The Ferghana Valley was an important center of the ancient Great Silk Road. 3000 years of history offer amazing culture, warm hospitality, old-world craftsmanship and authentic cuisine. Over the centuries, it has attracted travelers, traders, merchants, pilgrims and diplomats, playing an important role bridging East and West.

The Ferghana region is surrounded by the spectacular Tian Shan mountains and traversed by the waters of both the Naryn and Syr Darya Rivers, with views of the  Pamir and Fann mountains In neighboring Tajikistan. The award-winning Silk Road Treasure Tours team is thrilled to bring our travelers to this fascinating part of Uzbekistan for an extraordinary travel experience. Tours include visits to charming and remote villages, enjoying Ferghana pilaf with locals, and participating in classes with regional artisans and craftsmen skilled in the secrets of ceramics, silks and carpets.

When I first traveled to the Ferghana Valley from my native city of Bukhara in 1996, there were a limited number of sites you could visit. Places like the Kokand Khudayarkhan Palace, Andijan Juma mosque and the Dehkon bazaar. Now, with Uzbekistan's developed tourism infrastructure, many more ancient sites have been restored, and previously closed areas are open to visitors.  The outstanding Margilan Yodgorlik Silk Factory for example, has been reintroduced into our new Uzbekistan tour itineraries. All this access has encouraged new luxury boutique hotels and guest houses, affording travelers exciting choices in accommodation. 

I would to thank all my loyal travelers, new clients, travel agents, universities, alumni associations and museums across the world for their business and trust. 2018 was amazing year for us. Silk Road Treasure Tours’ family celebrated its 10 Year Anniversary in the American market! 

Throughout 2018 we presented at travel agencies, clubs and shows - including the New York Times Travel Show, and at museums and libraries across the US, sharing our knowledge of the Silk Road, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. Many new travelers joined us on our cultural, historical, adventure, educational and photography tours to the Central Asia ‘Stans and the Caucasus countries, as well as to China Silk Road destinations, Iran, Mongolia, Russia and Morocco. Loyal clients added new destinations to their 2018 must-see lists and returned from their Silk Road adventures with more memories to share. Some celebrated anniversaries and birthdays, one even chose the romantic city of Samarkand for a marriage proposal! It’s been a very celebratory year.

I personally escorted more than a half a dozen of our Silk Road Treasure Tours groups and met up with several of our tours while in Central Asia and the Caucasus this past year. What an amazing journey! In Uzbekistan we attended luxury culinary experiences and I hosted travelers at my family home. We enjoyed master classes and fabulous wine in Georgia, falconry demonstrations in Kyrgyzstan, adventure tours in Kazakhstan including horseback riding, trekking, and helicopter rides, and we visited extraordinary caravanserai, madrasahs, monuments, mosques and synagogues throughout Central Asia. There were archaeological explorations in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Armenia, shopping fun in China and of course in the bazaars of Uzbekistan. We participated in local weddings and festivals; Navruz – the New Year’s Festival, the Silk and Spice festival, equestrian games, a music in Kazakhstan, Nadaam in Mongolia, Lunar New Year in Vietnam, and national holidays in China. There was the Carpet Festival in Armenia, the Pomegranate and Folk festival in Azerbaijan, and the Bread and Flower festival in Tajikistan.

We have good news for travelers to Uzbekistan, fall festival dates in Armenia and the scoop on what’s happening in Azerbaijan.

The new international terminal is now open and the arrivals experience is amazing! With streamlined customs and immigration procedures, it’s less than 25 minutes from passport control and luggage claim to the exit; great news for our travelers eager to get started on their adventures to Uzbekistan. The new Tashkent terminal has currency exchange, WiFi, cafes, Duty Free, medical assistance, and accessibility accommodations and much more!

Uzbekistan ranks as the 5th safest country for travel according to Gallup’s 2018 Global Law and Order Report. At the heart of the Great Silk Road for centuries, Uzbekistan offers a tradition of hospitality unlike anywhere else. Visit the ancient cities and UNESCO Heritage sites of Tashkent, Bukhara, Samarkand and Khiva for yourself and experience the warmest welcome in the world.