Uzbekistan

A perfect spring or autumn destination, Uzbekistan is unexpectedly packed with diverse experiences, from the Silk Road cities of Bukhara and Khiva to glorious Islamic architecture. Explore the Kyzylkum Desert by camel, ski amid the western Tian Shan mountains, overnight by the Aral Sea to search for the bizarre saiga antelope, visit ancient desert fortresses in Karakalpakstan, or gawp at Registan’s unmissable sound and light show. Stroll through Bukhara’s old town, then take tea at a chaikhana teahouse or shop in the Chorsu Bazaar, trade’s beating heart in Tashkent; or marvel at medieval tiled tombs in Shah-i Zinda and the magnificent 19th-century palace of Kokand ruler Khudayar Khan.

It has never been easier to explore this fascinating country. Over the past decade, Uzbekistan’s government has been strengthening its tourism offer, including improving infrastructure and reducing bureaucracy, culminating in it hosting a World Tourist Organisation conference in 2023 and initiating a new $300 million tourism strategy for 2030. Complemented by the author’s 2023 Bradt guide to Karakalpakstan, this new edition reflects post-Covid 19 investments in tourism infrastructure, and provides more detailed economic and political insights. Entirely new elements include Amirsoy resort, Zarafshan nature reserve, Lower Amudarya Biosphere Reserve and Shirin ecovillage, while there is expanded coverage of Tashkent hotels, museums and shopping, Navoi tour operators, and new hotels in Khiva.

Whether you’re interested in culture, trekking, historical sites, archaeology and architecture, seeing endless deserts or majestic mountainscapes, or are fascinated by the Golden Road to Samarkand and Silk Road cities, Bradt’s Uzbekistan is your ideal travel companion.