What to Expect

Professor Stephen Jones is leading Mount Holyoke alumnae on a custom-designed journey into the heart of Central Asia along the legendary Silk Road from western China to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

We follow the footsteps of the caravans of traders from one rich oasis city-state to another, just as some of the world’s greatest conquerors have, including Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Tamerlane, and leaders of the former Soviet Union and The People’s Republic of China.

The fabled names of these ancient city-states stir the imagination and sense of adventure. Chang’an (modern day Xi’an), Urumqi, Turpan, Kashgar, Bishkek, Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara beckon us. We experience the rich multicultural heritage and see the monuments contributed by the spread of Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Manichaeism, and other religions.

While much of our daily sightseeing will revolve around the historic sites and ancient cultures, we will experience contemporary cultures as well. Professor Jones’ knowledge of east/west relations in the post-Soviet period will provide a keen insight into long-forgotten places, which are having an increasingly important impact on today’s world stage and on our lives.

This trip provides a rare opportunity to see how the east has met west over the span of two millenia right up to today.