Embedded Files
10 days. Four remarkable cities.
10 days. Four remarkable cities.
Your immersion in the ancient Silk Route awaits.
Your immersion in the ancient Silk Route awaits.
Day 1 | 15 May
ARRIVALS + WELCOME DINNER
ARRIVALS + WELCOME DINNER
TASHKENT
Arrive in Tashkent, settle into our boutique hotel and meet your fellow travellers. We’ll ease into Uzbekistan and meet everyone for the first time at the Welcome Welcome dinner with Nina.
Arrive in Tashkent, settle into our boutique hotel and meet your fellow travellers. We’ll ease into Uzbekistan and meet everyone for the first time at the Welcome Welcome dinner with Nina.
SKETCH FOCUS: MAKE YOUR MARK
[inclusive of dinner]
Day 2 | 16 May
MARKETS, COLOUR + FIRST IMPRESSIONS
MARKETS, COLOUR + FIRST IMPRESSIONS
TASHKENT
We begin with our morning pause before heading into the sensory whirl of Chorsu Bazaar. This is our first opportunity to experience Uzbekistan through the sketchbook — learning to capture the energy of a place without trying to draw everything.
We begin with our morning pause before heading into the sensory whirl of Chorsu Bazaar. This is our first opportunity to experience Uzbekistan through the sketchbook — learning to capture the energy of a place without trying to draw everything.
Later, we slow things down before beginning our overnight journey to Khiva.
Later, we slow things down before beginning our overnight journey to Khiva.
SKETCH FOCUS: MARKETS & MOMENTS
Khiva
Day 3 | 17 May
THE ANCIENT WORLD
THE ANCIENT WORLD
KHIVA
After our overnight journey, we arrive in Khiva — a walled city of sun-baked lanes, turquoise tiles and extraordinary architecture.
After our overnight journey, we arrive in Khiva — a walled city of sun-baked lanes, turquoise tiles and extraordinary architecture.
We’ll take time to settle in and explore before sketchbooks come out for a gentle session on seeing and simplifying architectural forms.
We’ll take time to settle in and explore before sketchbooks come out for a gentle session on seeing and simplifying architectural forms.
Today is as much about finding our feet as filling a page.
Today is as much about finding our feet as filling a page.
SKETCH FOCUS: DOORS, DOMES & SHAPES
Day 4 | 18 May
HIDDEN CORNERS, SMALL DETAILS
HIDDEN CORNERS, SMALL DETAILS
KHIVA
Today we look closer. Doors, courtyards, shadows, tiles and quiet corners become invitations to wander — and perhaps to sketch.
Today we look closer. Doors, courtyards, shadows, tiles and quiet corners become invitations to wander — and perhaps to sketch.
There’ll be time to explore Khiva at your own pace before we continue our Silk Route journey towards Bukhara.
There’ll be time to explore Khiva at your own pace before we continue our Silk Route journey towards Bukhara.
Sometimes the smallest details become the things we remember most.
Sometimes the smallest details become the things we remember most.
SKETCH FOCUS: TREES, SHADOWS & STREETS
Day 5 | 19 May
PATTERN & CRAFT
PATTERN & CRAFT
BUKHARA
We wake in Bukhara, a city of courtyards, minarets, trading domes and centuries-old craft traditions.
We wake in Bukhara, a city of courtyards, minarets, trading domes and centuries-old craft traditions.
Today we’ll explore its historic heart and step closer to Uzbekistan’s creative traditions through an encounter with local artisans — including the intricate world of Suzani embroidery.
Today we’ll explore its historic heart and step closer to Uzbekistan’s creative traditions through an encounter with local artisans — including the intricate world of Suzani embroidery.
As the light softens, we’ll find a place to sketch and watch Bukhara change towards evening.
As the light softens, we’ll find a place to sketch and watch Bukhara change towards evening.
SKETCH FOCUS: COLOUR & TEXTURE
Day 6 | 20 May
AROUND THE TABLE
AROUND THE TABLE
BUKHARA
Some of the richest ways to understand a place happen away from its monuments.
Some of the richest ways to understand a place happen away from its monuments.
