Category: Small Group Discoveries

AfricaSmall Group Discoveries

On Safari in Sweeping, Spellbinding Kenya

on April 24, 2019

As you awake in your lodge, the African sun sets the sky ablaze with the promise of another spectacular day. You rouse yourself with coffee and a bite, then join your fellow safari-goers for the day’s first adventure: a foray into the dew-flecked morning in search of big cats, hyenas and other astonishing wildlife fresh off their nocturnal hunt. You’ve learned these past few days that your driver-guides are miraculous trackers. They know where animals nap with their full bellies and where they retreat from the heat of the coming sunshine.

Get into the Rhythm of Safari with Discovery Tours
 But it’s not only the creatures that inspire you to new heights. This primitive, sweeping landscape – vast plains dotted with shrub bush, acacia trees and cloud shadows as far as you can see – stirs your soul and awakens your spirit in ways you never dreamed possible. This is Earth’s most dramatic stage, where predator and prey play out a constant dance of survival and the balance of nature is at its most harrowing … and its most beautiful.

After breakfast at the lodge, you venture into the wilds for your first exploration. A new surprise unfolds at every turn: a leopard getting some shut eye in a tree, a towering group of giraffes, a pod of hippos soaking in the current of a lake. Then there are the elephants. Gigantic and graceful, imposing and somehow perceptive.

After lunch, you lay low back at camp to let the heat of mid-day pass. Then it’s out into the bush again. For more adventure. For more wonder. And for more gratitude that you’ve undertaken this epic journey in a small group so you can fully appreciate the grand and magnificent scale of Africa, unhurried and fully present.

Samburu National Reserve: A River Runs through It
 Home to wildlife rarely found in other Kenya game parks, Samburu National Reserve spreads across the country’s plains and gentle northern hills for 60 square miles. Many of its animals gather at the lush banks of the park’s primary water source, the Ewaso Ng’iro River, lined with doum palm groves and riverine forests. It’s hard to overstate the importance of this waterway (pronounced U-aa-so Nyee-ro, and meaning “brown water”) to the wildlife here. Where there is water, there is food, especially in this semi-arid desert. And so a vast array of creatures is drawn to this ecosystem for survival. More than this, the river cuts through a peaceful and unspoiled haven, situated as it is far from any city or industry.

More than 350 species of bird call Samburu home, as do the spear-horned oryx, reticulated giraffe, Masai lion, Tanzanian cheetah and olive baboon. But perhaps Samburu is best known as the setting where conservationists George and Joy Adamson raised Elsa the Lioness, a story famously chronicled in their best-selling book Born Free and in the 1966 movie adaptation.

Aberdare National Park: A Mountainous Wildlife Haven
 Located high in the Aberdare Mountain Range, this namesake park covers a wide variety of terrain, from its 14,000-foot peak to its 7,000-foot “lower” elevations. Beautiful valleys of moorland, bamboo and rainforest have been carved here by streams and rivers over millennia. As you arrive, you just might think you’ve stumbled upon Eden itself.

During your stay at The Ark, one of Kenya’s iconic tree lodges, you will have incredible views of a nearby watering hole from the property’s many different terraces. By day, you might spot elephant or the eastern black rhinoceros lumbering up for a drink. By night, the pool is floodlit, allowing you to glimpse the secret world of African wildlife after dark.

Lake Nakuru National Park: A Paradise for Flamingos
 Like in Samburu, it’s the water that defines Lake Nakuru National Park. The shallow freshwater lake attracts all manner of birdlife, with hundreds of species recorded. The waters are highly alkaline and lure countless flamingos, one of the greatest gatherings of winged creatures on Earth. Up to one million of them might appear at certain times of year, making it hard to see the lake’s surface through a blanket of pink. Pelicans and cormorants have been known to compete with the flamingos for food.

Cheetahs, fish eagles and leopards may also be seen here, grazing on grass or prowling the shores of the lake. The park is proud to host more than 25 critically endangered eastern black rhinos and 70 southern white rhinos, a near-threatened species. It is also not unusual to spot large pythons dangling from trees in the dense woodland.

