Starting in August 2012
Kyrgyzstan & Uzbekistan - Spending ten days in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, staying in yurts with the family of the famed eagle hunter musician, the nomads of Son Kul and the shepherds of Tash Rabat...
Starting in September 2012
Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan & Uzbekistan - This unique Wild Frontiers tour takes you on an epic cultural journey along the Old Silk Road through some of Central Asia’s most spectacular...
The wilds of Central Asia are amongst some of the most mysterious and fascinating regions anywhere on earth. These are lands that still stir the imagination, where glittering palaces of turquoise and...
Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan - This outstanding trip, an improved version of the tour we have run for the last few years, takes in four of the most important cities of the old Silk Road, and is perfect...
Bukhara was a major staging point on the Silk Road. By about 500BC, it was already an important centre, defended by a citadel that has stood in one form or other ever since. Today it is the site of the Ark Fortress, residence of the former Emirs of Bukhara, which occupied an area of about 13 hectares. Many of Bukhara‘s buildings were constructed during the Kharakhanid era (992 - 1211) and there are more than 150 monuments in the city. With its narrow alleyways and bustling bazaars, Bukhara is the quintessential Silk Road city.
Shakhrisabz is one of the most ancient cities of Middle Asia. In certain periods through its long history, it appeared as the centre of some of the most important events in world history - sometimes glorious, sometimes tragic. But Shakhrisabz would not be as famous if on 9 April 1346, in the village of Hodja-llgar a certain individual known and Tamerlane had not been born. Wherever destiny took him, Shakhrisabz remained Tamerlane’s native city, the place where he spent his childhood and youth. Notable places of interest include the remains the once vast Ak-Saray palace - parts of the portal remained and are evidence of the scale of construction, the Dorus-Syadot mausoleum where Jahangir - the most beloved son of Amir Temur, was buried; and Dorut-Tilavete. Surrounded by the high Gyssar mountain range Shakrisabz is much greener than other Uzbek cities and a few degrees cooler than Samarkand.
Known as the "garden of Uzbekistan" the Fergana Valley lies in the eastern part of Uzbekistan between the Tian Shan (Heavenly Mountains) and the Pamir Alay range and is shared with neighbours Kyrgyzstan and Tadjikistan. It is the most fertile and populous area of Uzbekistan. Fergana, the largest town in the valley, with its Russian colonial architecture and streets shaded with plane and poplar trees, makes a good base from which to see the older and more interesting towns of Kokand and Margilan.
Nukus is now the 6th largest city in Uzbekistan but it grew from a small settlement. However, the city's isolation made it host to the Red Army's Chemical Research Institute. The State Museum has artifacts recovered from archaeological investigations, traditional jewelry, costumes and musical instruments, but more interestingly, displays of the area's now vanished or endangered flora and fauna. The Art Museum is noted for its collection of modern Russian and Uzbek art from 1918-1935. Stalin tried his best to eliminate all non Soviet art from this period, and sent most of the artists to the gulag. The collection at Nukus survived because of the city's remoteness.
Samarkand is the mythical, evocative name of one of the key trading cities of the ancient Silk Road. With a history dating back 2700 years, Samarkand became famous as the capital of the vast state created by Timur Lang (known in English as Tamerlaine) and later ruled by his grandson Ulugbek in the 14th and 15th centuries. Some of the most magnificent architecture in the Islamic world can be found in Samarkand with some wonderful mosques. mausoleums and madrassahs. Samarkand sits on the banks of the Zerafshan River and to the northeast of the modern town is Afrosiab the site of the most ancient parts of the city, from where the Sogdians, the masters of Silk Road trade ruled.
Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan, with a population of more than 2 million, is the major economic, political and cultural centre of the Republic. Its history spans over two millennia, although few monuments from ancient times have survived here. Wars and natural calamities have swept most of the old buildings from the face of the ancient city. Among the survivors are: The Kukeldash Madrassah 16th century, the Sheikhantaur Endemble 15th century, the Yunus-Khan Mausoleum 15th century and the Khazrati-Imam Complex. After a disastrous earthquake in 1966, Tashkent was almost totally rebuilt. Modern apartment houses, administrative buildings, new architectural complexes and theatres decorated with traditional tilework make Tashkent an attractive and interesting city.
