Relive history on the new Silk Route Odyssey Caravan Across Uzbekistan tour from MIR Corporation, taking place Sept. 8–22. For 15 days, participants experience the Fergana Valley edged by the Tien Shan Mountains, where Alexander the Great founded a city in 329 BC. Here, historic villages were renowned for ceramic tiles and silk production. Further along in Samarkand, the tour takes in the UNESCO-listed Shakhrisabze and the White Palace, along with the ancient square at Registan and the striking mosaic panel over Ulug Bek’s observatory.

The imposing Kyzyl Kum Desert is next, where the remains of Alexander the Great’s ancient well complex exist in the red sands. The night’s accommodations are in a yurt camp beneath a star-filled sky, where darkness is ushered in to the strains of a Kazakh musician playing. The ancient city center of Bukhara, a UNESCO-listed spot, follows. Mosques, stone bazaars and mud-walled structures are some of the sites. The northernmost end of the ancient caravan route is found in Khiva, the location of a stunning oasis. At the conclusion of the tour, participants will spend time in Nukus, the capital of the autonomous region of Karakalpakstan, home to a world-renowned collection of avant-garde Russian art. Rates and travel details are available from MIR via its website.