Silk Road Mountains & Monuments, Uzbekistan reviews
Read holiday reviews by Mountain Kingdoms travellers.
We loved the contrasts of the historic monuments and the more modern history, as well as the varied topography of the country. From deserts to mountains, from ancient to modern cities, all accompanied by first rate guides. The ex-Soviet train ride was exciting, but for us the highlight was staying with a village family. Conditions were very basic, but we had the warmest of welcomes, ate very well, and experienced a slice of real rural Uzbek life. The flora & fauna of the hikes was unforgettable too. The Silk Road monuments blew us away! We highly recommend this unique holiday.
We most enjoyed: periods spent in mountain meadows; sight and scent of flowers and herbs, as much as gained views (despite abscence of tulips and irises). Friendliness of Uzbekistanis and of our expert guides (and happenstance of friendly helpfulness of our group members). Visits to ancient Silk Roads cities including museums etc as well as incredible architecture of mosques and madrassas.
What an amazing holiday! Tashkent, Bukhara, Khiva and Samarkand are fascinating cities and we learnt much about their history and culture thanks to the knowledgeable, engaging and friendly guide. The mountain areas are spectacular, and it would have been lovely to have done more walking.
This holiday was a really great mix of the cultural gems of Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand coupled with hiking in beautiful mountains and getting an insight to both city and rural living in Uzbekistan.
Loved everything! The trip was exactly what it said on the tin - a really good mix of seeing the best of the Silk Road cities of Uzbekistan & moderate level walking in two quite different (and beautiful) mountain areas. Nowhere was a disappointment & I was pleasantly surprised by the low numbers of overseas tourists (apparently the benefit of being at the end of the season). The Registan was indeed the highlight of the trip, not at all crowded and quite stunning!
Uzbekistan is truly remarkable. The architecture of the Silk Road cities is uniquely spellbinding and the opportunity to see the landscape of mountains, steppe and desert make for a memorable trip. The balance between walking in the mountains and cultural tours really makes it, giving you the chance to recharge and refresh between cities.
We were blown away by the fascinating sights in Khiva, Bukhara & Samarkand. The spectacles just got better and better as we progressed, the Registan being the jewel in the crown. The Uzbek dishes served in the city restaurants followed a set pattern but were varied, the salads being a particular hit. Spending time in the quiet mountain regions away from the bustle of the tourist sites was a welcome contrast. We loved the homestays in Nuratau, especially the creative home cooking. A great trip.
A country of contrasts with stony deserts, modern cities with a wealth of Islamic architecture and history together with stunning mountain scenery. The people were friendly and welcoming and took great pride in their country. Excellent group of fellow travellers.
Amazing cities and sites broken up with hiking in beautiful mountains.
A full-on trip that had it all - the key Silk Road sites, modern Tashkent and mountain walking in sun, torrential rain and snow! The sightseeing is very structured with a lot of information provided by the guides. The walking, weather aside, is relatively straightforward and not too strenuous, although we were unable to climb Little Chimgan due to the adverse weather conditions.
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