Uzbekistan culture

The Golden Road to Samarkand!

Welcome to Uzbekistan - the crossroads of civilization and the heart of Central Asia. Experience 3000 years of history, from the earliest settlements to the eras of Alexander the Great, Tamerlane, the Khans, Soviet rule and now Independence. Uzbekistan is a treasure trove of ancient ruins, medieval palaces, fortresses and monuments, Its cities were created around mercantilism, academia and international exchange making it the true center of the Silk Road routes. Explore the bustling bazaars, old caravanserays, blue and green tiled minarets, the lace-like ornamentation and brilliant ceramics of mausoleums and mosques and fabulous museums of history, art and culture.  Steep yourself in thousands of years of culture and tradition as you travel the routes of history and legend. With the most experience in Central Asia and 25 years in Uzbekistan travel, Silk Road Treasure Tours offers the best selection of tours to Uzbekistan and Central Asia.

Zulya Rajabova grew up as one of 11 children in the heart of the legendary city of Bukhara in Uzbekistan, once the center of the Silk Road. She and her sisters would join their grandmother in rural Sharfirkon embroidering suzani textiles for the home. Sharfikon is famous for its embroidery and suzani means needle work. The intricate embroidery here encompasses traditional motifs for joy, long life, love, prosperity and good health. The women in Zulya’s family made beautiful dresses of honatlas silk for the girls to wear for celebrations and holidays, attracting the attention of tourists eager to catch sight of local color, who in turn, attracted Zulya’s interest in visitors from around the world.

Zulya has maintained her girlhood passion for sharing her culture in her career. Her interest in crafts, textiles, jewelry and folk art has inspired her to share Uzbekistan’s fascinating history, culture and craftsmanship with others. For more than 30 years she’s been taking travelers through her homeland and to ancient destinations along the great Silk Road routes. 

Silk Road Treasure Tours takes visitors to cities like Tashkent, Bukhara, Samarkand and Margilan - places which retain echoes of the lavish trade, architectural history, and brilliant culture that flourished here centuries ago. Zulya specializes in unique experiences for small groups and individuals looking for local, authentic and niche travel. Textile, designer and embroidery masters’ workshops, fashion shows and insider shopping combine with VIP seating at festivals, fresh local cuisine, and incredible historical and cultural sites on your personalized itinerary.

Once the heart of the Silk Road routes connecting China and India, Uzbekistan is the home of talented artisans creating exquisite, hand-embroidered suzanis and hand-dyed, and woven ikat textiles. Zulya and her team have long supported women in textiles and the arts. We visit the major cities, but also head out to charming villages to participate in needle work and weaving, to share a meal, and learn about daily life here. There are tours to UNESCO World Heritage sites and visits to small, local, specialty handicraft shops. Textiles are an integral part of life in this region. Girls traditionally begin making their own embroideries and household items for their dowries from a young age. Even the most modest of homes is filled with woven, embroidered and appliquéd textiles including wall hangings, pillow and bed covers, prayer rugs, and cradle covers, 

Uzbekistan is a shopper’s paradise, in a glorious riot of patterns and colors! We can shop for everything from silk ikat scarves and handbags, sparkling jewelry, or a bespoke statement coat or dress. Uzbek fashions flatter any silhouette and expert tailors and seamstresses quickly and easily make it yours. Create your own 1001 nights magic with beautiful, colorful home décor - from bed and table linens, to carpets and ceramics. 

Our experienced, multilingual guides will help you bring back memories of this trip of a lifetime.