Over the course of 12 days in Uzbekistan, we will explore some of the the most well-known and celebrated stops along the ancient Silk Road: Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva. We will visit and admire the exquisite mosaics and Islamic influences found on gateways, mosques, palaces, and madrasas. We will get lost in the alleys of these ancient old cities, to discover bazaars still stocked with fruit, spices, gold and gems, fabrics, and silk rugs. But as always our trips also take us on side-trips to enrich the experience with exploring the local culture. The trip begins and ends in the capital Tashkent, and explores its many sites and famous Museum of Applied Arts, and also check out the decorative metro. Several hands-on workshops, cooking demonstrations, and performances are also on the program of this highly exotic journey.