Uzbekistan lies at the heart of Central Asia, where the Silk Road once connected East and West. Today, visitors can explore ancient cities and modern architecture, travel through mountain and desert landscapes, and experience traditions that have been preserved for centuries. UNESCO has recognised several of the country’s historic and natural sites, as well as elements of its intangible cultural heritage.
Seeing all this is easier than it might seem: direct flights from London, visa-free entry for British citizens, modern trains, a good range of hotels and a wide choice of travel options make it straightforward to plan your Uzbekistan tour from the UK.
British travellers have a long history of exploring the lands of present-day Uzbekistan. In the 1830s, Alexander Burnes reached Bukhara, and his Travels into Bokhara became an instant bestseller in Britain. A few decades later, British officer Frederick Burnaby made a winter journey to Khiva and described it in A Ride to Khiva. These journeys took place during the Great Game, when Britain and Russia competed for influence in Central Asia.
In 1913, James Elroy Flecker gave Samarkand a memorable place in British literature with The Golden Journey to Samarkand. Although he never visited Samarkand himself, Flecker made it the destination of travellers drawn beyond the familiar.
Interest in Uzbekistan has endured, but the journey itself has changed completely. In the days of Burnes and Burnaby, reaching these cities meant months of difficult travel and was possible for only a handful of adventurers. Today, tens of thousands of travellers from the UK visit Uzbekistan each year. The same interest can be seen in British travel media: The Guardian, The Telegraph and The Independent have all featured Uzbekistan, from its Silk Road cities to Tashkent and destinations beyond the classic route.
Once you have decided to travel to Uzbekistan, it is worth comparing the seasons, flight options, entry requirements and types of tour before you book. When planning your trip, also keep in mind that Tashkent is four to five hours ahead of London, depending on the time of year.
For most cultural trips, April–May and September–October are the most comfortable months, with warm days well suited to sightseeing.
Uzbekistan is much drier than Britain, and summer heat can be intense in Bukhara, Khiva and the desert regions. Even so, summer can still work if you plan sightseeing for the morning and late afternoon. Winter is colder and quieter, with fewer visitors in the historic cities and skiing available in the mountains east of Tashkent.
Direct flights operate from both Heathrow and Gatwick to Tashkent. Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Airways serves both airports, while Qanot Sharq also operates direct flights from Gatwick. The flight takes around seven hours, although schedules vary during the year.
Travellers departing from other UK cities can also compare one-stop routes through major hubs such as Istanbul and Doha. Depending on your starting point and travel dates, these may be more convenient than travelling to London first.
Tashkent can also work as a stopover on a longer journey into Asia, with onward connections to destinations such as Delhi, Seoul and Kuala Lumpur. Travellers with a long connection can join Advantour’s 4–5-hour Tashkent Layover Tour, with airport pick-up and return.
Holders of a full British citizen passport can visit Uzbekistan without a visa for tourism or business for up to 30 days. The passport must have an expiry date at least three months after the date of arrival.
Visitors must also register their place of stay. Hotels normally handle this automatically; those staying in private accommodation should make sure their host completes the registration. Entry rules can change, so it is worth checking the latest requirements before travelling.
There are several ways to explore Uzbekistan, depending on how much flexibility you want and how you prefer to travel. Group tours follow fixed dates and itineraries; private tours give you more choice over dates and arrangements; while tailor-made tours can be adapted to your interests, and available time.
Most tours include accommodation, transport within Uzbekistan, guided sightseeing and entrance fees. Some also cover train or domestic flight tickets and selected meals. International flights, travel insurance, personal expenses and meals not listed in the itinerary are usually extra, although exact inclusions vary by tour.
10-day Golden Road to Samarkand from UK
Look with your own eyes at the great Samarkand, sung in the poem by the British poet James Ellroy Flecker. Along with this, you will see other magnificent cities of Uzbekistan: Bukhara, Khiva, Shakhrisabz and Tashkent.
Tashkent Khiva Bukhara Gijduvan Samarkand Shakhrisabz
Details10 Days | Private | All year round from US$ 1,680 per person
10-day Uzbekistan Food Tour from UK
The most delicious trip to Uzbekistan from the UK! You will have 10 days to taste a variety of Uzbek dishes, including regional recipes. And along the way, for a better appetite, you will see the best monuments of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva!
Tashkent Samarkand Gijduvan Bukhara Khiva
Details10 Days | Private | All year round from US$ 1,990 per person
13-day Uzbekistan Archaeological Tour from UK
Discover the secrets of Uzbekistan's history on a 13-day journey from the UK. Ancient settlements, ruins of thousand-year-old fortresses, excavations of Buddhist monasteries and much more are waiting for you all over Uzbekistan.
Tashkent Fergana Kuva Margilan Rishtan Termez Samarkand Nurata Mountains Bukhara Paykent Ayaz-Kala Khiva Urgench
Details13 Days | Private | Spring, summer, autumn from US$ 2,190 per person
For a first trip, Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara form a natural core, with Khiva added when time allows. Tashkent combines old neighbourhoods and bazaars with Soviet-era architecture and the metro; Samarkand is defined by the scale and colour of its Timurid monuments; Bukhara is best known for its old streets and trading domes; and Khiva has much of its historic architecture within the walls of Itchan Kala.
For around a week, it makes sense to focus on the main cities rather than try to cover the whole country. With ten days or more, add something that changes the character of the trip: the Fergana Valley for ceramics and silk, Chimgan and Charvak for mountain scenery, Aydarkul and the Kyzylkum Desert for a yurt stay and open landscapes, or Nukus and the Aral Sea region for art, environmental history and a more remote journey west.
Make time for bazaars, workshops and neighbourhood streets, and stop at a chaikhana. British travellers may find the importance of tea reassuringly familiar, although the customs are different: in Uzbekistan, tea accompanies meals, welcomes guests and often gives people a reason to sit and talk a little longer.
Some of the strongest memories of Uzbekistan come from its people. Their hospitality and friendliness often leave as lasting an impression as the country’s monuments and landscapes.
