Classic Uzbekistan
Trip Highlights
-
Wander through Tashkent's bazaar - one of the most interesting in the country for an insight into daily life
-
Visit the awe-inspiring restored madrasas standing on three sides of Registan Square in Samarkand where royal proclamations were read out
-
Take tea adjacent to the beautiful pool of Lyab-i-Khauz in Bukhara, overlooking two magnificent madrasas, where the soul of ancient Central Asia is preserved with great charm
-
Khiva, on a direct route between Russia and India and which saw much Great Game activity, makes this perhaps the most perfectly preserved of all the Silk Road cities
Trip Summary
For a thousand years, the Silk Route, the greatest land based trading highway the world has seen, wound its way from China, through Central Asia to Europe. Small towns grew out of obscurity on the back of the newfound trading opportunities, to become cities of incalculable wealth and splendour.
Today, it is the independent state of Uzbekistan that contains the most interesting sites and this trip is designed to visit the great cities that survive from this legendary era. Visit the evocative city of Samarkand, which survived the arrival of Islam, the havoc of the Mongolian hordes and then flowered under the rule of Tamerlane. The journey then moves to Bukhara. It was the beauty of the Kalyan minaret that saved it from being destroyed by Ghengis Khan in 1220 when the rest of the city was razed to the ground. The next stage is to Khiva, one of the most complete and best-preserved cities on the ancient Silk Road.
To discuss this journey idea in more detail or for advice on planning your tailor made holiday to Uzbekistan, please contact our Uzbekistan specialist, Paul on 01285 651 010.
Itineraries (download our suggested itinerary below)