ITINERARY

Central Asia
With optional extension to Azerbaijan - Georgia - Armenia

Arrive FRANKFURT
Leave FRANKFURT by LH #648

ALMATY

11: 00 AM Morning drive to Almaty Canyon to visit Medeo Sports Center. Enjoy the wonderful panorama.

The afternoon takes you to the Museum of Musical Instruments in a striking 1903 wooden building. It is the city's original museum. It has a fine collection of traditional Kazak instruments, wooden harps and horns, bagpipes, the lute-like two stringed dombra, and the viola-like three string kobiz. Proceed to the Central State Museum, which gives a worthwhile picture of Kazakstan's history, including geology, archeology and early history with a miniature replica of Kazakstan's chief archeological treasure, the Golden Man. Also, visit the Soviet-era exhibits of space flight, nuclear testing. Other important exhibit is a colorful Yurt. Also Kazak carpets for sale.

This modern city has its origin in a settlement at the cross roads of several caravan routes to Tibet and China. The Khan of Kokand built a clay fort in 1825, called Pishpek, from which the city got its name. It was not until the 19th century that the city began to grow on site of the ruined fortress into a sizeable town. Today, Bishek is a major cultural and industrial center. It is just in the past 30 years that it has been landscaped and planned gardens to its present city.

Afternoon sightseeing will take you to the State Historical Museum where you will see two Yurts, a small archeological exhibit, and a display of Kirghiz carpets, embroidery and other applied crafts. You will go to one of the many bazaars in which you can find everything from Brazilian oranges to local products to clothing to cheap Kirghiz souvenirs. Then proceed to Ala Archa Canyon, part of which is state park where you can see a glacier and a grand rugged, but an accessible gorge.

BISHEK

Full day excursion to Issyk Kul Lake
Lake Issyk-Kul is a huge dent, filled with water, in the Alautau ranges that form the Northern arm of the Tian Shan River. The lake never freezes because of a combination of extreme depth, thermal activity and mild salinity. Heat spas lined it shores in Soviet days with guests from all over the USSR. The lake is 170 km long and 70 km across. It is said to be the world's second largest Alpine lake, after Lake Titicaca in Bolivia.

BISHEK

Morning free.

TASHKENT

Morning sightseeing tour.
Visit to the Aybek Museum of History, which contains excellent pre historic and religious items of Central Asia, then proceed toOld Town with its maze of narrow streets. You will see Kukeldash Madrassa with a grand domed courtyard. From there continue to Barak-Kahana Madrassa which now houses the Central Asian Muslim religious administration whose Mufti is the Islamic Archbishop of Central Asia. Opposite, you will see Telashayakh Mosque.

Enjoy a pleasant drive via Tash Gozar to arrive in Mazare Sharif, the capital of the Balkh province.
HOTEL MAZAR

Afternoon city tour to visit the famed Mosque and Shrine of Ali, the fourth Caliph of Islam. Mazare is a busy market place for Karakul and carpets, as well a center for Buzkashi.

Leave TERMEZ by HY#1154
Arrive TASHKENT
Leave TASHKENT by HY#1309
Arrive SAMARKAND
HOTEL AFROSIAB

SAMARKAND

Morning excursion to TAJIKISTAN, to visit Pendzikent, situated on a valley terrace on the banks of the Zeravshan river. Although in Tajikistan, Pendzikent is closer to Samarkand than Dushanbe, the capital founded in the 5th century as a principality of the Sogdian Empire. This is the most revealing of all Sogdian sites because no one has built on it since the Arabs destroyed it. Its existence remained unknown until in the summer of 1933 as a Tajik shepherd stumbled over an 8th century Sogdian manuscript. This brought archeologists running. They found 90 more and remains of a castle. The manuscripts describe the city and painted a picture of a sophisticated city. Excavation at Bunjikath (as it was known) site began in 1946 and is much larger than Afrasiab.

Afternoon Samarkand Tour.
Ulugbek Medressa on the west side is the oldest, finished in 1420 under Ulugbek. Beneath the little corner domes were lecture halls, and at the rear a large mosque. About 100 students lived in two stories of dormitory cells, some of which are still visible. The other buildings are imitations by the Shaybanid Emir Yalangtush. The entrance portal of the Sher Dor Medressa, opposite Ulugbek's and finished in 1636, is decorated with roaring tigers. In between is the Tilla Kari Medressa, completed in 1660, with a pleasant, garden-like mosque courtyard.

Guri Amir Mausoleum - Guri Amir Tomb of the emir. Timur, two sons and two grandsons, including Ulugbek, lie beneath this surprisingly modest mausoleum topped by fluted azure dome. Timur had built a simple crypt for himself at Shakhrisabz, and apparently had this one built in 1404 for some of his sons and grandsons. But when he died on the way to China in 1405 he was buried here, because the passes to Shakhrisabz were snowed.

