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NORTH & CENTRAL ASIA, CHINA & TIBET
UZBEKISTAN " TAJIKISTAN
Iskanderkul Lake
Samarkand & Fann Mountains Trek
UZBEKISTAN
View over Khiva
TREKKING GRADE B/C
Ref FM
JFMAMJJASOND JFMA
Golden Road to Samarkand
11 DAYS HOTELS/YURT CRADLE OF THE ANCIENT SILK ROAD
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UZ
14 DAYS HOTELS/CHALET/TENT/HOMESTAY OFF-BEAT CENTRAL ASIA
JFMAMJJASOND JFMA
Samarkand & Fann Mountains Trek Ref FM
A r c h a ma i d o m
To SAMARKAND
TASHKENT
City tour
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UZBEKISTAN Chimtarga 5489m M O U N T A I Moskva 5046m
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As well as seeing the fine Islamic architecture of Bokhara and Samarkand, we explore the remote old Silk Road halt of Khiva, made powerful and mighty by the caravans that once passed through here bound for the West and laden with riches. We also absorb some of the wild landscape of Central Asia, staying overnight in a traditional yurt (a circular walk-in felt tent used by nomads).
Jewels Along the Silk Route After sightseeing in Tashkent, we travel by overnight sleeper train to Urgench and head to the romantic city of Khiva an old walled caravan halt that was once an important stop on the Silk Road. We explore the maze of twisting alleyways, medieval mosques, tombs and palaces before driving to the magical city of Bokhara. Here we see the huge Kalyan Minaret probably the tallest building in the world when it was built in 1127. In this desert town people still read and write Persian and Arabic, as well as their native Uzbek tongue. The vivid clothing of local women provides a startling contrast to the khaki hues of mudwalled streets. Aydarkul Lake & the Desert From Bokhara we drive to the old Silk Road town of Karmana. Here we turn off the highway and using bus and 4WDs, we reach our desert camp. We have time to ride camels in the desert near our camp; for the brave, theres a chance to swim in lake Aydarkul to cool off an altogether invigorating experience! Glittering Samarkand Two days are spent in Samarkand, the capital of Tamerlanes empire which contains some of Asias most stunning architecture. We see the tomb of the Great Destroyer himself the Gur-Emir, a jewel of Islamic art and the Yurt camp, Yangikasgan
Nofin Lake
Khuchirud 4179m
N
SAMARKAND
City tour Khojand
Golden Road to Samarkand Ref UZ
UZBEKISTAN
Urgench K
Marguzor Lake
ya
Tavasang Pass 3300m ARCHAMAIDON
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0
PENJIKENT
Trek Route
100 km
ISTARAFSHAN
Shahriston Pass TAJIKISTAN
Syr
yzylkum
Seven TOGLEE Lakes
VALLEY CAMP
Des
KHIVA
Ancient walled city
er
t
Azorchashma Lake
Camel riding in desert Sarmysh DESERT Gorge CAMP K A Z A K H S T A N YangikAydarkul asgan
Munora Pass SARMAT 3520m RIVER Gardish CAMP 4720m
DUKDON PASS CAMP
Dar
Dukdon Pass 3810m
From TASHKENT & ISTARAFSHAN
TAJIKISTAN
Dukdon 5208m
a r s G i s s
k i
Lake
R i d g e
DUKDON TAL Iskandarkul CAMP Lake r yt ag Sarytag Sa ra kul Ka
km 0 15
Oxus
km
0
600-year-old Observatory of Ulug-Beg, the astronomer who calculated the length of a year to within 10 seconds! On one of the days, it is possible to explore ancient Marakanda, the original site of the town.
