Silk Road Odyssey: Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan with Kay Maxwell

Trace the path of the great camel caravans along the Old Silk Road to Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan , admiring the vaulted portals of the mosques and madrassahs, their ribbed domes cloaked in sky-blue ceramic tiles. Explore three different UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the historic Old Towns of the fabled Uzbek oases, Samarkand, Bukhara and the archaeological site of ancient Merv. Wander the fabulous bazaars, seeking vivid silks and hand-loomed carpets, and step into the past on the streets of Silk Road trade centers crowded with complex Persian architecture and hospitable people.  Along the way, lunch with a master ceramicist, see a demonstration of traditional Central Asia horse games and learn about the history of the original Silk Road and the future of the New Silk Road in this geopolitically important region.  

Kay Maxwell, Executive Director of the World Affairs Forum in Stamford, CT will lead this tour and bring her experience of working in Central Asia to the program.

$7,995 per person plus airfare

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Read an interview with Caroline Eden, the author of the book Samarakand and buy her book here.

View a recent NYTimes article on Astana, Kazakhstan:  Kazakh Capital, a Post-Soviet Creation, Is Growing Real Roots

Click here to find other suggestions on recommended reading on Central Asia