One of the centers of the Great Silk Route, Shakhrisabz was founded in the 3rd - 2nd century B.C. in the days of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom. The main attractions, however date to the late 12th, early 14th century and belong to the Muslim architecture. Tamerlane spent his childhood in the magnificent Aksarai Palace, whose great ruins tower to the high of 38 meters (125 ft) in the very heart of the town.

Leave SHAKHIRIZABS for a drive to BUKHARA.
HOTEL NEW BUKHARA

An oasis in the enveloping Kyzylkum Desert, 250 km (160 miles) downstream from Samarkand on the Zeravshan River. Bukhara was once the most interesting city in the world. It had 360 mosques and 80 Madrassas. Now, it is a medium size city. Still, historic monuments are strewn more densely than in Samarkand and they illustrate 1,000 years of history. Most of the center is an architectural preserve and the streets are lined with Madrassas and old bazaars. The Name Bukhara dates from the first century A.D. and may come from Vihara, Sanskrit for Monastery, or Bukhar, a Farsi word for "source of knowledge."

BUKHARA

Today's city tour includes the Kalyan Minaret, built by the Karakhans in 1127. In almost nine centuries it only needed minor cosmetic repairs. Jenghiz Khan was so dumfounded by it that he ordered it spared. At the minaret's feet is the 16th century Kalyan Mosque, which is big enough for 10,000 people. Continue to the Ark, Bukhara's huge palace fortress which goes back 2 millennia. Although, the present walls are probably less then 300 years old. Now, it is a museum of local studies. In the Protocol court are exhibits of archeology, carpets, chased copper utensils, embroidery, jewelry and pottery.

Continue to the Ismail Samani Mausoleum, the city's oldest monument. Built in 905 and one of the most elegant in Central Asia, the little Mausoleum of the Samanid Dynasty's founder his father and grandson. Its delicate Teracotta Brickwork disguises massive walls that helped it survive without restoration (except of the dome) for almost 11 centuries. Proceed to the Emir's Palace, built for Said Alim Khan, the last Emir. Now, it is a museum for fine Chinese porcelain.

Drive to Lyab-I-Khauz Plaza. The Plaza was constructed around a pool in 1620. This most picturesque and relaxing spot in town is shaded with Mulberry trees. As old as the pool on the East side is a statue of Khodzha Masredin, a semi-mythical "Wise Fool" who appears in Sufi teaching tales around the world. To the East, The Nadir Divanbegi Madrassa was built as a Caravanserai, but the Khan thought it was a Madrassa. so they hurried up and made it one in 1630. On the West side he built a boarding house for Muslim dervishes, which is now an exhibition hall. To the North is the Kukeldash Madrassa which was built in the 1500's by Abdullah, the greatest Shaybanid Khan. From there proceed to the covered Bazaars. Just North is the oldest surviving mosque in Central Asia. The Magak-I- Attari with 12th century facade and 16th century reconstruction. This may be the city's holiest spot.

Afternoon at leisure.

This evening enjoy a folklore show.

A regional center of Turkmenia, Mary is located some 350 km (250 miles) to the East of Ashkhabad capital of the republic. To the North- East of modern Mary lies the Ancient Merv - a vast territory on which many ancient states (from those of the Akhmenids to those of the Seljuks and the Timurids) rose and fell, leaving behind impressive monuments of their glorious days. Among them the most famous is the Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar (12th century) which has been registered by the United Nations as a historical treasure.

MERV

Sightseeing tour of Merv includes the oldest of the five Merv fortresses, Erk-Kala thought to date from the 6th century B.C. Today, this is a big earthen doughnut about 600 meters across (1800 ft). The ramparts are about 50 meters high (165 ft) offering a good view of the surrounding landscape. Giaur-Kala, constructed during the third century B.C. by the Sassanians, is even larger and the fortress walls are still solid with 3 gaps where the gates once were. West of this fortress are the 11th century walls of the central citadel, Sultan-Kala built by the Seljuks. The best remaining testimony to the Seljuk's power at Merv is the 38 meter (120 ft) high Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, the grandson of Alp Arslan. The question of why the Mausoleum survived when almost nothing else did, are the 3 meter (10 feet) thick walls and the 6 meter (18 ft) deep conical foundation, which allowed the structure to ride out any earthquake. About 1 kilometer (3000 ft) West of Sanjar's Tomb is another Seljuk monument, the 12th century Mausoleum of Mohammed Ibn Zeid. The small earthen brick building was heavily restored earlier this century. Ringed by spindly trees lends the scene to a biblical flair.

