EDUCATIONAL and CULTURAL TOURS

TTA 183

“WEA tours are excellent value-for-money. The tour leaders add a great educational dimension to the travel experience. I highly recommend

WEA Travel”

WEA Travel T (08) 8223 1272 ● F (08) 8232 3690 ● E tours@wea-sa.com.au

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Day 12 Monday 27th September

Day 15 Thursday 30th September

Day 14 Wednesday 29th September

Day 18 Sunday 3rd October

untiprografico

Day 13 Tuesday 28th September

Day 16 Friday 1st October

Day 17 Saturday 2nd October

E.&

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The oasis of Samarkand was, according to legend, founded more than 5,000 years ago by King Aphrasiab. Its documented history dates from 329BC when Alexander the Great proclaimed the city to be “more beautiful and majestic than I could have imagined”. Ancient Arab manuscripts refer to Samarkand as the “Gem of the East”. By any standards the city has an astonishing collection of ancient monuments, amongst the most celebrated is Registan Square, where three magnificent madrassah’s flank the central market place. You begin your tour here and you will be delighted by the tiling and mosaics as they are both dazzling and awesome in their detail and stunning hues of turquoise, gold and white. Your will tour will also include; the Bibbi Khanyam Mosque, Ulugbeks Observatory, the Shah-I-Sinda Ensemble and the Gur-Emir Mausoleum. A unique and intricate history waits to be unfolded for you by our expert guides. Breakfast ● Lunch ● Dinner Overnight Samarkand

You travel today 160 kms to Shakhrisabz, meaning green city, which is the home of Tamerlane’s, or Amir Timur’s birthplace. Shakhrisabz is a UNESCO World Heritage Memorial Site. Your visit includes: Ak-Sarai Palace, the Kok Gumbaz the Dor-us-Sydat and the Dor-ut-Tilovat complexes, all dating from the 14-17th centuries. The entrance to Tamerlane’s Palace has gi-gantic 40 metre high pylons which were once covered with filigree blue and white and gold mosaics. In its day the palace must have been a magnificent sight to see. Breakfast ● Lunch ● Dinner Overnight Samarkand

This is a day of leisure for you to relax, revisit old and new sites or just enjoy browsing in the bazaars. Colourful shawls, veils, turbans are all excellent purchases and the costumes of the vendors and the customers transport you back to medieval times, as they are little changed from those days – all wonderful photograph opportunities. Breakfast ● Lunch ● Dinner Overnight Samarkand

Following breakfast you return to Tashkent, taking a last look at the entrancing scenery along the way. We will make a stop for lunch on the way to Tashkent. After checking into our hotel you have some free time to explore Tashkent or just relax and enjoy the ambience of this lovely city. Breakfast ● Lunch ● End of Tour Dinner ● Overnight Tashkent

You have some free time to enjoy Tashkent before your late afternoon departure for your flight back to Adelaide via Seoul and Sydney. Breakfast ● Lunch ● In-flight meals Overnight in flight

An early morning arrival into Seoul. Today you will have a sightseeing tour of Seoul which will include; Gyeongbok Palace, Palace of Joseon Dynasty and the National Folk Museum. Lunch will be served in a typical Korean restaurant followed by visits to Insadong Antique Market and Namdaemun Market before making your way back to the airport for your flight back to Adelaide via Sydney. In-flight meals ● Lunch Overnight in flight

Arrive into Adelaide Airport early after-noon. End of tour

UzbekistanUzbekistan The Great Silk RoadThe Great Silk Road

...enriching lives through cultural exchange

16th September 16th September -- 3rd October 3rd October 20102010

Travel WWWWEEEEAAAA

TTA183

18 days $5930twin share + taxes Single supplement $430 + taxes ● Balance due 8th July 2010

Tashkent Tashkent Tashkent Tashkent ● Samarkand ● Bukhara● Samarkand ● Bukhara● Samarkand ● Bukhara● Samarkand ● Bukhara Khiva Khiva Khiva Khiva ● Shakhrisabz ● Seoul● Shakhrisabz ● Seoul● Shakhrisabz ● Seoul● Shakhrisabz ● Seoul

