Itinerary

September 13  •  Day 1  •  Istanbul (Turkey)

Gathering in Istanbul at our hotel by 5.00/6:00 pm. Dinner together. Overnight in Istanbul.

September 14  •  Day 2  •  Istanbul

Long morning meeting. Walk to the mosques in Sultanhamet: the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, significant places for JGB and our heritage. Also, the Basillica Cistern. Later in the day, walk to Capali Carci, the covered market through town. This evening we will have one of our key visits of our pilgrimage, the Tekke of the Herrahi Halvetzi Sufi’s order. Dinner on your own.

September 15  •  Day 3  •  Istanbul

Morning retreat. Afternoon—Visit Suleymaniye, the great mosque of Istanbul then Ayup Sultan the holy site of Istanbul. Private transportation to Ayup Sultan (please, dress very conservatively). Tea and snack on the mountain at Pierre Loti after that visit (not included). Back to the hotel. Dinner on your own.

September 16  •  Day 4  •  Istanbul

Morning meeting. Afterwards, half day guided visit to Topkapi, the Harem, then to Egyptian Bazaar and the Bosphorus. Free time once at the Bosphorus. Go by boat to one of the restaurants on the water on the Bosphorus for fresh fish. Afternoon is free for Hammam experience (optional). Dinner on your own..

September 17  •  Day 5  •  Istanbul to Samarkand (Uzbekistan)

After long morning meeting, free time to explore and shop. Dinner not included. Transfer to the airport in afternoon for flight to Samarkand. Overnight on flight (flight not included, please see pricing notes).

September 18  •  Day 6  •  Samarkand

Arrive in Samarkand early morning, transfer to hotel. Check-in and rest. Time for breakfast. Afternoon visit the magnificent Registan Square (XV–XVII cc), one of the noblest squares in the world and the local bazaar. We end our sightseeing by visiting Gur Emir Mausoleum, the graveyard of Tamerlane and the Timurids. Dinner together. Overnight at hotel.

September 19  •  Day 7  •  Samarakand

In the morning we stop to meditate at the burial site of the great Shaykh Sufi Master Ubaidullah Ahrar, so influential in JG Bennett’s life. Visit to the observatory of Ulugbek. Afternoon–half day retreat. Dinner on your own.

September 20  •  Day 8  •  Bukhara (Uzbekistan)

Morning—travel by bus to Bukhara (290 km) center of Central Asian Sufism, home to the Masters of Wisdom and the Naqus¬bandi path. Afternoon—half day retreat.  Dinner included.

September 21  •  Day 9  •  Bukhara

Morning meeting. Afternoon—pilgrimage to the tomb of Abduholiq Gijduvaniy (1103–1179) located in the town of Gijduvan, 40 km from Bukhara, who is the Grandfather of the Naqushi order. Back to Bukhara.  Dinner included.

September 22  •  Day 10  •  Bukhara

Morning meeting/retreat followed by a meeting with an important local sheikh (TBD). Afternoon–visit tombs: Kwaja  Mukhammad Orif Rigvari; Kwaja Makhmud Anjir Fagnavi; Kwaja  Azizan Ali ar Romitani; Kwaja  Mukhammad Baba as-Sammasi. Dinner together, included.

September 23  •  Day 11  •  Bukhara to Tashkent-Kashgar (China)

Morning— silent walking pilgrimage to the holiest ensemble of Bukhara, the burial place of Hazrati Bahouddin Naqshband, the founder of Naqshbandiya Order, located in the village of Qasri Orifon. Afternoon—guided tour of the enchanting city of Bukhara itself, the cauldron of Cen¬tral Asia and the Silk Road with its many sites, architecture, history, and markets. Guided visit to Lyabi Hauz Com¬plex, Kalon Mosque and Poi Kalon Minaret. Free time. Closing evening retreat meeting in Bukhara. Transfer to the airport and flight to Tashkent. Flight to Kashgar during the night (1 or 2 stops, not included).

