YOUR DESTINATION
SPECIALIST
2017
Central Asia
& Great Silk Road
KAZAKHSTAN - UZBEKISTAN - TURKMENISTAN
19 CULTURALLY MAGNIFICENT DAYS - Tuesday 28th March 2017
ALMATY to ASHGABAT by PRIVATE TRAIN
Highlights
DISTINCTIVE CAPITALS:
• Tashkent (Uzbekistan): the cultural
capital of Central Asia
• Ashgabat (Turkmenistan): most
modern city in Central Asia
EVERYDAY LIFE IN CENTRAL ASIA:
• Valuable cultural insights: lectures,
fairy tales and information about
history and regional traditions
• Dinner & costume show in courtyard
of an old madrasah - Bukhara
• Lunch in the summer palace of an
Emir - Khiva
• Lunch in a typical Uzbek house
• Siab Oriental Bazaar in Samarkand
• The making of traditional art
objects: eg silk and carpets
PLACES THAT MADE HISTORY:
• Almaty - “Father of Apples”
- a touch of Russia
• Registan: the most beautiful square
of the Orient
• Grave City complex of mausoleums Samarkand
• Wall murals of ancient Afrosiab
town - Samarkand
• Ark Fortresses in Bukhara & Khiva
• Ismael Samani and Gur Emir
mausoleums - Bukhara
• Ancient Ulug Bek observatory Samarkand
• Tower of Death complex - Bukhara
HIGHLIGHTS UNESCO'S WORLD
HERITAGE:
• Turkestan: Mausoleum of Khoja
Ahmed Yasavi - first Turkic Holy Man
• Historical Centre of Shakhrisabz Home Town of Timur
• The inner town & historic crowded alleys of the
old Khiva oasis
• Historical Centre & the Caravansarai Markets
of Bukhara
• Samarkand & its famous Registan - an
Intersection of Cultures
• The Pearl of the East; Ancient Walls & Ruins
of historic Merv
• The old Parthian city excavations of Nisa
SPECTACULAR NATURE:
• Giant Panda encounter - Sichuan, China
• Karakum desert & the snow-capped Tien Shan
Mountains
Central Asia by Private Train
19 Culturally Magnificent Days
Totally Unique
Exotic Holiday Experience
The Great Silk Road
NO ONE KNOWS for sure when the miraculously
fine, light, soft, strong, shimmering, sensuous fabric
spun from the cocoon of the caterpillar first reached
the West from China. In the 4th century BC, Aristotle
described a fibre that may have been Chinese silk.
Some people give credit for history’s first great
industrial espionage coup to a Chinese princess who
was departing to marry a Khotanese king: the legend
goes that she hid live worms and cocoons in her
elaborate hairstyle, in order to fool customs agents
so she would be able to wear silk in her ‘barbarian’
home. Others give credit to Nestorian monks who
allegedly hid silkworm eggs in their walking sticks
as they travelled from Central Asia to Byzantium.
The Romans probably first laid eyes on silk when the
Parthians unfurled great blinding banners of the stuff
on the battlefield.
But even after the secret of sericulture (silk farming)
arrived in the Mediterranean world, the Chinese
consistently exercised the advantages of centuriesacquired know-how. Parthia, on the Iranian plateau,
was the most voracious foreign consumer of Chinese
silk at the close of the 2nd century BC, having
supposedly traded an ostrich egg for its first bolt of
silk. In about 105 BC, Parthia and China exchanged
embassies and inaugurated official bilateral trade
along the caravan route that lay between them.
With this the Silk Road was born – in fact, if not in
name – to flourish for another 800 years.
Geographically the Silk Road was never a single road,
but rather a fragile network of shifting intercontinental
caravan tracks that threaded through some of the
highest mountains and bleakest deserts on earth.
Though the road map expanded over the centuries,
the network had its main eastern terminus at the
Chinese capital Ch’ang-an (modern Xian).
West of there, the route divided at Dunhuang, one
branch skirting the dreaded Taklamakan Desert to
the north while the other headed south. The two
forks met again in Kashgar, from where the trail
headed up to any of a series of passes confronting the
traveller who attempted to cross the Pamirs and Tian
Shan Mountains (one pass again in use today is the
Torugart, on the border with Kyrgyzstan). Beyond the
mountains, the Fergana Valley fed westward through
Samarkand and Bukhara, past Merv and onto Iran,
the Levant and Constantinople.
Goods reached transhipment points on the Black and
Mediterranean Seas, where caravans took on cargo
for the march back eastward over the same tracks.
In the middle of the network, major branches headed
south over the Karakoram range to India and north
across the steppes to the Volga (Russia).
COMMERCIAL CARAVANS
AND BARTER
Goods heading West and East did not fall into
discreet bundles. In fact there was no ‘through traffic;
caravanners were mostly short and medium distance
haulers who marketed and took on freight along a
given beat according to their needs and inclinations.
The earliest exchanges were based on mercantile
interactions between the steppe nomads and settled
towns, when barter was the only form of exchange.
Only later did a monetary economy enable long
distance trade routes to develop.
At any given time any portion of the network might
be beset by war, robbers or natural disaster: the
northern routes were plagued by nomadic horsemen
and a lack of settlements to provide fresh supplies
and mounts; the south by fearsome deserts and
frozen mountain passes. In general, the Eastern
end was enriched by the importation of gold, silver,
ivory, jade and other precious stones, wool, horses,
Mediterranean coloured glass (an industrial mystery
as inscrutable to the Chinese as silk was in the West),
cucumbers, walnuts, pomegranates, grapes and wine,
spices, ivory and – an early Parthain craze – acrobats
and ostriches. Goods enriching the Western end
included silk, porcelain, paper, tea, lacquer ware,
spices, medicinal herbs, gems and perfumes.
And in the middle lay Central Asia, a great clearing
house that provided its native beasts – horses and
two-humped Bactrian camels – to keep the goods
flowing in both directions. The cities of Bukhara
and Samarkand marked the halfway break, where
caravans from Aleppo and Baghdad met traders
from Kashgar and Yarkand. Caravanserais (Inns for
camel caravens) grew up along the route, offering
lodgings, stables and stores. Middlemen amassed
great fortunes, much of which went into beautifying
cosmopolitan and luxuriant caravan towns such as
Bukhara. The cities offered equally vital services,
such as brokers to set up contracts, banking houses
to set up a line of credit and markets to sell the
goods.
SYRIA
INTERCHANGE OF IDEAS
AND CULTURE
The Silk Road gave rise to unprecedented trade, but
its true glory and unique status in human history was
the result of the interchange of ideas, technologies
and religions that occurred among the very different
cultures that used it.
In the course of his archaeological expeditions in
Western China, Albert von Le Coq brought back
examples of 17 different languages written in 24
different scripts. The Silk Road also passed music and
dance from West to East.
