Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan)
The magical names of Samarkand and Bukhara conjure up images of the ancient Silk Road, Alexander the Great and Kublai Khan. We will travel in their footsteps, visiting Tamerlane's glorious cities as well as Khiva, Nisa and Merv. In Kazakhstan, tour highlights include fascinating Scythian burial mounds, including the mound from which the famous Golden Warrior was excavated, and amazing prehistoric rock art sites. Interspersed with the ancient sites will be visits to fine local museums, dance programs and Cental Asia's legendary bazaars.

The Ancient Capitals of China
with an Optional Yangtze River Cruise
This tour focuses on the major capitals of Imperial China, including Beijing, Xian, Luoyang and the garden city of Suzhou. Some of the tour’s highlights are the Longmen Buddhist caves in Luoyang, the famous terra-cotta warriors and the recently excavated Famensi Temple near Xian, the newly installed museums in Beijing and Shanghai — plus an optional four days on the Yangtze River, sailing from Chongqing to Wuhan through the famous Three Gorges.

Ancient Japan
Our tour introduces the entire span of Japanese archaeology, from Paleolithic sites to medieval castles. It includes some of Japan’s great museums and newly discovered archaeological sites. Beginning in Tokyo, we fly to Kyushu, visiting samurai houses and gardens, ancient burial mounds and prehistoric town sites as well as Kyushu’s famous traditional craft villages. The tour concludes with six days exploring Nara and Kyoto’s famed temples and gardens. Throughout, we will attend special cultural events and study the role of Japan’s ancient culture in today’s modern nation.

Khmer Kingdoms
Myanmar, Thailand, Laos & Cambodia
This popular tour focuses on the historical, religious and aesthetic aspects of these four countries. Beginning in Luang Prabang in Laos and the magnificent 7th-century Khmer temples at Wat Phou, we continue to remote northeastern Thailand. In Myanmar visits include the ancient royal cities, pagodas and golden temples in Yangon, Mandalay and Pagan. The tour ends in Cambodia with five days at Angkor Wat. These exciting days will be enhanced by colorful markets and traditional music and dance performances.

South Korea with Gaeseong North Korea
This new tour explores Korea’s history, which stretches back over 5,000 years, placing it in the heart of Northeast Asian political and cultural developments. Beginning in Seoul, capital of the Joseon-dynasty and home to royal palaces, museums and prehistoric sites, we continue to Gongju visiting the royal tomb of the Baekje-dynasty, and on to Gyeongju, capital of the Silla-dynasty. Tour highlights include the Seokguram Buddhist Grotto, Buseoksa Temple, the Tripitaka Koreana of Haeinsa Temple nestled in Mount Kaya, the port of Busan, the ancient tumuli, pagodas and rock sculptures that dot the countryside around Gwangju and the exceptional museums in the Provincial capitals. An additional highlight will be our full day in North Korea, where we will visit Gaeseong, the capital of Korea from the 10th through 14th century. As we travel through Korea’s lush agricultural landscapes and traditional villages we will sample its music, dance, crafts and folklore.