Culture & heritage
Registan Square Samarkand
Samarkand
Samarkand’s grand square, framed on three sides by tiled madrasahs built between the 15th and 17th centuries and beautifully lit at night.
Discover : Registan Square Samarkand
Central Asia & Caucasus
Uzbekistan
Turquoise domes on the Silk Road
Overview
Why visit Uzbekistan?
Uzbekistan is the heart of the old Silk Road, and its cities still look the part. Samarkand’s Registan square, framed by three tiled madrasahs, is one of the great sights of Asia; Bukhara keeps a lived-in old town of mosques, trading domes and tea houses; and Khiva’s walled inner city feels like stepping into another century.
For Indian travellers there is a special connection. Babur, founder of the Mughal dynasty, was born in the Fergana Valley and descended from Timur, whose tomb in Samarkand is often cited as an inspiration for Humayun’s Tomb and the Taj Mahal. Fast Afrosiyob trains link Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara, so travel between cities is comfortable.
A week covers Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara at an unhurried pace, with Khiva as an add-on. The trip suits couples, families with older children and senior travellers who enjoy history, and we choose hotels within walking distance of the old centres.
Things to see
Top attractions in Uzbekistan
The sights we build itineraries around. Tell us which ones you want, and we will plan the days for you.
Culture & heritage
Shah-i-Zinda Samarkand
Samarkand
A narrow avenue of richly tiled mausoleums climbing a hillside, one of Samarkand’s most beautiful and sacred places.
Discover : Shah-i-Zinda Samarkand
Culture & heritage
Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum Samarkand
Samarkand
The ribbed azure dome over the tomb of Timur, a building whose design echoes in Humayun’s Tomb and the Taj Mahal.
Discover : Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum Samarkand
Culture & heritage
Poi Kalon Bukhara
Bukhara
Bukhara’s great square of the 12th-century Kalyan Minaret, the vast Kalyan Mosque and the blue-domed Mir-i-Arab Madrasah.
Discover : Poi Kalon Bukhara
Culture & heritage
Itchan Kala Khiva
Khiva
Khiva’s walled inner town of mud-brick ramparts, minarets and madrasahs, preserved so completely that it feels like an open-air museum.
Discover : Itchan Kala Khiva
Culture & heritage
Hazrati Imam Complex Tashkent
Tashkent
Tashkent’s religious heart of mosques and madrasahs, whose library keeps one of the oldest surviving manuscripts of the Quran.
Discover : Hazrati Imam Complex Tashkent
Shopping & food
Chorsu Bazaar Tashkent
Tashkent
Tashkent’s great domed market, piled high with dried fruit, nuts, spices, patterned bread and seasonal produce.
Discover : Chorsu Bazaar TashkentGood to know
Planning a trip to Uzbekistan
Do Indian passport holders need a visa for Uzbekistan?
Yes. Indian travellers apply for an e-Visa online before departure, which is usually straightforward. We check the current requirements and help with the application.
Is vegetarian food available in Uzbekistan?
Uzbek cooking is meat-heavy, but there is fresh bread, salads, vegetable soups, pumpkin samsa, fruit and excellent dried fruit and nuts. Tashkent has several Indian restaurants, and we brief hotels on vegetarian needs in advance.
How do we travel between the cities?
Mostly by the high-speed Afrosiyob train, which links Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara in comfort. Khiva is reached by a short domestic flight to Urgench or by train, and we arrange transfers at every stop.
Should we carry cash in Uzbekistan?
Yes, some. The currency is the Uzbek som; cards work in larger hotels and shops, but bazaars, taxis and small cafés expect cash. ATMs are easy to find in the cities.
Let's plan your next holiday
Plan your Uzbekistan holiday
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