Buddhism spread along the trade routes to wend
its way from India to China. It’s hard to imagine that
Buddhist monasteries once dominated cultural life in
Central Asia; because only the faintest archaeological
evidence remains today in ex-Soviet Central Asia,
although in China there is considerable evidence.
The Silk Road never regained its vitality after the
cosmopolitan Chinese Tang dynasty. The destruction
and turbulence wreaked by Genghis Khan and Timur
dealt an economic blow to the region, and the literal
and figurative drying up of the Silk Road lead to the
abandonment of cities along the southern shore of
the Taklamakan Desert. The metaphoric nail in the
Silk Road’s coffin was the opening of maritime trading
routes between Europe and Asia.
Central Asia remained largely forgotten until the
arrival of Russian and British explorers in the 19th
century and the rediscovery of the glory of Western
China’s Silk Road cities. Ironically, it was only then, 20
centuries after the first Chinese mission to the West
that the term ‘Silk Road’ was ever used.
The fall of the USSR has seen a mini revival in all
things Silk Road in Central Asia. The re-establishment
of rail links to China and Iran, the growth of border
trade over the Torugart and Khunjerab Passes, and
the increase in oil piped along former silk routes
all offer the ‘stans a means to shake off ties with
Moscow. Camel trains have been replaced by trucks
and silk replaced by other tradable products, but the
Silk Road still remains relevant today.
CHINA
The Countries
We Visit
KAZAKHSTAN
A stable government with a widely popular communist
President (Nazarbaev) who has been in office since
before independence (1990). The President is one of
the world’s richest men who leads with a mixture of
pragmatism and authoritarian force. It is a strongly
emerging liberalised economy (larger than all the other
Central Asian countries) which encourages western
investment. Current growth rate exceeds 10%. It is the
first ex-soviet republic to repay their IMF debt (7 years
ahead of schedule) and the first to receive an investment
grade credit rating. The economy is based on vast
natural resources (oil, coal, iron and natural gas),
particularly energy resources (crude oil and natural
gas). It is among the top 10 oil producing countries
of the world (60% of exports). Steppe cities are being
refashioned by oil money and a pioneer spirit.
In 2000 the largest oil find in many years was discovered
in the Kashagan Reserve, in Kazakhstan’s part of the
Caspian Sea. It was the world’s largest discovery of
oil since Prudoe Bay in 1967. Pipelines now carry oil
to Russian Black Sea ports and into China. Politically
the oil challenge irritates Russia, who has been
appeased by defence agreements and participation
in their common economic zone. Industrialisation and
natural resource exploitation started after WW2 under
Krushchev with a campaign to develop the Virgin
Lands (Northern Steppes of Kazakhstan). The plan was
to irrigate the steppes and deserts of Kazakhstan and
Uzbekistan using water via canals from Siberian rivers.
Russian citizens were also encouraged to migrate to
help cultivate the northern pasturelands of Kazakhstan
in the 1950’s and 60’s. Other major exports include
wheat, cotton textiles, livestock - and the country is
a leading exporter of uranium. The country is a huge
producer of wheat - up to a third of the former USSR
total.
The Caspian Sea is the source of the world’s best caviar
(and 90% of the world’s supply), from the famous
beluga (white) sturgeon. A beluga can grow to 6m in
length and the 100kg of caviar from one big fish can
be worth more than a quarter of a million dollars.
Sturgeon catches have dropped significantly over the
past 25 years.
Under the umbrella of the Soviet Union during the Cold War
in the mid to late 1900’s, Kazakhstan became the regional
centre for nuclear weapons trials and development.
As many as 467 nuclear bombs were exploded at the
Polygon testing ground around the town of Kurchatov
(named after the scientist considered the Father of
the Soviet bomb). When the Soviet Union collapsed,
they also inherited 1400 nuclear warheads from the
USSR which were subsequently returned to Russia.
Kazakhstan negotiated a large financial settlement with
the US for total disarmament of its remaining nuclear
arsenal. Kazakhstan still has the world’s oldest and
largest working space launch facility dating back to the
highly successful Soviet space era.
UZBEKISTAN
The country is a nominal democracy, led since 1991 by
President Karimov. A population of 30 million, is half
of the Central Asian population. Its capital and largest
city is Tashkent. Positioned on the ancient Great Silk
Road between Europe and Asia, the majestic UNESCO
heritage cities of Bukhara and Samarkand, famed for
their architectural opulence, once flourished as trade
and cultural centres. The country is one of the world’s
only two double-landlocked countries (the other is
Leichtentein), and includes the southern shoreline
of the Aral Sea. It is bordered by the other 5 ‘stans’,
Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan,
Turkmenistan - every bordering country is also
landlocked.
It is one of the largest producers of cotton (white
gold) in the world, and is rich in natural resources.
The economy relies mainly on commodity production
including gold, uranium and natural gas, as well as the
cotton. Despite the declared objective of transition to a
market economy, the government continues to maintain
economic controls which deter foreign investment. But
the policy of a gradual transition to the market economy
has produced beneficial results, evidenced by their
economic recovery since 1995. The most populous of
the Central Asian countries, Uzbekistan also has the
largest military. Historically there was a big Jewish
population in Bukhara who have largely emigrated since
independence. Most of Uzbekistan’s population today
belongs to the Uzbek ethnic group and speak Uzbek, a
language belonging to the Turkish suite of languages.
The country is 90% Muslim, mostly Sunni Moslems (5%
Shia).
Uzbekistan is rich in history. Occupied by the Mongols
led by Genghis Khan in the 13th century, it was a part
of the Russian Empire and Soviet Union (1924), and is
currently an independent member of CIS. It was the first
of the soviet republics to declare that its laws superceded
those of the old Soviet Union. It has an authoritarian
political system, with government controlled media, and
significant poverty yet a high literacy rate (99%).
After 9/11 Uzbekistan offered the US use of its air base
near the border with Afghanistan, but in recent times,
differences over US support for Georgia and Ukraine
have strained relationships with the west. The US was
ordered to vacate the air base in 2005. Criticism by US
and the West caused the government to move away from
the west and towards Russia and China, but the country
is now moving back to a more western alignment. The
Government controlled command economy is growing
steadily at 7-8% on the back of excellent world prices for
cotton and gold.
It is very slowly moving to a market economy, but
inflation is an issue. Its a dry country with a continental
climate (hot summers, cold winters). Approximately
10% of the country is comprised of irrigated river valleys
(none of Uzbekistan’s rivers reach the sea), the rest is
mountains or desert. Gold deposits are claimed to be
the 4th largest in the world. It is the 5th largest exporter
of uranium, plus copper and natural gas are also large,
creating a large international involvement in mining, oil
and gas.
The Aral Sea used to be the world’s 4th largest inland sea,
but it is now reduced by 50% in size and 65% in volume.
