Hello Zulya Rajabova,

We had an unforgettable trip to Uzbekistan, all thanks to your expert planning and our guide, Abdulaziz Isomov. He was not only highly competent and flexible but also showed a deep sense of pride in his homeland, which made our experience extra special.

Uzbekistan is a country that seamlessly blends its rich history with its modern identity. This was apparent in the smooth and easy transfers between the cities we visited whether by air, rail or road. We always felt safe and never felt hassled during our trips and most of all while shopping even in the big bazaars. Another aspect that makes for a safe and healthy visit was the high degree of cleanliness.

It was hard to pick a favorite city as each one had something unique to offer – Tashkent with its beautiful metro stations, Khiva with the Ichan Kala, and Registan Square of Samarkand. Even so, Bukhara was our favorite city—often referred to as the “pearl” of Uzbekistan, though perhaps it should be called a sapphire due to the striking blue hues in its architecture. The Kalyan Minaret and the grand Kalyan Mosque left us in awe with their beauty and magnificence.

There’s something truly magical about Uzbekistan’s medieval architecture. What might appear as simple structures are transformed into breathtaking masterpieces through the intricate use of colorful tiles. Uzbekistan’s historical contributions to mathematics, particularly through the pioneering work of an Uzbek scholar who helped develop algebra can be seen in the precision and symmetry of building designs.

As a significant hub on the Silk Road, Uzbekistan has absorbed influences from many cultures. For example, the popularity of noodles and dumplings reflects Chinese influence, while the much-loved samosas bear Indian culinary traditions. Overall, we can’t recommend The Silk Road Tours highly enough!

Thank you for the incredible Silk Road Tour journey. Now, we look forward to our next dventure in Mongolia—and hope you can find us another guide like Abdulaziz there. Zulya, you are the best—actually, better than the best!

Best regards,

 VG and Kirthi Govindarajan

Coxe Distinguished Professor, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth