SOVIET RELICS
PERSIAN ROOTS
SILK ROAD BLUES

An extensive eleven-day voyage through Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, from the Soviet marvels of Tashkent—one of the largest metropolis of the former USSR—to the end-of-the-world vibes of the former mining towns north of Leninabad, from the secluded hamlets of the Fann Mountains to the Timurid grandeur of Bukhara and Samarkand, across a region of architectural splendour, towering peaks, rolling steppes, eternal history, melancholic atmospheres, and endless hospitality.

AUGUST 27 ⇾ SEPTEMBER 06

THE ROUTE

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DAY 1 to DAY 3 • A SOVIET STAR AND ITS SATELLITES

Meet-and-greet at Tashkent International Airport and transfer to our hotel of choice in central Tashkent.

We’ll spend the first days of our Soviet Uzbekistan tour wandering in and around Tashkent, the national capital, losing ourselves among the many USSR-era gems of what was once the fourth-largest city in the entire Soviet Union: kaleidoscopic mosaics, colossal monuments and memorials, modernist concrete patterns, meandering street markets, and richly decorated metro stations.

Our sojourn will also include a few side trips out of the city knocking around Soviet working towns such as Almalyk and Angren and pay a de rigueur visit to the gargantuan solar furnace in Parkent.

Overnights in Tashkent.

Roberto Conte and our local guides Aziza and Davut will accompany you throughout your gallivanting athwart Central Asia for the entire duration of the tour, enriching your days with essential knowledge, additional inputs, quirky stories, travel anecdotes, cultural insights, and photography tips.

DAY 4• EMIRS AND REVOLUTIONARIES

Bidding farewell to Tashkent and its exquisitely Soviet skyline, we’ll ride southwest-bound train towards Bukhara, a fabled Silk Road of Persian and Jewish heritage.

We’ll arrive Bukhara in the afternoon and enjoy a soft-light photographic saunter around the meanders of the old city crowned by a well-deserved Persian dinner.

Overnight in Bukhara.

DAY 5 to Day 6• SILK ROAD POMP AND HIDDEN CULTURES

We’ll kick off the day with a final photographic stroll around Bukhara and its many wonders: spectacular ancient mosques, mausoleums, Jewish cemeteries, antique necropolis, dusty backstreets, crumbling houses, and—needless to say—Soviet art and architecture.

We’ll then board the afternoon train to Samarkand, a cosmopolitan [post] Soviet city where a plethora of diverse cultures (Uzbek, Russian, Tajik, Jew, Ukrainian, Tatar, Turkmen, and even Korean) blend together to form a compelling mixture of languages and culinary traditions.

A centre of primary importance on the Silk Road and capital of the Timurid empire and the second largest city of the Uzbek SSR, Samarkand harbours a captivating concoction of medieval edifices, Tsarist palaces, and Soviet behemoths: our urban trek will include a curated florilegium of both inescapable landmarks and little-known masterpieces hidden in plain sight beyond the well-trodden tourist paths.

Overnights in Samarkand.

DAY 7•OF MOUNTAINS AND RUINS

At last, an early morning departure for Tajikistan. We begin with a visit to the city of Panjakent, once a thriving settlement of the ancient Kingdom of Sogdiana and today a peaceful border town set along the banks of the Zarafshan River. The morning will be devoted to discovering the city’s psychedelic Soviet mosaics, its traditional clay-brick houses, and its fascinating archaeological ruins overlooking the valley. From Panjakent, we will then continue eastwards to experience the untamed mountain landscapes for which Tajikistan is renowned. The Fann Mountains and their celebrated Seven Lakes are among the most spectacular areas in the country, rivaling even the majestic peaks of the Pamirs. Surrounded by jagged mountain summits, the Seven Lakes display extraordinary shades of colour ranging from brilliant turquoise to deep black. Yet it is perhaps the charm of their villages and the warm hospitality of the mountain communities that will leave the strongest impression.

Overnight in the Fann Mountains.

DAY 8 • GARGANTUAN MEMENTOS

Early start and north along the scenic M34 towards Khujand, formerly known as Leninabad, the second-largest city in Tajikistan rising over the ruins of Alexandria Eschate.

Khushikat … bazaar then call at the gargantuan Lenin monument overlooking the water reservoir in Istaravshan.

Overnight in Khujand.

DAY 9 • MARKETS AND MOSAICS

We’ll devote a full day to the architectural and cultural heritage of Khujand: concrete apartment blocks, Soviet modernist prodigies, WWII memorials, Soviet mosaics and bas-reliefs, Stalinist grandeur, photogenic bazaars, ancient fortresses, and one the largest Lenin statues in Central Asia.

vast array of USSR-era architectural and monumental treasures hidden in the formerly Soviet closed towns of Buston and Ghafurov

In the hotter afternoon hours, we shall ARBOB

Overnight in Khujand.

DAY 10 • CLOSED TOWNS

Today we will explore Northern Tajikistan Istiklol (once known as Taboshar).

Overnight in Tashkent.

DAY 11• FAREWELL TO SOVIET ASIA

After sharing a last Uzbek meal together, we'll take care of your transfer to Tashkent International Airport for your homeward flight.

End of the tour.

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2390 €

INCLUSIONS
Double/twin-room accommodation, all breakfasts, private road transport in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan (minivan), all transfers, public transport (metro) and train tickets in Uzbekistan, all entrance fees, English-speaking guiding service (local guide for the entire duration of the trip), tour leading and storytelling by Roberto Conte for the entire duration of the trip, some traditional meals, 24/7 on-site and remote assistance by Soviet Tours.

EXCLUSIONS
Single supplement (390 €), international flights, most lunches and dinners, extra drinks, visa fees (if required), tips, personal insurances (medical travel insurance and travel cancellation insurance are recommended).