When I think about the country of Uzbekistan, instantly pictures of stunning mosques, detailed minarets, Soviet influenced architecture and old style towns come to mind.
Cities such as Samarkand, Bykhara and Khiva, which are located along the Silk Road pay homage to its past history, wars and rebirth. When you go on any number of Uzbekistan tours you will notice that one half of the country celebrates the Silk Road where as the other half is certainly modernising for the future.
I first got the idea to visit Uzbekistan when I was online reading the Indy Guide, I recommend you check these guys out if you’re looking for inspiration. Once I booked my tour I was super excited but still not 100% certain on what to expect. I can tell you that I fell in love with the country and will certainly be visiting again soon.
Here are 5 reasons what I think everyone would love a tour of Uzbekistan.
The Silk Road
The Silk Road is how I first came to know about Uzbekistan and one of the main reasons why I wanted to visited. The history of the road can be dated way back to 138 BC which is when the Chinese opened their country’s borders. Over the years everyone from traders to missionaries, and of course conquerors all travelled between Asia and Europe by crossing through Uzbekistan. The centuries of different types of people traveling through meant that Uzbekistan was exposed to new cultures, religious ideas and also crafts, all which can be seen today. I love visiting the ancient cities mentioned above, I nearly filled my memory card taking pictures of the Persian style domes and people weaving silk using traditional methods.
The World Heritage City
When you visit Samarkland you will be blown away by how beautiful and marvel in its wonder, it’s such a powerful experience and I know you will love. It houses one of the most well know monuments in the whole of Central Asia – the Register – it is a square which has three very prominent madrassas. My guide on the tour told me that best time to visit is during dusk and he was of course correct – as the sun sets it beautifully lights up the architecture.
Other must see places here are Shah-I-Kinda necropolis, the tomb of Amir Timur which you can find at Gur-Emir Mausoleum and you can miss out on the observatory of Ulugbek.
It’s Super Easy To Travel Around
Travelling around the country was much easier than I thought it was going to be. Your tour company will make use of the high speed train here (the first of it’s kind in Central Asia), it will take you from Tashkent to your Silk Road destinations in under three hours. If you’re not with a tour then it’s easy to book online and pretty cheap too, you can upgrade your seat if you want to splash out! Make sure you arrive to the station with plenty of time to pass through security or buy a ticket if you haven’t already done so. There are also flights and very comfy buses that will help you get around the country with ease – transport is never an issue here which I love when exploring a new place.
Have you visited Uzbekistan? I would love to hear all about your thought, experiences and tips. All you have to do is put your thoughts down in the comment section below this article. I think it’s great when we, as a travel community, can share with one another to help everyone have the best experience possible. I am looking forward to reading!
