Here we see the world’s oldest surviving Islamic holy book, the 7 th-century Uthman Quran, brought to Tashkent by Tamerlane. B,L,Dĭay 8: Tashkent Our morning tour begins in the Old City at the Khazrati Imam Complex of mosques and madrassahs. After checking in at our hotel, we have free time this afternoon before dinner at a local restaurant.

B,Lĭay 7: Almaty/Tashkent, Uzbekistan We fly this morning to the Uzbek capital of Tashkent, where this afternoon we visit the Museum of Applied Arts, housing fine examples of Uzbek crafts, including embroidery, jewelry, ceramics, and carpets. Late this afternoon, we attend a falconry demonstration. Then we head outside the city to ascend Kok Tobe mountain by gondola to enjoy panoramic views of Almaty and the surrounding Tian Shan mountains. Next, we visit the Museum of Kazakh Musical Instruments, showcasing unique national instruments. We begin at Panfilov Park and the adjacent Holy Ascension Cathedral, an example of early 20 th-century Russian Orthodox architecture. B,L,Dĭay 6: Almaty Kazakhstan’s largest city and cultural and commercial center, Almaty has a decided Russian flavor, as we see on this morning’s tour. We enjoy a picnic lunch in this archaeological landscape then continue on to Almaty, where tonight we dine at our hotel. B,L,Dĭay 5: Bishkek/Almaty, Kazakhstan En route to Almaty this morning, we stop at Tamgaly Gorge to see the Tamgaly Petroglyphs that date to the Bronze Age. Next: a yurt-making demonstration in this country where the nomadic lifestyle is still practiced.

We walk among the surrounding “balbal” stone statues dating from the 6 th to 10 th centuries then enjoy lunch in the home of a Kyrgyz family. B,Dĭay 4: Bishkek/Burana We travel east this morning to the village of Burana, whose 11 th-century tower is one of the few remnants of the ancient Silk Road city of Balasagun. Tonight, we enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Then we take our first steps along the Silk Road, with a panoramic tour of this former Soviet republic’s largest city. for Bishkek, Kyrgyzstanĭay 2: Arrive Bishkek Upon arrival in the Kyrgyz capital late tonight, we transfer directly to our hotel.ĭay 3: Bishkek After time to rest and have lunch on our own, we meet our Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director and fellow travelers at a briefing about the journey ahead.

Ella maillart turkestan solo