Earlier Soviet policies aimed at maximising cotton crops
(which need lots of water) have drained much of the
sea. Now 85% of available water in Uzbekistan is used
for farming. Unfortunately there is high soil salinity and
heavy use of agrochemicals.
An island in the Aral Sea was a secret soviet test site for
biological weapons in the 1980’s.
TURKMENISTAN
The lavish palaces and mosques in the capital, gold
statues and marble monuments are as captivating as the
deep mysticism and legend that hangs over pilgrimage
sites and ancient ruins. With a population of approx. 5
million, Turkmenistan has the smallest population of the
five former Soviet Republics in Central Asia. It is also the
second wealthiest country in Central Asia, claiming the
world’s 5th largest reserves of natural gas and is the 9th
largest producer of cotton. But most of the country is
occupied by one of the driest deserts in the world, the
arid sub-tropical Karakum Desert. There are vast natural
resources under the ground, especially gas which is still
to be fully exploited. Most gas currently goes to Russia,
with new pipelines to China, Iran and soon Azerbaijan.
Half of the valuable irrigated land is planted with
cotton. This was the focus of Russia’s reorganisation of
agricultural land during the Soviet days, which destroyed
the traditional nomadic life. Among other things, the
country is known also for its fine carpets and horses. The
country is an independent nation after the collapse of
the Soviet Union. It was historically a part of the Persian
Empire, then conquered by Alexander the Great, Muslim
Crusaders and Mongols, annexed by the Russian Empire
in 1881, was part of the Soviet Union for 89 years,
and finally gained independence in 1991. The current
President is apparently making efforts to break out of
Russia’s hold on its exports and making increased contact
with the West, primarily seeking western investment in
the country’s gas reserves.
Turkmenistan is the most ethnically homogeneous of
the Central Asian republics. It has been largely free
of inter-ethnic hostilities. The major ethnic group and
language is Turkmen. Almost 90% are Muslim with
the other 10% mostly Eastern Orthodox Christian.
The world famous medieval archaeological site of Merv
(near the city of Mary) was one of the great cities of the
Islamic world and an important stop on the ancient Silk
Road until the middle of the 15th century.
The first Bahai House of Worship in the world was built
in Ashgabad in the early 12th century. Despite its gas
wealth, much of Turkmenistan’s population is still
impoverished. The country has been unable to benefit
fully from its gas and oil deposits because of an absence
of export routes between the Caspian Sea states, the
result of legal arguments over the Caspian off-shore oil.
The previous President (Niyazov) who died in 2006,
made himself President for Life and the centre of a
personality cult. Turkmens were even expected to take
spiritual guidance from his book, Ruhnama, a collection
of his thoughts on culture and history, that had to be
given equal status to the Koran. Knowledge of it was even
required to obtain your drivers licence! There are truly
amazing physical reminders of his legacy everywhere,
the result of huge expenditure on grandiose projects.
Gems of Central Asia
ALMATY
Almaty is the former capital of Kazakhstan, still its largest
city, and a financial and cultural centre of Central Asia. It
was a Russian frontier fort when the Kazakhs were still
nomads. The commercial heart of Central Asia’s richest
country, Almaty has always been very Russian. Its a clean
and beautiful place, easy on the eye, especially when the
trees are in full bloom. On a clear day, you can also see
the beautifully rugged, snow-capped mountains to the
south which form a great backdrop. Almaty’s people are
a typical mix of dozens of nationalities dominated by the
Russians and Ukrainians.
TURKISTAN
World Heritage listed, Turkistan sits on the edge of
an expansive desert. The ancient city was one of the
important commercial centres on the Great Silk Road.
Today it is a ‘Second Mecca’, a place of pilgrimage for
Central Asian Muslims. It is home to the mausoleum of
the first great Turkic Muslim Holy Man, Khoja Ahmed
Yasavi (1103), and one of the most visited places of
worship in Central Asia. The mausoleum was built on
a grand scale by Timur. It is a marvellous complex of
palaces and temples with elegant decoration, patterned
ceiling arches, and colourful mosaics, even a preserved
medieval bath. The town has become a student town
with a Turkish-Kazakh University. Apart from the Turkish
students, the town is almost entirely Kazakh.
TASHKENT
This Uzbek capital is situated in the very middle of the
Eurasian landmass, and better connected by air than
any other Central Asian city. It is clean and well planned
with lots of pleasant surprises. It is Central Asia’s hub and also its biggest and most worldly city. Some of the
regions slavs have moved to the relative cultural security
of Tashkent from the less stable areas. Its also a haven
for Uzbekistan’s Koreans, Caucasians and Tartars.
SHAKHRISABZ
Known in the Middle Ages as Kesh, it became important
in the 14th century as the exulted hometown of Timur
(born 1336). Everything significant in Shakhrisabz today
is connected with his name. Timur led triumphant
campaigns in Iran, the Caucasus, India and Asia Minor.
At the height of his power his kingdom stretched from
India to Iraq and north to Russia. He made Samarkand
his capital and Shakhrizabz his second capital. Timur
made the town a memorial to his extended aristocratic
family. Timur’s White Palace, crafted by the best
imported artisans, had as much grandeur as anything in
Samarqand. Today, the gigantic 40m high entrance still
stands. It is staggering to think what the complex might
have looked like in size and glory. In the palace centre
stands a popular new statue of Timur.
Behind the renovated Friday Mosque lies the burial
place of the ruling family, and Timur’s underground
crypt discovered in 1963.
SAMARKAND
This is Uzbekistan’s most glorious historic city, at the
crossroads of cultures. No name is so evocative of the
Great Silk Road as Samarkand. Its central position on the
Great Silk Road made it a vibrant city of Islamic study. In
the 14th century it became the capital of the powerful
empire of Timur. Its amazing domes and minarets,
larger-than-life monuments of Timur, the technicolour
bazaar, and the city’s long rich history, leave visitors
mesmerized.
The city has carefully preserved the traditions of ancient
crafts, embroidery, gold embroidery, silk weaving,
engraving on copper, ceramics, carving and painting
on wood. At the centre of the ancient city was the
famous Registan plaza, today surrounded by a sea of
azure mosaics decorating three incredible madrassa’s,
and well-proportioned public spaces - one of the most
awesome single sights in Central Asia.
KHIVA
MERV
BUKHARA
NISA
Founded as the capital of the Parthians in the 3rd
century BC, Khiva is both a very ancient and unique city,
preserved in the traditional, cultural style of the region.
The ridges surrounding the plateau were the fortress
walls of the ancient Khiva oasis. In the 10th century it
became a major trading centre on the Great Silk Road,
where all the camel caravans had to stop on their way
to either Persia or China. The old town today is an openair museum (World Heritage listed) inside the 10m
high ancient crenellated walls of a fortress, showcasing
marvellous minarets, over 50 historic monuments,
250 old houses, religious centres, and narrow stonepaved alleys. It contains well preserved examples of the
oriental urban architecture specific to medieval Central
Asia, including its religious centres and two magnificent
palaces.
