uzbekistan
uzbekistan
Silk Road Expeditions
9 Day Cultural Excursion with Integrated Art Workshop
March 25th - April 2nd 2026
Step Into a Tale from the East
We invite you on an unforgettable journey through Uzbekistan’s most enchanting and historic cities — along the legendary Silk Road. Wander through Bukhara, Samarkand, and Tashkent. Feel the pulse of ancient bazaars, admire grand mosques and palaces, lose yourself in the artistry of madrasas, and savor the scents and flavors of the East.
Join internationally acclaimed mixed-media artist, author, and Artaeomythologist Robyn McClendon for a transformative creative journey. With over 30 years of experience teaching artists worldwide, Robyn weaves together visual storytelling, ancient symbolism, and energetic practices to help you unlock your own artistic language.Her work has been exhibited at the Smithsonian, MoMA, and Corcoran Gallery of Art, a prominent art museum in Washington, D.C., and she is a Reiki Master who integrates creative flow with deep personal insight. In this retreat, you’ll explore intuitive mark-making, collage, Gelli printing, and the power of myth as a guide to your creative process—all while immersed in the inspiring landscapes and culture of Uzbekistan.This is more than an art workshop. It’s a chance to reconnect with your inner voice, expand your vision, and return home with new tools, fresh inspiration, and a community of like-minded creators.
The Eye of the Artist
9-Day Guided Journey
in uzbekistan with a
3 day Art Workshop!
The Journey of a Visual Anthropologist: Field Notes, Symbols & Gel Prints from the Silk Road
Travel changes us. As artists, the way we see, collect, and translate the world around us is what makes our work timeless. This three-day immersive workshop invites you to experience Uzbekistan—Tashkent, Samarkand, and the Silk Road—in a completely new way: through the trained eye of an artist and the layered hand of a maker.We’ll build our own Gellidori—a travel journal inspired by the classic Midori, but uniquely infused with gel prints, mixed media, found objects, and ephemera. This portable studio will become the practice ground for capturing your journey: layering the colors, textures, and symbols of Uzbekistan into a one-of-a-kind visual tome.
This is not just a travel workshop. It’s a way of seeing the world that will forever change how you approach your art. 
What You’ll Experience
• Visual Anthropology for Artists Learn how to sharpen your eye to capture the symbols, colors, and cultural details around you— whether in ancient tilework, worn doorways, graffiti, or textiles. These moments become the raw material for your art.
• Gel Printing in the Field With a small gel plate (5x7 or 6x6), travel-sized paints, and simple tools, you’ll create accents and layers that bring your Jellidori pages to life—without overwhelming your pack or workspace.
• The Artist’s Camera Use your cell phone or camera not just to take photos, but to see like an artist. I’ll show you how I capture fragments—textures, crops, and unexpected angles—that later become collages, color palettes, or motifs in larger works.
• Color Palettes of Place Every artist sees differently. You’ll learn how to pull unique palettes from the environment—your palette will be completely different from a fellow traveler’s, because your eye crops what speaks to you.• Collage & Ephemera Storytelling• Layer your Gellidori with collected ephemera, prints, photographs, and textures. This is how your travel experience becomes a living mythos—your personal story told in symbols, images, and words.
why uzbekistan?
why uzbekistan?
The Silk Road has always been a crossroads of cultures, languages, and symbols. From ancient mosques tiled in turquoise to markets brimming with textiles, from weathered walls to delicate manuscripts, Uzbekistan is a living archive of inspiration.This journey also beautifully aligns with my most recent publication—an eight-part series with Schiffer Publishing. Parts One and Two launched October 1st in the form of stamps, stencils, and a journal-entry book bundled in each set. For the last two years, I have been immersed in researching and reinterpreting symbols found in pottery, textiles, rugs, old documents, bronzes, and brass emblems—distilling them into a rich and diverse visual language for artists.This workshop is a companion to that body of research. For those of you who have purchased the stamp sets, I encourage you to bring them along. I’ll be sharing a video showing how I pack mine into their convenient box set—perfect for tucking into your travel kit along with a compact selection of paints, papers, and tools. ( It's not required to purchase or bring my book sets.Best of all, this once-in-a-lifetime excursion is made possible through expert curation and guiding by Marina [Insert company name here], whose deep knowledge of Uzbekistan ensures we will not only see these cultural treasures, but truly experience them.
The Silk Road Journaling Circle
In addition to our three-day immersive workshop, our evenings will be enriched with something very special: the Silk Road Journaling Circle.At our communal dinners, participants are invited to bring their Gellidori's as works-in-progress to share. These circles are a time to:
• Exchange inspiration from the day’s discoveries.• Ask questions about technique, symbolism, and visual storytelling.