Masai Mara National Reserve: The Jewel of Kenya
 We save the best-known game park in Kenya for last. Masai Mara National Reserve is home to one of nature’s great spectacles: the great wildebeest migration. This massive movement of creatures is a year-long journey that never ends as nearly 2 million wildebeest, a quarter million zebra and thousands of Thomson’s gazelles follow the cycle of grass growth in a giant circle that encompasses the Masai Mara and the Serengeti plains in neighboring Tanzania.

But wildebeest aren’t the only spectacle in this breathtaking wilderness. The Maasai people named this land “Mara” for its vast “spotted” landscape. Across a far horizon, grassy plains are dotted with patches of trees, animal herds and cloud shadows, creating an epic setting for nature’s drama. Perhaps the park’s most distinctive flora is the umbrella-like acacia tree, a symbol of Africa’s plains.

It is also in the Masai Mara that you are most likely to spot Africa’s “Big Five”: lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino, an apt way to conclude to your unforgettable safari.

Experience the thrill of Kenya’s magnificent parks during our Kenya Safari Exploration.

AfricaSmall Group Discoveries

Helping Protect Kenya’s Elephants and Giraffes

on April 23, 2019

The unspoiled savannahs of Kenya are renowned as an untamed wilderness. Left unchecked, nature would take its course and species would thrive and falter as they may. But many animals are vulnerable to human interference such as poaching, loss of habitat due to human encroachment, deforestation and drought. These all threaten populations—and nature’s balance—leaving newborns as orphans and herds at risk. That’s where two remarkable organizations come in to play, and you’ll visit them in a small group during our Kenya Safari Exploration.

Nurturing Orphans Back into the Wild

It is not uncommon for the passionate and caring staff of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT) to encounter baby elephants alone in the bush. In many cases, they have wandered from their families, victims of poaching; the little calves have been spared because they have not yet developed ivory tusks. To aid these helpless creatures, the DSWT developed the Orphans’ Project, the most successful orphan-elephant rescue and rehabilitation program in the world.

The adorable little elephants are brought to the Trust’s farm-like clinic, fed a steady diet, and taught skills by the staff that they will never learn from their mothers and aunts, all while being eased out of the trauma of loss. It is a remarkable thing to witness as these miniature beasts bond with staff, following them wherever they go.

Since its founding, DSWT has successfully reared many dozens of elephants and reintegrated them into the wild. In fact, many wild-born calves are reared in the wild by elephants that were nurtured back to health at the clinic, a hopeful note that the work they do has fostered entire generations.

Elephants are not the only focus of DSWT. Black Rhinos, also prized for their tusks, are also raised at the clinic. The Trust’s efforts also include anti-poaching initiatives, protecting the natural environment, raising community awareness, animal welfare and veterinary services to wild animals. Founded in 1977, it is one of the pioneering wildlife conservation organizations in East Africa.

Saving a Threatened Giraffe

Nearby, the Giraffe Centre, part of the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife, has similar goals to support the preservation of the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe. It is thought that just several hundred of these majestic creatures remain in the wild, and you just might spot some during your game drives at Lake Nakuru National Park, distinguishable by their creamier-colored coat and the “white stockings” above their hooves. Curiously, the Rothschild’s is also the only species to have five ossicones on its head, the stubby antler-like horns. (Most other species only have two.)

Founded in 1979 as a breeding center, the Giraffe Centre today also serves an educational role for Kenyan youth. Their vision is to create a harmonious relationship between man and nature by raising awareness in the next generation. This is no small task considering the vast natural resources and wildlife that Kenya hosts. But all of the center’s programs are offered to schoolchildren free of charge, so we can hope that this brings greater access, and with it much success.

The focal point of the center is the giraffe feeding platform, a raised structure that lets you meet these gentle giants at their level. Inside, an auditorium offers talks to guests. And it is all charmingly decorated with artwork created by local schoolchildren – inspired by the giraffes, of course!

The small group size of our Kenya Safari Exploration lets us experience these remarkable places at their fullest. We hope you’ll visit them with us.

AfricaSmall Group DiscoveriesUncategorized

Karen Blixen’s Famed Farm

on April 22, 2019

“I had a farm in Africa.” So begins the 1985 film Out of Africa, with what may be the most famous 15 seconds in American film. What follows is a sweeping epic that spans some 15 years of Karen Blixen’s life in the highlands near Nairobi, Kenya. And with Discovery Tours, you can visit the stunning setting where her unbelievable story unfolded early last century.