The history of Bukhara can be traced back to the
4th century, founded by a Persian Prince from the
beginnings of the Persian Empire according to legend.
It was one of the major trading centres on the Great Silk
Road and is Central Asia’s holiest centre, with historic
buildings spanning nearly 2,000 years. Bukhara is a
unique and authentic art musueum that maintains its
old oriental face. It has traditionally been a centre of
trade, scholarship, culture and religion, attracting skilled
craftsmen of calligraphy and miniature painting, poets
and theologians. The thoroughly lived-in city centre is a
UNESCO World Heritage site that hasn’t changed much
down through this colourful history.
A thousand monuments recall the halcyon days of the
Great Silk Road. Foreign spices, furs and silk fabrics
were stored in the caravansarais (an inn built around
a large courtyard, for accommodating camel caravans).
Approx 140 protected buildings include the covered
markets, the amazing Kalon Minaret and Mosque, the
fabulous, UNESCO listed mausoleum of Ismail Samani,
and the very cute and unique Chor Minor. The famous
Ark fortress is a royal town-within-a-town. It is Bukhara’s
oldest structure, occupied from the 5th century right up
to 1920, while the photographic Chor Minor, hidden in
a maze of alleys, is certainly a gatehouse worth finding.
The oasis of Merv, famous as the site of the earliest
bronze age settlements (fr 2,500 BC), lies with its gigantic
walls and ramparts in the Karakum Desert. Home to
one of Central Asia’s great historic sites of immense
size and significance to the whole of Central Asia, it
was the first of Turkmenistan’s UNESCO Heritage listed
sites. Its urban centre consisted of several walled cities
developed around 500 BC when, for a while, it was part
of Alexander the Great’s empire. It was the capital of the
famous Seljuk Empire (11-13th centuries) at the height
of its prosperity, and one of the most important cities
of its time, attracting scholars, famous astronomers
and poets from all over the Islamic world. Amazing
archeological ruins remain, well-preserved fortesses,
massive walls, mausoleums, mosques, and a range of
fortified buildings.
A marvellous UNESCO Heritage site just 20 kms from
Ashgabat, Nisa was originally founded as the Parthian
capital in the 3rd century BC. It was reputedly the royal
necropolis of the Parthian Kings, although it has not yet
been established that the fortress of Nisa was either a
royal residence or a mausoleum. The ridges surrounding
the plateau were the fortress walls. Excavations at Nisa
have revealed substantial buildings, shrines, inscribed
documents, looted treasury, and decorated ivory coins
inscribed with classical mythological scenes.
ASHGABAT
Ashgabat has undergone a dramatic transformation
since independence as President Niyazov made a
political statement and built the city to his own grandiose
plans. In earlier times, being close to the Britishinfluenced Persia (today’s Iran). Ashgabat was regarded
as a pleasant town with European style buildings, shops
and hotels. The colourful Tolkuchka Bayaar is a typical
oriental market, one of the largest in Central Asia. In
addition to camels, you can buy precious silver jewellery
and valuable carpets. It grew on the ruins of an old Silk
Road city, famous as a wine-producing town of the 2nd
century. At the centre of Ashgabat is the large Arch of
Neutrality, erected to celebrate the Turkmen people’s
endorsement of the governments policy of neutrality in
1998. Above the arch itself is a real gem, a 12m high
polished rotating gold statue of Niyazov.
It is a surprising city of ultra-modern buildings, parks and
gardens, and spotless streets. It is a very interesting city
to visit!
& the Great Silk Road
Itinerary
Day 1: Tue 28 March
BRISBANE – BEIJING
This morning we join our China Southern flight to
Guangzhou where on arrival we will transit through
customs, immigration and security to join up with our
domestic flight to Beijing - arriving late.
Accommodation: Park Plaza Hotel
Meals included: In Flight meals
Day 2: Wed 29 March
BEIJING
A day at leisure in dynamic Beijing. Beijing has many
smaller less well-known attractions to explore - Bei
Hai Park, traditional theatre in the Lao She teahouse,
visit Mao’s mausoleum, stroll around the speciality
shops of old Chinatown, visit the beautiful Lama
Buddhist Temple, Mao’s underground city, the
historical astrological observatory, visit the Red Gate
Art Gallery, the National Art Museum, or perhaps do a
walking tour of Beijing’s best hutongs.
Accommodation: Park Plaza Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 3: Thu 30 March
BEIJING – ALMATY
Following breakfast we will be transferred to the
airport for our onward flights to Almaty via Urumqi,
with arrival late evening. Dinner will be in Urumqi. We
will be transferred to our accommodation for our first
night in Kazakhstan and the start of our fascinating
journey across Central Asia.
Accommodation: Rahat Palace Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast /In Flight/Meals
Day 4: Fri 31 March
ALMATY
After breakfast we depart for morning sightseeing of
Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan and the country’s
capital until 1997. Located in the mountainous area of
southern
Kazakhstan, the city remains the major commercial
and cultural centre for the country as well as its largest
population centre.
Lying in the shadows of the magnificent Tien Shan
Mountains, this fascinating city features tree lined
avenues, expansive parks and street cafes. We will
visit the 19th century Russian Orthodox Zenkov
Cathedral, one of the world’s tallest ‘all wooden
construction’ buildings. Following a special
welcome lunch in a traditional yurt, we will be
transferred to our Silk Road train ‘Registan’ where
we board and settle in for our first evening of train
travel.
Accommodation: On Board ‘Registan’
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 5: Sat 1 Apr
ALMATY – TURKESTAN
We will have breakfast on board our train prior to
arriving into the town of Turkestan in Kazakhstan.
During our stay here we visit the Mausoleum of
Khoja Ahmed Yasavi, a UNESCO World Heritage
Site and one of the best preserved of all Timurid
period constructions. Commissioned in 1389
by Timur, who ruled the area known as the
Tumurid Empire, to replace a smaller 12th century
mausoleum of the famous Turkic poet and Holy
Man, this mausoleum remains an iconic structure
in this region. The structure features spatial
arrangements, innovative architectural solutions
for vault and dome construction with ornamented
glazed tiles, and became a prototype for design
across the empire and the world beyond. We
reboard our train and journey overnight to
Tashkent in Uzbekistan, with border formalities
being handled on board.
Accommodation: On Board ‘Registan’
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 6: Sun 2 Apr
TASHKENT
This morning we arrive into Tashkent, the capital
city of Uzbekistan, with a population approaching
4 million. Due to its position in Central Asia,
Tashkent has maintained a prominent role in
that region’s history having been destroyed by
Genghis Khan and then rebuilt from profits made
through the Silk Road. Today Tashkent is the most
cosmopolitan city in Uzbekistan and known for its
tree-lined streets, numerous water fountains and
public park areas. Our sightseeing experiences in
Tashkent include the Madrasah Kukeldash, dating
back to the reign of Abdullah Khan II (1557-1598)
currently under restoration and being used as a
mosque.
