Page 20 - The Stans of Central Asia: Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan
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Museum of Musical Instruments. The small to visit the town of Istaravshan, an ancient
collection of old and unusual instruments center for trade and craftsmanship. Here,
will come alive during a performance of Tajik we’ll meet with some traditional artisans in
folk music. their workshops and learn about their craft.
Upon our arrival in Khujand, we’ll then enjoy
This evening, we’ll enjoy a Welcome Dinner dinner at a local restaurant.
accompanied by a local folklore performance.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 Explore Khujand
Day 4 Explore Dushanbe
After breakfast, we enjoy a full day of
After breakfast, we continue to discover discoveries in Khujand. Tajikistan’s second
Dushanbe. First, we’ll meet with an ex-pat largest city, Khujand is sometimes referred
living in Tajikistan. Next, we will be to as the northern capital. It lies at the
craning our necks to appreciate the world’s entrance of the Ferghana Valley, a secluded
^PNZYO _LWWP^_ ʮLR[ZWP ]T^TYR XZ]P _SLY mountain oasis that spans three countries but
feet in front of the Palace of Nations. The has a culture all its own. This area has been
ʮLR[ZWP NZ^_ XTWWTZY _Z M`TWO LYO bL^ inhabited for well over 2,000 years, making
OP^TRYPO TY >LY /TPRZ BSTWP SP]P bPɪWW LW^Z Khujand one of the oldest cities in Central
stop to view some of the Tajik avant-garde Asia. Alexander the Great established an
paintings housed at the National Museum of outpost here in the fourth century BC, and it
Tajikistan. After lunch at a local restaurant, also fell to Genghis Khan’s Mongol army in
we’ll drive out to the Palace of Nowruz, an 1220 AD. Khujand was an important junction
opulent structure decorated by some 4,000 ZY _SP >TWV =ZLO LYO ZQ_PY MZ]P _SP M]`Y_ ZQ
L]_T^_^ ZaP] _SP NZ`]^P ZQ ʭaP dPL]^ ?SP feuding overlords.
remainder of the day at leisure. Or, you may
join your Trip Leader to visit the Ismaili BPɪWW Pc[WZ]P 6LXZWT 6S`ULYOT >\`L]P NLWWPO
Center, a cultural and spiritual center of Tajik ;`^SVTY >\`L]P O`]TYR >ZaTP_ _TXP^ ,Y
Ismaili community. imposing theater dominates the scene; shows
and concerts are sporadic, but the extravagant
This evening, dinner is on your own with interior décor is reason enough to visit.
suggestions from your Trip Leader. We’ll also visit Timur Malik’s fortress, where
Breakfast, Lunch he defended the city from Genghis Khan’s
invading armies. The city eventually fell,
but Timur Malik remains a Tajik hero to this
Day 5 Overland to Khujand day. Other discoveries include the Historical
This morning, we will have breakfast at our 8`^P`X ZQ _SP >`RO =PRTZY M`TW_ TY^TOP L
hotel before departing for Khujand. During our corner of the city wall; and the Muslihiddin
journey, we will traverse the mountain passes Memorial Complex. This religious center
that separate the northern arm of Tajikistan bL^ M`TW_ L]Z`YO _SP XL`^ZWP`X ZQ >SPTV
from the rest of the country. The landscapes Muslihiddin, a poet and ruler of Khujand
we explore today are considered some of the during the twelfth century. The original brick
most beautiful in Central Asia. After lunch at a
local restaurant along our journey, we’ll stop
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
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