Day 1 - DEPART USA (Sept. 14)
Your international Turkish Airlines non-stop flight will depart from the United States this evening at 6.00 p.m., arriving in Istanbul the next day in the morning.

Day 2, 3 - ISTANBUL (Sept. 15, 16)
After customs and visa procedure, you will be met and taken to your 5-star Hotel Eresin in the old city. On the way, there will be a great photo opportunity when we will stop at the 1700 year-old ancient walls of the city. At the hotel, there will be time to relax and rest before meeting Bora in the evening for dinner at a local restaurant, Darul Ziyafe. This local Turkish restaurant has Ottoman décor and features wonderful Turkish/Ottoman food and great ambiance.

On the second day, we will drive along the Bosphorus to the Black Sea where the straits begin. We will stop at the private museum "Sadberk Hanim" and see the very rich archeological collections that go back 9,000 years as well as the lovely ethnographic collections. We will have lunch at a fishermen's village and then take a cruise down the Bosphorus in our private boat. Back in Istanbul, we will have a Turkish rug and kilim demonstration and then we will visit Kumkapi, the taverna district for dinner and drinks. They will have live gypsy music and Bora will play various instruments with the gypsies.

On the final day, we will either visit Topkapi Palace, which was first built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1453 and was home of the sultan until the 19th century, or visit an archeological museum and the Spice Market.

Day 4, 5 – ALMATY (KAZAKHSTAN)(Sept. 17, 18)
We will fly to Almaty in the late afternoon and arrive late in the evening.

The next day, we will visit the Pnfilov Park, The Cathedral by Zenkov, the museum of Kazakh musical instruments and the museum of Kazakh history. We will also take a city tour and drive up to the mountains (Tian Shan) to have lunch at a Yurt restaurant.

Day 6 – LAKE ISSYK-KUL (KYRGYZSTAN) (Sept. 19)
In the morning, we will drive through the remote parts of Kazakhstan and through some breathtaking views to arrive at the border of Kyrgyzstan. After customs, we will drive to Lake Issyk-kul and check into our hotel, Raduga, at the shores of the lake. Issyk-Kul Lake is the second largest high-altitude lake in the world after Titikaka Lake in South America. It is the largest and deepest (702 meters) lake in the country, which never freezes due to its saline content. This lake has been the subject of much of Kyrgyz poetry and praise, often referred to by its admirers as the pearl of Kyrgyzstan.

Day 7 – KARAKOL/LAKE ISSYK-KUL (Sept. 20)
After breakfast, we will drive to the town of Karakol near China’s border. During the entire drive, we will have numerous stops for spectacular photo opportunities of people, sites, scenes and nature. Karakol is situated near the eastern end of lake Issyk-kul, the highest mountains (Peak Pobeda, “Tomur” in Chinese, 7439 m and Khan-Tengri, Kan Too in Kyrgyz, 7010 m) and the largest glacier, Ynylchek, in Tien-Shan mountains. During the sightseeing tour of Karakol, founded at the end of the XIX century, we will see Dungan’s mosque, which is built in the style of a Buddhist pagoda and is made of wood. It was built without a single nail. There is also the Russian Orthodox Church, “Sviato-Troitski Sobor”. After lunch in Karakol, we will drive to the Djety-Oguz Gorge, where we will see an eagle hunting show, demonstrating the old sport of falconry. Golden eagles are used to hunt for hares, foxes, gazelles and even wolves. After the show, we will return to our hotel, “Raduga”.

Day 8 – LAKE ISSYK-KUL/BISHKEK (Sept. 21)
We will visit Petroglyphs (rock paintings) and then take a cruise on Lake Issyk-kul in a comfortable private boat. The mountains on both sides of the lake will be spectacular.

We will continue our journey to the Bishkek, visiting the famous 11 th century “Burana Tower”, one of the remaining watch towers from silk route times, and see the traditional horse game, Ulak Tartish. In this game, two teams of horsemen try to take away a dead goat from each other, the winner keeping the goat. We will then have a lovely lunch at the mayor’s home.

