A Gulkam Canyon excursion is the perfect way to add an extra dimension of adventure to your time in Uzbekistan and to step away from historic monuments for a relaxing afternoon. You could also take a mashrutka (minibus) from Shahrisabz to Kitab, visit the bazaar there and go to the taxi stand near the junction at the bazaar. Just know that taking a taxi there can be on the expensive side. But ultimately, plov represents a community coming together, hospitality and a strong, proud identity. You simply cannot go to Uzbekistan without sampling the much-loved national-dish, plov! You can take the cable car up, enjoy the views over the valley, and hit the trails for the day. Its a must-read! Its difficult to imagine how ancient Khiva was like when you see this little touristic town nowadays. The historic center of Samarkand is about 5 km from the train station. When Russia invaded Central Asia, they brought merchants with them, Dmitri Filatov being one of them. Between visits to the Fergana Valleys most famous sights, youll stop to meet artisans and master craftsmen in their workshops. Ancient cities of the Silk Road (Bukhara, Samarkand, and Khiva) (from USD 1.0). If you prefer to buy your tickets on the spot, you can go to one of the train stations in Uzbekistan upon your arrival and buy all the train tickets you need in one go. Id recommend visiting Uba, a village famous for making traditional clay ovens. From the 1st-7th centuries, Buddhism coexisted in the area alongside Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism. Today you have a full day in Bukhara! There are a few of traditions based around Obi non. Hi Sharon, thank you! Find out all the top things to do and the best places to see in Bukhara in The Complete City Guide to Bukhara. Inside the Jami Mosque photo by Timezone Junkies. Tashkent has some beautiful historical sites like the Hazrat Imam Complex and the Kukeldash Madrasah,Soviet architectural buildings like theState Museum of HistoryandHotelUzbekistan and modern parks with stunning fountains and statues like you can find on Independence Square. 5: If you have thought that some of the Islamic architecture in Uzbekistan resembles that from Northern India, then that is because Timurs great great great Grandson, Babur Beg, was the founder of the Moghul Empire that ruled much of India for almost four centuries! While there is nowadays still some tension (mostly from the Kyrgyz side), the region has been stable since 2010. For nature lovers, Uzbekistan is a great place to spend your holidays, because the beauty of the area is fascinating at first sight: an incredible combination of mountain and plain landscapes, fast flowing and clear rivers, the largest of which are the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya, the exotic fauna and the rich flora. If you go for this option, you still have a full morning to enjoy some time in Khiva and you can take your return flight the day after in Tashkent. Plov is the national dish of the country and is available everywhere; Uzbeks eat it any time of the day. But while you might think that the caravans were only trading goods on the Silk Road, Khiva was known as a slave-trading post.

Its a 30-minute drive and while the taxi drivers will try and charge 50.000 UZS, know that you shouldnt pay more than 25.000 UZS. The most famous place in Shahrisabz are the gate arches of the Ak-Saray Palace, the only remains of the palace that was built for Amir Timur. I recommend taking a Guided City Tour in Bukhara to see all the old citys highlights while learning all about its fascinating history and the former Emirs that have ruled this great city throughout the ages. To answer your questions: Among the many historic things to do in Uzbekistan, touring Samarkand certainly tops the list. The majority of these sites are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Do you know more places I should add to these itineraries? The owners are very friendly and helpful and the hostel is located at a 20-minute walking distance from Registan Square. Check out theComplete City Guide to Bukharawith everything you need to know about this city, including all the main attractions, cool activities and best places to eat! visiting Tashkent at the beginning or end of your trip. Other places of interest in Shahrisabz are the Dorut Tilovat Complex with the Kok Gumbaz mosque and the Dorus Siyadat Complex which contains the tomb of Timurs eldest son. Amazing photos! Made up of rice, vegetables and meat, usually mutton, lamb or beef, swimming in lamb fat and oil, it may not sound particularly appetising but it may just surprise you. Depending on the time of year, you can go skiing in the foothills of the Tien Shan or climb the highest point of Big Chimgan. Are all tourism sites, restaurants, bars, clubs already open as usual? There are still some interesting places and buildings to visit in Namangan, such as Babur Park,the bazaar on Uychi avenue, the Mullah Kyrgyz madrassah, the Khodjamni Kabri Mausoleum and mosque, the Jummi Mosqueand the Atavalikhonture