Also we will see the Amir Timur Museum and the
Khast Imam Mosque, which contains one of the
oldest copies of the Koran in the world. Dating
from 655, the deerskin book is stained with the
blood of murdered Caliph Uthman, and remains a
major item in the Islamic religion.
This evening, we attend a performance at the
Tashkent Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet Theatre
(dependent upon schedules). This building was
designed by the same architect who created Lenin’s
Tomb in Moscow. Following the performance we
will reboard our train and continue on towards
Shakhrisabz.
Accommodation: On Board ‘Registan’
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 7: Mon 3 Apr
SHAKHRISABZ
Shakhrisabz, formerly the ancient city of Kesh, is
one of Central Asia’s oldest cities, founded more
than 2,700 years ago. It was the home of Timur,
and once the winter home of Alexander the Great.
Due to the number of impressive monuments
from the Timurid Dynasty, the old part of the city
has been placed on the UNESCO World Heritage
List, providing the opportunity to see the ruins of
Timur’s enormous Summer Palace, the Tomb of
Timur, and the local colourful market.
During our time in Shakhrisabz, we will experience
unique traditions of the region including a taste
of Uzbek wine! In the evening our rail journey
continues as we head towards fabled Samarkand.
Accommodation: On Board ‘Registan’
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 8: Tue 4 Apr
SAMARKAND
We spend the next 2 nights in this fascinating city –
Samarkand – at the Intersection of Cultures. One of
the oldest cities in the world, Samarkand prospered
from its central position on the Great Silk Road, and
at one time was considered the most beautiful city
in the world.
Our time here will be filled with exploration of this
amazing ancient city, including ‘Grave City’, see the
fabulous ancient wall murals from the excavation
site of Afrosiab, along with cultural highlights – a silk
carpet factory, an Uzbek craftman’s family, see paper
manufactured from mulberry bark and much more.
Our nights in Samarkand will be spent at a hotel,
providing a break from our rail accommodation.
Accommodation: Registan Plaza Hotel
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Itinerary cont.
Day 9: Wed 5 Apr
SAMARKAND
During the 14th century, the city was the capital of
the Timur Empire and the site of Timur’s Tomb (the
Gur-e Amir). We visit this wonderful site along with
the Bibi-Khanym Mosque and the world famous
Registan.
The Registan was the ancient centre of the city
and today incorporates three iconic Madrassas.
This public square is a magnificent sight and will
entrance every visitor, framed by these three
magnificent buildings of Islamic architecture.
Accommodation: Registan Plaza Hotel
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 10: Thu 6 Apr
SAMARKAND – KHIVA
This morning is free to enjoy some last minute
personal sightseeing before we again rejoin our
train for our departure to Khiva and the spectacular
scenery that awaits us along this section of the rail
journey. We overnight on board as the journey
continues.
Accommodation: On Board ‘Registan’
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 11: Fri 7 Apr
KHIVA
We arrive into the oasis of Khiva and yet another
fascinating ancient oasis town. Khiva is divided
into two distinct parts. The inner town called
Itchan Kala is encircled by enormous iconic mud
brick walls, the foundations dating back to the
10th century. The old town contains more than
50 historic monuments and 250 old houses dating
from the 18th century.
Around the Kalta Minor Minaret (a truncated
and beautiful Minaret), life still pulses much as it
did in ancient times. Our time here will include
visits to palaces, museums, mosques, minarets,
mausoleums, Koranic schools and wonderful
examples of oriental and medieval architecture.
Lunch today will be enjoyed within the former
Summer Palace of the Emir.
Accommodation: On Board ‘Registan’
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 12: Sat 8 Apr
BUKHARA
Today we arrive into the ancient town of Bukhara,
inhabited for nearly three millennia and located
on the Great Silk Road. It has long been known as a
centre for trade, scholarship, culture and religion
and at one time was considered the intellectual
capital of the Islamic world. The historic centre
of Bukhara has been listed by UNESCO as a World
Heritage Site.
Situated in the middle of the Karakum desert,
Bukhara features one thousand monuments,
many recalling the halcyon days of the Great
Silk Road. The town was a major storage site for
foreign spices, furs and particularly silk fabrics,
which were transacted via the many camel
caravans that passed through. We will visit the
Kalon Minaret, made in the form of a decorative
circular mud-brick tower, narrowing upwards to a
height of 50 metres. The Minaret was also known
as the Tower of Death, being the site for centuries
where criminals were executed by being thrown
from the top! It is part of a fabulous ensemble
of mosque, madrassa and registan. We will have
dinner in the courtyard of a madrassa, along
with musical accompaniment, local dancing and
a fashion parade of colourful national costumes,
before transferring to a city hotel for the night’s
accommodation.
Accommodation: Omar Khoyyam Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 13: Sun 9 Apr
BUKHARA
Today we spend most of our last hours in Bukhara
touring what has been described as a living
museum displaying its old oriental face. We
will visit the magnificent Mirr-i Arab Madrassa,
meet locals, and walk around arguably the
most beautiful building in Central Asia – the
Samanid Mausoleum, dating back to the 9th-10th
century. The final resting place of Ismael Samani,
the mausoleum is considered one of the best
examples of Central Asian architecture.
Our sightseeing also includes time inside the
massive fortress known as The Ark, initially
built and occupied around the 5th century. In
addition to being a military structure, the fortress
effectively operated as a town and was inhabited
by royal courts that controlled the region. The
entrance is particularly impressive, framed by
twin 18th century towers. Within this wonderful
building is featured the mosque of Ul’dukhtaron.
Our sightseeing concludes with a visit to the only
women’s mosque in the world, which is part of a
delightful Sufi pilgrimage complex honouring the
14th Century saint who established one of Central
Asia’s most significant Sufi Brotherhoods. We
rejoin our train and depart for Merv, the ancient
Pearl of the East.
Accommodation: On Board ‘Registan’
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
before getting together for dinner this evening as
our journey through Central Asia draws to a close.
Accommodation: Grand Turkmen Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 14: Mon 10 Apr
MERV
We spend the day in this most ancient of
archeaological sites and another UNESCO
World Heritage icon. At one time Merv was the
largest city in the world. One of the major oasis
cities in Central Asia, Merv was strategically
positioned along the Great Silk Road to benefit
from the trade that passed through. We will
explore this ancient city with its gigantic walls
and desert ramparts including a special visit to
the spectacular Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar,
dating back to the 12th century, Merv’s major
attraction. The Maiden’s Palace (Kys Kala) is
also on our itinerary along with mausoleums
and other sites of interest. Lunch will be in the
picturesque courtyard of a local family home, and
late afternoon we will board our train for our next
destination – Ashgabat.
