We were mesmerized with the grandeur of the monuments in Samarkand and Buchara. However, we travelers needed more than just buildings to impress us. We needed to see the people. People who wove the colors of the rainbow into silk. We needed to see the potters who blended the colors of the minerals, roots and ash into pots. We needed to see the sculptures which reflected the wisdom of Ali Shir Nevoi into a monumental statue.

We had to see the man who printed the symbols of eternity, pomegranate, love on the cotton dyed with apricot wood and glue from pine tree. We could not miss the wood carvers, the folk dancers, the knife makers. We had to see the jewelry makers. We had to understand how the artists got supported for the gigantic paintings they made during the Soviet period.

Read Meli's trip report of a recent tour of Uzbekistan.
The travel journal of a member of the 2000 tour is also available.

The travel Journal for 2003 Tour and photo album
Please read/print the TOUR HAND BOOK for more details
Enjoy few pictures from our previous tours.

A HAPPY TOUR MEMBER WRITES: Sometimes you get lucky…

Meli's slide show covering Uzbekistan and Karakalpakistan is now available on a CD-Rom. You can use your PC to view the 300+ slides while listening to 90 minutes of narration by Meli. To order the CD-Rom have your credit card ready and call 1-800-325-7111.or e mail to info@travelsmallworld.com The price is $14 including shipping to anywhere in the US. Washington state sales tax of 8.6% will be added to orders shipped to any address in Washington state.

           Tour Dates

Friday, March 18, 2005 to Saturday, April 02, 2005
Contact Person for Canada Leilani King
 Mobile: 604 720 1540 Fax: 604-688-2999

Cost of this tour is $2,480. See below for details. Reserve seats on this tour without obligation.
Click here to see  THE JOURNAL AND PICTURES OF 2004 TOUR written by the tour members

Getting to Ashkabad, Turkmenistan

There are limited airlines flying only on certain days to Turkmenistan and from Uzbekistan.

Turkish Air Lines is the most popular choice unless you want to arrive via Russia. If you choose to fly Turkish Airlines please remember Turkish Air Lines (THY) and American Airlines are in alliance. You can use your frequent flyer miles for your ticket. Some times buying THY ticket from Turkey is cheaper. MELITOUR is willing to give you ticket rates while you are in search of  tickets.

If you are arriving before the tour starts or if you will be staying over after the tour, we can make reservations for you at the hotels in Ashkabad and Tashkent for before and after the tour. Extra days at the hotel is not included in the tour price (US$ 70 per person per day)

We will arrange transfer (included in the price) to the Hotel in Ashkabad and to the airport from the hotel in Tashkent even if you are NOT arriving or departing on the first or the last day of the tour.

Hotel in Istanbul

If you prefer coming to Istanbul before or after the tour we can make transfer and hotel reservations for you at Hotel Ayasofya in Istanbul. The price for the transfer from the Istanbul Airport to Hotel Ayasofya will be $20 and the room will be Single US$ 50 Double US$ 70

Itinerary TO SEE  THE MAP OF THE TOUR PLEASE CLICK HERE

Day 1 Friday  March 18, 2005 Ashkabad, Turkmenistan
Fly to Ashkabad, the capital of Turkmenistan
(This flight is NOT included in the price of the tour)
Upon arrival look for a MELITOUR sign. You will be given a transfer to the hotel by the MELITOUR representative in Ashkabad.
Dinner and overnight in Ashkabad
[Note that Ashkabad is usually spelled Ashgabat in books and maps printed in the US) 

Day 2 - Saturday, March 19, 2005 Ashkabad, Turkmenistan
Considering the jet lag we will start the tour late this morning. The group will meet for a group meeting at 10:00 am at the lobby of the hotel.
After lunch visit the carpet museum.
The most unique experience in this city is to see the ceremony of weddings.
At the near bye park witness the newly weds in their traditional costumes visiting the near bye city park.

Day 3 - Sunday, March 20, 2005 Ashkabad, Turkmenistan
Today is the biggest holiday in Central Asia. The whole Turkic world will celebrate the spring. Navruz Holiday!!
Visit the largest market in Asia. The jewelry, carpets, fur hats sold at the market are mind boggling. The colors are difficult to describe. A very typical Silk Road image especially with the camel market next to the carpet market.
Before lunch we will get a chance to see the fastest horses of Asia (The Ahal Teke Horses ) at the Hippodrome
Lunch
Visit the Ethnographic and Applied Art Museums and the Craft Center
Lunch at a local resturant.
Dinner with a fashion show at a local designer's house.

Day 4 - Monday, March 21, 2005 Drive to Merv
Six hour (236 mile) drive through the Black Sand Desert where nomads still wander. We will probably come across yurts and camels. Visit two ancient sites witnessing the grandeur of the glorious past of this land. End the day in the ancient city of Merv, the capitol of the Selcukian Empire.

