The Vanishing Sea & The Forgotten Cities
Starts in Tashkent, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
A thoughtful welcome in Tashkent
Begin your journey in the capital with a balance of ancient and modern: visit mahallas and madrasas, stroll Soviet-era squares, and ride the artful metro.
Travel by train, travel with care
Experience the comfort and sustainability of five scenic train rides — from Tashkent to Samarkand, Samarkand to Bukhara, and through the desert to Khiva.
Hands-on encounters with tradition
Take part in cooking classes (manty, plov, shivit oshi), miniature painting, and explore workshops in paper-making, carpet weaving, and silk dyeing.
Silk Road legends come to life
Walk among the architectural wonders of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva — UNESCO-listed cities with stories carved in tile, brick, and wood.
Off the beaten path in Shakhrisabz
Cross the Kitab Pass to Timur’s birthplace and explore grand ruins and quiet tombs surrounded by mountain air and epic landscapes.
Khorezm’s desert fortresses
Journey deep into the Kyzylkum desert to explore the haunting beauty of Toprak-Kala, Kyzyl-Kala, and Ayaz-Kala — silent witnesses of ancient empires.
Art and memory in Nukus
Visit the remote Savitsky Museum*, home to a world-famous collection of forbidden Soviet avant-garde and Karakalpak art.
Witness the Aral Sea crisis
Visit the ghost town of Muynak, walk through the Ship Cemetery, and reach the shores of the vanishing Aral Sea — where you’ll sleep in a yurt under the stars.
Meet the landscapes and their stories
Climb to the Ustyurt Plateau, swim in the saltwater, watch sunrise over silence, and explore long-forgotten villages and sacred sites like Mizdakhan.
A journey with meaning
This is not just a sightseeing trip — it’s a thoughtfully designed experience that balances beauty with awareness, connection with care, and history with humanity.