With Uzbekistan’s star on the rise, Shebs Alom explores the central Asian nation on an escorted tour
As I stand transfixed by Bukhara’s towering Kalyan Minaret, its turquoise-tiled inscriptions telling centuries’ worth of stories, a sense of awe washes over me – not only for the minaret’s history but also for my own Islamic faith. I feel a moment of peace as a call to prayer reverberates around me.
While lost in its heavenly beauty, I am brought back to the earthly plane by a glance at the schedule of my fam trip, which requests meeting back at the hotel for dinner at 7.30pm sharp.
Our guide, Vazira Mizrobova, suggests I return to the minaret just beforehand, once the sun has set, to see this Unesco-listed gem illuminated. With some time to explore alone, I wander past nearby shops – brimming with handmade carpets and crafts – and cafes witnessing Bukhara’s longstanding history as a centre of Silk Road trading still thriving today. Then, true to Vazira’s advice, I return as darkness falls to see the minaret shining against the night sky, a breathtaking vision of Bukhara in glittering glory.
Top Uzbekistan tour
Experiences like this underscore why Uzbekistan is fast becoming an unmissable destination, with multiple tour operators reporting increased interest. Access has been boosted by Uzbekistan Airways’ new direct flights from Gatwick on Sundays, complementing the carrier’s existing twice-weekly Heathrow service.
I’m on a Regent Holidays fam trip of Uzbekistan, along with eight travel agents. The operator has witnessed a 30% year-on-year rise in bookings for the country this year, and on our condensed version of Regent’s 14-night Classic Uzbekistan tour, we experience its essence, from the bustling Soviet-influenced capital of Tashkent to the historic Silk Road cities of Bukhara and Samarkand.
After landing in Tashkent just before sunrise, we head for Lotte City Hotel Tashkent Palace, which provides a terrific introduction to the city. Built in 1958 and featuring wrought-iron balconies and a magnificent colonnaded roof, it is one of the city’s most striking Soviet buildings.
The hotel combines comfort and convenience with spacious rooms and outstanding facilities, such as a pool, beauty parlour and even a bank – useful for withdrawing local currency to spend in the local markets.
Our Tashkent tour guide, Donat Iskanderov, ensures we don’t miss key landmarks. A highlight is the majestic Hazrati Imam complex, home to mosques, madrasas and the Usmon Mus’haf, one of the world’s oldest Quranic manuscripts written in Kufic Arabic script.
The Soviet-style Chorsu Bazaar is equally captivating: the tangy aroma of citrus mingles with the earthy scent of spices, and the lively natter of owners creates a jovial atmosphere. “Every stall tells a family story – it’s a testament to the city’s spirit,” Donat says.
Travel around Uzbekistan
Departing Tashkent in business class on a high-speed Afrosiyob train, zipping through the steppe to Bukhara, we spend a restful night at Hotel Shahriston.
The property was inspired by caravanserai (roadside inns) and blends seamlessly with Bukhara’s Old Town.
This area is often described as the largest open-air museum in Central Asia due to its collection of well-preserved medieval sites, such as the Samanid Mausoleum, one of the region’s most revered monuments. Built in the late 9th or early 10th century as a royal burial place, it is the only surviving monument from the short-lived Samanid era, with Vazira explaining:
“Bukhara suffered earthquakes, natural disasters and invasions, leading to the destruction of most of the city’s ancient structures. Genghis Khan invaded Bukhara in the 13th century – the mausoleum’s robustness through all of that adds so much character.”
During our Old Town amble, we stop to sample our first of many plovs, Uzbekistan’s national dish. A big pot of tender mutton or beef is sautéed with rice, carrots, cumin and salt. In some regions, chickpeas and raisins add texture and sweetness. Whether you enjoy it with a side of salad or on its own, plov exemplifies Uzbek cuisine – simple, yet packed with flavour.
The tour’s two-day Bukhara visit includes the beautiful Sitorai Mokhi Khosa, the summer palace of the last emir of Bukhara, Alim Khan, who ruled between 1911 and 1920. Now an art museum, his residence mixes Bukharan and Russian architecture, due to the emir’s strong connections with the Russian Empire.
The gardens, meanwhile, follow the traditional charbagh (four-part) design, rooted in Persian and Central Asian traditions.
What to see in Samarkand
A 90-minute trip on an Afrosiyob brings us to Samarkand, where we visit arguably Uzbekistan’s best-known attraction, Registan Square. The vast public space is embraced by three glorious madrasas on each side and is steeped in Timurid history, built by Sultan Ulugh Beg in the 15th century as a centre of education, commerce and culture – but also as a warning to dissenters, because the square was used as a place of public execution.
Samarkand has the merit of being extremely walkable, so, near the Registan, we find the enormous Bibi-Khanym Mosque. Local legend has it that any woman who crawls under its monumental marble Quran stand will bear lots of children – though I don’t spot any would-be mothers taking to their hands and knees.
On our final day, we visit the Shah-i-Zinda, a cluster of mausoleums built to commemorate Qusam ibn Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad credited with introducing Islam to Uzbekistan. Its vivid blue mosaics shimmer like precious gems, giving our group both visual stimulation as well as pause for thought. This storied former Soviet state exceeded all my expectations – and with tours selling fast, I suspect that I won’t be the only happy customer this year.
Book it:
Regent Holidays offers a 14-night Classic Uzbekistan tour from £3,245, including accommodation with breakfast, ground transfers, listed excursions, most meals and return flights. Bespoke and independent options are also available.
regent-holidays.co.uk
Uzbekistan Airways flies from Heathrow to Tashkent on Tuesdays and Fridays, and from Gatwick on Sundays. Return fares start at £530.
uzairways.com/en
Agent views
Melanie Williams, owner, Hermes Travel
“Before I went on this tour, so many people asked me whether Uzbekistan was safe. It’s a peaceful, calm and well-run country with a plethora of interesting cultural sights. Visa-free access is an important and useful selling tool.”
Lesley Knight, senior travel consultant, Travel with Meon
“The history of the Silk Road, combined with the Russian influences, make Uzbekistan unique. After seeing the historic highlights on this fam, I recommend cultural immersion activities such as art and craft workshops, music and dance.”
Liz King, owner, Liz King Bespoke Travel
“I would emphasise that this is a soft adventure. For my clients, comfort and a bit of luxury are important. The high-speed trains on this tour would be essential, as opposed to taking long coach trips.”
Ashley Quint, director, TravelTime World
“I enjoyed the ceramics workshop and the plov lunch – a different side to standard Uzbekistan tours. Regent Holidays purchased the train tickets in advance and sorted transfers, which made getting around easy.”
Ask the operator
Carl Meadows, product and travel specialist, Regent Holidays
“Tours of Uzbekistan, both group and tailor-made, are selling well for 2025. If this continues, 2025 will be the best year for Uzbekistan we have ever had. Most of our group tours already have the guaranteed minimum numbers.
Direct flights from London with Uzbekistan Airways are reliable and good value. They also have a good office here in the UK.”
PICTURE: Shutterstock/Ana Flasker; Shebs Alom; Shutterstock/V Smirnov; Shebs Alom; Shutterstock/volkova natalia, Milonk, Tatiana_kashko_photo
