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Call 1-800-387-1483 or email us
Call 1-800-387-1483 or email us

Uzbekistan: Heart of the Silk Road

Apr 09-20, 2021

12 days | Uzbekistan | alumni UBC Travel Club

Study Leader Paula Swart recently hosted a webinar about this tour! Click here to watch (27 min., including Q&A)

Get to the heart of central Asia on our 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. We will traverse memorable landscapes and admire the cream of Central Asian architecture, epitomized by the superb ensemble in Registan Square in Samarkand. The markets are a photographic delight and the flourishing arts and crafts enticing.

Enjoy the capital Tashkent, a fascinating mix of modern, post-Soviet city and traditional Uzbek town with leafy avenues and mud-walled houses. In the far West, visit the wonderful Savitsky Art Museum housing thousands of banned avant-garde Russian art pieces. A drive across the desert takes us to the beautifully intact architectural ensemble of Khiva, then onward to the living museum of Bukhara where we stay for three nights to explore this still very much lived-in old centre filled with medrassahs, 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 enhanced by warm Uzbek hospitality. An optional extension to Kyrgyzstan introduces the epic poem of the Manas, the vibrant mix of Soviet power and Asian traditions, and the stunning scenery of this mountainous country.


GOOD READ: The fabled flatbreads of Uzbekistan, click here.
 
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Tour Cost (per person):
US$5495
Group Size:
12 - 16 participants 

What’s included: Arrival/departure transfers if arriving and departing with the group, accommodation in double occupancy based on hotels listed or similar, flight from Tashkent to Nukus, meals as indicated in the itinerary, transportation by private coach, bottled water on coach, expert English-speaking guide throughout, entrance fees to monuments and sites visited as per itinerary, fully escorted by study leader Paula Swart; taxes and gratuities.

"Paula was a highly informed tour leader!" - 2018 Traveller
"In a word, I loved visiting Central Asia!" - 2018 Traveller

Itinerary at a Glance

DayActivity
1Meet in Tashkent
2Monuments, the Metro, and the Chorsu Bazaar
3Fly to Nukus; The Museum of Forbidden Art
4Ancient citadels of the desert
5Explore Khiva’s spectacular old city
6Overland across the Red Sands Desert to Bukhara
7The Old Town and the Ark Citadel
8Artisan workshops and the Summer Palace
9Onward to historic Samarkand
10The fabled Registan Square and vibrant bazaars
11The grand Urgut Market; by train to Tashkent
12Depart Tashkent
Optional extension: 6 days in Kyrgyzstan
Download Itinerary

Your Tour Leader

Paula Swart is a museum curator and expert on Asian culture and history. Paula has degrees in Sinology, Asian art history, Chinese history, and archaeology and has published several books and numerous articles on the art and architecture of Asian cultures. Paula is a lecturer at the University of British Columbia and has recently been teaching courses on UNESCO World Heritage sites at the UBC Summer Institute and the University of Victoria.

Email Us

Or call 1-800-387-1483 with any questions or to reserve your spot!

alumni UBC Travel Club Cultural Explorations Alumni Expeditions Classic Explorations
Tour Cost (per person):
US$5495
Group Size:
12 - 16 participants 

What’s included: Arrival/departure transfers if arriving and departing with the group, accommodation in double occupancy based on hotels listed or similar, flight from Tashkent to Nukus, meals as indicated in the itinerary, transportation by private coach, bottled water on coach, expert English-speaking guide throughout, entrance fees to monuments and sites visited as per itinerary, fully escorted by study leader Paula Swart; taxes and gratuities.

What You'll See:
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Download the Detailed Itinerary
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Uzbekistan: Heart of the Silk Road

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Privacy Policy:

We abide by the new Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) and take your privacy very seriously. We will not share, sell or otherwise make your mailing list subscription information available to any third parties. By submitting your email address, your grant us explicit consent to send you e-newsletters as detailed above. You may withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link found at the foot of every email that we send to you. You may also withdraw consent by sending an email request to: travel@worldwidequest.com.

We use your address information and details that you provide about your personal preferences or past trips to mail you selected brochures. If at any point you wish to have your name removed from our mailing list, please email or call us toll free at 1-800-387-1483.

We invite you to read our full Privacy Policy.