Today brings us closer to everyday Uzbekistan, including a meal with a local family and time to meet local artisans who keep traditional crafts alive.
Today brings us closer to everyday Uzbekistan, including a meal with a local family and time to meet local artisans who keep traditional crafts alive.
There’ll also be space to wander, shop, sketch, drink tea — or simply follow whatever has caught your curiosity.
There’ll also be space to wander, shop, sketch, drink tea — or simply follow whatever has caught your curiosity.
SKETCH FOCUS: MANTOU AND MORE
Day 7 | 21 May
OF MAGNITUDE AND MORE
OF MAGNITUDE AND MORE
SAMARKAND
We journey onwards to Samarkand — and to one of the great visual moments of the Silk Route.
We journey onwards to Samarkand — and to one of the great visual moments of the Silk Route.
The Registan takes centrestage today. We’ll give ourselves time not simply to admire it in totality, but to look: at its scale, geometry, colour and extraordinary layers of detail.
The Registan takes centrestage today. We’ll give ourselves time not simply to admire it in totality, but to look: at its scale, geometry, colour and extraordinary layers of detail.
Then the sketchbooks come out. Not to capture everything — an impossible task — but to find our own way into the scene.
Then the sketchbooks come out. Not to capture everything — an impossible task — but to find our own way into the scene.
SKETCH FOCUS: TACKLING BIG
Day 8 | 22 May
CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY
CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY
SAMARKAND
Today we look beyond the monuments to the hands and traditions that continue to shape Uzbekistan’s creative life.
Today we look beyond the monuments to the hands and traditions that continue to shape Uzbekistan’s creative life.
We’ll spend time with local artists and makers, discovering their techniques and stories before taking what inspires us back into our own sketchbooks.
We’ll spend time with local artists and makers, discovering their techniques and stories before taking what inspires us back into our own sketchbooks.
The rest of the day is deliberately looser — perhaps Siab Bazaar, a café, a quiet street, more sketching, or simply wandering wherever curiosity takes us.
The rest of the day is deliberately looser — perhaps Siab Bazaar, a café, a quiet street, more sketching, or simply wandering wherever curiosity takes us.
SKETCH FOCUS: PEOPLE & PLACE
Day 9 | 23 May
YOUR SILK ROUTE STORY
YOUR SILK ROUTE STORY
SAMARKAND -> TASHKENT
By now, perhaps we’re looking differently.
By now, perhaps we’re looking differently.
Today the choice is yours. Return to something that has stayed with you. Find a corner you haven’t drawn. Fill a journal page with fragments. Sit somewhere beautiful and simply watch.
Today the choice is yours. Return to something that has stayed with you. Find a corner you haven’t drawn. Fill a journal page with fragments. Sit somewhere beautiful and simply watch.
Our final creative prompt is a simple one:
Our final creative prompt is a simple one:
What will you remember?
What will you remember?
For our Farewell Dinner, we’ll come together to share our sketchbooks, stories and favourite discoveries before beginning our journey back to Tashkent.
For our Farewell Dinner, we’ll come together to share our sketchbooks, stories and favourite discoveries before beginning our journey back to Tashkent.
[inclusive of dinner]
SKETCH FOCUS: YOUR SILK ROUTE STORY
Day 10 | 24 May
UNTIL THE NEXT PAGE
UNTIL THE NEXT PAGE
TASHKENT
Today we say our goodbyes as everyone splits up for their next chapter. Some will return home; some will continue to other adventures. Regardless, everyone will leave with a sketchbook - and a heart - filled with memories of the places we visited, the people we met, the culture we embraced and the gazillion moments that were special to us. And we leave with a renewed sense of purpose after this deliberate 10-day pause.
Today we say our goodbyes as everyone splits up for their next chapter. Some will return home; some will continue to other adventures. Regardless, everyone will leave with a sketchbook - and a heart - filled with memories of the places we visited, the people we met, the culture we embraced and the gazillion moments that were special to us. And we leave with a renewed sense of purpose after this deliberate 10-day pause.
SKETCH FOCUS: UNFOLD THE JOURNEY
10 days. 4 cities. 8 travellers. A thousand splices of perspectives to capture.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse