Uzbekistan

Written by Central Asian expert Sophie Ibbotson, Uzbekistan's Tourism Ambassador to the UK

This fully updated fourth edition of Bradt's Uzbekistan is the definitive practical guide to Central Asia's most populous country and the beating heart of the Silk Road. Offering more detail for independent travellers than any other guidebook, it brings first-hand descriptions of everything from UNESCO World Heritage sites and the world's best collection of Soviet avant-garde art, to camel treks across deserts and authentic plov cooking experiences.

Uzbekistan is unexpectedly packed with diverse experiences perfect for spring or autumn visits. Journey through the legendary Silk Road cities of Bukhara and Khiva with their glorious Islamic architecture, explore the Kyzylkum Desert by camel, ski in the western Tian Shan mountains, or search for the bizarre saiga antelope by the Aral Sea. Visit 50 ancient Khorezm fortresses in Karakalpakstan, witness Registan's unmissable sound and light show, wander Bukhara's old town, and discover medieval tiled tombs in Shah-I Zinda and the magnificent 19th-century palace of Khudayar Khan in Kokand.

Over the past decade, Uzbekistan's reformist government has been strengthening its tourism infrastructure and reducing bureaucracy, culminating in hosting a World Tourist Organisation conference in 2023 and launching a new $300 million tourism strategy for 2030. This edition reflects post-COVID investments in tourism infrastructure and includes entirely new coverage of Amirsoy resort, Zarafshan nature reserve, Lower Amudarya Biosphere Reserve, and Shirin ecovillage, alongside expanded detail on Tashkent hotels, museums, and shopping, plus new hotels in Khiva.

Whether you're drawn to culture, trekking, historical sites, archaeology and architecture, desert landscapes or mountain scenery, or the romance of the Golden Road to Samarkand, Bradt's Uzbekistan is your ideal travel companion.