September 24  •  Day 12  •  Kashgar

Evening arrival in Kashgar, China’s westernmost city, set in a region with more than 30 ethnic minorities and unique landscapes. Transfer to the hotel for check-in. Dinner included.

September 25  •  Day 13  •  Kashgar

Morning—retreat. Afternoon—half day sightseeing in Kashgar. The old city has many buildings hundreds of years old. Among the major sites we will visit the Idgar Mosque, one of the largest mosques in China. It is extremely popular among the Muslims in Xinjiang. We will also visit the tomb of Abakh Khoja which served as the family tomb of Abakh Khoja, the powerful ruler of Kashgar in the 17th century who was revered as a prophet and second only to Muhammad. Dinner on your own.

September 26  •  Day 14  •  Kashgar

Morning–half day retreat. Afternoon— free time in Kashgar on your own. Dinner on your own.

September 27  •  Day 15  •  Kashgar

Full day at the Sunday Market. Everything from dry fruits to delicacies, horses and camels, to food and handcrafted products may be bought in the market areas from morning until night. Back to the hotel for final meeting followed by special dinner together.

September 28  •  Day 16  •  Departure

Flight home from Kashgar

 

The order of events and visits may be subject to change.

 

Price

Around US$3,250 per person in double

1. This price is based on 20 paying participants in double occupancy. A lower number of participants will increase the price per person.
2. Booking of hotels can only be done after the first deposit. Therefore, price is subject to change until deposit is fully paid and is upon availability. This is why price is around $3,250.
3. Order of visits may be subject to change
4. Quotation does not include any price increases that are not foreseen for 2020, such as fuel or tickets increase or tax increase or any sort of unpredictable extra expenses that may arise in the next months related to our services.

 

Price includes (all locations)

• Private transportation during the visits as per program

• Daily meeting/conference room

• All breakfasts

• Entrance tickets

• Guide

• Group leader

• Tour leader

In Istanbul, price includes

• 4 nights accommodations in Sultanahmet

• 2 dinners

• Transfer to the airport

In Uzbekistan, price includes

• Pick up at the airport

• Transfer to the airport

• 2 nights accommodations in Samarkand

• 5 nights accommodations in Bukhara in comfort options hotel

• Daily meeting room

• 4 dinners

• Flight from Bukhara to Tashkent

In Kashgar, price includes

• Pick up at the airport

• 4 nights accommodations

• 2 dinners

Price does not include

• Any international flights. However, we will be happy to assist the whole group with Istanbul–Samarkand (around US$ 300-400) and Tashkent Kashgar (around US$ 700-800) (these are September 2019 rates)

• Lunches

• Some of the dinners

• Drinks

• Hammam (Turkish baths)

• Personal expenses

• Tips

• Insurance of any kind

• Anything not mentioned in the “Price Includes” paragraphs

Payment Deadlines & Refunds

• First deposit due December 15 2019:  $ 1,000 non-refundable
• Second deposit due February 1, 2020: $ 1,000, 50% refundable until final payment
• Final balance due by June 30, 2020 (this date may be subject to change)
  50% of final payment is refundable until July 1, 2020.
  No refund of any kind applies after July 1, 2020.

 

Note: Extra deposit  will be needed once quotation for internal flights is available

 

Registration

To receive Registration Form you may

Email: p.brown@journeystotheeast.com

Phone: 978-353-9200

You can also downloaded it here: Registration Form

 

Send Registration Form & payment to:

Kairos Pilgrimages

94 Jackson Road,

Devens, MA  01434

 

Methods of payment

By check to:

Kairos Pilgrimages

94 Jackson Rd,

Devens, MA  01368

 

By wire transfer: in US Dollars to Bank of America.

ABA: 026009593.

Swift Code: BOFAUS3N

Account: 004639668822

Beneficiary: Kairos Pilgrimages, Inc.

 

By PayPal and Credit card (additional fees for these services to be paid by the participant.

Terms and Conditions

Please read the Terms and Conditions for Kairos Pilgrimages before registering for this pilgrimage. Thank you.

Contact:

For more information, please contact Patrizia at:

info@journeystotheeast.com

978-353-9200