Uzbekistan

We stay in three-star hotels throughout. During the tour, we will have the opportunity to meet Uzbek people and hear their accounts of living in this distant land, allowing us to learn about the local customs and traditions.

The expedition starts by flying to Tashkent. The history of this city stretches back almost 2000 years. The Chorsu Bazaar is Tashkent's famous farmers' market. At the Abul Kassim Madrassah the artisans exhibit their works in the cellars of this large craft centre. The Tashkent Metro is a special experience with each marble station decorated by different artists.

An internal flight transfers us to Urgench and we then drive in the desert to Khiva, a UNESCO heritage city that gives us a glimpse into the distant past. The architectural complex of Ichan Kala is surrounded by a large, mud-built fortress wall with four gates. Within the walls there is an amazing range of ancient buildings, from palaces to mosques. The busy craftsmen, housed in the ancient madrassahs, maintain skills from the past 2000 years as woodcarvers, silk carpet weavers, and pottery makers.

Another highlight of our expedition will be a drive through the Kyzyl-kum desert along the valley of the Amu Darya River. Bukhara is unlike any place you might see in Europe. The city consists of an appealing jumble of domes, defensive walls, city gates and markets.