In 1913, Karen Blixen and her husband, the Swede Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, uprooted their lives in Denmark and moved to Kenya, then part of British East Africa. With family money, they set up a coffee plantation and employed members of the local Kikuyu tribe to work the land. The marriage was stormy, as the baron had an affair and she contracted syphilis. She sought treatment back in Denmark, but there was no cure for her relationship once she returned to Kenya. The marriage ended in separation in 1921 and divorce in 1925.

After her separation, Blixen began a love affair with a wealthy hunter Denys Finch Hatton. The adventurer was in the safari business, leading well-heeled clients in search of big game, and he used her house as a base between 1926 and 1931. After his death in a fiery plane crash in the bush, and with a drought and the world economy sending her coffee plantation into collapse, she left Kenya. Back in her homeland, she famously chronicled her story, which Sydney Pollack adapted into that Oscar-winning film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford in 1985.

No matter your feelings about Britain’s colonization of Africa, the story encompasses far more than the doomed love story between Blixen and Finch Hatton. Both the book and the film were hailed as meditations on the loss of Kenya itself. During the early 1900s, the British believed themselves to be stewards of this paradise-like Eden. Elephants and giraffes roamed freely, life was lived by the cycle of the seasons and, as Blixen (under the pen name Isak Dinesen) wrote, “the pioneers lived in guileless harmony with the children of the land.” It was only when the march of progress intervened—as the British footprint expanded into the wild and expelled local tribes from their land, and as retired World War I officers took up hunting big game as sport—that the once-beloved paradise became an arena for land-grabbing. For many, Out of Africa captured the nostalgia of that loss.

Today, the coffee plantation holds a legendary place in Nairobi’s history. Located “at the foot of the Ngong Hills,” as Blixen wrote, it was given to the Kenyan government by Denmark as a gift for the African nation’s newfound independence in 1964, just two years after Blixen’s death.

In a Discovery Tours small group, you’ll explore the house and museum, a magnificent snapshot of life in colonial Africa in the early 20th century. Stunning period furnishings and décor adorn each room, from old Danish stoves and a beautiful marble chimney piece to Denys Finch Hatton’s favorite chair and old African spears and other weapons. The house has been left exactly as she decorated it, giving insight into the author’s day to day life. Blixen’s charcoal and pastel paintings can also be seen in the house and museum.

You’ll visit the Karen Blixen Museum during our Kenya Safari Exploration.

AfricaSmall Group Discoveries

9 Things to Know About the Maasai

on April 19, 2019

The Maasai people have been the center of Kenya’s rural culture for generations. When you visit Masai Mara National Park and other game reserves here, you are on their sacred land. These fascinating facts may help you put their traditions into context:

  • Traditionally, Maasai warriors were fierce nomads who fought with spears, shields and orinka, or clubs that they could accurately throw from 70 paces. They arrived in Kenya from the north in the 15th century, stealing cattle from villages as they passed.
  • Ancestral tribes of the Maasai called this land “Mara,” which means “spotted” in their Maa language. The word was used to describe the dark clusters of trees, scrub and cloud shadows that dot the savannah.
  • A large part of Masai Mara National Park is run by the Mara Conservancy, a nonprofit formed by local Maasai tribes. Some tribe members patrol the park as rangers.
  • In Maasai tradition, cattle is currency. Many villagers keep their cows and bulls inside a fence crafted from thorned acacia branches to protect their wealth from lions and other predators.
  • The typical Maasai hut, or enkaj, is a circular structure handmade from a mixture of mud, cow manure, grass and sticks, all tightly packed on a frame of timber.
  • It is common to meet Maasai women who have stretched their ear lobes, upon which they hang strings of ornamental beads as earrings.
  • The “jumping dance,” or adumu, is part of a coming of age ceremony for young, would-be warriors. The competition is performed in a circle as one or two step into the center to jump on their toes.
  • Maasai culture remains strongly patriarchal. Typically, the elder men of the tribe decide on all matters that affect their group.
  • Today, local organizations work with Maasai tribal leaders so they can preserve their traditions in today’s world, while acknowledging the importance of a modern education for all children.

Uncover more secrets of the Maasai during our Kenya Safari Exploration.

