Central Asia is home to some of the earliest human history, stunning landscapes and mountain ranges and the place where East met the West almost 1,000 years ago. This great land has been the domain of Chinese emperors, Jenghiz Khan and Mongol hordes, the great Timur (Tamarlane) and Soviet Russia. First opened to the west by the Polos (including the young Marco), much of the region was closed or inaccessible for most of the 20^th century. With the fall of the Soviet Union, the countries of Central Asia gained their independence in the early 1990’s and travelers gained the opportunity to travel again from the vast steppes in the north to the nearly impenetrable Karakorum Mountains in the south.

Vivo’s first excursion to this beautiful and exotic land is open to qualified travelers who would like to join us on an expeditionary trip that will be a scouting mission for future highly-organized tours. Those interested should be prepared for a few bumps in the road as logistics, lodging and transportation will all be vetted for the first time on this trip. However, travelers can also be assured of unforgettable experiences as we tour this wonderful area.

The tentative itinerary is:

	Beijing, China
	Urumqi, China
	Kashgar, China
	Torugart Pass from China to Kyrgystan
	Through the Kyrgyz highlands
	Bishkek, Kygyzstan
	Tashkent, Uzbekistan
	Samarkand, Uzbekistan
	Bukhara, Uzbekistan
	Khiva, Uzbekistan
	Konye-Urgench, Turkmenistan
	through the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan
	Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
	Return to Beijing

The trip will take place in Fall 2010.

The cost of this trip is estimated to be $7,000 per person, double occupancy.