An adventure operator is predicting increased demand for Silk Road trips after Uzbekistan announced a relaxing of visa restrictions.
The change from April 1, 2017 will see visas issued on arrival in the country at a cost of $50.
Chris Ellis, central Asia product manager for Explore, said the change will mean prospective travellers avoiding the current lengthy and expensive process of obtaining visas.
“This is a great move for tourism to Uzbekistan and will no doubt result in a surge of interest in this wonderful country,” he said.
“Uzbekistan is a fantastic country steeped in fascinating history of the Silk Road and home to impressive architecture and ancient cities such as Samarkland, Bukhara and Khiva.
“Its people are welcoming, warm and excited to see you and as it’s still relatively untouched by western influences, it really feels like a completely undiscovered destination.”
Explore is offering 12-day Silk Road trips for a lead-in of £1,699 per person between March and September next year, including return flights.