Best places to visit in Uzbekistan
An inland sea straddling Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the Aral Sea has now almost dried out, exposing a landscape of desolate desert.
A tiny Turkmen village razed in 2002 by order of the President, Derweze is famous for its fiery crater, nicknamed the "Door to Hell."
Located on the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, Lenin Peak climbs majestically to a height of 7,134 meters.
An incredible, historic town built in clay, with magnificent turquoise domes, Khiva recalls the architectural beauty of the days of the silk road.
Meaning "hot lake" in the Kyrgyz language, Lake Issyk Kul offers magnificent views of the surrounding snow-capped mountains.
Rishton is a nice little village with a number of pottery factories. Perhaps it isn't worth staying 3 days, but coming here is a good idea!
The country's most dazzling city, Samarkand, is still the enchanted oasis along the Silk Road that it once was.
The small Uzbek town of Shakhrisyabz reveals an incredible and historic palatial complex.
As the capital of Uzbekistan, Tashkent is a dynamic and cosmopolitan city. The city is a good introduction to the world of the Silk Road along its Uzbek section.
Even though the city is transitioning into a popular tourist destination, where stores of all kinds are flourishing, the magnificence of its historic monuments and ancient streets means that Bukhara is a must-see destination during your journey to Uzbekistan .
Located deep in the Ferghana Valley, Margilan is a town with a rich history, and which is famous for manufacturing silk.
A former port on the Aral Sea, Mo'ynoq is now a city in the middle of the desert due to the recession of the lake.
The country's second city, Osh, has retained relatively little of its three millennia of history, but it nonetheless remains a pleasant place for a brief stopover.
If you visit Khuva during your stay in Uzbekistan, make sure that you plan a visit to the Toprak Kala Citadel. The site, and the views, are well worth the effort.
The largest Uzbek town in the Fergana Valley, Andijan still bears the scars of the massacre of May, 2005.
The capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, is a bright, golden, immaculate city with unparalleled charm and mystery.
The main city in the eponymous valley, Fergana is rather new but nice, and remains an ideal gateway for discovering the natural wonders of the area.
With a name that means 'red sand' in the Turkic language, Kyzyl Kum is one of the world's largest deserts.
Like the rest of the Ferghana Valley, Kokand is not a town that attracts a lot of tourists; nonetheless, a day spent there can be full of pleasant surprises.
An artificial lake created unintentionally, Aydarkul is the second largest body of water in the region.
Merv is an ancient, historic Islamic city on the Silk Road and is one of the finest examples of early Islamic culture.
Urgench is a crossroads when traveling towards Khiva. Beyond this asset, the city has no particular appeal.
Deep in the depressing concrete jungle of Nukus is, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, one of Uzbekistan's finest museums.
Founded as a military fortress by Alexander the Great in 300 BC, Nurata has little of interest to offer to modern travelers.
While the city of Urgut lacks architectural significance, it does play host to one of the country's most lively and remarkable bazaars.