Uzbekistan: The Golden Road to Samarkand is the definitive guide and companion to a fascinating country more open for travel, business and adventure than ever before. This ground-breaking Odyssey guidebook, the first dedicated to the heart of the ancient Silk Road, returns in a fully updated, 30th anniversary edition (2026) to help travellers relish history and enjoy the present-day, from heritage hotels to the tastiest plov.
Odyssey Guides take readers deeper into culture, history and local traditions than other guides. From the blockbuster sights of Samarkand and Bukhara to Tashkent's Soviet marvels, the Ferghana Valley and the Aral Sea region, this authoritative guide unpacks the past to highlight characters who lit up their age. Algorithms are named after Khiva's Al-Khorezmi, the grandfather of computer science who flourished in the ninth century amid the Islamic Golden Age.
The hub of Central Asia, driving economic and cultural revival, Uzbekistan is home to some of Islam's most breathtaking buildings. This comprehensive guide, rich in analysis and whimsical detail, explores what survived, what disappeared and what's new, revealing historical layers hidden in Soviet times and the fallen idols since independence in 1991.
Take the original, premium guide to Uzbekistan, to grapple with the past and navigate the dynamic new era. It's packed with stories never told before in English, colour maps, photos and practical advice, so you can prepare an epic trip, appreciate the country's complex legacy, then savour this beautiful souvenir on your return. The authors are Central Asia experts who fell in love with Uzbekistan in 1992 and have been exploring ever since.
* Enjoy the ultimate Silk Road experiences
* Meet Amir Timur, Tamerlane the Great
* Follow seven city walks, for tales of faith, power and identity
* Read the daring verses of Ferghana's female poets
* Ski brand new resorts, follow old pilgrim trails
* Hike between villages, climb ancient desert forts
* Relax in boutique guesthouses, taste the world's best melons
