ITINERARY

Special Middle East Tour
2008

Arrive LONDON (Heathrow)
Leave LONDON (Heathrow) by BA #6613 9:05 PM

AZERBAIJAN

Arrive BAKU 6:35 AM
HOTEL HYATT REGENCY

Morning free to rest.

BAKI (BAKU)

Baki, the capital of Azerbaijan, is the biggest metropolis in Trans-caucasia with a quarter of Azerbaijan 's population. This beautiful city is built around a perfect harbor. Baki Bay is a notch in the underside of the Apsheron Peninsula.

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 MONol 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 MONments 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

Day excursion to Nakhichevan, the new addition to the TCC.
Leave Baku by morning flight

NAKHICHEVAN

Arrive NAKHICHEVAN Airport

This semi-desert region is Seprated from the main portion of Azerbaijan by Armenia. The city is rich in architectural heritage. We will visit the Mausoleum of Momine Khatun (12th Century) the tomb of Yusuf Kuseir, downtown area. Enjoy a delicious lunch.

In the afternoon return to our hotel in Baku.

Leave BAKU by morning flight

TURKEY

Arrive BATMAN

HOTEL NEZIRHAN

Early breakfast

Leave Batman via Midyat Cizre, Silopi to the Turkish/Iraq border and cross into

IRAQ

We will visit some nearby Kurdish villages before returning to Turkey. Drive to Midyat, famous for its silver objects also visit the Syriac Jacobite MONstery, dating to the 5th century. Drive to Diyarbakir for overnight.
HOTEL DEMIR

Leave DIYARBAKIR by morning flight.
Arrive ANKARA, Turkey 's political capital.
Visit the world renowned Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, filled with treasures.

Leave ANKARA in the evening

IRAN

Arrive TEHERAN
HOTEL LALLEH

TEHERAN

Morning free.

12:00 Afternoon city tour, including the Archeological Museum, Carpet Museum and Glass Museum.

Leave TEHERAN by Iran Air.
Arrive SHIRAZ
HOTEL HOMA

SHIRAZ

Full Day excursion to PerSeplis and Shiraz City.

Excursion to PerSeplis (the achemenian complex built by Dairus I) and the Sassanian bath relieves of Naghsherostam and Naghshe Rajab. Drive back to Shiraz and visit of the Tomb of Hafez and Saadi, The Citadel of Karim Khan, the Pars Museum, The Vakil Mosque and Bazaar.

Leave SHIRAZ by evening flight.
Arrive ISFAHAN
HOTEL KOWSAR

ISFAHAN

Full day city tour.
Visiting: Eight paradise palace (Hashtbehesht), Jaame mosque, Vank Cathedral and Isfahan 's historical bridges (33 arches, Khajou and Shahrestan)

Leave ISFAHAN by evening flight

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Arrive DUBAI
HOTEL AL BUSTAN ROTANA

DUBAI

Morning free.

Leave DUBAI by Pakistan Airlines.

PAKISTAN

Arrive ISLAMABAD
HOTEL SERENA

Historically, Pakistan is one of the most ancient lands known to man, with a past tracing as far back to a civilization related to the Sumeric culture in the Mesopotamia. In fact, its cities in the Indus Valley flourished before the building of Bobylon and its people practised the art of good living and citizenship long before the ancient Greeks.

Today the country is divided into four provinces, known as Sind, Baluchistan, Punjab and the North West Frontier Province, plus two other regions, Azad Jummu & Kashmir and The Northern Areas.

Geographically Pakistan falls into three main regions, themountainous north where the Hindu Kush, Karakoram and Himalayanranges meet, the plateau of Baluchistan, and the Punjab and Sind plainsof the Indus River, the life line of Pakistan..

ISLAMABAD

Morning city tour.
We will begin at the old city of Rawalpindi, at the Raja (King) Bazaar. A stop in the silver and gold bazaars will allow us to catch traditional craftsmen at work. We will then continue on the main street linking the twin cities - Murree Road - before arriving at the gleaming new capital. We pass shining new buildings and thousands of park areas – a full 50 percent of the 350-square-mile site is set aside for parks. We will then stop at the Shakar Parian, "Sweet Hills" to catch a bird's-eye view of Islamabad\. Our next stop will be Shah Faisal Mosque which is the landmark of Islamabad.

Leave ISLAMABAD by PK #249 12:50 PM

AFGHANISTAN

Arrive KABUL 2:35 PM
HOTEL CONTINENTAL

KABUL

Breakfast at the hotel.
After breakfast vitsit Kamul Museum, Darullaman Area, Baber's Gardens. Hot lunch will be served at the local restaurant. Later visit Tomb of Nadir Shah, Drive through Balahisar Fort, Bazar around Shah-do-Shamshira mosque Tomb of Taimur Shah from outside) and Chicken Street.

KABUL - TORKHAM (220 KM)

After breakfast drive to Torkham (Pak-Afghan Border), hot lunch will served at the local restaurant in Jalalabad. Later continue drive Torkham, after immigration formalities, cross over to Pakistan.

