The mysterious yet fascinating Silk Road country of Uzbekistan remains a mystery to most Brits but there are plenty of reasons to make this your next holiday destination.
From the majestic architecture to the warm hospitality, Uzbekistan offers a totally unique experience if you’re looking for your next adventure.
As a fellow Brit living here for 2 years, I’ve delighted friends and family by taking them on tours of Uzbekistan from the UK.
In this article I’ll explain why your next holiday destination should be your next getaway.
And yes, it is a very safe place to visit!
Why Visit Uzbekistan from the UK?
There are many reasons to visit Uzbekistan from the UK including the rich culture and history, the warm weather, cheap prices and a hearty cuisine that will sound tempting to Brits looking for a place to escape.
As a country located on the ancient Silk Road, Uzbekistan served as a crossroad for trade between East and West for thousands of years.
Spices, silk, gold, cotton, and of course silk was peddled by merchants and historical figures such as Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and Uzbek hero Tamerlane all roamed these paths, leaving their mark on the rich Silk Road history.
Some of the unforgettable experiences for travel in Uzbekistan include:
- Getting lost in a mediaeval palace inside of a city fortress in Khiva’s “open air museum” Itchan Kala.
- Going shopping for handmade silk rugs, traditional ceramics and garments in the trading domes of Bukhara.
- Enjoying a campfire whilst staying overnight in a yurt in the desert.
- Sampling huge portions of hearty Uzbek cuisine after a day of sightseeing in Samarkand.
Uzbekistan is home to 5 world UNESCO heritage sites, some of which are a treasure chest of ancient and mediaeval fortresses, mausoleums, palaces, minarets, madrasas, mosques, and more. There are hundreds of beautiful places in Uzbekistan.
Food and Drink
British tourists in Uzbekistan might find Uzbek cuisine more familiar than they expected, sharing some similarities with Indian food.
The national dish of Uzbekistan plov, is a rice dish, cooked with red meat, vegetables and spices and is a distant cousin of pilaf or pilau rice.
Other food that Brits might find familiar include Uzbek style samosas, grilled skewers similar to seekh kebabs, and Uzbek bread, non.
Tea is also a very popular beverage here, often served with sugar and lemon.
Brits are known to enjoy a drink or two whilst on holiday, and as a secular country, alcohol is freely available in restaurants, bars, and hotels.
Vodka is the drink of choice for locals, but beer, local and international wine, as well as imported spirits, can also be found everywhere.
Cost of Visiting
As the cost of living continues to soar in the UK, travel in Uzbekistan can be reassuringly cheap! Food, transport and hotels are a fraction of the price back at home so your main cost will be transport to the Uzbekistan.
A hearty meal in a local restaurant can be bought for as little as £2-4 and comfortable hotels in UNESCO heritage sites can be booked from £20-30 per night.
Not to say that everything is cheap – there is a growing appetite for fancy restaurants and 5 star hotels, especially in capital city Tashkent. Uzbekistan has options for travellers of all budgets.
Travel Information
Weather and Best Time to Visit
Uzbekistan has a warm and dry climate and the spring and autumn seasons will be a delight for British holidaymakers looking to escape grey skies and showers.
The weather from April until early June and from late August until early November is sunny almost every day offering a warm and comfortable experience.
Temperatures during the peak of summer, from late June until August, can be uncomfortably high, often exceeding 40°C. It’s therefore advisable to plan your trip for spring or autumn instead. Read more on when to travel.
No Visa Required
Travellers with a UK passport can enter Uzbekistan without a visa and can stay in the country for up to 30 days at a time. Simply present your passport upon arrival and receive a 30 day stamp.
Safety
Given the limited knowledge about Uzbekistan, a common question is that of safety in the region.
Rest assured, Uzbekistan is a very safe country, especially for tourists visiting its popular destinations. As a community-based society, Uzbek people take care of their visitors and the streets are very safe to walk around.
Don’t just take my word for it, the UK government considers Uzbekistan to be a ‘green’ country and the US government considers it a ‘level 1’ country, in the same class as Switzerland and New Zealand.
Uzbekistan Tours from the UK
One of the best ways to explore the Silk Road is to book a tour of Uzbekistan, guided by experienced and knowledgeable locals.
The cheapest and more convenient way to do this is to book your own flights from the UK and have local tour operators organise your accommodation, transport, and tour guides as a package.
Here are some of our top picks for tours of Uzbekistan for UK citizens based on ratings from other satisfied customers.
2 Day Tour from Tashkent
Light on time? This two day tour squeezes all the most popular attractions of Uzbekistan’s top two cities into one smooth trip.
Take advantage of Uzbekistan’s comfortable speed trains and visit the most beautiful parts of Samarkand and Bukhara.
6 Day Tour
A 6 day trip is just enough time to enjoy sightseeing in the top 3 cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva at a leisurely pace.
This trip is customisable, catering specifically to your owns needs – be that cuisine, history, or architecture.
Two Week Tour
This two week grand tour of Uzbekistan passes through all of Uzbekistan’s main attractions such as the historical cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva.
It also includes hidden gems in off-the-beaten path destinations such as the ship cemetery in Muynaq and the ancient settlement of Ayaz-Kala.
Other Tour Types
As well as multi-day tours, there are dozens of day trips, city tours, food and drink tours, religious and spiritual tours, activities and much more.
Tourism in Uzbekistan is growing rapidly and the number of available tours is growing each month. For a list of all the highest rated tours read visit o-ur partner site.
You Can See All Our Uzbekistan Tours Here
If you’d like to learn more about travel in Uzbekistan then read our guide to Silk Road travel in Uzbekistan.