Accommodation: On Board ‘Registan’
Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 17: Thu 13 Apr
CHENGDU
A leisurely day today in Chengdu which will include
a visit to the world famous Giant Pandas. This is
a sensational experience to see these beautiful
iconic animals up close, maybe even see some
baby pandas. It is also fun to visit the traditional
tea houses in Peoples Park in the afternoon.
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 15: Tue 11 Apr
ASHGABAT
Our final stop in Central Asia is the city of Ashgabat,
the capital and largest city in Turkmenistan,
located on the edge of the Karakum desert. The
name is Persian in origin and means ‘City of
Love’ – a relatively young city. Ashgabat lies only
a very short distance from the ancient city of
Nisa, the ancient capital of the Parthian Empire.
We will explore the ruins, a World Heritage Site,
where excavations have revealed substantial
buildings, shrines, inscribed documents and even
a looted treasury. Hellenistic art works have been
uncovered as well as coins decorated with Iranian
classic mythological scenes. The border of Iran
lies only a short distance from this old city that
dates back to 250BC. Historical studies indicate
this ancient city may have originally been the
necropolis of the Parthian kings but this has never
been conclusively proven. You will be amazed
at the clean, modern city of Ashgabat with its
staggering architecture and monuments, often
dedicated to the first President, known locally
as Turkmenbashi (Leader of Turkmen). We will
undertake afternoon sightseeing of Ashgabat
Day 19: Sat 15 Apr
BRISBANE
Our adventure concludes with an early morning
arrival into Brisbane, clearing of customs and
immigration, and time to say a quick goodbye to
fellow travellers. Our journey is complete, but the
amazing memories will remain.
Day 16: Wed 12 Apr
ASHGABAT – CHENGDU
Early morning we join our flight to Urumqi, China.
Upon arrival we transfer to our flight to Chengdu
and then to our hotel.
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast / In Flight Lunch
Day 18: Fri 14 Apr
CHENGDU – BRISBANE
The morning is at leisure for last minute shopping
and preparation for the flight home. Later today we
check out and transfer to the airport for our flight
home, via Guangzhou and end our fabulous Central
Asia and Great Silk Road Tour.
Accommodation: On Board Flight
Meals: Breakfast / In Flight meals
SPECIAL NOTE: IRAN EXTENSION
For those wishing to expand on
the Central Asia experience, we
have designed a personalised
8 day add-on option giving you
the opportunity to visit the
captivating country of Iran. If
interested, please ask for details
of cost and arrangements. Check
out the details and join this unique
optional opportunity.
Accommodation
Beijing - Park Plaza Hotel
Tel: +86 10 8522 1999
Bukhara - Omar Khayyam Hotel
Tel: +998 65 221-47-07
Almaty - Rahat Palace Hotel, Akademik
Satpaev Avenue 29/6, 050040 Almaty,
Kazakhstan Tel: +7 727 250 1234
Ashgabat - Grand Turkmen Hotel, 50 Gorogly
Street, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Tel: +993 12 512 050
Classically furnished rooms feature cable TV, a mini-bar,
and a balcony. The two restaurants serve international
and local dishes. There’s a stylish lounge bar and spa
facilities with a gym, hot tub, sauna and massages. The
hotel is just 200 metres from Almaty Circus and the
central tram line. The city sights are easy to reach from
the hotel. Free wifi.
The Grand Turkmen is located in the very centre of
Ashgabat close to the Independence Monument and
National Museum. Rooms feature satellite TV and a
mini-bar. The hotel has four public bars and a casino.
The health club offers a sauna, open pool, fitness and
massage rooms. A Business Centre offers computers and
internet services.
Samarkand - Registan Plaza Hotel, 53
Shokhrukh Street, Samarkand City, Ubekistan
Tel: +998 66 233 40 86
Chengdu - Crowne Plaza Hotel, 21 Zongfu
Street, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
Tel: 1800 669 562
A minute’s walk from a subway station, this modern
hotel is also 3 km from the Forbidden City and 4 km
from Tiananmen Square. The stylish, warmly decorated
rooms include free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and tea and
coffeemakers. Room service is available 24/7. There
are a pair of restaurants, as well as relaxed bar. Other
amenities include a gym, and massage services are
available.
Conveniently located in the city centre, the 7-floor hotel
is close to the historical sights of the Old Town. Rooms
have satellite TV and mini-bar. European and Uzbek
cuisine are served at the two restaurants which have
cosy bars. An indoor fitness centre has a swimming pool
and sauna. There’s a laundry service, souvenir shop and
barber. Free wifi in the lobby.
Omar Khayam Hotel Bukhara is one of the best private
hotels in the city and in Uzbekistan in whole. This is a
unique location in the picturesque old part of Bukhara
where all ancient monuments are concentrated, a
natural and ideal choice for Omar Khayyam Hotel to
be located here. The restaurant doors are open for
tourists after excursions, and they are ready to propose
European and national cuisine.
This is a stylish high-rise hotel in the centre of the city,
with easy access to shopping, restaurants and bars. The
25th floor Sky Lounge provides panoramic views of the
city. Free wifi throughout the hotel. An excellent fitness
centre also offers a swimming pool and a range of spa
massage treatments. Rooms are contemporary and very
comfortable.
Registan
Private Train
THIS JOURNEY FAMILIARISES YOU WITH THE MANIFOLD CULTURES ALONG THE
LEGENDARY SILK ROAD AND NUMEROUS LOCALITIES THAT MADE HISTORY,
AMONG THEM NO LESS THAN 7 UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES.
UPGRADE
TO AN EN-SUITE
COMPARTMENT
AVAILABLE
ON REQUEST
Each ‘Aladdin’ car has eight compartments for
2 guests with 2 lower berths (28” x 72”). They
are not large or luxurious, but quite adequate
and comfortable, with large windows and
baggage space. In the middle, below the
window, you will find a table. Combined wash
room and toilet compartments are located at
both ends of each car. Additionally, a shower
is located at one end of each car and you will
receive a bathing robe and shower utilities.
Further Details
& Costs
FLIGHTS WITH CHINA SOUTHERN AIRLINES
BRISBANE - GUANGZHOU - BEIJING - URUMQI ALMATY........ ASHGABAT - URUMQI - CHENGDU GUANGZHOU - BRISBANE
19 DAYS CENTRAL ASIA
BY PRIVATE TRAIN
Departing Australia: 28 Mar 2017
Returning Australia: 15 Apr 2017
Touring: 19 days (8 train overnights)
by Private Train
Hotel Stopovers at Almaty (2 days), Samarkand
(2 days), Bukhara (1 day), Ashgabat (1 day)
China - 2 days in Chengdu for a special Giant
Panda encounter.
