMATY ).  [ B L D ]

Day 21 ISTANBUL

Very early morning Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul. Transfer to our hotel. Free time to rest in the morning. In the afternoon, we will make a walking tour of the Grand Bazaar, described as “ Heaven of Shoppers “ by many visitors. We will make an afternoon stop at the Suleiman Mosque, the peak of Ottoman architecture by master architect Sinan. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( ISTANBUL ).  [ B L D ]

Day 22 ISTANBUL 

In the morning, visit the Spice Bazaar, an old Ottoman marketplace from 15th C where you can find many herbs and spices. We take the boat from Golden Horn area for our boat trip of Bosphorus. We will sail up zigzagging from one shore to the other to see the old Ottoman wooden houses and mansions built on the water. We disembark the boat near the Sadberk Hanim Museum, an interesting old Ottoman mansion which houses a very nice collection of archaeological and ethnic art objects. Farewell dinner at the rooftop restaurant at the Arcadia. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( ISTANBUL ). [ B L D ]

Day 23 TRANSFER

Flight to your home town.

[ B ] : Breakfast

[ L ] : Lunch

[ D ] : Dinner