• Explore deeper conversations around visual anthropology and iconography.
• Celebrate the unfolding of each artist’s unique visual voice.Together, we will become visual anthropologists of the Silk Road—capturing symbols, colors, and stories in ways that are deeply personal, richly layered, and timeless.
What You’ll Leave With?
By the end of this workshop, you’ll return home with:
• A rich, layered Gellidori journal—a visual tome of your adventure. • Hundreds of inspirational photos and sketches that can fuel future works long after the trip.
• A personal color palette drawn directly from Uzbekistan’s streets, architecture, and landscapes.• New skills in seeing like a visual anthropologist—tools to deepen your storytelling and artistic voice for years to come.This is not just a travel workshop. It’s a way of seeing the world that will forever change how you approach your art.Join me for this once-in-a-lifetime experience, and return not only with a travel journal, but with a new way of seeing, collecting, and creating
Travel Itinerary
Key Details Route: Tashkent – Samarkand – Bukhara – Khiva (optional extension)
Dates: March 25 – April 2, 2026 + Optional extension (Khiva) April 2 - April 6, 2026.
Format: Cultural and culinary immersion with 3 day Art Workshop with Robyn Mcclendon
Transport: Fast train & air-conditioned minibus
Accommodation: Hotels in historic city centers.
Group size: Small and intimate — min. 12, max. 16 travelers.
What to expect
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day 1
We’ll then ride the fast train to Samarkand, once a jewel of the Silk Road, to marvel at its mosaics, silk carpets, glowing Registan Square by night, and even learn about the ancient craft of papermaking.
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day 2 - 3
We’ll then ride the fast train to Samarkand, once a jewel of the Silk Road, to marvel at its mosaics, silk carpets, glowing Registan Square by night, and even learn about the ancient craft of papermaking.
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day 4-5
In Bukhara, the living heart of Central Asian tradition, we’ll wander through fortress walls, bustling trading domes filled with silk and spices, and peaceful courtyards where artisans keep age-old crafts alive. Here, you’ll be invited into the world of miniature painting, learn the secrets of plov in a hands-on cooking class, and enjoy an enchanting evening of music, fashion, and local cuisine in a historic madrasa
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day 6 - 9
Adding a unique dimension to the journey, you’ll spend three full days in an art workshop with Robyn McClendon — a soulful creative immersion framed by the timeless atmosphere of Bukhara.
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day 10 - 13
And for those who wish to linger longer, the Khiva extension offers four more days in a city where time seems to stand still. Behind clay walls, the winding streets of Ichan Kala reveal minarets, ancient palaces, artisan workshops, and courtyards filled with stories. We’ll share dinners with music and dance, meet inspiring locals like Karamat and her family, and even cook traditional green noodles (shivit oshi) together.
Join us on an unforgettable journey along the Silk Road — through Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and the option to continue on to the magical Khiva. We’ll immerse ourselves in Uzbekistan’s rich culture, warm hospitality, and timeless beauty. Throughout the journey, expect beautiful hotels in historic centers, smooth travel by fast train and private bus, and a small, intimate group of fellow travelers (12–16 guests) — ensuring deep connection, inspiration, and memories to last a lifetime.
Art. History. Cuisine. Connection.
This is not just a tour, but an experience of creativity, culture,
and the Silk Road’s living spirit.
What's Included
• 3 full days workshop with our beloved Robyn
• 9 nights in boutique hotels (double occupancy Art retreat) + 3 nights in boutique hotel in Khiva if you add this extension.
• Train tickets
• All transfers in an air-conditioned minibus
• Local English-speaking guides in each city
• Tour leader throughout the journey
• All masterclasses listed in the itinerary
• Entry tickets to all listed sites
• 8 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners (during the Art retreat) + 3 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner in Khiva if you add this extension.
Not Included
• Meals not specified in the itinerary• Medical/travel insurance (strongly recommended)
• Flights to and from Uzbekistan
THE investment
9 day excursion + Art retreat:
$2,850 per person (based on double occupancy)
Single occupancy: +$400• Deposit: $450 due upon registration. This deposit/workshop is non-refundable, but you may transfer your spot to another person.
Please note: Any bank or transfer fees must be covered by the participant.
4 day Khiva extension:
$650 per person (based on double occupancy)
Single occupancy: +$150• Deposit: $300 due upon confirmation. This deposit/workshop is non-refundable, but you may transfer your spot to another person.