Leave Mary by motor coach via TEZDEN for ASHKABAD, the capital of Turkmenistan.
HOTEL GRAND TURKMEN

ASHKABAD

Morning tour to old Nisa. Slightly above Ashkhabad (15 km or 9 miles), nearer the mountains, are the ruins of old Nisa, seat of the Parthian kings from the late 3rd century B.C. to early 3 century A.D. At the height of its power, Nisa was the capital of an empire stretching West as far as Iraq and Syria. The Parthians also ruled Persia. Old Nisa was the citadel comprising royal palaces, temples and tombs. Although little has been excavated so far, nearby new Nisa survived until the middle ages. The defensive walls were 10 meters (35 ft) thick at the base. There is a grand view of the desert
from a natural veranda backed by green mountains.

Afternoon city tour.We will visit the History Museum. It contains stone fragments sharpened by man 200,000 years ago, and 17 priceless 2nd and 1st century B.C. carved ivory horns from Nisa, which were used by Parthians as water vessels in Zoroastrian rituals. Continue your tour to a park behind the museum in which an unusual statue of Lenin is found. In the Museum of Fine Art view jewelry and paintings of Russians challenged by Turkman warriors. Go to the Carpet Museum to view the world's biggest Turkmen carpet. The carpet is 80 meters (300 ft) long and 10 meters (32 ft) wide. It took four women 3.5 years to make.

CENTRAL ASIA EXTENSION
Azerbaijan - Georgia - Armenia

Arrive BAKI (Baku) Bina Airport
HOTEL HYATT REGENCY

Morning free to rest

There has been one settlement or another since at least the 5th century. It was run by Arabs, Turks, Persians and finally by Russians. Oil has been scooped since the 10th century and large scale oil extraction since the 1870's. In 1935, the drilling began offshore. Hitler's drive to Strangel the flow of oil was stopped at Stalingrad (now Volgagrad). The production has now fallen as oil deposits have been discovered in Siberia. But the city is still surrounded by pipelines and refineries.

Baki is a composition of actually three cities, old town, boomtown and Russian town with the old walled city to the west and the modern city to the East and North. The compact medieval fortress, whose original walls were built between the 12th and 16th century, was strong enough to withstand a long Mongol Tartar siege in the 13th century, has been recently Restored.

1:30 PM - Baku Sightseeing with visit to Shakhiler Khihabany Park with Panoramic view of Baku.

2:30 PM - Visit to the Azerbaijan History Museum

3:30 PM - Visit of the Old city by foot.
During this walk through Icheri Sheher, the historic center of Baku situated within the ancient city walls, you will see such architectural monuments as Maiden Tower and the Shirvanshakhs' Palace, Karavansarays ancient mosques, etc.

5:00 PM - Visit to the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum

7:00 PM - Return to the hotel for dinner

BAKU

Morning Absheron Peninsula Tour
Drive to the suburb to the see Mosque in Amiradjany.
Continue to the Fire Worshippers' Temple
The Ateshgah fire-worshippers' temple was restored in the 18th century by congregation from India. The original building was built on a spot where natural gas was coming out of the ground, causing "ever-burning flames" which used to inspire Zoroaster and his followers. The temple was destroyed in the 7th century. An explanation on the cult and the history of the place will be given. Thereafter visit the tower type Temple in Markadany Suburb.

1 - 2:00 PM - Free Time

2:00 PM - Afternoon excursion to Gobustan.
Excursion to the volcanic desert to southwest of Baku slong the Caspian shore. Here you will see rock paintings made by ancient people who used to live there in caves more then ten thousand years ago.

Leave BAKU after breakfast for Sheky visiting enroute Diribaba Mausoleum in Maraza, Observation of Djuma Mosque and Yeddy Gumbez Mausoleum in Shemakhy. Lunch will be served en route.

In the afternoon continue through Mughanly - Ismailly - Gebele - Oguz.

Arrive in Sheky about 4:00 PM.
HOTEL YUKHARI CARAVANSARY

Brief visit of SHEKY.

Leave SHEKY and drive via Sakata to the Georgian Borer town of Lagodekhi. Where we arrive at 12:00 Noon. Transfer to a Georgian bus.

Drive to nearby Kakheti for lunch.
Afternoon drive through pleasant countryside to Tblisi.
HOTEL MARRIOTT

TBILISI (TIFLIS)
Tbilisi lies in a bowl surrounded by hills where the Kura river is flowing through it. The city existed sometimes before Vakhtang Gorgasali, moved the Iverian capital here from Mtskheta probably in 458. Since then it has nearly always been the most important city in what is now Georgia. Commanding the route between East and West Trans-caucasia. The city changed hands between Persians and Turks countless times. The Persians burnt it down one last time in 1795. Shortly before it became a Russian provincial capital. Today it is one of the chief industrial cities in the Caucasus area.

