Uzbekistan

29th October 2024

Fabric Shopping in Uzbekistan: Gorgeous ikat and vibrant colours

Textile Lovers, visit Uzbekistan! Here is my shopping guide for ikat, suzani and more in Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and in the textile-producing Fergana Valley.

29th October 2024

Silk Road Treasures: Beautiful Souvenir Shopping in Samarkand and Bukhara

This is my no nonsense guide to shopping in Samarkand and Bukhara for when you visit Uzbekistan. It is focused in local fairly made craft items, textiles and foodie souvenirs, with plenty of practical tips on where to find the nicest quality Uzbek souvenirs,

15th October 2023

A splendid two week Uzbekistan Itinerary

Another Uzbekistan itinerary! Sorry, couldn’t help it. I know I know, there are plenty on the internet already. In fact, this Uzbekistan Itinerary, like most, includes the classic Silk Road destinations of Samarkand, Buxoro and Xiva and starts in Tashkent, but it adds the Fergana …

24th September 2023

Rishton Ceramics: Beauty and Tradition in the Fergana Valley

What’s in Rishton? Firstly, it is the centre of ceramics in Uzbekistan. Rishton Ceramics are famous all over Uzbekistan. Moreover, of the ceramics you can buy in many of the tourist places all over Uzbekistan, many are produced in Rishton. The reason for this is …

10th September 2023

Visit Tashkent – Destination In Its Own Right Or Just a Necessary Stop?

Do you need to visit Tashkent when you are planning an Uzbekistan trip? At the time of writing, the route into Uzbekistan through the new International Tashkent Airport is the most common one and it’s impossible to avoid Tashkent. So you might as well visit …

3rd September 2023

Xiva Blues and Whites: A two-day Xiva travel guide

My trip to Xiva started off rather inauspiciously, with me as a solo traveller rather than in a group of four. So, if I couldn’t “guide” my nearest and dearest, I will at least write this Xiva travel guide… I had arrived in Tashkent just …

27th August 2023

Night Trains in Uzbekistan – sustainable, safe and fun

Last year, I planned to take several night trains in Uzbekistan. I wanted to maximise sightseeing time and since I don’t like flying, I booked four longer journeys by train. The first two journeys on night trains in Uzbekistan would take me from Tashkent to …

20th August 2023

On finding Vegetarian food in Uzbekistan – I should be so lucky

Can you find Vegetarian food in Uzbekistan in easily? I would say it is one of the harder countries for me, but then, I have never been to South America or elsewhere Central Asia. So, the answer is, Vegetarian food in Uzbekistan in relatively easily …

6th August 2023

Kumtepe Bazaar Marghilon – heaven for fabric shopping

After a jolly Sunday at Urgut Market, I was really excited about visiting the other famous Uzbek Bazaar the Kumtepe Bazaar of Marghilon. I hadn’t found much about it online, especially not whether it would be good for purchasing some quality locally made silk and …

23rd April 2023

Urgut Market – the best place for Suzani shopping in Uzbekistan?

Oh, the fabled Urgut Market. For years, I read internet forums and guide books, wishing to visit this bazaar south of Samarkand. This time, I was going to visit Urgut Market, and please, if you are interested in textiles, let me share my Sunday shopping …

28th September 2022

How to book train tickets in Uzbekistan

Due to f ew people asking if you need an agent, this post guides you how to book train tickets in Uzbekistan. I just booked myself three journeys by train in Uzbekistan quite easily through the Uzbekistan train booking website and it couldn’t have been …

28th August 2022

Great travel on a budget in economic uncertainty

Here in Central Europe, we are good at doom and gloom after nearly three years of pandemic and nearly a year of war at our doorstep. Not to mention other conflicts not so far from us – Israel-Palestine, various environmental disasters, and now… if media …

26th February 2022

Flying Aeroflot: What is it like?

Update 26. February 2022 +++ Do not travel On 24 February, Russian troops invaded Ukraine and started an unprovoked war. I therefore advise you not to visit Russia and/or use Aeroflot while this war is going on. With further sanctions against Russia looming, you may …

11th April 2021

Bukhara the Noble: My two day Bukhara guide and useful tips

At the beginning of the year, it did not dawn on me that I would be writing a two day Bukhara guide – but and opportunity arose, and the Silk Road has long been on my wish list of place to visit. Before I knew …

7th July 2019

Hotel Review: Boutique Hotel Minzifa, Bukhara

Bukhara is perhaps the place with the widest choice of charming small hotels in Uzbekistan, and perhaps Central Asia. So, on my trip to Samarkand and Bukhara, it made sense to push out the boat a bit and book a characterful traditional small hotel. I …