Uzbekistan WITH DRS. PHILIP & NANCY WOOD. September 26 October 7, 2019

Transcription

1 Uzbekistan WITH DRS. PHILIP & NANCY WOOD September 26 October 7, 2019 Join a modern-day caravan through Uzbekistan along the fabled Silk Route. These ancient lands were sought after and conquered by history s legendary leaders and still today appeal to true travellers who seek out old-fashioned exploration. Traverse memorable landscapes and visit magnificent examples of Islamic architecture in streetscapes and grand buildings. From the modern capital of Tashkent, we set off to the remote valleys of Central Asia surrounded by the Tien Shan Mountain Range where Alexander the Great founded a city in 329 BCE and where traders from China created the Silk Road in the 1st century BCE. See the beautifully intact architectural ensemble of Khiva, the living museum of Bukhara to explore this still very much lived-in old centre filled with madrassahs, minarets, a royal fortress and a mulberry tree-shaded oasis in its heart. In Samarkand discover the magnificent monuments of Tamerlane and Registan Square, possibly the most awesome single sight in Central Asia. The incredible sky-blue tile work, woven brick constructions and brilliant fabrics of the Silk Road form a mosaic of vivid snapshots and the warm hospitality is pervasive.

2 KAZAKHSTAN UZBEKISTAN Urgench Khiva Tashkent Gijduvan Bukhara TURKMENISTAN Samarkand YOUR HOSTS Drs. Philip and Nancy Wood Dr. Philip Wood is a retired surgeon who has worked for many years in central Africa and has presented several popular courses for The Life Institute and for Learning Unlimited, most recently a course entitled Central Asia and the Silk Road.

3 Detailed Itinerary Thursday, Sept. 26: Arrive in Tashkent Arrive in Tashkent, where our local representative provides a transfer to our hotel in the heart of Tashkent. This afternoon, meet Philip and Nancy Wood and our Uzbek Tour Director for a briefing, followed by dinner together. Overnight: Asia Hotel, Tashkent Friday, Sept. 27: Tashkent Set off on a tour of the Uzbekistan s modern capital, a mix of Soviet style buildings and mud-walled houses. See the oldest part of the city around the Khast Imam Square and visit the 16th century Madrassah. Delve into the bustling Chorsu Bazaar and stroll in the local parks. Attend a presentation by the Executive Director of the Tashkent International Clinic about contemporary issues in Uzbekistan s health care field today. Overnight: Asia Hotel, Tashkent, Dinner Saturday, Sept. 28: Tashkent Continue exploring the city today. See Independence Square, the Shahid Memorial Complex and the Museum of Applied Arts, set in a lovely traditional mansion. Visit the Rakhimov ceramic art studio to see how a family is reviving the lost art of natural dyes and ancient techniques. Ride the metro system the first metro in Central Asia with each station decorated in a different theme and meant to be art galleries for the people. Overnight: Asia Hotel, Tashkent Sunday, Sept. 29: Fly to Urgench, drive to Khiva Today we take the short flight to Urgench in western Uzbekistan and drive on nearby Khiva. Traces of human habitation have been found around Khiva dating from the 5th century BC. It was for hundreds of years a stop on the old Silk Road and became the capital of the Khorezm Khanate in the 16th century. Explore this compact walled city filled with minarets, a khan s fort, cobbled alleys, mosques and tombs. The city has been extensively preserved and exists today much as it did hundreds of years ago. The beautiful turquoise dome of the mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud is a striking symbol of the city. Overnight: Aminkhan Hotel, Khiva Monday, Sept. 30: Khiva Continue exploring Khiva on a guided walking tour this morning. Visit the fortress-like Toza Bog Summer Palace, a fascinating mix of Central Asian and European design. The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the city on your own. Overnight: Aminkhan Hotel, Khiva Tuesday, Oct.1: Drive to Bukhara Set off by road this morning to Central Asia s most ancient living city. Our drive takes us across the Kyzyl Kum, or Red Sands, Desert. This is the same route ridden by loaded Silk Road camel caravans; the landscape is made up of dunes silhouetted against distant mountains. An oasis in the desert, Bukhara offers cool shade and rest to the modern traveller as it did to those Silk Road caravans. Please note that the fast train service from Urgench to Bukhara is very likely to be operational by fall 2019 and if so, we will use the train service and have an afternoon free in Bukhara on arrival. Overnight: Old City Hotel, Bukhara Chorsu Bazaar

