Discovering the Silk Road in Uzbekistan

September 2022

The central Asian country of Uzbekistan was once an almost inaccessible and dreary Soviet republic but is now rapidly modernizing and opening itself to international tourism.

Visitor numbers are rising year after year, but most of Uzbekistan's attractions are still relatively unscathed by mass tourism, even though they are now reachable via a newly built high-speed train network from the capital, Tashkent. This means there was never a better time to visit the country then now.

As the Lonely Planet says:

"Uzbekistan's gems have long been known to adventurous explorers. The Silk Road cities of Bukhara, Samarkand and Khiva hold some of the world's most exquisite Islamic architecture. Hectic bazaars, half-hidden desert citadels, silk workshops and the chance to glimpse the vanishing Aral Sea are all world-class draws, and the country is also a convenient launching pad for treks and travel within Central Asia."

I've been wanting to visit Uzbekistan for a few years and in 2021 I'm finally making the jump and going there, with an idea of scouting locations for a possible future photo tour. Are you willing to go there with me?

This is not going to be a typical tour or a workshop. While I will take care of all of the details of the organization and planning, we won't be using expert guides and you can't count on my knowledge of the place, as it will be my first time there. I also won't be giving lectures or doing critiques, but you can always ask me questions about photography, as I am always keen to help.

For this reason, you can expect the price to be much lower than on a normal photo tour, so this is a unique opportunity to go to Uzbekistan with me under conditions that won't be repeated.

We will be traveling using trains, which nowadays connect Tashkent with Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva and will allow us to travel comfortably, quickly, and with safety. On locations, we will use taxis and public transportation, where convenient.