Born and raised in Samarkand, Abdu Samadov is an “insider’s insider” when it comes to knowing every corner of his native country, Uzbekistan. Fluent in English, Farsi, and Russian, he studied in England and works with MIR to guide travelers throughout Central Asia, and enjoys sharing his knowledge with other travelers.
Here, Abdu describes some of the progressive changes that have started to take shape in his home country, and offers seven reasons for why travelers should experience Uzbekistan now, before the rest of the world catches on.
Uzbekistan’s fabled Silk Road gems — Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva – with their exquisite Islamic architecture and spellbinding cache of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, have long been destinations that many people have dreamed of seeing. But such would-be travelers have also assumed that these ancient and exotic cities were too inaccessible, expensive, or difficult to visit. While that may have proven true in the past, things in Uzbekistan are finally starting to change for the better.
Recent reform-minded policies enacted by the Uzbek government are giving everyone a reason to smile
Photo credit: Michel Behar
A Nation Ready for Prime Time
Since the death of former Uzbek president Islam Karimov, the nation’s more liberal successor, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, has implemented new policies that have slowly but surely started to open Uzbekistan up to the world. An increase in international flights; the start of new high-speed train routes; the changes to the visa system; and the removal of old bureaucratic processes are just some of the things that have boosted Uzbekistan’s status as an affordable and attainable travel destination, and are making it easier for everyone to experience the country’s remarkably preserved character.
All of these changes spell progress for Uzbekistan — meaning the time is ripe for travelers to visit now, before the flavor of the ancient Silk Road is diluted, even slightly, by increased contact with the outside world.
There are many reasons why Uzbekistan should be at the top of anyone’s travel bucket list, but here are seven of my favorites for why now is the best time to visit my extraordinary homeland:
Ornate mosaics decorate the Registan in Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Photo credit: Ana Filonov
1. Visas Are Easier & More Affordable
Gone are the days of having to acquire letters of invitation, filling out paperwork, and mailing off your passport. Now the once tedious, time-consuming, and expensive process of getting an Uzbek visa can be done with the click of a button.
In July 2018, Uzbekistan introduced 30-day e-visas for 51 different nationalities, including U.S. travelers. The entire application process can be done in less than 30 minutes online — simply go to EVISA.GOV.UZ to fill out the form requesting basic information, upload digital scanned copies of your passport and a passport-quality photo, and pay the consular fee. The cost is only $20, and the Uzbek e-visa will be sent straight to your email inbox, usually within a matter of days.
For now, the new e-visa system is only good for single-entry visas, but the Uzbek government is planning to add double- and multiple-entry e-visas by spring 2019. And as of January 2019, visa-free travel has been granted for citizens of over 60 countries, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.
The Afrosiyob high-speed train is an efficient and affordable way to travel between Tashkent and Samarkand
Photo credit: Jessica Clark
2. Getting Around Is a Breeze
Traveling across Uzbekistan is now faster and much more comfortable thanks to the country’s excellent high-speed rail network. Implemented in 2016, the brand-new European-style bullet trains now connect the country’s capital, Tashkent, to the fabled, UNESCO-listed oases of Samarkand and Bukhara, a