Khiva is a fascinating medieval desert town which has been perfectly preserved. It came to prominence in the 16th century as the capital of the Khans of Khiva whose territory stretched from the Caspian Sea to India and was famous for its religious fervour and slave markets. Khiva's inner walled city or "Ichan Kala" has been described as an open-air museum (or perhaps an abandoned film set). It consists of a maze of narrow medieval streets lined with madrassahs, mosques, caravanserais and palaces.
Kokand has existed since at least the 10th century, when it was known as Khavakend and was located on a caravan route between India and China. Destroyed by the Mongols in the 13th century, present city began as a fort in 1732 on the site of another older fortress called Eski-Kurgan. In 1740 it became the capital of an Uzbek khanate (a state ruled by khans) that reached as far as Qyzylorda to the west and Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to the northeast. Kokand was the major religious centre of the Fergana Valley under the khans and at one time it had more than 300 mosques. Russian imperial forces captured the city in 1876. The palace of Khudayar Khan sits in the center of the city. Built by the last Khan of Kokand, Khudoyar, it was completed in 1873 - three years before the tsar's troups arrived, abolished the Khan and blew up his fortifications.
The Nurata mountain range is home to the Nurata Nature Reserve and many lush green river valleys as well as the ancient town of Nurata, founded by Alexander the Great. Rural Tajik and Uzbek villages are dotted through the valleys and the traditional way of life is very much preserved here, the natural hospitality of the villagers gives visitors the chance to experience the culture first hand. The area is home to an endangered species of mountain sheep, and the many habitats provide an array of flora, rare endemic tulips and over 300 species of birds. Historic fortress ruins can be found and explored in many of the villages, which lie close enough together to trek between. Lake Aydar lies to the north, a serene and peaceful place for bird watching or swimming.
Visa Information
UK Passport holders require a visa to visit Uzbekistan.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the end of your trip, and it must have at least one blank page for each visa required. Please ensure the passport details we hold for you are correct.
Please note it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa documentation when starting your trip. Country entry regulations can alter daily and it is always best to check with the relevant embassies for any changes.
You can also use a visa company such as::
Travcour (UK)
Tempo House
15 Falcon Road Battersea
London
SW11 2PJ
Tel: 020 7223 5295
Fax: 020 7738 2617
Email: info@travcour.com
Website: www.travcour.com
Whether you are using a company or applying for the visa yourself you will require the following:
• Letter from your employer confirming you have taken the time from work for holiday.
• An authorisation letter from Wild Frontiers, which we will apply for and forward on to you a couple of months prior to departure.
• To inform us in the office which embassy you intend to apply for your visa from, as pertinent information needs to be forwarded there from us prior to your application.
• To inform us of your occupation title and the name of your employer.
• To provide us with a scanned copy of your passport photo page.
If you are travelling on a non-UK passport, please contact your nearest consulate/embassy for up to date visa information.
Insurance:
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours.
You should be aware that many standard insurance policies may not cover you adequately for all aspects of a Wild Frontiers trip and so we strongly recommend that you purchase a suitably designed insurance policy.
One such policy is the "Wild Frontiers" policy underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE " firm reference 202803), which is available to EU residents (which excludes Norway & Switzerland) through our website or via the insurance company direct on 0845 345 3456. Under this policy there are two different levels of cover available.
Standard policy: a comprehensive travel insurance policy that provides cover for all Wild Frontiers activities, including trekking up to 6,000m. This policy does not provide cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel.
Elite policy: provides the same comprehensive level of cover as the standard policy. In addition the Elite policy also provides cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel. The policy will not provide cover for any claims arising from or relating to the reasons why the FCO is advising against travel.
If purchasing the Elite policy you also have the option to extend the cover provided by the policy to include cover for claims arising from a terrorist act in an area where the FCO is advising against travel. You can add this cover to your policy when purchasing online or over the telephone.
These policies are only available to those travelling on a Wild Frontiers holiday.
For more information and to purchase your policy online please visit the Insurance section of our website.
The cover is underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE), and is arranged by Travel & General Insurance Serv
Health and Vaccinations:
There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Uzbekistan, although you should be up-to-date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. We recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments.
We also recommend:
• A dental check-up prior to travelling.
• You inform us of any pre-existing medical conditions or medication.
To be on the safe side you can also check on www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk
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