EuropeSmall Group DiscoveriesUncategorized

Take a Walk Around Dubrovnik, Literally

on April 10, 2019

To understand the civilized nature of those who governed the Republic of Ragusa—as the city of Dubrovnik was known from 1358 to 1808—look no further than the city’s motto. In Latin, it read, “Non bene pro toto libertas venditur auro.” Liberty is not well sold for all the gold.

But the liberty and freedom of Dubrovnik required more than these simple high ideals to protect it from outside influence. It also needed a fortified wall. And so in the 14th century the early founders of the city, fresh off a strained allegiance to the Venetian Republic and recovering from the Black Death of 1348, began work on a barricade that would grow and evolve over hundreds of years. Today, it stands as one of the largest and most complete medieval walls in all of Europe. So solid was its construction that it was never breached. And so perfectly did it help preserve Dubrovnik that George Bernard Shaw, upon visiting in 1929, wrote, “If you want to see heaven on earth, come to Dubrovnik.”

It’s easy to understand Shaw’s enchantment. His sentiment was likely an appraisal of the city’s narrow byways and incredibly preserved buildings. But perhaps he also should have written a love poem to the wall; after all, it was the skill of its builders that brought Dubrovnik into the modern age virtually unscathed. Even after the walls were complete, city dwellers rebuilt or maintained it as it aged. It didn’t take long for word to spread of the mighty fortification surrounding Dubrovnik; the city soon gained a reputation as unconquerable throughout Europe and—more importantly—in the land-grabbing Ottoman Empire.

History, however, had other plans. Dubrovnik fell to the army of Napoleon in 1806 and later to Austria in 1814. The city remained part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until that kingdom’s dissolution with the 1919 Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I.

The region’s next major conflict, though devastating to the Old Town, tested the strength of the walls like never before. Tragically, almost 70% of the 824 red-roofed buildings within the fortifications were damaged by the Yugoslav People’s Army during the 1991 Siege of Dubrovnik. In retrospect, historians have said that the ancient walls held up better against modern weaponry than the more contemporary fortifications around the modern city. Were it not for the strength of those ancient ramparts, much more of the city would have been lost. Since those dark days, Dubrovnik’s Old Town has been lovingly restored.

Today, visitors can walk the entire perimeter of Dubrovnik’s walls—with magnificent views of the red-roofed, stone-cut city below and the sparkling waters of the Adriatic Sea beyond. The walls stretch for 6,360 feet, just over a mile, boast a maximum height of 82 feet, and feature several towers and bulwarks.

Gazing over the rooftops of Dubrovnik provides a remarkable and enlightening perspective. You’ll have bird’s-eye views of the Franciscan Monastery, the Placa main thoroughfare, the charming Old Harbor, the island of Lokrum just off the coast and of course the rocky shore lashed by Adriatic waves. The smaller details you’ll observe bring the city to life, too: children kicking a soccer ball around a schoolyard, laundry draped high above an alleyway or the clatter of kitchen plates through an open window.

It’s a stroll that gives immeasurable insight into this protective and unconquerable wall. Still today, life goes on within its sheltering embrace as it has for centuries.

Walk along Dubrovnik’s medieval ramparts during our Dalmatian Isles, Croatia & Slovenia trip!

Asia & PacificSmall Group DiscoveriesUncategorized

Uzbekistan: Central Asia’s Magnificent Center of Culture and History

on March 27, 2019

“Yol boisin.” It’s an Uzbek saying that may well date back to the days of the Silk Road, when traders departed along crude desert and mountain byways carting spices, perfumes, jewels and textiles to far-off lands. “May your travels be free of obstacles” is a loose translation. Today, this blessing for a safe journey embodies the warmth of the Uzbekistan people and the open arms with which they welcome travelers.

If you’ve dreamed of walking in the footsteps of ancient merchants … of uncovering the secrets of Central Asia’s cultural and historic heart … casting your gaze on the turquoise domes and towering minarets of some of the world’s most magnificent and historically significant Islamic architecture … rubbing elbows in bustling bazaars with white-bearded elders adorned in flowing robes and distinctive skullcaps … then Uzbekistan should be on your travel to-do list. Mysterious, remote, and seldom seen by Westerners, it is one of the most rewarding travel experiences you will ever have.

Before you go, it’s worthwhile to know a little more about this enigmatic nation’s remarkable history and rich culture.

