Best experiences / Blog articles
Short description: Laying at the heart of the once prosperous Silk Road, the doubly-landlocked country of Uzbekistan offers the best sights of this ancient trading route that spanned from China to Turkey. Fortresses and mythical Silk Road cities combined with Soviet era architecture make Uzbekistan the hotspot to explore Central Asia’s history and culture that span over more than two millennia.
Best photos: check out our favourite photos from Uzbekistan
Best time to visit: spring or fall offer the most pleasant temperatures
Best experiences
- the heart-stopping game of Buzkashi – What do you get when you combine impressive horse-riding skills, the carcass of a goat, and fierce competition? The answer is buzkashi, an ancient game that is popular throughout Central Asia. The rules of the game are simple: the carcass of a goat or sheep is dropped somewhere in an open field; horse riders then fight to grab the carcass and carry it to a designated circle in the field. There are no other rules, no teams, and the game can turn quite violent! In Uzbekistan, this traditional sport is not so common (you have better chances of catching a game in Tajikistan or Afghanistan), but during the spring festival of Navruz, remote mountain villages organize numerous smaller buzkashi events with around 100 horsemen, which have a more intimate feel than those in the neighbouring countries.
- marveling at the blue tiles of mythical Samarkand – Once the richest city of the Silk Road, Samarkand and its main square – the Registan – attract visitors from all around the world. The collection of madrassas with their intricate blue and azure tiles decorated with symmetrical patterns is one of the most gorgeous sites in all of Central Asia. The madrassas depict stars and animals, indicating the region’s fascination for astronomy and nature – look out for the unique mosaics of tigers! Due to the passage of time and earthquakes that frequent this region, most of ancient Samarkand was badly damaged until the Soviet and post-Soviet (over)restoration. Some criticize the liberal decisions taken during the remodeling efforts. In order to see what Samarkand may have looked like before the reconstruction works, head to Shakhrisabz, the birthplace of conqueror Timur (also known as Tamerlane). Located less than a 2-hour drive from Samarkand, the town makes for a perfect daytrip.
- miniature paintings in the medieval town of Bukhara – With all its mosques, Bukhara is considered one of Central Asia’s holiest cities. The city has been continuously inhabited for over one thousand years, and surprisingly, its central square has not changed much in the last 400 years. This is perhaps the best glimpse of what the region may have looked liked before the Soviet takeover. Besides the impressive madrassas, minarets and squares, the city is also home to some of the best artists in Uzbekistan – a really unique souvenir that can be only found in Bukhara is a miniature painting depicting traditional scenes inspired by the Silk Road. In our opinion, one of the most creative painters, and one of the rare female artists here, is Medina, whose shop is located inside the Nadir madrassa (the one decorated with a beautiful phoenix mosaic) – her art was even featured in European exhibitions.
- the fortresses of Uzbekistan – Uzbekistan’s part of the Silk Road witnessed some bloody battles over its riches. It is therefore no surprise that rulers built what they hoped would be impregnable fortresses. The most spectacular is, without a doubt, the ancient fortified city of Khiva. Inside the high rounded walls, one can visit the more than 200 intricately carved columns at Itchan Kala, wonder at the incomplete blue Kalta Minor minaret (which the ruler of Khiva intended to be the tallest in the world) and superb palaces. It is also possible to visit some of the remains of the older fortresses in the Khorezm desert further west. Though heavily destroyed by erosion, they are still an incredible testament to the history of the region. Do not miss the camel ride to Ayaz Qala fort, which offers some unrivaled views over the dry landscape.
- the ship graveyard of Aral Sea – The western region of Uzbekistan is as desolate as any place can get, and it is hard to imagine that this region was once Central Asia’s agricultural powerhouse. Years of excessive irrigation depleted the Aral Sea, the main water source for the area, and threw the region into distress. For a glimpse on the effects of unplanned agriculture (and a grim warning of the perils of environmental degradation), head to Moynaq – a former flourishing fishing village where now only rusting ships remain. The Aral Sea can’t be even seen on the horizon anymore and will probably fully disappear in a few years. However, it is still possible to visit the Aral Sea, but one must be prepared for a long ride from Moynaq to reach its bank (at least 3 days each way!).
- an incredible art collection in the middle of nowhere – Nukus, the unpretentious capital of the region of Karakalpakstan in the western part of Uzbekistan, is surprisingly home to one of the most important art collections in the world. Igor Savitsky started collecting avant-garde art in this remote corner of the world, knowing that this would be the last place where the Soviets would look for dissenting artists. The impressive collection of more than 90,000 artifacts and 15,000 paintings is sure to impress even the most seasoned travelers and art connoisseurs.