FACTFILE
Itinerary Day 1 Fly London/Tashkent. 2 Arrive Tashkent; city tour. 3 In Tashkent; overnight train Urgench. 4 Arrive Urgench; drive Khiva; sightseeing in the Old City. 5 Drive Bokhara. 6 In Bokhara; city tour. 7 Drive Karmana; continue to Yangikasgan, 4WD to camp, opportunity for camel ride. 8 Morning free at camp, optional walks and swim in lake; afternoon drive to Samarkand. 9 In Samarkand; visit Gur Emir Mausoleum and Registan Square; free afternoon. 10 In Samarkand; visit Ulug-Beg observatory and museum; optional visit to Marakanda. 11 Drive Tashkent; fly London. Accommodation & Meals: 6nts hotel, 1nt Madrassah, 1nt yurt, 1nt sleeper train; 9 breakfasts, 1 lunch & 1 dinner included. See insert p2. Mode of Travel: Bus/4WD/Train. Comment: A short cultural journey to one of the most fascinating regions on the Silk Road. Tour Staff & Support: Explore Tour Leader plus driver(s) and some local guides. Group Size: Approx. 15 to 20.
For information, inspiration and latest tour availability visit www.explore.co.uk
T U R K M E N I S TA N
BOKHARA
Mud-baked architecture
Karmana
TASHKENT SAMARKAND
UZBEKISTAN
Our trip combines the incredible Islamic art and architecture of the fabled Silk Road city of Samarkand, with cultural explorations and a 6-day trek in the stunning Fann Mountains of little-visited Tajikistan.
Istarafshan & Lake Iskanderkul Alexander the Great and his armies left their mark on what is now Tajikistan, when they fought the resident Sogdians. At Istarafshan we hope to watch the sunset from the remains of the fortified citadel and discover the mosque and madrassa of Kok-Gumbaz and streets of the Old Quarter. Driving over the Shahriston Pass we arrive at beautiful Lake Iskanderkul; ringed by snow-capped peaks, it is named after Alexander and many legends from the cult of the Greek commander still cling to this place. Fann Mountains Trek The Fann Mountains are part of the huge spur jutting westward from the Pamir range; a
Ze
r a f Tamerlanes city sha n Mo untai
ns
300
TA J I K I S TA N
land of juniper forests, clouded peaks, grandiose rock walls and azure lakes. Our 6day trek starts from the lakeshore; we follow the river valley past the tiny settlement of Sarytag, and cross several passes to the north of the Gissarski ridge. Dukdon Pass, is the highest at 3810m. We hope to encounter nomadic peoples en route, the women often brightly clothed. Penjikent & Fabled Samarkand The Sogdian city of Penjikent was destroyed by the Arabs in the 8th century and lost for more than a millennium. It is still being excavated, and we pay a visit before crossing back into Uzbekistan to fabled Samarkand. The city is a jewel of Islamic art and our sightseeing takes in its most important architectural monuments including the Observatory of Ulug-Beg and Guri-i-Mur, tomb of Tamerlane, as well as time to explore the bazaar.
FACTFILE
Itinerary Day 1 Fly London/Tashkent. 2 Arrive Tashkent; PM city tour. 3 Drive Istarafshan (Tajikistan) via Khojand. 4 AM City tour; drive over Shahriston Pass to Iskandarkul Lake. 5 Trek Dukdon Tal via Sarytag (5hrs). 6 Trek over Dukdon Pass (10hrs). 7 Trekking in Archamaidon valley (6hrs). 8 Trek Sarmat River via Munora Pass (5-6hrs). 9 Trek Toglee village via Tavasang Pass (8hrs). 10 Trek to Seven Lakes (3hrs); drive Penjikent, homestay. 11 Visit Penjikent site; drive across border to Samarkand. 12 Full day sightseeing in Samarkand. 13 Drive Tashkent. 14 Fly London. Accommodation & Meals: 6nts hotel, 1nt chalet, 1nt homestay, 5nts camping; 13 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 8 dinners included. See insert p2. Mode of Travel: Minibus/On Foot. Comment: Fully supported trekking in the Fann Mountains, graded moderate to strenuous. Pack animals carry all our equipment, camping is wild. Tour Staff & Support: Explore Tour Leader and driver(s); guide, interpreter, cooks and pack animals on trek. Group Size: Approx. 12 to 16.
Trek length and gradients
4000m 3500m 3000m 2500m 2000m 1500m 1000m
Dukdon Tal
Dukdon Pass
Archamaidon Valley
Sarmat River
Toglee Village
Day 5 8km
Day 6 11km
Day 7 12km
Day 8 7km
Day 9 8km
Day 10 6km
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