Region at a Crossroads: From Transoxiana to Uzbekistan

During the first millennium BC, Scythians settled along the rivers of today’s Uzbekistan. Bukhara and Samarkand emerged as cultural and governmental centers. As China established its silk trade with the West, these cities of Transoxiana (as the region was called) boomed and enjoyed many periods of prosperity. They became known for their wealth, making them the target of conquerors and kingdom-builders.

Macedonian ruler Alexander the Great is said to have fallen in love with Samarkand, saying it was “more beautiful than I ever imagined.” He moved in on the territory in 327 BC but met ferocious resistance. Nonetheless, it became the easternmost province of his Hellenistic world. In the first century BC, Persian empires began a long rule, but were ousted by Arabs in the eighth century AD. This was the beginning of the Islamic Golden Age, a prolific period of scholarly and artistic achievement. Trigonometry was developed, aiding in the study of the stars, and poets and artists graced the culture with their works.

Cultures and empires continued to evolve and prosper until the arrival of Genghis Khan in the 13th century. His Mongol invasion brought utter destruction and displacement. But peace and stability eventually settled in as Transoxiana was divided among the Mongol leader’s sons. Some 100 years later in the 1380s, the princes of various provinces started competing with each other for more extensive power. The chieftain Tamerlane (also known as Timur) won out and proceeded to conquer the western reaches of Central Asia, Iran, the Caucasus, Mesopotamia, Asia Minor and beyond. He was a brutal leader but in his short reign (he died in 1405), he ushered in a new era of Perso-Islamic culture. Palatial religious buildings were erected. Advances in medicine, science and the arts bloomed. Even a new literary language, Turkic, took hold.

The Timurid state could not survive the death of its leader. Internal fighting and the resulting power vacuum opened a window to nomadic Uzbek forces from the north. During the early 16th century, they moved in and created three different states: Bukhara, Khiva and Kokand. Some 300 years later, the Russian Empire called Uzbekistan its own and by 1924 it was part of the Soviet Union. By the time the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, Uzbekistan had already declared its sovereignty.

A Rich Cultural Legacy

Uzbekistan’s culture is steeped in its varied history. The country’s many mosques, mausoleums and madrasas (Islamic educational centers) embody a centuries-long Islamic heritage that started with the arrival of Arabs in the eighth century. Today, Uzbeks remain rightly proud of their spectacular structures and monuments to Islam—and of the oldest copy of the Koran in the world, housed in Tashkent’s Muyi Muborak Madrasa. But many approach daily living with a secular view. Citizens seem to be more interested in sharing the latest news and gossip over kok choy, or green tea, at a traditional teahouse, than in trading views about religion.

That’s not to say that religious-based virtues are not celebrated in Uzbekistan. We’ve already mentioned that the world’s oldest Koran is housed in Tashkent. Tales of morality are also woven into the Uzbek psyche in the same way many fairy tales form the basis of Western ideas of right and wrong. The 11th century, especially, saw poets extolling virtuous ideas, from Yusuf Balasagun’s Kugadau Bilig (Knowledge of Grace) to Akhmad Yugnaki’s Hibat al-Haqa’iq (The Gift of Truth). And during the Timurid era, the great poet and philosopher Alisher Navoi founded the Uzbek literary language with works such as Chordevon and Khamsa.

You can soak in much of Uzbek’s culture in its many bazaars, colorful repositories where modern-day commerce and a centuries-old history converge. A kaleidoscope of culture is for the taking in these dizzying marketplaces. Richly colored suzani carpets, created with skillful needlework depicting flowers, vines, or leaves, recall the days when brides crafted textiles for their grooms. Carefully etched glazed tiles will remind you of the breathtaking artistry of mausoleums and mosques long after you return home. Freshly baked non, or bread, will give you an energetic boost as you explore.

No matter where you are, your wanderings might be accompanied by a distinctive Uzbek soundtrack. The country’s music reaches back as far as its original founding and consists of numerous styles and instruments. Shashmaqam music is thought to have originated in Bukhara in the late 1500s. This hypnotic form comprises six sections, each of which builds to a climax before returning to its original soft tones. Sufi poetry and long-necked string instruments (the tanbur, dutar, and sato) feature prominently. The karnay, a long-necked trumpet, is the Uzbek national instrument, while the nay (a flute blown from its end) and surnay (a loud wooden oboe) are also common.