4 Wednesday, Oct. 2: Bukhara Bukhara has preserved its ancient architecture and design and the Old Town has a unified feel, drawn together by the central reflecting pool and the structure of the domed bazaars and major monuments. Today we ll have a walking tour in the city, visiting the Lyabi-Hauz plaza shaded by mulberry trees and framed by 16th and 17th century madrassahs, the 10th century Samani Mausoleum decorated with elaborate brickwork, the lovely Ulugbek Madrassah, and the 12th century Kalon Mosque and Minaret. At the two-thousand-year-old Ark Citadel, enjoy an on-site history lecture by the Director of the Ark. Overnight: Old City Hotel, Bukhara Thursday, Oct. 3: Bukhara Just outside the city centre is the Palace of Moon and Stars, the Summer Palace of the last Emir of Bukhara. The beautiful grounds are heavily planted and wild peacocks stroll the park. The Museum of National Crafts here exhibits the vivid embroidered suzanis that Uzbekistan is famous for. We ll also visit the Sufi complex and the Chor Bakr Necropolis. The afternoon is free to explore the city s trade domes filled with artisans and handicrafts. Overnight: Old City Hotel, Bukhara Friday, Oct. 4: Drive to Samarakand Our drive today takes us to Gijduvan where we pay a visit to the ceramics workshop of the Narzulaev family, some of the most renowned ceramicists in the country. Continue along the fringes of the Kyzyl Kum Desert to Samarkand, visited through time by many of the world s conquerors, including Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and Tamerlane who made it his capital city and gathered the finest architects, builders, and artisans of the time to enhance its beauty. Overnight: Zarina Hotel, Samarkand Saturday, Oct. 5: Samarkand Begin the day with a visit to the Registan, the centrepiece of the city. The three emblematic madrassahs frame the square and loom over the empty space in the centre. Nearby is the Gur-Emir Mausoleum, the final resting place of Tamerlane; its interior has been restored and is brilliant in gold leaf and fresh tile, and the Bibi Khanum Mosque build by Tamerlane to honour his favourite wife. There s time to browse the animated Siab Bazaar and enjoy a demonstration of Uzbek bread making at the home of a local. Overnight: Zarina Hotel, Samarkand Sunday, Oct. 6: Train to Tashkent This morning visit the spectacular row of tombs and mausoleums collectively called Shah-I-Zinda, elaborately decorated inside and out. Pay a visit to Ulug Bek s Observatory where Tamerlane s grandson found his true interest in the heavens. See handcrafted paper made according to traditions handed down from the 8th century. This afternoon travel by high-speed train back to Tashkent. Overnight: Asia City Hotel, Tashkent Monday, Oct. 7: Depart Tashkent This morning we are transferred to the airport for homewardbound flights. Meals: Breakfast Note: The itinerary and accommodation described in this tour brochure are subject to change due to logistical arrangements and to take advantage of local events. Optional Extensions Please enquire about extensions to Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan

5 Ark of Bukhara TOUR DETAILS Tour Cost (per person): US$3695 Single Supplement: US$495 We would be happy to try to match you with a suitable roommate. If we are unable to, the single supplement will apply. This will be collected at 90 days prior to departure. Group Size: participants What s Included: Airport transfers for passengers arriving and departing as per the group itinerary Flight from Tashkent to Urgench Accommodation based on double occupancy in hotels as listed or similar 11 Breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners Special Welcome and Farewell Dinners with beer/wine Transportation by private vehicle for touring in each city and for overland transfers Bottled water on the coach Train transportation by fast train one-way Samarkand-Tashkent in economy class All activities Entrance fees to all sites in the itinerary Educational lectures as stated in the itinerary Services of specialized English speaking guide Gratuities for escort, local guides, drivers, hotel and group meals Taxes Fully escorted by Worldwide Quest Tour Director Not Included: Roundtrip airfare from your home to join the tour Meals other than those mentioned above Beverages with meals Visa fees (US$20 for Canadian passport holders) Fuel surcharges, if applicable Excess baggage charges Items of a personal nature Travel insurance Additional arrangements required due to any emergency or other situation Any item not mentioned in tour cost includes above Payment Details: A non-refundable deposit of US$500 per person is required to reserve a space on this tour. A second payment of US$1000 per person is due six months prior to departure. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure.

