Depart  the U.S. on international flights bound for Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Flights arrive in Tashkent late tonight or early the next morning.  Transfer to the hotel for check in and rest. Lotte City Hotel Tashkent Palace 

We start the day with an introductory lecture followed by a tour of modern Tashkent from Independence Square to Shahid Memorial Complex, which honors the innocent martyrs who were killed during Stalin’s purges in 1938, and the Courage Monument, dedicated to the survivors of the major earthquake in 1966. We’ll also visit Alisher Navoi National Park, built to commemorate the 550th anniversary of Alisher Navoi, the father of Uzbek language and literature. In old Tashkent, we stroll through a labyrinth of mud-walled houses surviving from the 19^th century to Khast Imam Square, where some of Tashkent’s oldest monuments remain. View the Uthman Koran, considered by Sunni Muslims to be the oldest Koran in the world. Visit the private art studio of a sixth-generation Uzbek ceramicist whose family has been making pottery since the 1790s. End the day with a privately guided tour of the Museum of Applied Arts. Enjoy a welcome dinner. Lotte City Hotel Tashkent Palace (B,L,D)

Today travel to Samarkand by a morning express train.  Modern Samarkand is built on the ruins of ancient Afrosiab, and once went by the name of Marakanda.  Its strategic location, cultural wealth and worldly riches made Samarkand an attractive target for the world’s most famous conquerors. Alexander the Great, upon his arrival in the 4^th century BC said: “Everything I have heard about the beauty of the city is indeed true, except that it is much more beautiful than I imagined. Upon arrival, we begin with a visit to the Registan, the centerpiece of Samarkand, and its most recognizable landmark. We’ll also see the Gur-Emir Mausoleum, the final resting place of Tamerlane. The interior of the mausoleum has been restored and is brilliant in gold leaf and fresh tile. The heavily gilded central dome opens over the set of tomb-markers resembling sarcophagi.  All are marble, with the exception of Tamerlane’s, which is a slab of solid jade reportedly from Mongolia. Other highlights include the colorful bazaar, as well as a workshop where hand-crafted paper is made according to traditions handed down from the 8^th century, when paper-making began in Samarkand. Founded in 1997 with the support of UNESCO, the workshop produces lovely paper crafts and stationery as you watch. This evening enjoy dinner at the private home of a local family.  Emir Han Hotel (B,L,D)

Today we continue to explore glorious Samarkand. Visit the Bibi Khanum Mosque, built by Tamerlane to be the largest mosque in the Islamic world, and dedicated to the memory of his favorite wife.  We’ll then pay a visit to Ulug Bek’s Observatory, built by Tamerlane’s grandson Ulug Bek, who found his true interest in the heavens. The astronomer-king was fascinated by the stars and the cosmos and built one of the most advanced observatories of the ancient world. Visit a private kindergarten for an opportunity to meet with children, teachers and administrators and discuss the system of education in Uzbekistan. Visit the internationally recognized fashion designer Valentina Romanenko’s private studio followed by dinner at a local restaurant. Emir Han Hotel (B,L,D)

Depart for Bukhara. Along the way, stop for lunch in the village of Vobkent.  Upon arrival in Bukhara, we’ll enjoy a free afternoon to rest and discover independently. Bukhara is a fantastic place to shop for handcrafted souvenirs from the local cloth printers, wood carvers, gold and silk embroiderers and jewelry makers. Sasha & Son Hotel (B,L,D)

Spend the day exploring Central Asia’s most ancient living city. An oasis in the desert, UNESCO-listed Bukhara offers cool shade and rest to the modern traveler as it did to the camel caravans that plied the Silk Road hundreds of years ago. Located near the Kalon Mosque is the Ark Citadel, the original fortress of Bukhara and likely dating back two thousand years or more. Bukhara’s Ark served the Emirs of Bukhara as a residence, audience hall, as protection from neighboring enemies and for more mundane purposes, such as a trade center and a police station.  We will have a chance to meet the Senior Scientific Advisor of the Ark, who is responsible for the ongoing projects, renovations and events within the territory of the Ark Citadel. We’ll also visit the lovely Ismael Samani Mausoleum, the 10th century resting place of Ismael Samani, founder of the Persian Samanid Dynasty. The little mausoleum was buried under the desert sands and not discovered until the 20^th century. Stop at Lyabi-Hauz Plaza, the center of Bukhara’s old town, a place to meet friends, to eat, to drink, and to relax in the shade. Nearby Kukeldash Madrassah is the largest Koranic school in Central Asia. We’ll then move on to the 12^th century Kalon assembly, which includes the Kalon Mosque and Minaret and the Mir-i-Arab Madrassah. The minaret towers over the square, looking down from a height of more than 150 feet.  Finish the day with a walk through Bukhara’s old Jewish Quarter, in the heart of the Old Town, where in the mid-19^th century 2,500 families of prosperous merchants were estimated to have been living. Sasha & Son Hotel (B,L,D)

This morning depart Bukhara and travel to the border town of Farap to cross the border into Turkmenistan. Stop for lunch in the town of Turkmenabat, before continuing to Mary. Arriving in Mary in the evening, check in to the hotel for dinner and a one-night stay. Hotel Mary (B, L, D)

