Travel along the Silk Road with Purple Mountain Tours

In traveling to Georgia, Armenia and Iran, we reach way back into early civilizations and religions, still alive in the spirit and beauty of the land, in magnificent temples and mosques, and the artforms, songs, dances and religious practices of the people. It is here that the riches, cultures and sciences of East and West meet.

In Georgia we explore the Mysteries of Colchis and the Search for the Golden Fleece. In Armenia we follow in the footsteps of the Sufi Traditions, Dervishes and wise men like Gurdjieff. In Iran we commune with the Old Persian Cultures, the Empire of Timur, the Land of Alexander the Great, the road that Marco Polo traveled in AD 1294, and the heart and soul of mystics and poets like Rumi and Omar Khayyam, who left us the gift of the "Rubaiyat," a collection of mystical poetry.

To more fully understand the mystical teachings of the Persian Cultures (modern Iran) one must look at the colors, shapes and designs woven and encoded in their carpets. Carpet weaving has been one of the most prized arts of the Middle and Far East - places along the ancient Silk Road. The Islamic motifs, visible in mosques and holy places, reflect sacred geometry. Sacred Geometry is the name given to the archetypal patterns which stand behind everything in the material world and at every scale of existence, from the subatomic level to the human experiential level all the way up to the planets, solar systems, galaxies and the universe itself and into the formless world of spiritual archetypes which provide the blueprint of manifest creation.

Our "Journey along the Silk Road" is a work in progress and I can only give you a basic itinerary as of now. If you hear the calling to join this extraordinary odyssey, please contact us for a more detailed itinerary and more specific information about prices, flights, hotels and travel conditions.

Throughout our journey we will be accompanied by the director of one of the most respected agencies in Georgia and, at the border crossing and throughout our stay in Iran, we will be joined by an Iranian tour operator who has already personally invited us as guests to their country. For those of you who might be concerned about possible dangers for tourists in Iran, a country which has known political turmoil, I want to reassure you that our guides know how to take us safely through the country.

Our guide knows of our interest in the ancient Mother Goddess Traditions and has sent us the following message: "While visiting Iran we could make it possible for you to meet with some of the eminent personalities in Sophism and if possible taking part in their religious ceremonies. We look forward to meet with you and your group." How can we pass up such an invitation!

Here is our itinerary as available as of April 2001. Since we are still working out details for this tour, please contact us for more information about prices and travel details.

On October 12 we depart from the US, arriving in Tbilisi/Georgia the next day, where we will be met by our local tour operator and guide, escorted through customs and transfered to our lovely hotel. Tbilisi has a long and fascinating history as one of the most important political and cultural centers of the Caucasus and the Middle East. For the next few days we will explore the areas around and in Tbilisi, like Mtsketa, the ancient capital of Georgia, and Kutaisi with its Gelati and Bagrati temples.

From Tbilisi we will drive through beautiful countryside to the Armenian border, where we will be met by our local guide and escorted to Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, situated in the south of the Trans-Caucasus. In Yerevan we will visit the Echmiadzin Monastery, the Pagan Temple Garni and Khor Virap at the foot of Mt. Ararat. Our drive to Kafan in southern Armenia will lead us via the valley of the Biblical Mount Ararat and the crossing of several mountain passes as we visit ancient sites along the route.

From Kafan we drive to the Iranian border and the town of Tabriz, escorted by our local Iranian guide. Our journey continues to Tehran, en route visiting the giant dome of Soltaniyeh near the town Zanjan. In Teheran we stay in a glorious palace hotel, explore this magical city with its bazaar and archeological museum and, of course, visit the carpet museum. From Tehran we fly to Shiraz in the south of Iran, where we have a chance to visit the Shah Cheragh Shrine, the Karim Khan citadel, the tomb of the famous Iranian poet Hafez, and other sites of special interest.

A breath-taking drive will bring us from Shiraz to Esfahan, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, as was told to me by a very dear friend who has been there often. En route we will visit Pasargade, the capital of Cyrus the Great, situated in Dasht-e-Morghab. For the next few days we will stay in Esfahan and explore this magnificent city with its Naqsh-e-Jahan Square and Imam mosque, the Ali Qapou palace, the Jame mosque, Hasht Behesht palace and others; and, of course, not to forget the Grand Bazaar! From Esfahan we will drive back to Tehran via the holy place of Kashan, where the most beautiful carpets come from. From Tehran we fly back to the US or you can continue your journey on your own magic carpet!

We can also offer you an optional 8-day excursion to the Mysterious Land of Svaneti on the southern slopes of the Caucasus Mountains in Georgia. Svaneti is a magical place where people have preserved their ancient cultures and traditions and most ancient icons and manuscripts are kept in the Museum of Mestia. Please inquire for more information.

For more information, please contact: Helena A. Shik 34 Purple Mountain Road Putney, Vermont 05346 Phone/Fax: 1-802-387-4753 or via e-mail at: hshik@wildblue.net

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