It’s hard not to fall under the spell of dreamy sounding names such as Bukhara, Samarkand and Khiva. Thanks to the legacy of the 14th century Mongol conqueror Tamerlane the Great, many architectural masterpieces within these great cities still remain in Uzbekistan. Beautifully decorated mosques, madrassas and mausoleums sit beneath turquoise domes but beyond the architectural highlights there is plenty more to see from the remote desert ‘kalas’, to the mysterious collection of Russian avant-garde art in the Savitsky Museum, and the ceramic and ikat workshops in Ferghana Valley.
“I did not write half of what I saw, for I knew I would not be believed.”
STORIES FROM UZBEKISTAN
Stories
When to go
From mid-April to the beginning of June. Summer is punishingly hot and to be avoided. September through to early November are lovely times to visit, making the most of pomegranate season.
Type of Journey
Couples, honeymooners, families, small groups, solo travellers, walkers, bikers, history, archaeology and architecture buffs. Combines well with Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Georgia.
Hotels
Hotels in Uzbekistan are getting better. The capital is now home to some excellent 4 and 5* choices. Outside of Tashkent, prepare for things to be more basic. There are a few charming boutique options in Bukhara and Khiva, however hotel standards are generally of a 3* nature.
UZBEKISTAN EXPERIENCES
Visit the sites at night. The beautiful mausoleum of Gur-e-Amir in Samarkand is lit at night showcasing the incredible pattern work on the tiling and muqarnas of the entrance.
Stock up on ikat textiles, the best of which are found in the Silk Road cities of Samarkand or Bukhara. Ikat means cloud in Persian, referring to the binding technique that gives ikat its cloud-like pattern.
There are a remarkable number of beautiful door carvings, door handles and door knockers to be found on old Mosques, caravanserais and merchant houses – particularly in Bukhara and Khiva.