This famous pass has been a silent witness to the countless number of invaders, pleasure seekers, adventures and soothsayers that have filtered through its narrow gateway over the centuries. The historic Khyber Pass begins at a distance 15 miles west of Peshawar at the Babi-Khyber watchtower, which acts as a gateway to the Pass. You then begin a winding journey through a tribal area, passing the Jamrud fort, and for 36 miles are another "invader," witnessing the stark and severe beauty of this passage hewn through great rocks. While driving towards Landi Kotal, we will see Shagai Fort built by the British in 1927 and was used as Headquarters of Khyber Rifles. We will also see Ali Masjid Fort and Mosque. One can see Sphola Stupa on right hand side. The pass ends at the Torkham Border, passing the smugglers` bazaar, Landikotal, which at a height of 3,518 feet straddles the top of this historical passageway. At Torkham the Durand line Seprates Pakistan from Afghanistan. (We cannot enter in Shagai & Ali Masjid Fort & Mosque as these buildings are occupied by Pakistan Army).

KHYBER PASS

PAKISTAN

Upon arrival at border meet assist and transfer.
HOTEL PEARL CONTINTNETAL

PERSHAWAR

Morning city tour.
We begin by visiting the rich museum of Peshawar, which houses treasures of the Gandhara period. Proceed to old Peshawar through the Kabuli Gate – one of the sixteen - to the Qissa Khawani bazaar, " the street of story tellers," and witness unusual and unforgettable sights. We will also visit the coppersmith's bazaar, which flourished from the 1st century B.C. to the 5th century A.D. Continue to Mahab at Khan's mosque, built in 1670 by the Governor of Peshawar under Moghal Emperor Shah Jahan. Our tour will pass by Balar Hisar Fort, built by Babar in 1526-30, and rebuilt by Hari Singh Nalva, under the guidance of French engineers, in 1830.

Leave PERSHAWAR by PK #631 6:00 PM
Arrive ISLAMABAD 6:45 PM
Leave ISLAMABAD by PK #381 7:30 PM
Arrive LAHORE 8:20 PM
HOTEL PEARL CONTINENTAL

LAHORE

Morning city tour.

Our tour includes visit to Lahore Fort, a marvel of Moghal architecture begun in the 11th century and completed finally by the end of the 16th century. AMONst the emperors who contributed to its splendour are Emperors Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan. We will visit the beautiful palace of Mirrors, Shah Jahan's Quadrangle and the Pearl Mosque. Overlooking the Fort is the Badshahi mosque - the world's largest - and it is our next stop. It was constructed during the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb. Pakistan 's famous poet-philosopher, Dr. Mohammad Iqbal, lies buried outside the mosque. We will visit also the Pakistan Day Memorial.

Leave LAHORE by afternoon flight.

INDIA

Arrive DELHI
HOTEL OBEROI

Leave DELHI by Indian Airlines

KASHMIR

Arrive SRINAGAR
Along the bank of the Jhelum, in the heart of Kashmir Valley, in Srinagar. Subject to security, we will stay at luxurious houseboats on the Dal Lake.

SRINAGAR

Enjoy a morning tour of Srinagar.
Leave SRINAGAR in the afternoon.
Arrive DELHI
HOTEL RADISSON

Leave DELHI by morning flight

BANGLADESH

Arrive DHAKA
HOTEL SHERATON

DHAKA

Morning tour of old Dhaka. Our guide will take you to the historical part of Dhaka city to cover Sadarghat water front, Pink Palace, Dhakeshwari Hindu Temple, Lalbag Fort, Curzon Hall, Shahid Minar, National Mosque, Star Mosque, etc. Through this journey sometimes walking or rickshaw drive convenient to get the access of exotic Bazar and interesting streets.

Afternoon a sort city tour & shopping tour. In the early hours visit the local garment market at Bangabazar and experience the exciting shops trading with varieties of garment products at a very cheaper price. Afterwards visit the fascinating Pink Pearl shops at Baitul Mukarram market, Karitas silk emporium, Mirpur Benarashi Pulli, Grameen Shamagri and Grameen Udog at Mirpur, Aarong at Lalmatia/Gulshan (Exclusive traditional product shop), some modern plaza at Dhanmundi and Kemal Ataturk Avenue, you will find here the traditional Bengali handicrafts, sarees and antiques and the variety of garments products for which the city earned the International favor.

DHAKA

Full day tour to Sonargaon to visit the historic ancient capital of Bengal, located only 30 kms from Dhaka. Visit the Folk Art & Crafts Museum and other attractions.

DHAKA

Morning visit to the local garment market at Bangabazar and experience the exciting shops trading with varieties of garment products at modest prices.

Afternoon free.

Leave DHAKA by evening flight.

Arrive LONDON in the morning, connect for various flights home.

Tour Costs:

Air from New York: $5,800
Land cost, sharing twin bath: $10,400
Single room supplement: $1,200

The tour will be limited to 15 persons, so please book early.

Members will have the opportunity to join our annual East African tour, which will commence one week later.