Overview
Uzbekistan holidays take you on an unforgettable journey to the heart of the old Silk Route, a mesmerising destination replete with exquisite architecture and ancient culture. Uzbekistan’s jewels in the crown are undoubtedly the three great Silk Road cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. A major trading city since the time of Alexander the Great, Samarkand flourished under the rule of the Persian Empire, attracting the finest builders, craftsmen, philosophers and scientists, whose workmanship can still be admired today in the Registan,a majestic square lined on three sides by the exquisite, turquoise-tiled facades of three madrasahs.<br />
Central Asia’s holiest city, Bukhara was the centre of commerce, religion and culture for thousands of years and today boasts over 350 mosques and 100 religious colleges. Khiva is a town made for walking, compact, well maintained and basking in beautiful desert light. The ancient delights of Kukhna Ark Fortress, the turquoise-tiled Islom-Khodja and the mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud can all be found within the walled inner town of Itchan Kala, whilst outside the walls lie prestigious Madrassahs, delicate minarets and opulent palaces.<br />
As beguiling as the ancient cities of Uzbekistan are, the Soviet occupation has also left a very interesting mark. The capital Tashkent was rebuilt in the Soviet style following an earthquake and has many interesting Soviet relics, statues and architecture. Perhaps even more surprising is the remote and isolated city of Nukus, home to the Igor Savitskiy Museum which houses one of the world’s finest collections of Soviet avant-garde art from the 1920s and 30s. Uzbekistan also has a rugged and rocky landscape with deserts, mountains and valleys interspersed with pockets of fertile, green land. The combination of spectacular countryside and classic Islamic architecture make this nation a visual delight. Lastly this is also an extremely friendly country, where you will feel genuinely welcome by the people you meet on your holiday in Uzbekistan.