Day 5 - Tuesday, March 22, 2005 From Merv, fly to Ashkabad
Visit the monuments of Merv and the surrounding settlements. Visit the home of a local jewelry maker to see traditional jewelry. Late afternoon flight to Ashkabad.
Lunch and dinner at Merv.
Overnight at Asgabat

Day 6 - Wednesday, March 23, 2005 Village visit fly to East Turkmenistan
Visit a village not far from Ashkabad. In addition to seeing village life, we will see villagers doing embroidery for wedding dresses and for everyday use.
In the afternoon fly to over the Red Desert to Dashkovuz.
Overnight at Hotel Dashkhovuz

Day 7 - Thursday, March 24, 2005 Karakalpakistan , Urgench,Uzbekistan 
Visit old Urgench in Turkmenistan, drive to Uzbekistan via Karakalpakistan
Witness the environmental disaster that Karakalpakistan is experiencing. Meet with the locals at their homes  and their schools to learn more about the destiny of lake Aral.
Cross over the biggest lake of Central Asia, Amuderya to enter Uzbekistan.
Overnight in New Urgench.

Day 8- Friday, March 25, 2005 Urgench Khiva & Tashkent
Visit the dream like ancient city of Khiva where the blue of the tiles compete with the blue of the heaven.
Lunch at the palace of the former Emir of Khiva. Enjoy Attazebah folk music and folk dance by the local ladies.
Leave for airport to fly to Tashkent
 
Overnight at an excellent hotel in Tashkent.

Day 9 - Saturday, March 26, 2005Tashkent
Full day city tour of Tashkent

Kukeltash Madrasa stands in the middle of the modern city as a reminder of the age of the past of this capital. Corsu Market is the heart of the city. All those buying and selling meet at this market in the most colorful way. The crowds of people here move like they are being conducted by the most competent conductor. The result is a symphony of colors and sounds that you will remember all your life.
Lunch
Applied Arts Museum
Alisher Navoi Park Craft Center
We make sure you see the country through the interpretations of the local artists. Tonight we will have the pleasure of Visiting  Mr. Akbar the potter at his house where we will have dinner

Overnight in Tashkent at the same hotel.
 

Day 10 - Sunday, March 27, 2005 Fly  to Bukhara 
Arrive at Bukhara hotel
Our first stop will be to the city of Ibn- i Sina the father of Medicine for the Central Asian Cultures. The excellent museum is a monument for the respect people still have in Ibn0i Sina after 1100 years
Short trip to Gijduvan to see a local potter and experience a village life.
We will have our dinner at his house with his family

Overnight in Bukhara

Day 11 - Monday, March 28, 2005 Bukhara
We will start our day with a visit at Nasraddin Hodja's Park, and Lab-i Havuz Mosque. Once you get  oriented to the old city of Bukhara you will have free time for photography.
Lunch at a neighborhood house will be very memorable.
Visit Ark Citadel, Bla Havuz, Masouleum of Samanidz, Minare Kolon, Mir Arap Madrasa.
Folk show in the tim (covered market). Excellent dancing, music at a silk weaving center.
Overnight in Bukhara

Day 12 - Tuesday, March 29, 2005 Bukhara to Shahrisabz
10:00 Depart hotel for free time in Bukhara enroute we will have lunch at a Chayhane (Tea House) and visit a school.
15:00 Arrive Shahrisabz where Emir Timur was born.
16:00 Tour of the city (Aksaray and Tombs of Timur's sons), The Marketplace.
Dinner and overnight at Intourist hotel
Over night in Shahrisabz

Day 13 - Wednesday, March 30, 2005 Villages enroute to Samarkand
Depart for Samarkand
Visit a family for an opportunity to interact with villagers. Picnic lunch.
1Arrive Samarkand
Visit the Mausolem of Timur
Dinner and overnight at Samarkand
 

Day 14 - Thursday, March 31, 2005 Full day in Samarkand

 Our will start with a visit to the Observatory of Ulug Beg , the grand son of Timur
 After we visit Afrosiab Archaeological Museum  we will have a walk through the Shahi Zinde complex of tombs . It is more like a neighborhood of the most beautiful architecture where the tile workers and masons had competed with each other to create the best and most impressive buildings.
Visit the art gallery of Aliyev Eynullah who made the statue of Alishir Nevai in Tashkent.
Lunch at the hotel. Free time for museum visit and market
Meet at the Registan Square, visit the monument's restoration tile reproduction center. Visit the family of our excellent guide for dinner at their village. Dinner at their home is always one of the best experiences during the tour.
Overnight at Samarkand hotel
 

Day 15 - Friday,April  01 , 2005  Samarkand to Tashkent
Free time in the morning
Optional visit to a wood carver.
Leave Samarkand, Lunch enroute
Arrive Tashkent, Free time
Tashkent is the home of one of three Bolshoy Opera/Ballet companies left in the world. We will enjoy the performance of the day and have dinner at the Alishir Nevai Theater. The activities this evening calls for us to be be a bit more dressed up than our daily travel outfits.
Farewell dinner
Overnight in Tashkent

Day 16 - Saturday, April  02 , 2005
Depart for home
(This flight from Tashkent is NOT included in the price of the tour)
 

Tour Price

The tour price of $2,480 includes the following:

• 15 nights hotel, Friday March 19 through April 02  Friday (Friday nights included)
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day (First dinner on Friday on Day 1)
• Last breakfast on Saturday on Day16)
• A guide throughout the tour plus local guides in each city
• Mehlika Seval as tour assistant
• All entrance fees
• All transportation (bus & plane) within Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
• All tips at hotels and resturants
• All tips for guides and drivers
• Soft drinks served with meals
• Charge for bank transfer expenses