Ten-day Route through One of the Jewels of the Silk Road: Uzbekistan

We landed in Tashkent, where we spent a day touring its main attractions, with highlights including the Chorsu Market and the metro stops, which feature Russian-style architecture. Our first stop after Tashkent was Samarkand, which we reached by train, taking advantage of Uzbekistan's excellent railway network. Samarkand is the crown jewel of Central Asia, with numerous places to visit. Registan Square is particularly impressive; you will find yourself returning to it repeatedly.

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From Samarkand, we took a day trip to the town of Shahrisabz, which is well worth the visit.

Next, we traveled by train to Bukhara, where we continued to experience the friendliness of the people in Central Asia, which complements the region's architectural beauty, characterized by its bluish tones.

We arrived in Khiva on a night train. As the westernmost city we visited, Khiva, in my opinion, has the most beautiful and well-preserved historic center of the three cities. Additionally, we visited the Republic of Karakalpakstan, which provided insight into the complex history of this part of the world.

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Our final stop was the Fergana Valley. I was particularly curious about this region due to its historically turbulent nature, especially after the fall of the Soviet Union. It is also the origin of some extremist Muslim movements. The valley is crucial due to the high fertility of its lands, the abundance of gas, and its role as a passage on the Silk Road, especially in Margilan.