All of Uzbekistan is music to our ears. We hope you’ll agree when you explore with a small group during our Discover Uzbekistan adventure!

Asia & PacificSmall Group Discoveries

Uzbekistan’s Silk Road Cities

on March 25, 2019

For more than 2,000 years, camel caravans laden with textiles, jewels, spices and countless other coveted trinkets traversed the Silk Road between the Mediterranean and China. Harsh deserts and rugged mountains made for exhausting journeys, so traders were always relieved when welcoming, oasis-like cities appeared on the horizon. Our Discover Uzbekistan small-group adventure visits three of them—Khiva, Bukhara, and Samarkand—immersing you among the nation’s most breathtaking mosques, madrasas and mausoleums.

Khiva: First Oasis in Uzbekistan

A welcome sight to traders after their desert trek from Persia, extravagant Khiva emerges on the horizon like a mirage. Here are just a few highlights of this spectacular city:

  • The Ichan-Kala, or inner town, was defended by brick walls that stood 33 feet. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it remains today one of the most remarkably preserved examples of medieval Muslim architecture and urban planning in Central Asia.
  • Ichan-Kala’s expansive royal court is encircled by crenellated walls that might remind you of a massive sand castle. Palaces, mosques, minarets and other stunning structures adorned with majolica tiles transport you back to the days of powerful emirs.
  • The Kunya Ark dates back 1,000 years. It served as an expansive residence for Khiva’s rulers, complete with harems, stables, a throne room, and a jail that held slaves and prisoners.
  • The Djuma Mosque boasts a forest of some 200 pillars carved of wood and decorated with spiraling motifs.
  • The graceful architecture and blue tiles of the Pakhlavan Mahmoud Mausoleum are etched with age-old proverbs ascribed to the beloved poet and patron saint of the city.

Bukhara: The Holiest City

Bukhara is Central Asia’s most complete example of a medieval city. The urban planning and architecture of this UNESCO World Heritage Site were unsurpassed in the region. Its historic district is an open-air treasure trove of mosques, madrasas and minarets.

  • Within the Poyi-Kalon complex stands the massive Kalon Mosque, which can accommodate 10,000 worshippers. With its luminous blue domes, it proudly stands as a testament to Bukhara’s place as the most holy city in Central Asia. So stunning is its towering minaret, even Genghis Khan spared it from destruction.
  • The shakhristan, or Old Town, provides a snapshot of life in Bukhara 500 years ago. Slim alleyways of mud-brick lead to secluded mosques and fanciful residences from the 19th century.
  • Home of emirs, the Ark Fortress is an opulent summer palace and a resplendent town within a town.
  • The Oriental Bazaar evokes Silk Road traders of old with its shining jewelry, brightly hued carpets, silk clothing and countless other glittering treasures.
  • The center of Bukhara, the Lyabi Khauz Ensemble, is where locals gather for tea and conversation. Covered bazaars fan off the square and lead to the city’s religious sites.

Samarkand: A Thriving Center of Uzbek Culture

By some accounts, Samarkand is the most romantic of the Silk Road cities. It was certainly its most resplendent, thanks to the prosperous (albeit vicious) rule of Tamerlane the Great, who made it the shining capital of his empire.

  • The city, a stunning collection of architecture and art from the 13th century to today, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Registan Square is celebrated as the symbol of Central Asia. The ensemble of shimmering tiled buildings and gateways, including three madrasas, surround a vast and glorious square.
  • Samarkand’s mausoleums are a magnificent tribute to the dead. The enormous Guri Amir is the resting place of Tamerlane. Elsewhere, the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis—where dozens of history’s most notable people were laid—houses intricately decorated tombs surrounding that of Qussam Ibn Abbas, the cousin of Mohammed who is said to have brought Islam here in the 7th century.
  • The world’s largest mosque upon its completion in the 15th century, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque was built as a tribute to Tamerlane’s wife.
  • Portal to the stars in the 1420s, the short-lived yet fascinating Ulugh Beg Observatory was named for its builder. He and his colleagues used it to study the heavens until it was destroyed by religious zealots in 1449.

Experience these remarkable centers of the Silk Road during our Discover Uzbekistan small-group adventure!

