If you don’t know where to start, you
can’t go wrong with a tour of
Uzbekistan’s major historical
attractions. Khiva, Bukhara, and
Samarkand are all UNESCO World
Heritage Sites, and for good reason.
Start
with Samarkand, former home
to some of the finest architects
credited with creating the
masterpieces of Registan Square and
Gur-Emir Mausoleum. Bukhara is
more intimate, with
holy sites and
historical landmarks around every
corner. Khiva is an open-air museum
that captures the exotic atmosphere of the Silk Road with its winding alleys and bustling
bazaars. But don’t miss out on less famous yet equally impressive destinations like Term
ez, a
Buddhist
centre on the southern border, or Shahrisabz, birthplace of the great warrior
Tamerlane.
Cultural Tourism
For those who love textiles, ceramics,
patterns and festive colours, Uzbekistan is
as good as it gets. The Fergana Valley is
famous for its artisans
–
potters at the
Rishtan ceramics
school and silk weavers in
Margilan, among countless others.
Samarkand has its own ceramics school,
carpet weaving center and the famous
Meros Paper Mill, which makes paper from
mulberry bark using
techniques passed
down through the centuries. Bukhara is
perhaps the best place to buy souvenirs,
with a wide variety of top-quality crafts and
gifts, while nimble woodcarvers can be
seen hard at work in Tashkent and Khiva.
Tours of these places are a great way to
meet the artisans themselves and learn about the production of their famous creations using
ancient techniques. In addition
to arts and crafts, Uzbekistan preserves its rich cultural heritage
in regular festivals, sporting events and everyday life. Cultural tourism offers tangible
opportunities to participate in distinctive, time-honored Central Asian traditions.