Mosque. add at least 2 days to your itinerary if you want to, How to get from Khiva to Nukus and Karakalpakstan. Just keep in mind that it can change quickly and randomly but at this point in time, traveling between the provinces shouldnt be a problem Subscribe to our newsletter for inspiring travel guides and articles from around the world! Writing, travel, and food are my passion. Here are the top 4 places in Khiva you should definitely see: As with the other Silk Road cities in Uzbekistan, I also recommend taking a Guided City Tour in Khiva. In these lush, fertile valleys, youll find the artisans who have made silk, ceramics and wood carvings for generations. You will be surprised by the variety of accommodation types in Uzbekistan hotels, national guesthouses, boutique hotels, hostels, yurt camps. The Aral Sea used to be one of the four largest lakes in the world until the 1980s. Unsubscribe in one click. *Due to renovations at Savitsky Museum, the archeological and applied arts exhibitions remain closed indefinitely. Namangan, also located in the Ferghana Valley, is the religious center and one of the most conservative cities in Uzbekistan. 7: One of the staple foods of Uzbekistan is the Obi non flatbread. tour companies offer tours around the country. The Adras House Hotel is a stunning hotel with spacious cozy rooms and a fantastic breakfast buffet. Its well worth a trip all the way out to Nukus just to spend a day wandering its halls, where you can learn the history of the Karakalpak people, view their art and discover lesser-known painters of the Soviet era. If youre into textiles and crafts, a trip to the Fergana Valley would make a great day tour. Which among top 4 places is best to travel with kids in tow? Its definitely a site you cant skip when youre in Samarkand! Here are 3 Uzbekistan itinerary suggestions to visit the most beautiful places in Uzbekistan. It may be one of the few sites in Uzbekistan that youre likely to have to yourself. The Regional History and Aral Sea Museum is a great starting point on your journey to this vast and intriguing tourist destination. Check out rates and availability for Ichan Qala Hotel. All the main Silk Road cities and places of interest in Uzbekistan are connected by train or bus so its very easy to travel independently around the country. However, all these watermelons have one thing in common sweetness. If you dont want the driver to wait or want to keep the costs lower, you can also go by shared taxi. Aydar Lake is quite remote and you can only get there by driving there yourself, taking a shared taxi or by booking a tour (more info below).

The historic town of Bukhara isnt very big and all the main sights are so close to each other that you dont even need a taxi to visit them all. From the first visit, our country evokes extraordinary feelings that prompt us to come here repeatedly. Their burial found in the Teshik-Tash grotto belongs to the Mousterian culture. People can go there to relax, ski in winter, raft, and hike on one of the many trails leading to lowland valleys, rocky gorges, alpine meadows, and high-mountain glaciers. Wondering how much it costs to travel in Uzbekistan? This practice is no longer done today, but Uzbek hospitality is very much alive. Khiva still has signs of its significance to the silk trade of centuries ago. All the rooms are decorated in a typical Uzbek style and have their own seating area. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Intrepid Travel is committed to using travel as a force for good. If youre going to Uzbekistan to find treasures of the ancient Silk Road, then these are the 4 cities in Uzbekistan you really cant miss! See the rates and availability for Mubina Khiva B&B here. To get back from Shahrisabz to Samarkand, you can look for a taxi in the surrounding area but be aware that the taxi drivers might ask for a lot more money. These women are blazing a new trail for Polar Pointers: All your Antarctica questions, answered, Connecting to Country on Tasmanias incredible wukalina Walk. I think theyll like Khiva and Bukhara best as those cities have something fairytale-like , Your email address will not be published. Copyright 2021 Journal of Nomads. What were the highlights of your visit? The thick mud-brick walls of the fortresses were designed to protect the thousands of inhabitants that once called them home. Extra plus: the hostel has an indoor pool! Its also possible to hitchhike there. You can also go on a guided countryside tour and visit some remote (but nonetheless interesting) historical sites around Bukhara. The former Soviet republic is known for its awe-inspiring Islamic architectural wonders, boasting intricately decorated madrassas, mausoleums and mosques, and a history that saw Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and Tamerlane leave their mark. From there you can get a shared or private taxi to Sentyab. Since 2006, the government has put a lot of attention to this agricultural field and has increased its land coverage by 22,000 hectares (54,363 acres) in 2015.

