Asia > Uzbekistan

The great temperature differences are one of the principal characteristics of the climate in Uzbekistan: This also applies for the range of temperatures in the same area due to the differences between mountain and desert areas.

During the inter-seasons rain can be abundant in the mountains, while on the plains you will find an ideal climate for discovering the country from May to June or October to November.

However, winters are particularly harsh and summers are scorching. Spring and autumn are definitely the best periods to consider a visit to this country.

The Uzbekistan Republic is in Central Asia and has nearly thirty million inhabitants. Situated at the crossing point of several civilisations, this country has kept many vestiges of these cultural differences including the various lifestyles and the religion too has been influenced by Islam, Buddhism and Catholicism. The cultural inheritance is particularly rich and tourists are well aware of that since, after decades of communism they can finally discover all these riches themselves.

Tachkent, the capital, has little to offer except for its old town centre with its mosque, its bazaar, and its madrasah without forgetting several museums that are quite fascinating.

Samarkand, a mythical city on the silk route, is home to some beautiful monuments, animated markerts and magnificent mosques. Boukhara is another city that should not be missed with over a hundred classified buildings including the Kalon Minaret and the mausoleum of d’Ismaïl Samani.

Finally, Khiva which has a totally conserved town centre, has some beautiful palaces, mosques and a necropolis and has a predominantly turquoise colour that cannot be ignored.

You will easily find a flight to visit Tashkent.
A visa is obligatory and you will need border authorisation to travel in some regions. Also, you have to be registered sometime during the three days following your arrival in Uzbekistan.

The currency in circulation is the Som. You will not need an extensive budget to have a comfortable stay: €30 per person per day will assure accommodation with breakfast and you will be able to eat for less than €10 per meal.
To travel between cities, buses are practical and reasonably priced, trains are comfortable but slow.

Concerning heath precautions, there are no obligatory vaccinations but it is recommended to keep your normal vaccines up to date and add those against hepatitis A and B.
Also, be careful with tap water which is unsuitable for drinking. If required, use condoms (AIDS is current here) and an anti diarrhoea treatment, very useful if you are not used to cooking based around cotton oil!
Finally, one last precaution, consult the news before visiting the border regions with Kirghizstan and Tajikistan and the Surxondaryo Province.