Day 1 Thursday 16th September

Day 3 Saturday 18th September

Day 5 Monday 20th September

Day 2 Friday 17th September

Depart Adelaide for your flight to Tashkent via Sydney and Seoul. Meals in-flight ● Overnight Sydney

Day 4 Sunday 19th September

U zbekistan boasts one of the world’s oldest civilisations. Join us on an exciting tour of this ancient lands most stunning cities along the Great Silk Road; Tashkent the country’s capital city and a city of contrasts, Samarkand

with its 2,500 years of history, Bukhara one of the most ancient cities in Uzbekistan and the fairy tale city of Khiva. This famous route was not only used by silk traders it was am important link between east and west and thousands of caravans plied their wares along its 13,600 km land and sea routes trading in spices, gems, carpets, leather and other exotic goods. The Great Silk Road gave rise to a huge melting pot of customs, cultures and religions, all leaving their mark along the way. This is your chance to explore this entrancing destination, meet its hospitable people, share in its remarkable culture and customs, be enthralled by the spectacular architecture and enjoy the dramatic scenery on this fully escorted WEA tour.

Tour Leader: Dr Suzanne Brugger is a graduate of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Her studies included Islamic Law and the art, archaeology and history of the Islamic world. She has lectured at Flinders University and has led a number of previous WEA study tours including Uzbekistan, China and Iran.

Tour includes: Adelaide to Adelaide return flights ● Pre tour class Fully escorted sightseeing ● All meals as published ● Daily bottle of water ● Seoul Sightseeing tour ● Specialist Local Guides ● Pre & Post Tour Meetings ● Comprehensive tour pack

You have an early morning flight to Seoul. Tonight you will have a stop over in Seoul. Packed Breakfast ● Meals in-flight Overnight Seoul

An early afternoon flight to Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan. You arrive into Tashkent early evening and settle into your hotel. Tashkent, meaning Stone Fortress, has always been an important junction on the trade routes. It became a Muslim city in the 8th century and although much of the city was destroyed by wars and earthquakes, traces of its ancient history can still be seen – the Kukeldash Madrassah, the Sheikhantaur Ensamble and the Kazrati-Imam complex, all well worth a visit. Barak-Khan Madrassah and

Hasti Immam complex, which includes the worlds most ancient Koran, the Abdulkasim Madrassah and Navruz Square complete the days sightseeing tour. Meals in-flight ● Lunch ● Welcome dinner Overnight Tashkent

A full day sightseeing tour awaits you of both the old and the new Tashkent. Over one hundred nationalities live in this ancient city in a cosmopolitan blend cultures and traditions. Tashkent boasts the only Metro system in Central Asia, its lavish decoration is well worth a look. The old city is a maze of narrow streets, lined with ancient mud brick houses and people in traditional dress can still be seen in the Chorsu Bazaar. Todays tour will include Independence Square, Amir Temur Square, Alisher Navoi Theatre Square and a visit to the Museum of Applied Arts where you will be able to see traditional arts and crafts on display. In the new city you will visit the Fine Art Museum, boasting 1,000 year old Buddhist statues, Zoroastrian artefacts and Turkistan art. Breakfast ● Lunch ● Dinner Overnight Tashkent

Today you fly from Tashkent to Urgench then transfer to the nearby city of Khiva for the next two nights. Khiva, a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famous for its masters of handicraft - skilful wood and stone carvers, metal chasers and jewellers. Khiva’s hand woven carpets and hand embroidery - "suzannies" are renowned world-wide Original produce and multiple souvenirs can be purchased straight from master workshops lining the narrow streets of the old city. You will start your visit with the medieval town centre, which has retained much of the exotic charm of an ancient oriental city. The area known as the Ichan-Kala is where your exploration will begin with a visit to the 10th

Day 10 Saturday 25th September

Day 9 Friday 24th September

Day 8 Thursday 23rd September

Day 7 Wednesday 22nd September

Day 6 Tuesday 21st September

“I am very glad I went with WEA Travel”

