Destination: Uzbekistan

Odyssey travels by coach and occasionally uses local transport, including trains and ferries. Specifics are always outlined in your tour itinerary. Shared taxis Train services run between the major cities of Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, and can provide a relatively comfortable option for intercity travel. Bus services however are fairly slow, and can be somewhat cramped. Shared taxis are very common in Uzbekistan and operate in majors and cities, though it is advised to settle on a rate with your driver before your start your journey.

In major cities, Odyssey stays in centrally located 3-4 star hotels, with easy access to public transport. In smaller towns or rural areas, we usually stay in family-run hotels or guesthouses.

Odyssey always engages local guides with regional knowledge to ensure an authentic experience during which you can learn as much as possible about the history and culture of places you visit.

Uzbekistan is a landlocked country covering 447,000 square kilometres. Most of the country is flat, with vast plains stretching over much of the country’s surface. The terrain is the southeast of the country is more elevated however, with foothills rising toward the Tian Shan mountains.

Uzbekistan has a continental climate, with hot summers and cool winters. Depending on the time of year you intend to travel, check the weather reports and prepare accordingly.

Uzbekistan has 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You can view the official list of the sites here (https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/uz). The listed sites include:

Itchan Kala, the inner town of the old Khiva oasis containing a remarkable array of ancient palaces, mosques and mausoleums
Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz, featuring stunning medieval Islamic architecture
The City of Samarkand, filled with innumerable historic buildings and monuments.

Uzbekistan celebrates its Islamic heritage and pre-Islamic traditions in several festivals and events held throughout the year. Like many Central Asian nation, Uzbekistan celebrates Navruz (or Nowruz), the Persian New Year, in late March. A lively occasion, Navruz is marked by large family gatherings and feastings throughout the country. Being a Muslim-majority country, Ramadan is observed in the middle of the year, the conclusion of which is celebrated with with Eid al-Fitr. An event of great cultural significance in Uzbekistan is Boysun Bahori, a spring festival dating back to pre-Islamic times. Held in the ountainous Boysun in Surkhandarya Province, this festival features songs, dance performances, costumes, and storytelling, as well as traditional sports such as wrestling and kupkari, a team competition played on horseback.

Uzbekistan: The Golden Road to Samarkand, by Calum MacLeod
The sands of Oxus, by Sadriddin Ayn
Land Beyond the River: The Untold Story of Central Asia, by Monica Whitlock
Making Uzbekistan: Nation, Empire, and Revolution in the Early USSR, by Adeeb Khalid.

The national dish of Uzbekistan is palov (or plov, or pilaf), a main course consisting of rice mixed with slices of meat, carrots, onions, chickpeas and raisins, as well as other fruits. Salads feature prominently in Uzbek cuisine, including bademjan (eggplant salad), achichuk salad (a salad consisting of tomatoes, onions and spices), and tashkent salad (made from beef tongue, radishes and fresh greens, and served with yogurt dressing). Meat is an important part of the Uzbek diet, and features in dishes such as shurpa (a soup made out of mutton and vegetables), dimlama (a stew made out of meat, potatoes, onions and vegetables) and lagman soup (a meat broth filled with lamb, noodles and vegetables).
Tea is widely consumed in Uzbekistan, with green tea the national beverage and teahouses acting as social hubs in Uzbekistan’s towns and cities. Despite being a Muslim-majority country, alcohol is commonly consumed, with vodka a national favourite.

As of writing, smartraveller.gov.au advises travellers to exercise a high degree of caution when travelling to Uzbekistan. Terrorist attacks have occurred in Uzbekistan in the past, while travel to the regions bordering Tajikistan, Afghanistan and the Kyrgyz republic is not advised. Be advised that some medications containing narcotic and/or psychotropic substances are prohibited in Uzbekistan, and certain medications must be declared at the airport.

Whenever you travel overseas, it’s always wise to take an appropriate travel adaptor. Uzbekistan’s electricity supply runs at 220V and 50Hz. Uzbekistan uses both the Type C and Type F electric plugs, so make sure you have the right travel adaptor with you.