Cost Inclusions: All flights ex Brisbane (upgrades
available), rail travel in Aladdin Class (upgrades
available), hotel stays as per the itinerary,
almost all meals, doctor on-board the train,
comprehensive sightseeing and entrance fees,
experienced local guides in each city, transfers at
airports and train stations, traditional welcomes
at Bukhara and Samarkand, special Uzbek and
Turkmen meals with local families, Musical
performances in Tashkent, Folkloric Show and
meal in a Madrassa, wine and vodka tasting,
background briefing material on destinations
and attractions.
VISITING THREE
FASCINATING
CENTRAL ASIAN
COUNTRIES
PLUS A FULL DAY
IN CHENGDU
FOR A SPECIAL
GIANT PANDA
ENCOUNTER
19 days Central Asia
by Private Train
Departing Australia: 29 March 2017
Returning Australia: 15 April 2017
COST (based on twin share) $12,575pp
Single Supplement $2,775
Upgrade to Sultan cabin on the train
(integrated shower & toilet)
$4,590pp (twin share)
Premium Economy Air Upgrade
Brisbane - Guangzhou and
Guangzhou - Brisbane $660pp
Business Class Air Upgrade
(Brisbane - Beijing and
Chengdu - Brisbane) $2700pp
(conditions apply - subject to change)
Comprehensive Travel Insurance is mandatory
Gratuities, visa fees, beverages and personal expenses are additional
(visa fees will be approx $800 pp)
Central Asia & Great Silk Road 2017
FIRST PASSENGER
FIRST ________________
PASSENGER
Title:
Surname (as shown on passport): _______________________________________________
Title:
________________
Surname
shown on passport): _______________________________________________
Full
Name (as____________________________
First Name(as shown on
passport):
First
Name(as
shown
on
passport):
____________________________
Preferred
Name:
Sex: MALE / FEMALE
Bedding Preference? TWIN / DOUBLE
Sex:you
MALE
/ FEMALE
Bedding
Preference?
TWIN / DOUBLE
Do
require
single
supplement?
YES Do
/ NO
Bedding Preference? TWIN / DOUBLE
you require
single supplement? YES / NO
Do youyou
require
single
supplement?
Would
like us
to keep
an eye outYES
for /aNO
possible twin-share on your behalf? YES / NO
Would you
like
us Single
to keep
an eye outwill
for be
a possible
on yourto
behalf?
YESa/suitable
NO twin-share for you)
(Please
note
that
Supplement
payabletwin-share
if we are unable
assist with
(Please
note
that
Single
Supplement
will
be
payable
if
we
are
unable
to
assist
with
a
suitable
twin-share for you)
Do you wish to book an extension? YES / NO If yes, Please indicate which extension:_______________________
Do
you
wish
to
book
an
extension?
YES
/
NO
If
yes,
Please
indicate
which
extension:_______________________
Do you require business class airfare? YES / NO or Premium Economy? YES / NO
Do you
business
airfare?
YES Sky
/ NO
or Premium
Economy?
Are
yourequire
a Frequent
Flyerclass
Member
with the
Team
or China
Southern? YES
YES/ /NO
NO If yes, Membership: _____________
Are
you
a
Frequent
Flyer
Member
with
the
Sky
Team
or
China
Southern?
YES
/
NO If yes, Membership: _____________
(airline)
Do you have any dietary or seating requests: ___________________________________________________________
Do you hold an Australian passport? YES / NO If No, please state the nationality: ____________________________
Passport Number: _______________________ Date of Issue: _____/_____/____ Date of Expiry: _____/_____/____
Date of Birth: ______/______/______Place of Issue: __________________Occupation: ____________________
FIRST
PASSENGER
SECOND
PASSENGER
Title:
________________
Surname
Title: ________________Full
Surname
(as shown
shown on
on passport):
passport): _______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Name (as
First
Name(as
shown
on
passport):
____________________________
First
Name(as
shown on passport): ____________________________
Preferred
Name:
Sex:
BeddingPreference?
Preference?TWIN
TWIN//DOUBLE
DOUBLE
Sex: MALE
MALE // FEMALE
FEMALE
Bedding
Bedding
Preference?
TWIN
/ DOUBLEYESDo
you require single supplement? YES / NO
Do
you
require
single
supplement?
/
NO
Do you require single supplement? YES / NO
Would
Would you
you like
like us
us to
to keep
keep an
an eye
eye out
out for
for a
a possible
possible twin-share
twin-share on
on your
your behalf?
behalf? YES
YES // NO
NO
(Please
note
that
Single
Supplement
will
be
payable
if
we
are
unable
to
assist
with
a
suitable
(Please note that Single Supplement will be payable if we are unable to assist with a suitable twin-share
twin-share for
for you)
you)
Do
you
wish
to
book
an
extension?
YES
/
NO
If
yes,
Please
indicate
which
extension:_______________________
Do you wish to book an extension? YES / NO If yes, Please indicate which extension:_______________________
Do
Do you
you require
require business
business class
class airfare?
airfare? YES
YES // NO
NO or
or Premium
Premium Economy?
Economy? YES
YES // NO
NO
Are
you
a
Frequent
Flyer
Member
with
the
Sky
Team
or
China
Southern?
Are you a Frequent Flyer Member with the Sky Team or China Southern? YES
YES // NO
NO If
If yes,
yes, Membership:
Membership: _____________
_____________
(airline)
Do you have any dietary or seating requests: ___________________________________________________________
Do you hold an Australian passport? YES / NO If No, please state the nationality: ____________________________
Passport Number: _______________________ Date of Issue: _____/_____/____ Date of Expiry: _____/_____/____
Date of Birth: ______/______/______Place of Issue: __________________Occupation: ____________________
PASSENGER/S CONTACT DETAILS (Please attach details separately if Second Passengers Contact Details are different)
Street Address: __________________________________________________________________________________
Suburb: _______________________________________ State: ___________________ Postcode: _______________
Postal Address (If different from Street Address: ________________________________________________________
Suburb: ______________________________________ State: ___________________ Postcode: _________________
Home Tel: _______________________Work Tel: ________________________Fax: _____________________
Mobile No: ______________________________ Email: _________________________________________________
TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is compulsory and in your interest to carry travel insurance for health, loss of luggage/belongings and in case of
cancellation. Would you like us to send a travel insurance brochure to you?
YES / NO
I have read and understand the responsibility section detailed below on this form and the General Information
and Booking Conditions and accept them on behalf of myself and my party. I declare that I/they are not travelling
against any medical advice.
Signature: _______________________________________________________ Date: ______/______/______
Please also complete the EMERGENCY CONTACT (see over)details plus this form and return it to one of our Travel
Consultants, or to: Group Tour Co-ordinator, PO Box 5038, Mermaid Waters QLD 4218 - attn Beth
continued over the page
EMERGENCY CONTACT (Person to contact should there be an emergency while you are overseas)
Complete Name: ______________________________________ Relationship: _______________________________
Street Address: __________________________________________________________________________________
Suburb: _________________________________________ State: ___________________ Postcode: ______________
Home Tel: _________________________Work Tel: _____________________Mobile No: ______________________
Payment Options
1.