Rishton is a small village in the Ferghana Valley that is famous for its pottery. Itchan Kala has over 50 historical sites so its worth exploring the old town of Khiva for 2 days. Three imposing madrasahs dominate the outer portion of the square, where its pathways face the central part of the area. Samarkands olden character is seen in its several mosques, the dome-shaped market, and the oldest monuments in the Central Asian region. Some trains are quickly sold out, especially in the summer during the high season. Here are the top destinations in Uzbekistan that have the most stunning and impressive Islamic architecture of the entire country. You can take a shared taxi from Rishton to Margilan. There are plenty of great places to shop in Uzbekistan, but the title of shopping mecca surely falls on Bukhara. They come in various shapes, sizes, and colors. Its about 1.5 hours driving between Fergana and Namangan. On the fringes of the Kyzylkum Desert, discover more than 50 ancient desert fortresses, some of which date back over 2,000 years and have been left largely unexcavated. Once one of the largest lakes in the world, the Aral Sea is not a sea at all and is named after the islands that once populated it. What better way to enjoy life than to experience all my passion at this stage of my life. Hi Melanie, thank you! The easiest way to get there is by taking the metro and getting off at Tashkent Metro Station. In the historical cities included in the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List Samarkand, Bukhara, Shakhrisabz and Khiva, you can visit the most ancient architectural monuments that have preserved echoes of past eras. Other popular Uzbek dishes include samsa, lagman, shashlik, shurpa, and manti. 3: In the ninth century, Bukhara was one of the great centres of Islamic art and learning, alongside of Baghdad, Cairo, and Cordoba. Thats why Ill use Tashkent as the starting point for the Uzbekistan itineraries that you can find later on in this post. If youve already seen all the old citys main sites, I suggest spending the day visiting some places outside the historical center. Aside from the Yodgorlik Silk Factory, you should also visit the colorful Kumtepa bazaar, the Said Akhmad-Khoja Madrasah, the Pir Siddiq Complex, and the Khodja Maggiz Mausoleum. Its about 1,5 hours driving from Samarkand to Shahrisabz. If youre coming from one of its neighboring countries, there are buses and/ or trains connecting Almaty(Kazakhstan) orBishkek(Kyrgyzstan) to Tashkent. Dervish Hostel is one of the best-rated hostels in Bukhara and is ideal for solo travelers. You get picked up in Samarkand, have a photo stop at the beautiful Tahtakaracha Pass on your way to the site, and have a guided tour around the main sights of Shahrisabz. Try to go as early as possible (the Tashkent train station should be open from 8:00 am) to avoid waiting in line for hours. On a trip to the Nurata Mountains and Aydarkul Lake in the Kyzylkum Desert, youll exchange concrete for Stone Age petroglyphs and Wi-Fi for the glimmering Milky Way. Another stunning historical site and my personal favorite in Samarkand is the Shah-i-Zinda Complex. You can find them back below the itineraries. I suggest taking the train in the morning so you have nearly 2 full days to spend in Bukhara. Shahrisabz is a small city so you can easily see all the main attractions in 2 hours. Arkanchi Hotelis one of the few 4-star hotels located inside the old town of Khiva. Prisoners are lowered into these cells while their food and water were delivered in the same manner. Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing. Samarkand is worth visiting with a guide as theres so much history and stories to be told at every site! 1: Uzbekistan is one of only two double-landlocked countries in the world. Tashkent will very likely be the first city you arrive at when traveling to Uzbekistan as its home to the countrys international airport. This is because Uzbek cuisine uses herbs and spices for flavor on all types of protein, grain, and vegetables. Be sure to stop at the statue of Nasreddin Hodja, a famous storyteller and satirist who is rumored to bring luck in business and love if you rub his right shoe. Arguably Central Asias most iconic site, at the heart of the ancient city of Samarkand is the breath-taking Registan Square. This is reflected in the quality of their Islamic architecture! While Karakalpakstan is now mainly one huge desert, it used to be called Khorezm and was one of the most historical and cultural regions of Central Asia. Kokand, in Ferghana Valley, is usually overlooked by travelers in favor of the more famous cities of Bukhara, Samarkand and Khiva. All the main roads of Samarkand lead to Registan as it was the heart of the Timurid dynasty. All the caravans had a stop here on their way to China and back. Agree on the price before you get in the taxi! There used to be more than 600 mosques in this city but most of them are gone now. His military campaigns have been credited for wiping out some 5% of the worlds population at the time. I'm Gabby. If youd love to have an authentic cultural experience in Uzbekistan, you should definitely visit the Fergana Valley! The water is warm enough from June until August to swim in the lake and youre also allowed to do some fishing between the months of September and April. People who truly love their country and culture. Never get into a taxi before agreeing on the price! Baburs great great Grandson was Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal. The Atavalikhonture Mosque,also known as Ota Valikhon Tur Mosque, is the place where the now-banned Wahabi Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan was founded. Zindan is located behind the Ark Fortress and now serves as a museum.