Day 11 Sunday 26th September

–11th century Kunya-Ark Citadel and the 19th century Tash-Hauli Palace and Harem which was one the home of the Khans. The palace has been preserved intact with its ornate gates, majolica, wood and marble carving and painted ceilings. You will also visit the Minar Minaret, the Juma Mosque, the Mausoleum of Pahlavan Mahmud, the Islam Khodja Madrassah and the Said Allauddin Mausoleum - all beautifully decorated with vibrant coloured turquoise tiles. Breakfast ● Lunch ● Dinner in an Uzbek family house ● Overnight Khiva

This morning you travel by coach to an area called Ellik Kala meaning ‘Fifty Fortresses’. Your coach drops you at the bridge crossing the river at Amu-Darya where you alight a coach on the other side! From here you will have the chance to explore some of the many fortresses in this area. You may also have the opportunity to visit an archaeological dig where staff and students from the University of Sydney are excavating. Lunch today will be in a nomad’s yurt, a wonderful experience to add to your list. Breakfast ● Lunch in a nomad’s yurt Dinner ● Overnight Khiva

You have a little free time before an early afternoon departure for the 500 km drive to Bukhara passing through the Kyzylkum Desert along the way. Bukhara is one of the oldest towns of the Orient, over 2500 years old and located in the transitory area where the oasis of the Zerafshan River turns into the sandy the desert of Kyzylkum. Bukhara lies west of Samarkand and was once a centre of learning renowned throughout the Islamic world. With more than 140 architectural monuments Bukhara is a ‘town museum’

consisting of narrow streets, green parks and gardens and historical buildings. Bukhara was in the height of its glory in the 10th century when the city was a large commercial centre for the Great Silk Road to China. For those who like to shop the bazaars may prove irresistible with the variety of high-quality local souvenirs: gilded needlework, wool and silk carpets, silk fabrics - "shoi", "adras" and other satins, suzannies, ceramics, chased metal plates, knives and stork-like shaped scissors and a great deal of other fascinating crafts. Breakfast ● Lunch ● Dinner Overnight Bukhara

You have a full day tour to enjoy the oriental wonders of this ancient and beautiful city. The exquisite blue tiling and golden brickwork is renowned and it is here in Bukhara where Turkistan culture comes alive. You begin your tour with a visit to the Ark, a fortress which protected the city in one form or another from as long ago as the 4 century BC. You will also visit the Lyabi Khauz Square, the Kalyan Square and the surrounding buildings including: Magoki-Attori Mosque, the Trading Domes, Abdullaziz Khan Madrassah, Ismail Samani Mausoleum and the 20th century Summer Palace of the Emir. Tonight you will attend a Folk Song and Dance Show at Nodir Devon Begi Medrese. Breakfast ● Lunch ● Dinner Overnight Bukhara

Your tour today is to the Sarmysh Gorge one of the greatest ‘rock galleries’ in the world. Here you can explore the 3,500 petroglyphs dating back from the stone and bronze ages artistically depicting animals, human beings and scenes of hunting still can be quite clearly seen. From here there are stunning views across the mountains and gorges, a good photo opportunity. You have lunch in the town of Navoi before returning to Bukhara in the late afternoon. Breakfast ● Lunch ● Dinner Overnight Bukhara

Today you continue your discovery of Bukhara and its myriad historical sites; the Chasmai Ayub, whose original structure dates from the 12th century, the Mosque Bolo-Khauz, Char Minar Mosque and the memorial complex of Naqshbandy are all fascinating and unique sites. Breakfast ● Lunch ● Dinner Overnight Bukhara

A free morning in Bukhara for you to relax, shop or explore at your own pace. In the afternoon you travel the 300 kms to Samarkand via Gizhduvan, which has an interesting ceramic workshop then on to Rabat-i-Malik, which was a caravanserai stop on the old Silk Route before arriving at Samarkand, the second largest city in Uzbekistan. Breakfast ● Lunch ● Dinner Overnight Samarkand