We will then continue to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, sits 800 meters above sea level amidst the foothills of the Tien Shan Mountains. Two rivers, the Alamedin and Ala-Archa, run from the mountains through the city into the Chuy River, which also forms the Kazakh border. The city is graced with large boulevards, friendly people, and more trees than any other Central Asian city. On clear days, the permanently snow-capped mountains looming over the city provide spectacular views. This is a nature-lover's paradise as 94% of the country is covered by mountainous terrain. Kyrgyzstan is the least populated of the Central Asian countries, with roughly 6 million inhabitants. Our hotel will be the 4-star Ak-Keme Hotel.

Day 9, 10 – BISHKEK (Sept. 22, 23)
We will take a tour of the city and visit the natural history museum as well as the Presidential Palace. Highlights of our stay here include a visit to a local school and dinner with an evening folk performance of traditional Kyrgyz songs and dances.

The next day, we will spend the full day at the Kyrgyz State Natural Park, “Ala-Archa”, where we will have a picnic and hike along the beautiful mountains. In the afternoon, we will return to Bishkek to visit a colorful bazaar and stroll through a souvenir shopping center. In the evening, we will have a farewell dinner with a folklore show. Here, we will learn about the customs and traditions of the Kyrgyz people.

Day 11 – TASHKENT (UZBEKISTAN)(Sept. 24)
We will fly from Bishkek to Tashkent, taking the first flight available. Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and, unlike its silk route sisters, is a modern city. Much of its two thousand years of architectural history, however, was reduced to rubble by the earthquake in 1966. During the city tour, we will visit the Amir Timur museum, the handicraft museum and the amazing underground metro. In Tashkent, we will stay at the luxurious Tashkent Palace Hotel.

Day 12, 13 - SAMARKAND (Sept. 25, 26)
Today, we will take a five-hour drive to Samarkand with various stops. This is perhaps the most intriguing place on our itinerary. Samarkand has been called the Mirror of the World, the Pearl of East and the Center of the Universe and was always a major Silk Road crossroad. The greatest conquerors all came here - Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and Tamerlane and we will see what drew them there.

Highlights of our sightseeing include the colorful bazaar and the historical and religious monuments such as Registan Square, which is considered to be Central Asia's noblest square, Gur Emir, Shah-i-Zinda, Bibi Khanum Mosque and the Ulugh Beg Observatory. The grandson of Tamerlane, Ulugh Beg, was enthralled with stars and constructed the best-equipped observatory in the medieval world. It was an amazing undertaking.

Sites of interest include the Square of Independence, the Navoi Theatre, the Palace of People's Friendship, the Kukeldash Madrassah (16th century), the Kaffel-Shashi mausoleum (also 16th century), and the wonderful Museum of Applied Arts. Our stay will be at a 4-star Afrosiyob Hotel.

Day 14 – SAMARKAND / Day trip to PANJAKENT – TAJIKISTAN (Sept. 27)
Passing the border, we will drive to Panjakent in the morning and visit the Rudakiy Museum and Archaeological excavations. We will then drive back to Samarkand late in the afternoon and visit the Afrosiyab Museum, which has an exhibit of archaeological discoveries, pottery and terracotta statuettes. While in Samarkand, we will also enjoy a costume show with the local costumes displayed. Our stay will be at the Afrosiab Hotel. Dinner will be at a national restaurant.

Day 15, 16 – BUKHARA (UZBEKISTAN)(Sept. 28, 29)
We will drive to Bukhara by coach. Arriving in Bukhara, we will stay at the 4-star Bukhara Palace hotel and have lunch there. Legendary Bukhara is perhaps Central Asia's finest example of a preserved silk route town. Much of its center is an architectural preserve hardly touched by the 20th century. We will enjoy strolling through the twisted streets, past brilliant floral tile designs, lush gardens and a small chaikhana (teahouse) under the grape arbors. We'll explore and enjoy the best shopping opportunities in the covered bazaars, which offer antiques, spices and crafts of all kinds.

