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T u r k e y  101

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EARLHAM COLLEGE

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
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
March 21, 2008 Friday  Ashkabad - April 05, 2008 Saturday Tashkent

Please read/print the TOUR HAND BOOK for more details
Enjoy few pictures from our previous tours.

Cost of this tour is $........... 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

TO SEE  THE MAP OF THE TOUR PLEASE CLICK HERE

Itinerary

Day 1  Ashkabad, Turkmenistan
March 21 2008 Friday
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. Overnight in Ashkabad Overnight in Ashkabad and transfer are included in the price of the tour. Since most of the flights will arrive midnight or after midnight dinner is not included tonight but dinner is available at the hotel until 10:00 pm

Day 2 -  Ashkabad, Turkmenistan
March 22, 2008 Saturday
Considering the jet lag and late arrival, 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.
Overnight at the same hotel in Ashkabad Breakfast lunch and dinner are included

Day 3 -  Ashkabad, Turkmenistan
March 23, 2008 Sunday
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 restaurant.
Dinner with a fashion show at a local designer's house.
Overnight at the same hotel in Ashkabad Breakfast lunch and dinner are included
Tomorrow we will leave this hotel for one night. you can leave your extra bags at the hotel since we will be returning to the same hotel for one more night

Day 4 -  Drive to Merv
March 24, 2008 Monday
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.
Overnight in Merv. Breakfast lunch and dinner are included

Day 5 - From Merv, fly to Ashkabad
March 25, 2008 Tuesday
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 Ashgabat. Breakfast lunch and dinner are included

Day 6 -Village visit fly to East Turkmenistan
March 26, 2008 Wednesday
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. Breakfast lunch and dinner are included

Day 7 -  Nukus, Karakalpakistan ,
March 27, 2008 Thursday
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 visit a stunning museum in Nukus to learn more about the destiny of lake Aral. Overnight in Nukus, Karakalpakistan. Choice of spending the night in a yurt. Only one yurt is available we will draw names if more than one person volunteer. Breakfast lunch and dinner are included.

Day 8- Urgench Khiva
March 28, 2008 Friday
Cross over the biggest river of Central Asia, Amuderya to enter Uzbekistan.
Visit the dream like ancient city of Khiva where the blue of the tiles compete with the blue of the heaven.
Dinner at the palace of the former Emir of Khiva. Enjoy Attazebah folk music and folk dance by the local ladies.
Overnight in Khiva,Uzbekistan. Breakfast lunch and dinner are included.

Day 9 - Tashkent
March 29, Saturday
Fly to Tashkent from Urgench 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.  Overnight in Tashkent
Breakfast lunch and dinner are included.

Day 10 -  Fly  to Bukhara 
March 30, Sunday
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 Ibn- i 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. Breakfast lunch and dinner are included.

Day 11 - Bukhara
March 31, 2008 Monday
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 Breakfast lunch and dinner are included.

Day 12 - Bukhara to Shahrisabz
April 01, 2008 Tuesday
Depart  Bukhara, drive through a desert which is now being hope of Uzbekistan with the petrol fields. En route we will have lunch at a Chayhane (Tea House) and visit a school.
Arrive Shahrisabz where Emir Timur was born.
Tour of the city (Aksaray and Tombs of Timur's sons), The Marketplace.
Dinner and overnight at recently renevated Intourist hotel
Over night in Shahrisabz Breakfast lunch and dinner are included.

Day 13 -  Villages enroute to Samarkand
April 02, 2008 Wednesday
Depart for Samarkand
Visit a family for an opportunity to interact with villagers. Picnic lunch.
Arrive Samarkand  Visit the Mausolem of Timur
Dinner and overnight at Samarkand
Breakfast lunch and dinner are included.

Day 14 - Full day in Samarkand
April 03, 2008 Thursday
 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.
Overnight at Samarkand . Breakfast lunch and dinner are included.

Day 15 -  Samarkand to Tashkent April 04, 2008 Friday
Leave Samarkand by bus, 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
Breakfast lunch and dinner are included.

Day 16 - Departure
April 05, 2008
Depart for home
(This flight from Tashkent is NOT included in the price of the tour)
Tour Price

• 15 nights hotel, Friday March 21 through April 04th  Friday (April 04th Friday nights included)
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day (First meal is breakfast on Saturday on Day 2) (Dinner on Day 1 March 21, is not included )
• 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
• Charge for bank com if paid by credit card
• One small bottle of water to be served on the bus every day
• Air port taxes for the flights on the tour