Sharing borders with all five of the other 'Stans, Uzbekistan lies at the heart of Central Asia. It was here that the ancient Silk Road traversed, that Alexander the Great conquered, that the great warlord Timur was born. Such a crossroads could not be anything but a cultural melting pot and so it is that Uzbekistan boasts a proud artistic history and diverse culture, exemplified by the most magnificent cities in Central Asia.

Best time to visit

April to June - or 1370 when Timur reigned and the arts blossomed.

Essential experiences

Visiting the Registan, a fantasy of majolica and azure; strolling through Khiva's perfectly preserved historic heart; taking a break in the shaded plaza of Labi-Hauz in Bukhara; stopping off in laidback Shakrisabz, the hometown of Timur; photographing the melancholy fishing boats left high and dry by the shrinking Aral Sea at Moynaq; crossing the Ferghana Valley, a fertile corridor beneath the majestic, Pamir mountains.

In a few words, Uzbekistan is

White-bearded old men whiling away the day in the shade, cotton fields, bustling covered bazaars, unnecessary red tape, lofty domes and minarets, nomad-designed carpets, the marriage of apricot brickwork and azure tile work.

Did you know?

Uzbekistan locals drink black tea by the bucket load. Another favourite tipple is ayran - a salty yogurt drink.