167 CENTRALASIA Uzbekistan APRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCT 0 - 10 - 20 10 20 30 40 0 100 200 300 Temperature ( o C) Rainfall ( mm) MongoliaKyrgyzstan JANFEBMARNOVDEC UzbekistanKyrgyzstan China Kazakhstan Mongolia climate chart regional map

CENTRALASIAUZBEKISTAN 168 " The homestay and ger camp were fantastic! Exactly the right amount of involvement and activities." Dave Arrowsmith central asia Jewel of the Silk Road Imaginative Facts Tour code: ATJS • Activities: Extensive walking on city tours and minaret climbing for the fit • Accommodation: 9 nights tourist class hotels, 1 night simple hotel, 1 night in a yurt, 1 night homestay • Transport: Private bus and plane • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader or local leader, services of guides for selected sites DAY 1: TASHKENT- Arrival day. DAY 2: TASHKENT - NUKUS- A short city tour of Tashkent before we fly to the far west. We spend the afternoon exploring Nukus, including a guided tour of the art museum, bringing this world- class collection to life. ( BL) DAY 3: NUKUS - MUYNAK- A full day excursion to the fascinating former port of Muynak. The retreating Aral Sea has left this a ghost town. We take a short walk to the ' ship cemetery' encountering signs of recent sea life as we go. ( BD) DAY 4: NUKUS - KHIVA- Morning drive to Khiva. Later we begin our tour of this fascinating town including the Djuma Mosque, Kunya Ark and the beautiful mausoleums of the former rulers. ( BL) DAY 5: KHIVA- In the morning we continue our tour. Free afternoon. ( BD) DAY 6: KHIVA - BUKHARA- Morning drive to Bukhara, a city alive with history. Afternoon city tour and evening cultural performance. ( BD) DAY 7: BUKHARA- Morning tour which includes the Ark Fortress, Kaylan Minaret and the covered bazaars. The afternoon is free to return to a favourite site or visit one of the many teahouses for refreshment and delightful pastries. ( BL) DAY 8: BUKHARA - YURT ENCAMPMENT-We drive through the Kyzyl Kum desert via the village of Gijduvan where we visit a potter's workshop. Continue to the Kazakh village of Yangigazgan where we spend the night in yurts ( nomadic tents). Here we will have the chance to ride a camel before the evening's entertainment - Kazakh singing and dancing. ( BD) DAY 9: YURT ENCAMPMENT - SAMARKAND- Drive to the Mirankul Mountains where we take a short trek to visit the cave of Hazrati Daud, a local saint. We continue to Samarkand. ( BD) DAY 10: SAMARKAND- The Registan in Samarkand is Central Asia's most spectacular architectural ensemble. This Silk Road oasis also has a feast of other stunning monuments and we spend a full day on a guided tour of the city. ( BL) DAY 11: SAMARKAND - SHAKHRISABZ-An excursion to the lovely town of Shakhrisabz, birthplace of Tamerlane, which is situated in a small valley at the foot of the spectacular Hisar Mountains. We visit monuments which date back more than six hundred years. In the evening we enjoy a homestay back in Samarkand. ( BD) DAY 12: SAMARKAND - TASHKENT- A free morning before we return to Tashkent. ( BL) DAY 13: TASHKENT- Tour ends. ( B) Discover the architectural treasure- houses of the great Silk Road • Explore the fabulous cities of Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand • Discover the eerie ghost port of Muynak, deserted by the Aral Sea • Enjoy an evening of Kazakh entertainment in a remote nomadic yurt • Walk the Mirankul Mountains or ride a camel in the Kyzyl Kum desert • Visit Shakhrisabz, birthplace of Tamerlane Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Jewel of the Silk Road Khiva Nukus Muynak Tashkent Samarkand Shakhrisabz Bukhara Yangigazgan Russia Mongolia China Moscow Khiva Bukhara Urumqi Ulaan Baatar Irkutsk Ekaterinburg Dunhuang Jiayuguan Xi'an SamarkandBeijing Tashkent Bishkek Issyk Kul LakeKashgar The Rhubarb Road Beijing to Moscow Turpan Single Supplement £ 160 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 12.01 * Price includes tour price of £ 949and local payment of US$ 260All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 1085pp Land Only * traveller Tour duration 13 days © Imaginative Traveller © Imaginative Traveller Starts SunEnds Fri TashkentTashkent 2009 03- May- 0915- May- 09 31- May- 0912- Jun- 09 23- Aug- 0904- Sep- 09 20- Sep- 0902- Oct- 09 Starts SunEnds Fri TashkentTashkent 2010 02- May- 1014- May- 10 30- May- 1011- Jun- 10 22- Aug- 1003- Sep- 10 19- Sep- 1001- Oct- 10 People might associate camels with the deserts of Africa, but the two humped Bactrian camel is actually indigenous to Mongolia. amazing fact ... We can also offer Extra Accommodation, Adventure Travel Insurance& Flights Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243