Visit Uzbekistan in Winter

Uzbekistan has exploded in popularity since 2017, with annual visitor numbers rising from 2 million to 10 million.  And for good reason: the people are welcoming, the architecture is superlative-defying, the food is delicious and the artistry astounding.

However, popularity does have its downsides, and the Silk Road cities of Samarkand, Khiva and Bukhara are beginning to suffer from overcrowding during the peak seasons of May-June and September-October.  

If you’d like to visit Uzbekistan without the crowds, and have the luxury of world-class sites such as Registan Square to yourself, why not consider travelling in winter instead? While it won’t be hot, it’s usually lovely and sunny between November and March, and it really is wonderful to wander the backstreets of Khiva on a bright winters’ day.

We first visited Samarkand on a cold February day ten years ago, our breath balling in the chill air, the madrassas of Registan Square bright against a clear blue sky. We were the only foreigners there, which made it even more special.

If you like skiing, you could also bookend your trip with a day or on the slopes of Uzbekistan’s recently opened Amir Soy resort, only a few hours’ from the capital, Tashkent.

To discuss a tailor-made trip to Uzbekistan this winter or spring, contact us here.