For somewhere that is considered off the beaten track, Uzbekistan feels remarkably developed and comfortable to travel around. Large parts of the historic cities are easily walkable and often pedestrianised which makes for relaxing exploring. Modern high speed trains currently connect the three main tourist sites of Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara and by late 2026 the aim is to extend to Khiva too which will speed up travel times significantly.

There’s plenty of decent standard hotel accommodation to choose from, though don’t expect major hotel chains outside of the biggest cities, and lots of boutique heritage options - old caravanserai (inns designed to welcome travelling merchants and their camel caravans) and even madrassas (religious colleges), now converted to charming tourist guesthouses. Whilst at times language can be a bit of a barrier, you will find Uzbeks to be genuinely warm and welcoming to tourists.

Ride the Tashkent Metro

It's an attraction in its own right, as well as a nuclear bunker (apparently). Built in the Soviet era, each station stop has its own theme and is decorated accordingly. I'm a bit of a space geek, so Kosmonavtlar was my favourite with its tile mural walls featuring famous Uzbek and Soviet cosmonauts including Yuri Gagarin. Do avoid visiting at lunchtime as the stations get incredibly busy.

Samarkand’s Remarkable Registan Square

Once the place for Silk Road traders to rest and water their camels, this incredible square is edged on three sides by gigantic madrassas dating from the 15th-17th Century. It’s especially magical at dusk when it's lit up. Do make sure to come back later in the evening for the twice nightly impressive sound and light shows (even though the narration is in Uzbek!).

Enjoy Dinner at Ayvan Restaurant

This eatery is housed in the 19th Century former home of a trading merchant, tucked down a side street in Bukhara’s Old Town. Considered one of the best restaurants in the city, the gourmet European menu is served in the beautifully restored inner courtyard. The service was great, as were the cocktails and it's the perfect place to try Uzbek wine. Be sure to make a reservation ahead if you can as it's very popular.

Spending the Night out in the Desert in a Traditional Yurt Camp

It’s well worth a trek into the desert between Samarkand and Bukhara for this unique experience. Spending a night in one of these conical felt tents used by the desert nomads in Central Asia was a definite highlight of my trip. After dinner, grab a seat outside by the campfire and listen to Kazakh singers under one of the starriest night skies you'll probably ever see. The yurts are cosy, carpeted and include a proper bed with sheets and blankets. They also have electricity though no en suite, but the washrooms are just a short walk away.

Exploring the Beautifully Preserved Mud Brick Alleyways of Khiva’s Itchan Kala (Inner Fortress)

As well as being one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the region and the first place in Central Asia to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Khiva is one of the best places to buy handicrafts (and at the best prices) from silk carpets to ikat fabric jackets. You can even commission a handmade puppet in your own likeness!

Uzbekistan has a more extreme climate than we are used to with sweltering summers getting up to 40°C and freezing winters. The best times to visit are spring and autumn. Spring is generally warm and sunny with much of the landscape gorgeously green. Autumn is warm and dry and, being peak harvest time, the markets are full of fresh vegetables and fruit. If I had to pick, I’d choose autumn as it gets less rain than spring and the skies are usually blue. Take a jacket for the cooler evenings though.

In a word, delicious!

Uzbek cuisine leans heavily on Persian influences mixed in with a little bit of South and East Asian flavours. It is traditionally meat focussed - vegetarian options are available, though the choice can be a little limited. The national dish is plov, a spiced rice dish not dissimilar to pilaf usually made with chunks of lamb and yellow carrots. Shashlyk kebabs grilled over charcoal are commonplace and served with flat breads. Mantis are delicious meat or pumpkin steamed dumplings, often eaten as a starter. Laghman is a soup of meat, vegetables and fat wheat noodles – sometimes also served stir fried. 

My favourite, however, was the somsa, a spiced pasty stuffed with minced meat which influenced the Indian samosa (or possibly the other way round depending who you ask). Unlike in India, Uzbekistan somsas are baked rather than deep fried. They are also the perfect portable snack for any road or train journey.

The national drink of Uzbekistan is tea, so expect to drink a lot of it! Not all restaurants in Uzbekistan serve alcohol, but when it is, the local beer, Sarbast, is decent. Should you come across it, Uzbek wine is worth a try.

Bread, or non as they call it locally, is served with every meal and each region has its own type ranging from flat breads cooked in a tandoor to heavier breads made glossy with a brushing of oil. Bread is broken, not sliced, and always by the oldest gentleman at the gathering as a sign of respect. A handy tip: if you are invited to visit a local’s home, it is good manners to take two loaves as a gift - traditionally to ensure your hosts aren’t caught on the hop with nothing to offer their visitors to eat.

Uzbekistan is growing in popularity and considered one of the next big things in travel. My advice is go now before the rest of the world catches up!

At the moment the easiest way to visit Uzbekistan is on one of our recommended guided small group adventures tours. I travelled on Best of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan but if you want to devote your whole holiday to Uzbekistan, take a look at Premium Uzbekistan.

You can fly direct from the UK to Tashkent but flying indirect can also provide a host of interesting stopover opportunities from a beach add-on to a city break. Ask your travel consultant to talk you through the options.