6 WHAT TO EXPECT Level of Activity: Moderate A good level of fitness is important for this trip. You must be comfortable walking on uneven terrain and irregular paving and climbing stairs for at least three hours at a stretch. In many places access to sites is only on foot. Accommodation We stay in carefully selected hotels, equivalent to three-star level, located in the historic centre of each town. All hotels have private facilities, TV, and WiFi. Transportation We will be travelling in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle driven by a professional driver. This tour includes one internal flight and one journey by high-speed train. Weather We expect a mix of sun and cloud with average daytime temperatures between 22 and 27 C and overnight lows of about 10 C. Travel Documents You will require a passport for this trip. Please ensure it is valid for at least 6 months beyond your scheduled return home. Canadian citizens and most other foreign nationals require a tourist visa for Uzbekistan which must be obtained prior to departure. This visa can be obtained on line. ADDITIONAL INFO Extend your Stay If you are interested in exploring more of this region, we would be happy to design a personalized extension for you either before or after this tour. Please let us suggest some options, based on your time available, budget and interests. Terms and Conditions For additional information about our terms and conditions, please refer to your booking form, the current brochure or our website. All participants booking with Worldwide Quest are covered by the terms of the Ontario Travel Industry Act (Worldwide Quest International, Ontario - License # ). Cancellation Policy All payments are non-refundable, however you may transfer your initial deposit for any land tour to another tour 90 days or more prior to your scheduled departure date. Initial deposits for cruises are non-refundable and non-transferable. Your second payment and your final payment are non-refundable and nontransferable. If you cancel within 90 days prior to trip departure, all associated trip costs are non-refundable. The tour price is quoted as a package. No partial refunds or credits will be given for services not used. In the event of a cancellation, you must notify Worldwide Quest immediately and in writing. Travel Insurance We urge you to ensure that you have adequate cancellation and medical insurance in place, should an unexpected event cause you to cancel or interrupt your trip or should the tour not be operable per our terms and conditions. We will offer you Manulife insurance coverage. Medical insurance including emergency medical evacuation coverage is mandatory on all our tours. Worldwide Quest Explorers Club We d like to make sure that you know about our Worldwide Explorers Club. Travel twice with us and we ll say a special thank you by taking 5% off all your subsequent trips. The bonus applies to our brochure trips only, is non-transferrable, and cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount or credit. Note that some exceptions may apply as indicated on the tour s Detailed Itinerary. TICO#:

7 The Worldwide Quest Experience Designing travel is an art and a craft. It s creating a combination of special unforgettable experiences complemented by flawless technical proficiency. Making sure you travel well is a skill that comes with insider knowledge, know-how and imagination. It s something we ve been doing since 1970; creating unique itineraries for curious travellers to some of the world s most intriguing destinations. Every trip we create features these essentials: Discovery and Enrichment Our expert leaders and hosts, both North American and local, bring scholarship, specialized knowledge, and congeniality. They ensure not only that all the details of your travels are flawlessly taken care of but also provide a grass roots understanding of the context of what you re seeing and experiencing. Small Group Size Small truly is beautiful. Small allows us the joy of intimate experiences in accommodation and touring. Small means we can all sit around a table for meals and get to know each other, to hear what our tour leaders are saying, ask questions, and delve deeper. Responsibility We consider the impact of our travels on the places we visit and travel to reduce our footprint. We connect with local communities where we travel. Value We respect the investment you make in your travels. It s important to us that you are delighted by your experience; that your anticipation is not only satisfied but rewarded. We strive to fill our tours with Signature Moments that you carry home in your heart. Our Commitment to You We design each and every itinerary we offer and we offer an outstanding variety of unique experiences on every journey. We relentlessly stay abreast of accommodation choices for exceptional location, quality and service. We constantly monitor destination developments for special opportunities and any changes in security. Because we manage the quality of the experience on all our Small Group Tours and Private Journeys firsthand, we are confident that we will meet your expectations. We respect your time and your budget and are keenly aware that your travel dreams are precious. Travellers who enjoy the Worldwide Quest experience return to us to enjoy our fine portfolio of tours because they know where ever they travel around the world we deliver what we promise. We invite you to call us, us or visit us in our Toronto office and let your travels begin