Chasing the silk road in Uzkebistan
I kicked off my silk road adventure with a visit to Uzbekistan, which was an incredible adventure. This wasn’t a solo trip but rather I decided to try out another group trip (my first being Kenya!) through Beyond Borders Expeditions run by Jay Palfrey.
Why was Uzbekistan on my bucket list? I have been wanting to chase the silk road for such a long time, as someone who absolutely is in love with Islamic and traditional art - I had seen pictures of the madrassas and the art for years. I had also come across pieces of Uzbek architecture in the Victoria and Albert museum, always hoping to see more in person, not in an exhbit.
Here is how my trip went…
Khiva
Itchan Kala Fortress
The inner fortress of Khiva was our first stop after flying in from Tashkent, and it was such an incredible start to the adventure. A place adorned 50 monuments, it was the last resting place of caravans before crossing the desert to Persia. You can feel the history, almost like echoes of the silk road.
Juma mosque
Khiva fort
I had such a wonderful time here, and met a lovely Uzbek student.
Where we stayed
Zarafshon Hotel
Bukhara
Sleeper train
Kalon Madrassa