|
|
|
Ethnographic, Arts & Crafts
Arts & Crafts tour 2001
 We
have put together a pure ethnographic Turkmen Silk Road
programme for the traveller who seeks to discover the
full range of Turkmen cultural traditions, handicrafts
and customs. See and experience the labour, love and history
woven into Turkmenistan's multicoloured handicrafts. The
traditions of exceptional weaving techniques, outstanding
wood carving and fabulous jewellery making have been passed
on from generation to generation for centuries and, in
their functional beauty, reflect the traditional nomadic
ways of life of the people inhabiting today's Turkmenistan.
It is incredible to watch a young girl creating embroidery
purely by intuition, identifying her family and tribe's
traditions. Watch the carpet knitter spin knots on a loom
keeping continuous tribal ornament and colour through
the densest knitting. You will get to know the everyday
life of one of the most hospitable people in the world,
whose simplicity and immediate trust reminds one of days
long ago past. Not all living conditions you may encounter
during your trip will seem close to what is considered
important and desirable in the west. Nevertheless - it
should be understood that status and luxury have a much
less significant role to the highly traditional people
in the country - people care for their family's well-being,
small events and a simple conversation that give them
all the happiness in the world.
Discover the small things and meet the people of a
great culture.
Operator schedule / Programme description
 Day
1 Friday
- Arrival in Ashgabat
- Early evening / late
night arrival (TH / LH)
- Hotel transfer Nissa
Hotel
- Hotel / restaurant
Dinner
Day 2 Saturday
- Adaptation day, Chuli
Valley
- Breakfast Hotel
- Morning visit of Silk-makers
- Discover raw silk threading,
dying with natural dyes, and keteni weaving full explanation
of process, symbols, usage
- Lunch at Independence
Arch
- Afternoon visit of
Carpet makers, free time
- Dinner (if possible
wedding)
 Day
3 Sunday
- Tolkuchka Bazaar, Gyami
village
- Breakfast Hotel
- Visit Tolkuchka Bazaar
(Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays - best choice of
carpets, embroidery and handicrafts; animal market)
- Restaurant lunch -
Ankara (Turkish)
- Drive to Gyami village
- 30 km
- Felt blanket making
in the house of the jeweller (wool preparation, ornamentation,
felting)
- Dinner in traditional
Yurt
- Evening return to Nissa
Hotel
Day 4 Monday
- Visit Carpet Museum,
Carpet workshop
- Breakfast Hotel
- Visit Carpet Museum
- Lunch - Exclusive Restaurant
- Visit of city carpet
workshop
- Late afternoon visit
of Nissa Fortress
- Visit of a Bilgich
(fortune-teller) in Bagyr village
- Dinner in Ensi Gallery
(Leyla) with an outstanding folklore & fashion
show
 Day
5 Tuesday
- Flight to Dashogus,
Izmukshir, Dutar & furniture workshops
- Breakfast Hotel
- Morning flight to Dashogus
- Visit Izmukshir
- Lunch at Korean restaurant
- Visit Dutar maker and
traditional furniture maker with Dinner in private
house
- Hotel Diarbekir, Dashogus
Day 6 Wednesday
- Konye Urgench, Darwaza
Hotel Breakfast
- Drive to Konye Urgench
- 80 km
- Visit monuments
- Lunch Russian-Korean
- Afternoon drive across
the desert to Darwaza Oasis, the "Gates"
of the Karakum desert - 230 km (the only oasis without
electricity and water along the road)
- Sunset in the dunes
- Dinner with the villagers
in the house of the teacher
- Overnight in Yurts
(alternatively tents)
Day 7 Thursday
- Darwaza, Erbent, Ashgabat
- Breakfast
- Morning watching of
Yurt set-up with our new friends
- Drive to Erbent - 99
km
- Lunch at private tea
house, watch Daurama making
- Afternoon drive to
Ashgabat with stopover at Bakhardok oasis (little
& big camel
 watch)
- 155 km
- Hotel Dinner
- Nissa Hotel
Day 8 Friday
- Relax, horses, bazaar
- Hotel breakfast
- Free time to visit
the local bazaars
- Lunch
- Afternoon visit of
private horse farm in Anau / Hippodrome
- Dinner poolside at
the hotel
Day 9 Saturday
Drive to Mary/Bairamaly - Meane Baba
Hotel breakfast
- Morning drive to Meane
Baba via Abiverd (Akhmed) - Meane Baba is the mausoleum
of one of the greatest Suffi teachers of the 11th
century, Abu Sahyt and said to have very strong magic
powers.
- Picnic lunch
- Continue to Mary
- Dinner at Chary's Cafe
- Drive to Bairamaly
- 27 km
- Accomodation Bairamaly
Sanatorium (residence built for the Czar)
Day 10 Sunday
- Merv
Breakfast
- Early morning visit
of ancient Merv with Yevgeniya, a local expert.
- Drive to Mary
- Lunch/snack
- Afternoon visit of
the exceptional Mary Museum
- Evening flight to Ashgabat
- Hotel dinner
Day 11
Monday
- National Museum, Jeweller
- Hotel breakfast
- Morning visit of the
National Museum
- Lunch Exclusive restaurant
- Visit local jeweller
- Dinner
Day 12 Tuesday
- Anau, Opera, late night
departure
- Hotel Breakfast
Morning visit of Anau Mosque ruins
- Picnic lunch near Mosque
- Afternoon visit at
Djora's and Hussein's ateliers in the house of artists
- (some of the most unique Turkmen painters - Djora
is probably the only Expressionist in the country)
- Dinner
- Late night departure
(TH - Wednesdays 0400)
|
|
|