Asia & PacificSmall Group Discoveries

The Majestic, Magnificent Madrasa

on March 20, 2019

To the Muslims of Uzbekistan, the madrasa is one of the most important cultural institutions in daily life. You need only look as far as their grand and glorious entranceways—enormous gate-like portals (called “iwan”) lined with glittering tiles and precise geometric design—to be moved to imagine what wonders lie within. The answer is both purely simple and highly revered—within each madrasa, you will find the wisdom of the ages.

“Madrasa” comes from an ancient word meaning “a place of learning or study.” Today, it refers to any type of school, whether it teaches children or young adults, from kindergarten to university. But madrasas date back to at least 859 when the first one was established in Fez, Morocco. Back then, students studied the teachings of the Koran, first aid, handwriting, athletics and other elements of wellness and wholeness. Over time, subjects taught at a madrasa evolved with shifts in culture, civics and science. For a time, “religious science” was often given priority over philosophy and secular science. That changed during the Islamic Golden Age, when fields such as astronomy, mathematics and botany saw major advances. Law and medicine, too, found their ways into the hallowed halls. 

Many madrasas include mosques as part of their complexes. Thanks to this religious element, the schools often enjoy an intimate link to a city’s social life. Outreach to local communities may include aid to the poor and other types of support to under-served populations. Citizens and students alike also benefit in a more organic way: The moral and spiritual teachings of a madrasa spill into a school’s community, while members of the community in turn contribute to the values upheld by the madrasa.

So essential is the madrasa to Uzbek life, it is impossible to spend a day in any major city without passing one by. The most fantastic ones may well be at Registan, the public square at the heart of Samarkand. Here, royal proclamations were once announced by horns forged from giant copper pipes called dzharchis. Registan is surrounded by three madrasas, making for a magnificent tableau of towering portals whose tiles glimmer in the sun. The Ulugh Beg Madrasa (1420), constructed by its namesake sultan, astronomer and mathematician, is the oldest. Its founder was a prominent teacher there, as was the great Persian poet and mystic Abdul-Rahman Jami. The Sher-Dor Madrasa (1636) is interesting for its mosaics. The tigers depicted in the glazed tiles ignored the Islamic ban that forbade the illustrations of living beings on religious buildings. Finally, the Tilya-Kori Madrasa (1660) doubled as a mosque. Its turquoise dome rises behind the façade. 

Join Discovery Tours during our Discover Uzbekistan small-group adventure to learn more about the revered madrasas that grace this proud nation’s stunning cities.

Asia & PacificSmall Group Discoveries

Uzbek Cuisine: A Primer

on March 13, 2019

The cuisine of Uzbekistan has a lot in common with the food of the rest of Central Asia. Indeed, it shares much of its heritage with neighboring countries, thanks to their similar agricultural resources. To Americans, many dishes may look exotic, but ingredients are quite similar in origin. Grain farming, for instance, is widespread here, so you will often find breads, rice and noodles on the menu. Carrots and onions also figure prominently in various preparation, as do other in-season vegetables such as cabbage, eggplant tomato and garlic. And with an abundance of sheep roaming the hillsides, mutton is a very popular ingredient. Herewith, a primer on the Uzbek diet.

Food:

Obi non – The staple bread of Uzbekistan is baked in a tandir, or clay oven. So central is it to Uzbek culture that it was mentioned in The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of oldest written works in the world. Variations of non (bread) are made around the country, from the small, thick non of Samarkand to the sesame-sprinkled non of Bukhara.

Manti, chuchvara, somsa – These dumpling dishes can be filled with various ingredients, from lamb or beef to cabbage or potato. Manti may be served as an appetizer with sour cream, ketchup, or onions dashed with vinegar and black pepper. Chuchvara may be prepared as part of a larger dish, such as vegetables in a tomato sauce. Samsa is more of a meat pastry and has the appearance of baked buns.

Oshi toki – Similar to dolma found throughout the Mediterranean, these stuffed grape leaves are usually served as a small plate or appetizer.

Palov – Uzbekistan’s signature dish is a blend of rice, meat and grated carrots and onions. Similar to pilaf (and also related linguistically!), it may be served any time of day. One version of it (plov) is typically served in the morning as part of multi-day family celebrations.

Shurpa – This soup is prepared with chunks of fatty mutton and fresh vegetables.

