Uzbekistan Travel Photography: Tashkent and the Silk Road Cities
Uzbekistan has been on my travel bucket list for decades. Seriously, decades.
It all started years ago when I picked up a Lonely Planet Central Asia guidebook while spending the night at a friend’s apartment. I was immediately hooked on the ancient Silk Road cities, incredible architecture, and faraway places I knew absolutely nothing about. (Thank you, Laura Sullivan, for planting yet another expensive travel idea in my head.)
Fast-forward to the fall of 2026, when I finally spent 27 days traveling through Central Asia, flying in and out of Tashkent.
I get the impression that many travelers arrive in Tashkent and immediately head for the famous Silk Road cities or the mountains. Their loss. Tashkent has plenty to offer, from fascinating architecture and bustling markets to interesting neighborhoods and unexpected photographic opportunities. I could easily have spent several more days here. Though maybe I shouldn’t- since I broke a national monument (details below).
And then there are the legendary Silk Road cities of Khiva, Bukhara, and Samarkand. Extraordinary places, with centuries of history, spectacular Islamic architecture, colorful tilework, and enough photographic opportunities to keep me wandering around with a camera for days. Which is pretty much what I did.
