We use cookies. Privacy Policy
The Silk Road's greatest cities — Samarkand's blue domes, Bukhara's ancient bazaars, and Khiva's fairy-tale walls.
Uzbekistan is the Silk Road destination that most backpackers have only just discovered — Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva are extraordinary medieval cities, the steppe landscape is otherworldly, and it's so cheap it barely registers.
Each region has a completely different character. Here is what to expect.
The greatest city on the Silk Road — the Registan (three madrasas surrounding a central square, the finest Islamic architecture in Central Asia), the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis (avenue of blue-tiled mausoleums), and the Gur-e-Amir (Timur's mausoleum). Go at dawn for the light and the absence of tour groups.
A living medieval city — 140 architectural monuments within the old town, the Lyabi-Hauz (central pool surrounded by mulberry trees and medieval buildings) is the finest public space in Central Asia. Stay in a boutique guesthouse within the old walls.
The best-preserved ancient city in Central Asia — the entire Itchan Kala (inner walled city) is UNESCO World Heritage and essentially unchanged since the 19th century. The evening light on the mud-brick walls is extraordinary.
The most Soviet of the Uzbek cities — remarkable metro stations (each a different architectural style, many featuring Uzbek motifs) that are genuine works of art. The Chorsu Bazaar is the largest and most atmospheric in Central Asia.
Uzbekistan is very affordable.
High-speed train (Afrosiyob) Tashkent-Samarkand £10-20.
Guesthouse dorm in Bukhara or Samarkand £6-12.
Local restaurant plov (the national dish, rice cooked in a kazan cauldron) £2-4.
Guided tour of all three Silk Road cities £150-250 for 3-4 days.
The Aral Sea disaster (one of the 20th century's greatest environmental catastrophes — the sea was drained for Soviet cotton irrigation, losing 90 percent of its volume) is accessible from Nukus in western Uzbekistan. Visiting the ship graveyard on the former sea bed gives profound perspective on water management. Uzbekistan's cotton industry still uses forced labour during harvest — check the ethical sourcing status before buying any Uzbek cotton products.
Tell us where you want to go and your budget — we'll build a personalised quote with routes, hostels, and transport sorted.
SE Asia, South America, Europe, Africa, Central Asia and beyond.