Highlights of our tour include the Labi-Hauz pool/square and its adjoining mosque and madrassahs, the Saifuddin Caravanserai, the Magok-i-Attari mosque and the massive Ulugh Beg and Abdul Aziz Madrassahs. We will also see the Kalon Minaret "Tower of Death" and the Kalon Mosque, the second largest mosque in Central Asia after Bibi Khanum in Samarkand. One of the most enjoyable visits in Bukhara is to the summer palace of the last emir located several miles outside the city in an environment of vegetable fields and suburban clutter. This structure was built by the Russians to keep the last emir comfortable but politically isolated, while native artisans created the beautifully decorated interiors. We see various samples of Uzbek and Chinese ceramics at an outbuilding full of Uzbek royal costumes and at the museum of suzana national-style embroidery in the complex's former harem. Dinner on the second day will be a cultural event with folkdance, live music, a costume show and the very tasty traditional foods of Uzbekistan. On one of the nights, we will have dinner at a local family’s home.

Day 17, 18 – KHIVA (Sept. 30, Oct. 1)
We will drive through the Kizil Kum (red sand) Desert, stopping for a picnic lunch and for any photo opportunities including – wandering wild camels and shepherds living in yurts.

We will arrive in Khiva early in the afternoon. In Khiva, we will have an introductory tour of the city. Dinner and our stay will be at the Hotel Malika, a nice tourist class hotel at the edge of the city. Khiva is one of the most ancient of Khorezm towns - a desert citadel. It was the capital of Khivan Khanate from the 16th century until its incorporation into the Soviet Union in 1924. Khiva is an impressive ensemble of fabulous architecture. Our second day will also be spent in the city of Khiva, touring the bazaars and enjoying a folk dance show. Dinner will be at a local restaurant.

Day 19, 20, 21, 22 – ASHKABAD (TURKMENISTAN) (Oct. 2, 3, 4, 5)
We will cross the Turkmen border and arrive in Tashauz where we will have lunch. Afterwards, we will then take the first flight to Ashkabad where we will check-in to the luxurious Nisa Hotel. Ashkabad, the "city of love", is the capital of Turkmenistan, an ancient country with a history many thousands of years old. Ashkabad is a small metropolis surrounded by the Kara Kum (black sand) Desert and the Kopet Dag Mountains. Despite the antiquity of its culture, Ashkabad today is one of the most modern of the Central Asian capitals and due to the hospitality of its people, also one of the most enjoyable to visit. The Turkmen were nomadic and much of the population still live in rural areas. Many still dress in the traditional costumes and are engaged in the art of carpet making. Our stay in Ashkabad will include visits to the Lenin Monument, new mosque, Turkmen-Turkish cultural center, local Russian Bazaar, National Museum of History & Ethnography and the Museum of Carpets and Textiles. On the second day, we will visit the Tolkuchka Bazaar, which is situated in the middle of the desert at the edge of the city. Acres of goods, ranging from jewelry, camels, food and handicrafts to nuts are sold by local vendors, mostly women. It is an amazing photo opportunity.

One of the highlights of Ashkabad is a visit to ancient Nisa, located just outside the city. Nisa was once the capital of a great Parthian Kingdom that existed 2,300 years ago. This settlement was no ordinary military fortress, but instead a luxurious center of ancient civilizations. The Parthians pushed back Alexander's Greek armies and survived succeeding ruling dynasties at Nisa until the Mongols laid siege in the 13th century. Today most of the glorious structures have all but vanished into the desert landscape, but a visit to their impressive remains brings to life the history of old Nisa.

On the final night we will have a lovely dinner with a costume show and folk dance in a local home. There will be more handicrafts for sale there as well.

Day 23 – ISTANBUL (Oct. 6)
Very early in the morning, we will go to the Ashkabad airport for our flight to Istanbul, arriving at 6:20 a.m.. You will check-in to the Eresin Hotel where you will have the rest of the day free for shopping and/or other activities. Dinner will be at a local Turkish restaurant.

Day 24 - DEPART FOR U.S.A. (Oct. 7, Sun)
You will depart on Turkish Airlines to the United States the same day.