For centuries, caravans of thousands of camels crossed Central Asia trading everything from gold to gunpowder making the ‘Silk Road’ the original overland odyssey.
For today’s travellers keen to get a glimpse into the legends and landscapes of this fabled route, there’s no better place to begin than by exploring the breathtaking cities and backroads of Uzbekistan.
As the only land-locked country in the world that is itself surrounded by land-locked countries, Uzbekistan is properly embedded in Central Asia and lies at the heart of the many east-west routes that cross the region.
Samarkand is host to the most extraordinary architecture along the Silk Road, including the spectacular three-sided Registan Mosque.
Bukhara to the west of Samarkand was conquered by Genghis Khan in 1220. It boasts the mausoleum of Ismail Samani, a beautiful example of early Islamic architecture and contains hundreds of well-preserved mosques, bazaars and caravanserais, dating largely from the 9th century onwards.
Allegedly first founded by the son of Noah, the ancient walled city of Khiva has an almost perfectly preserved centre providing a fascinating window into it’s past as an important trading post.
Away from the cities, Nurata, surrounded by mountains, is home to holy springs and a fort built by Alexander the Great in the fourth century BC. Ugam-Chatkal National Park in the north-east on the Kyrgyzstan border, is the country’s largest protected wilderness inhabited by white-claw bears and golden eagles. And, overnight stays in yurts can be a great way to experience the open spaces of the Kyzylkum Desert.
Uzbekistan’s modern capital Tashkent is the arrival and departure point, served by direct flights from Heathrow with Uzbekistan Airways, or flights via Istanbul (offering a great stopover option) with Turkish Airlines.
Reliable train services inexpensively connect most cities and there’s a domestic flight network between the main centres.
The best months to visit are April / May, and October / November, when temperatures are mild.
No visas are required for visits of up to 30 days.
We have various small group tours and tailor-made itineraries that we can assist you with, so get in touch if you are keen to take your first steps along the Silk Road.