Carpets for sale outside a shop in Bukhara. Uzbekistan packing list.

Uzbekistan Packing List: All the Essentials, None of the Junk

We've all been there, right? Standing over an empty suitcase, wishing you were Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and could just magic the perfect things together for your trip. It's hard enough trying to make sure you pack lightly enough, but not so lightly that you're washing underwear in the hotel...
Registan in Samarkand, part of a 10 days in Uzbekistan trip

10 Days in Uzbekistan: The Perfect First-Time Itinerary

If you've got 10 days in Uzbekistan, you're in a really good position. It's long enough to see the country's main highlights of Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, without feeling like you're rushing from one place to the next. On my own first time in the country, I spent a...
The exterior of the Mir-i-Arab Madrasah in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. First time in Uzbekistan.

First Time in Uzbekistan? Everything You Absolutely Need to Know

For someone as obsessed with travel as I am, you'd think I'd be better at getting all the "need to know" stuff down pat before I go. I've got a Notion page for every trip: I plot out my itineraries, I make my packing lists, I've researched every vegan restaurant,...
Two days in Tashkent hero post showing the city skyline

Two Days in Tashkent: A Fun but Realistic 48-Hour Itinerary

Tashkent is often referred to as a "gateway city", the first stop for travellers before they move on to the more striking Uzbek cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, or Khiva. If you're travelling from abroad, you're almost definitely going to be landing in Tashkent, and rather than skipping the capital, let's...
The Kalta Minor at night, a perfect end to two days in Khiva

Two Days in Khiva: The Magic of the Walled City

Khiva is one of Uzbekistan's most beautiful cities, but it's often one that travellers skip as it's harder to get to than the likes of Bukhara or Samarkand. If you're going as part of a guided tour, Khiva might already be on your itinerary, but for a self-planned trip, here's...
Decorative window with teapot and bowl, a guide to vegan friendly hotels in Samarkand

The Best Vegan Friendly Hotels in Samarkand

I don't know about you, but when breakfast is an apple and some dry bread, it's not my idea of a good morning. Travelling in Uzbekistan as a vegan isn't easy, and it's very common to see a hotel list "vegan options" on their booking page, only to get down...
A street in Khiva with shops and a minaret, one of the many things to do in Khiva

Things to do in Khiva: Discovering the Magic of the Desert City

One of the ancient cities of the Silk Road, Khiva is often the Uzbek city that most tourists miss. Because it's harder to reach, most travellers to Uzbekistan tend to focus on the "Golden Trio" of Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara. And, if you are planning your full Uzbek adventure, you...
The imposing mud walled entrance to the the Ark of Bukhara, with a ramp up to the gate - something you'll need to see on a two days in Bukhara itinerary

Two Days in Bukhara: Discovering the Desert Oasis City

If you're in the middle of planning a trip to Uzbekistan right now and you're here to figure out the best way to spend two days in Bukhara, then just know that I am very jealous. And that you've come to the right place. Bukhara is one of the three...
The Mir-i-Arab Madrasa and Kalan Mosque, some of the top things to do in Bukhara, Uzbekistan

Things to do in Bukhara: A Love Letter to Uzbekistan’s Soul

Most visitors to Uzbekistan come for the impressive scale of Samarkand, or the beautiful old city of Khiva, and I get it. If you've read my Samarkand post, you'll know that it was a photo of Registan that ignited my interest in the country. When I was actually in Uzbekistan,...
Shah i Zinda Necropolis in Uzbekistan, an essential part of a Samarkand itinerary

2 Night Samarkand Itinerary: Blue Tiles and Silk Road Magic

For travellers to Uzbekistan, Samarkand is usually absolutely top of the list. However, it can be hard to plan your Samarkand itinerary because the city is absolutely heaving in historical sites, beautiful architecture, and incredible places to visit. Realistically, you're going to have to get okay with the fact that...