For almost 1,000 years the routes through central Asia linked East and Southeast Asia with West Asia, Southern Europe, and East Africa. Travelers shared silk and other trade goods, religions, sciences –and the plague.

Join Bill Roberts and Van Harrison as they share highlights from their June 2019 trip to the heart of the Silk Road.

Among the sites in Uzbekistan are Khiva, the fortress city and capitol of the Khanate of Kiva, Bukhara, capitol of the Emirate of Bukhara, and Samarkand, the capitol of Tamerlane’s 15th century empire with some of the world’s most beautiful Islamic architecture.

Next is travel through the mountainous country of Kyrgyzstan, known as “the Switzerland of Central Asia.” Just outside their yurts are views of spectacular mountains, glacier-fed rivers, and the world’s second largest mountain lake.

Finally, in southeastern Kazakhstan visit the Valley of Castles in Charyn National Park and Almaty, the country’s largest city and its commercial and cultural center. The trip includes six UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Please not the different start time for this event.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute membership is not required to attend this event.