Tours with the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures are more than vacations, they’re journeys of a lifetime – adventurous, intellectually stimulating and richly memorable. ISAC's Travel Programs provide exclusive visits and on-site learning privileges not enjoyed by other institutions and travel groups. Participants learn directly from some of the most eminent archaeologists and scholars in the world, at sites ISAC has been excavating and researching for almost a century.

Coming in 2024/24... Crafts and Cuisine of Central Asia, a return to Egypt, a luxury yacht cruise of Turkey and Greece, the Museums of London, and more destinations. Check back for more information.

The Crafts and Cuisine of the Silk Road, and ISAC tour of Central Asia
June 10 –27, 2024
Led by Gil Stein, Rowe Professor in Ancient Near Eastern Studies, ISAC, Director of the Chicago Center for Cultural Heritage Preservation, University of Chicago
Destinations include: Ashgabat, Merv, Kunya Urgench, Nukus, Muynak, Khiva, Bukhara, Samarakand, Tashkent, and the Fergana Valley

Join us this June as ISAC returns to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan on a journey that explores the traditional crafts and foods of Central Asia. We set out on the Silk Road, travel through epic landscapes and marvel at modern architecture as we come face to face with artisans who continue to practice the crafts that were essential commodities along one of world’s most monumental trade routes. Travel with us and visit Bronze Age archaeological sites at the foothills of the Kopet Dag Mountains, drop in at a ghost town by the Aral Sea, take in the ambience at ancient workshops, and discuss the importance of cultural heritage at some of the regions most important museums. We are excited to explore the Fergana Valley on this tour, it is a first time ISAC destination!

While the full brochure is coming soon, please read the itinerary and pricing here.

Registration is now open. To book a spot on this tour, or for all travel inquiries, please contact Matt Welton at mwelton@uchicago.edu.  

 

Our 2024 tour to Israel has been postponed and will occur on a future date.

Click on International and In Country Departures below, and explore your next journey...

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International Departures

Join ISAC on one-of-a-kind journeys as we explore Egypt and Israel! Egypt is currently sold out, and info on Israel is coming soon! Experience the history and the culture of these regions with exclusive access and destinations that are off the beaten path. Tours fill up quickly! Click here to see our most recent tours.

Domestic Departures

Join us on quick getaways to some of our nations most prized collections and special exhibits. Domestic tours offer perfect opportunities for members who live outside of the greater Chicago area to experience ISAC in their own backyard!

Previous Departures

Explore our past ISAC journeys…