Mail – Enclosed is a cheque / money order as a deposit (Please make payable to Mistvale Pty Ltd)
2.
Credit Card – Please debit my:
Visa / Mastercard / American Express / Diners Club
Card No: ______________________________________________________ Expiry: ______/______/______
Cardholder’s Name: __________________________________________________
Cardholder’s Signature: _______________________________________________
(Payments by credit card will be subject to a 2% Merchant Administration fee)
3.
Direct Deposit into Travel Masters bank account. Please call for bank details.
DEPOSIT AND FINAL PAYMENT
The deposit of $1,100 per person is accepted as a first
instalment of the tour cost and will be fully refunded
if the arrangements cannot be confirmed or the tour
is cancelled by Travel Masters. A detailed invoice
is sent out to all passengers booked on the tour,
approximately two weeks prior to due date of the
final payment. Final payment for the tour must be
received by 12 Jan 2017.
CANCELLATION FEES
If it is necessary for you to cancel your holiday,
notification of cancellation must be received in writing.
Cancellation charges will apply: up to $1,100, loss of
deposit. After 12 Jan 2017 , no refund is applicable.
No refund is available for cancellation of the tour or
any service not used after commencement of the
tour. Deposits are non-transferable.
PASSPORT AND VISAS
It is the traveller’s responsibility to ensure that
they possess the necessary travel documentation
for the tour, such as a valid passport and any
required visas. In general, a passport should be
valid at least 6 months beyond the end of your
journey and have four clear pages to allow
for entry and exit stamps en-route or for any
visas applicable for countries in your journey.
At the time of final payment you will be given
information about the visas that are required for
the tour. Travel Masters will assist you with the Visa
process.
PRICES
Tour prices stated on the tour brochure has been
calculated on the basis of exchange rates and
tariffs valid at time of print (20.06.2016) and are
subject to change. Should you decide to cancel
your tour on the basis of a change of price, then
normal cancellation charges will apply.
Operated by: TRAVEL MASTERS Group
Beth & Bob Malcolm, Directors
Beth, Ph 55 72 73 72
PO Box 563, Nerang QLD 4211
Phone: (07) 5596 0511 / 1800 672 988
Fax: (07) 5596 5663
Email: [email protected]
Visit our website: www.travelmasters.com.au
RESPONSIBILITY
Mistvale Pty Ltd trading as Travel Masters and/or its
associated Companies or Agents, act only in the
capacity of agents for the passenger in all matters of
transportation, tour operation and other services. All
receipts, tickets, vouchers, coupons or exchange orders
are issued subject to the terms and conditions under
which transportation and other services are provided.
Travel Masters and/or its associated companies or
Agents assume no responsibility for loss, injury, accident,
delay or damage or irregularity that may be caused to
person or property, however caused arising before
commencement and/or during any tour under its
management, sponsorship, procurement or otherwise.
It is the responsibility of the passenger to make sure he/
she is in possession of the proper visas and other travel
documents and that they are in compliance with current
government and transportation companies’ regulations.
The right is reserved to modify the itinerary in any way
considered necessary or desirable, or to change any
reservation, hotel feature and/or means of conveyance,
without allowance or refund but the extra cost (if any
resulting there from must be paid by the passenger.
The right is also reserved to cancel or withdraw any
tour, to replace any tour leader with another, to cancel
or withdraw any booking made for a passenger, or
to decline to accept any person as a member of a
tour. The transportation companies or firms shall be
exempt from all liabilities in respect of any detention,
delay, loss,damage, sickness or injury however and by
whomsoever caused and of whatever kind occurring of
or to the passenger at any time when the passenger is
not on board a carrier or conveyance used or operated
by the transportation companies or firms. The contract of
passage in use by the transportation companies or firms
concerned shall constitute the sole contract between
transportation companies or firms, and the purchase of
these tours and/or passenger. All tickets, deposit tickets,
coupons or orders are furnished and issued subject in all
respects to those terms and conditions under which the
means of transportation or other services provided there
by are offered or supplied by owners, public carriers, or
managing agents. The issuance and acceptance of
receipts, tickets, vouchers, coupons, or exchange orders
shall be deemed consent to the above conditions.
The tour is based on flights as detailed in the itinerary,
however any other IATA or non-IATA carrier may be used
for tour co-ordination.
Central Asia
Meet your Tour Escort
Your Travel Masters tour escort and tour manager is senior consultant,
Sallee Vuletich. Sallee has visited many of the world’s most interesting
destinations, and brings with her a wealth of knowledge and
experience. You will find Sallee will take every opportunity to make
this tour one of your most outstanding memories. Along with our
local English speaking guides, Sallee will be accompanying you to
liaison with guides, drivers, and hotels and to create a wonderful tour
experience for you.
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THE ULTIMATE TOURING EXPERIENCE
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27 days
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Tour departing
5 July 2017
ONE ONLY
SPECIAL
DEPARTURE
Exciting Days
DEPARTING 27 JULY 2017
ALL FLIGHTS, COMPREHENSIVE SIGHTSEEING,
SPECIAL EVENTS AND TIPS ARE INCLUDED
• Santiago
• Nazca Lines
• Ballastas Island
• Lima
• Cusco
• Sacred Valley
• Machu Picchu
• Ollantaytambo
• Puno
• Lake Titicaca
• Amazon River Cruise
• Rio de Janeiro
• Iguassu Falls
• Buenos Aires
32 Amazing Days
Victoria Falls, The Luxurious Blue
Train (Pretoria to Cape Town),
Robben Island, Cape winelands,
Nairobi, Masai Mara, Serengeti,
Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara
At
ration
the Mig
27 Outstanding Days comfortable touring & experiences
of the
me
eest ti
Wildeb
Spectacular Berlin, Dresden, Prague, Vienna,
Budapest, Krakow, Warsaw
WATERWAYS OF THE CZARS - MOSCOW TO ST PETERSBURG
Departs Brisbane 17 May 2017
NG
SAatVleIast
Namibia
ON THE
THE MOST LUXURIOUS TRAIN IN THE WORLD
Step aboard the Pride of Africa and join us
for a spectacular Train journey
11 Amazing days - Departing 25 April, 2017
00
$1pe3r co,0uple
SILK ROAD &TIBET
“Off the beaten track”
Indonesia
West to East, in comfort and style
Yangon, (Myanmar) to Cairns (Australia)
LUXURY EXPEDITION CRUISE
L’ Austral 5 star
21 days - Departs 13 October 2016
Including the Qinghai-Tibet Railway
31 fabulous days - 21 fascinating destinations - Nov/Dec 2017
Xian, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang,
Turpan, Urumqi, Kashgar,
Xining, Lhasa, Gyantse,
Shigatse, Tsetang
& Chengdu.
A Travel Masters Escorted tour, available exclusively though