We set out this morning to explore the ancient remains of Merv. The fertile oasis of Merv has supported human life for over 4,000 years.  Formed from the rich silt at the mouth of the Murghab River where it soaks into the Kara Kum Desert, the oasis was an early Bronze Age center. Merv was the center of several succeeding civilizations, and became an important way station on the Great Silk Road between the 2^nd and the 13^th centuries, when it was sacked and burned by the Mongols. The ruins of Merv were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 because of the wealth of ongoing information they offer regarding the evolution of urban centers. After lunch, visit the Museum of History and Ethnography in Mary. The museum is housed in an old merchant’s house dating from the 19^th century. Displays include discoveries from Merv, Gonur-Depe and other Turkmen archaeological sites.  Time permitting, wander Mary’s small bazaar, admiring stacks of brilliant fruits and displays of nuts and raisins, handmade carpets and Turkmen jewelry. Later transfer to the local airport for the short evening flight to Ashgabat. Upon arrival, check in to the deluxe city center hotel and enjoy dinner at the hotel’s restaurant with sweeping views over the city.  Hotel Oguzkent (B,L,D)

Today we explore vibrant Ashgabat. See the President Palace Square, the Arch of Neutrality, the Russian Bazaar, and stop to wander the fountain-cooled Independence Park, lined with monuments and statues.  Visit the History and Ethnography Museum. With its grand approach and panoramic views, the museum introduces modern Turkmenistan on the ground floor and ancient history in the galleries above. This afternoon visit a horse-breeding farm devoted to the renowned Akhal-Teke horse, arguably the oldest cultured breed of horse in the world. The owner accompanies us on the tour to talk about the workings of the farm and about the breed. These elegant horses are said to have lent their genes to both the Arabian horse and the American Quarter Horse.  Enjoy a musical performance during dinner this evening. Hotel Oguzkent (B,L,D)

Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the ancient Parthian Kingdom of Nisa, led by a professional local archaeologist. The beautiful Kopet-Dag Mountains rise up around Nisa, a site 15 miles outside of Ashgabat that was once a major center of the ancient Parthian Kingdom. On the way back to Ashgabat, stop at Kipchak Mosque, a huge $100-million-dollar mosque in the former Turkmen President Niyazov’s hometown. The mosque is big enough to hold 10,000 people, and its 164-foot golden dome had to be lowered in place by helicopter. Visit the Russian Bazaar in the center of Ashgabat, a large covered market selling all kind of foodstuffs, including prepared foods, fruits, nuts, vodka, high quality caviar and traditional breads. Hotel Oguzkent (B,L,D)

Take a 90-minute flight to Baku. Upon arrival, we transfer to the city-center hotel.  Following breakfast, a leisurely morning, and possibly a lecture, we’ll begin exploring Baku in the afternoon. Today Baku is a booming metropolis of over 2 million people with well-preserved old city and pleasant public promenades around the Fountain Square and along the Caspian Sea waterfront.

We’ll begin the tour with a walk through Baku’s Old City. It was once the whole city, and is the best place to get a sense of its history. It is completely encircled by the old city walls with their medieval gates. The winding streets and alleyways are home to private residences, mosques and madrassahs, carpet merchants and tiny shops.  We’ll enjoy a curator-led tour of the State Museum of Azerbaijani Carpets and Applied Folk Art, which beautifully displays the vivid colors and bold designs of Azeri, Caucasian and Iranian carpets.  We’ll also stop at The Martyrs’ Cemetery, or Martyrs’ Lane, set on a terraced hill above Baku’s harbor, a beautiful place formerly called Kirov Park. Today it pays homage to the 137 people killed during Black January 1990, when the Soviets sent tanks into the city and fired on Azerbaijani civilians. The attack marked the turning point in the country’s drive toward independence. The memorial has expanded to honor the Azerbaijanis who lost their lives in the conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh.  Enjoy a free evening for rest and independent discovery.  Hilton Hotel Baku (B, L)

This morning we visit Gobustan, an important site of ancient petroglyphs that was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2007. Quarry workers discovered the rock carvings here by accident in the 1930s. Since then, the carvings depicting men, women, animals and artifacts have been the focus of much study and speculation.

Returning to Baku in the afternoon, stop at the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center, the swooping architectural work that has become a landmark of modern Baku. Opened in 2012, the center includes an innovative performing arts auditorium and spaces for major art exhibitions. The 619,000-square-foot building was designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid and named after Azerbaijan’s leader from 1969 to 1982 and from 1993 to 2003. Hilton Hotel Baku (B,L,D)

Today we travel outside of Baku to explore the sites on the Absheron Peninsula. Flaming natural gas vents here may have inspired Zarathustra, a local resident around 1000 BC, to include fire rituals in his Zoroastrian religion. The Zoroastrian Fire Temple in Surakhani was originally built over a burning natural gas vent.  The watchtowers of Mardakan make up part of the Caspian Shore Defensive Constructions, on the UNESCO tentative list since 2001. They were used in medieval times as defensive bastions and signal towers.  We’ll also make a stop in the city of Sumgait to view its massive concentration of Soviet-era apartment blocks, factories, and rusting oil tankers. At the end of the day, enjoy a private tour at the Nobel Oil Club, the Nobel Brothers' Museum, followed by the farewell dinner featuring authentic Azeri dishes and traditional mugham music. Hilton Hotel Baku (B,L,D)

Transfer to the airport for flights home. (B)