Intersections of Uzbekistan

For centuries, Uzbekistan was truly the center of the world, the crown jewel of the Silk Road. Traders, merchants, scholars and mystics gathered in its cities to exchange goods, stories, and knowledge that brought the country into to epicenter of civilization.

For centuries, the Silk Road brought ideas through Central Asia, leaving behind a remarkable blend of Persian, Turkic and Islamic culture. Later, more than 70 years as part of the Soviet Union added another distinct layer. Today, Uzbekistan offers a fascinating combination of ancient traditions and a changing modern identity, set against some of the most extraordinary architecture in Central Asia.

Over several days, you’ll look beyond the monuments to the people, and primarily women, keeping Uzbekistan’s artistic traditions alive. We’ll discover the intricate embroidery of Suzani, the bold patterns and colors of silk Ikat, and the beautiful blue and turquoise ceramics for which the country is known.

We’ll visit workshops and meet artisans to understand how techniques and designs have been passed from one generation to the next, while also seeing how contemporary makers are reinterpreting them today.

We begin in the mountains outside Tashkent, before traveling east to Margilan, the historic heart of Uzbekistan’s silk production. From there, we continue to Samarkand, with its breathtaking blue-tiled madrasas, domes and the Registan, and finally Bukhara, an ancient Silk Road city of mosques, minarets, trading domes and artisan workshops.

Along the way, there will be time for local food, markets, walking, shopping and conversations—a journey through Uzbekistan not simply to see its history, but to experience the culture that continues to shape it.