Norin – The pasta and meat dish, made with very thin hand-rolled noodles, can be served hot or cold.

Dimlama – This stew of Turkic origin is made with meat, potatoes, onions, vegetables and sometimes fruits. It’s a popular spring or summer meal as the vegetables are in season.

Kebabs – Though kebabs are cooked throughout the world, they were first skewered and grilled over an open flame in the Middle East. In Uzbekistan, they are served as a main course.

Drink:

Green tea – The national hot beverage of Uzbekistan, green tea is served throughout the day in homes and teahouses alike. Tea – whether green or black – is part of every meal.

Ayran – A refreshing and nutritious summertime staple, ayran is a chilled yogurt drink.

Wine – Some 14 wineries operate in Uzbekistan; despite that Uzbeks consider themselves Muslim, they live a largely secular lifestyle. But the grapes grown here don’t exactly roll off the English-speaking tongue: Gulyakandoz, Shirin, Aleatiko and Kabernet likernoe. (This last one translates into “Cabernet dessert wine” in Russian.) By some accounts, vines were introduced here by the Romans as they passed through on the legendary Silk Road. Today, wines produced here win international awards.

Sample it all during our Discover Uzbekistan small-group adventure!

Latin AmericaSmall Group Discoveries

La Paz & Santiago: South America’s Dynamic Duo

on February 27, 2019

At first glance, the difference between La Paz and sprawling Santiago is their scale. The compact size of the Bolivian capital is dictated by its geography; its dense position within dramatic canyon walls makes it seem far smaller than its 182 square miles. The metro area of Chile’s capital, on the other hand, spreads out over 5,947 square miles in a vast valley in the shadow of soaring Andean peaks. One-and-a-half million people call La Paz home, while there are five times as many Santiaguinos.

Visiting them both on one trip—as we do during our new Natural Wonders of Bolivia & Chile small group
tour—provides an enlightening glimpse of how two cultural centers have adapted to and been influenced
by their Andean locales. From arts and leisurely urban pursuits to cuisine and dress, here’s how these two remarkable cities compare.

The low-down on high altitude

    • La Paz: Your 12,000-foot elevation may require a cup of maté tea to combat altitude sickness.
    • Santiago: At an average of 1,700 feet, Santiago lies in the center of a massive basin encircled
      by mountains.

Bird’s eye views

    • La Paz: Ride the Mi Teleférico cable cars, the world’s highest and longest aerial public transit.
    • Santiago: Ascend San Cristóbal Hill and share the view with a stunning statue of the Virgin Mary. 

Unique, culture-rich shopping and browsing 

    • La Paz: El Mercado de Hechiceria, or the Witches’ Market, boasts a curious collection of potions, talismans, and more.
    • Santiago: The bustling Mercado Central, a confluence of fishmongers, butchers, and green grocers, invites wide-eyed wandering.

A snack break 

    • La Paz: Tuck into a delicious salteña, a meat-filled pastry.
    • Santiago: Go for a savory, cheese-filled empanada de queso.

A locally inspired cocktail 

    • La Paz: Try a yungueño, a mixed drink of local brandy, simple syrup,
      and orange juice created in the valleys.
    • Santiago: Sip a pisco sour, a blend of brandy and tart pica lime juice.

Wine from nearby vineyards

    • La Paz: Sample Singani, distilled from white Muscat of Alexandria grapes in the high valleys.
    • Santiago: You’re in Chilean wine country, so uncork your favorite wine from any of numerous wineries. 

The skinny on fashion 

    • La Paz: Try on traditional alpaca knitwear and bowler hats.
    • Santiago: Find 21st-century chic and sophistication at boutique clothiers in Bellavista.

Fascinating people-watching 

    • La Paz: Meander the cobbled streets around the San Francisco Cathedral.
    • Santiago: Grab a bench by the Simon Bolivar fountain in the Plaza de Armas.

Distinctive neighborhoods 

    • La Paz: Explore Jaen Street, the remarkably restored colonial district home to notable museums.
    • Santiago: Wander among the boutiques and avant-garde galleries of bohemian Bellavista.

Souvenirs and take-homes

    • La Paz: You’ll find ample offerings of coffee, alpaca sweaters and scarves, and silver.
    • Santiago: Duck into a bookstore for poetry by native Pablo Neruda,
      or find copper trinkets in local markets.
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