Uzbekistan
Cycle Uzbekistan from the Nuratau Mountains to Samarkand, riding Silk Road trails and ancient desert cities.
Uzbekistan is one of Central Asia’s most fascinating cycling destinations, combining spectacular Silk Road cities with mountains, fertile valleys, open steppe and remote rural landscapes. Travelling by bike reveals a side of the country far beyond its famous monuments, following quiet roads and tracks through villages and countryside framed by the mountains of Central Asia.
Our Uzbekistan cycling tour combines adventurous riding with the extraordinary history and culture of the ancient Silk Road. Mountain landscapes, traditional villages and rural communities contrast with colourful bazaars, mosques, madrasas and the magnificent architecture of historic cities such as Samarkand and Bukhara.
For centuries, Uzbekistan lay at the heart of the Silk Road, the great network of trading routes that connected China and Central Asia with the Middle East and Europe. Merchants, travellers and conquerors all left their mark, creating a remarkable cultural legacy that can still be seen in the mosques, madrasas, mausoleums and bustling bazaars of its historic cities.
Beyond these celebrated cities lies a very different Uzbekistan. Mountain foothills, fertile valleys, semi-arid grasslands and wide-open landscapes provide a dramatic setting for cycling, while rural roads and tracks lead through farming communities and small villages where traditional ways of life remain an important part of the country’s character.
Cycling brings these different worlds together. Days spent riding through remote countryside and mountain landscapes are balanced by time exploring some of Central Asia’s greatest historic sites. Combined with colourful markets, distinctive regional cuisine and generous Uzbek hospitality, the contrast between adventurous riding and extraordinary Silk Road heritage makes Uzbekistan a particularly rewarding country to discover by bike.