Located in Central Asia, Uzbekistan stands at the crossroads of civilizations, as a former center of great empires, among nomadic tribes and some of the oldest cities in the world. It is also at the crossroads of religions, with Buddhist, Christian, and Muslim influences, and at the center of the Great Silk Road, linking China to Europe before the development of the big sea routes.

Uzbekistan is also a land of magnificent mountains, vast open steppes and fertile oases. From the spacious, clean capital of Tashkent to the architecturally rich cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, Uzbekistan boasts some of the finest monuments among the Silk Road countries, featuring intricate Islamic tile work, turquoise domes, and minarets. The Ferghana Valley, surrounded by the Tian Shan and Pamir mountains, still produces silk and is well worth visiting for its friendly bazaars and landscapes of mulberry trees and fruit orchards. Uzbekistan’s mountain ranges attract hikers, cyclists and backcountry skiers, while experienced mountaineers come to climb some of the world’s highest peaks.