TBLISI

Morning city tour
Walk around the Old Town and sense a rare blend of European and Asian cultures. Oriental markets, sulfur, bathhouses, countless churches, wooden houses with intricately carved balcones make Tbilisi a wonderful attraction. During the brief periods of relative calm and economic prosperity Georgia was a real Paradise for merchants. Numerous caravans from all over the world headed from Georgia, which was a crossroads of trade routes.Tbilisi was the country's biggest wine market. By the end of the 18th century, the city enactedthe plan by Georgian geographer Vakhushti and planted many gardens in and around the city.

Visit: Narikala Fortress - Main fortress of the city, dated from 4th century; Anchiskhati basilica - oldest ecclesiastical building, dates 6th century. The church received its name from the Anchiicon; Siony - the main cathedral church of Tbilisi. The cross of St. Nino is kept here; Old Caravansary - merchants oriental style building; Metekhi curch - VI - VII century, cross copal church, part of the Royal residential complex - Metekhi. XII - XIX cc. The prison was located here; Mtatsminda Pantheon - the most important and well known people of Georgia and russia are burried here; Rustaveli Avenue, main and the most beatiful street of Tbilisi, the faforite place for leisure and free time for the guests and natives of Tbilisi.

Visits to Georgia art and State museums, exhibition of gold work dated to the 3rd century BC and medieval art from the 9th to the 14th century. Visit of Open area Museum where you can find the traditional types of houses of different provinces of Georgia.

Afternoon tour to Mtskheta
20 kms (12 ½ miles) North of Tbilisi at the confluence of the Kura and Aragvi rivers was the capital of Iveria before Tbilisi from the third century B.C. to the 5th century A.D.King Mirian accepted here Christianity from St. Nino in the 4th century. Mtskheta remainded the headquarters of the Georgian church until the 12th century and has still several fine old churches. The first to be visited is Sveti Tskhoveli Cathedral, the most important church of old Georgia. Its name means life-giving pillar. The first stone cathedral here, began by Bagrat III in the 11th century, was destroyed by Timur. Several important Iverian rulers tombs are in front of the cathedral. Next, we will visit the still working Samtavro, convent dated from the 11th century. Continue to the Dzhoari (cross) Cathedral, which stands on a hilltop overlooking the city. It was built in 506 to 604, replacing a big wooden cross put there in the 4th century. We will also visit Bebristsikhe Fort at the North end of town, which was an outlying defense for medieval Tbilisi.

TBILISI

Excursion to Gori, birthplace of Georgia's most infamous son, Josef Stalin. Visit to the Museum, housing the life of Stalin. Continue to Sioni of Ateni near Gori and view the Jvari Church. Continue to Uplisteikhe (Fortress of God) to view the ancient rock-cut town, dating back to the 1st half of the 1st Millenium B.C. This is a complex of rock-cut halls, caves, altars, passages and streets and included the most ancient theatre in Georgia.

Leave TBLISI this morning and drive to Sadakhlo border city and enter

Leave SADAKHLO and drive to Hakhpat to view the Monastery, one of the outstanding samples of the medieval Armenian architecture.

Continue to the Sanain Monastery (10th Century).

Drive via Odzun to see the old church, before arriving in Yerevan.
HOTEL YEREVAN

YEREVAN (EREVAN)
The capital of Armenia lies on the sides of the Ararat valley at an altitude of 900 to 1300 meters (approximately 2000 to 3000 ft) above sea level.Yerevan dates back to 732 B.C. when Argistis, King of Uratu, began to build the fortress and the town of Erebuni, which now forms the center of the modern city. The city has been dominated by the Romans, Parthians, Arabs, Tartars, Turks, Persians, and Georgians. It became Russian in the early 19th century. It has grown from a pre world war I population of 30,000 to a thriving modern metropolis and a major center of Industry and culture with a population exceeding one million.

YEREVAN

Morning city tour
The central plaza is designed as a unit in the Armenian national style. The fountains in front of the museum are enhanced by a colored light show at night. On the East side is the government house, which is the seat of the Armenian government. 1968, 2750 fountains were installed for Yerevan's 2750th anniversary. The extensive partially restored excavations of the Erebuni fortress includes the ruins of a palace and a double defensive wall, which also includes a museum.

The History and Art Museum located in the same building. The History Museum has artifacts and models of old Urartu and Armenia as well as two carts preserved in the mud of Lake Sevan since the 14th or 13th century B.C. The Art Gallery of Armenia has a good section of Armenian Art from the 7th century A.D. The Matenadaran or ancient manuscripts library houses over 12,000 Armenian manuscripts from the 6th century on, which are collected from all over the world. The illuminated manuscripts and the cultured history is impressive

Afternoon tour covering the Genocide Memorial to the victims of the 1915 Genocide, on the hills, overlooking the city centre. It consists of a skyward pointing needle (symbolizing revival), a circle of basalt pillars leaning ground an enternal flame, and a wall with relief scenes. The memorial is separated from the city centre by the ravine of the Razdan River. We will continue to the Erebuni Fortress, to see the ruins Palace.

Note: B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner