Experiences for life – outside the law of the country!

Since the dawn of time, Central Asia has been shrouded in mystery, and just as long, the region has been inhabited by many different peoples. This is partly due to the two rivers Syr Darya to the north and Amu Darya to the south, which frame Uzbekistan, but also due to the essential location the region had between West and East, which made the region ideal as a trade route for trade in expensive goods between China, India and Europe. Thus, innumerable cultural treasures are hidden in this part of the world.

Practical information

Central Asia is a region in Central Asia; according to Danish geographical tradition, the term is used for the mountains and high plains, which lie between the Himalayas in the south, the Sajan Mountains in the north, the Pamirs in the west and the Chinese river plains in the east. There are slightly different views on which countries Central Asia includes, but the five official Central Asian countries are Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. In total, there are about 65 million people living there. people in the five countries, which is only about 2% of Asia’s total population.

The climate in Central Asia

Central Asia has a continental climate. As the region is not surrounded by sea, which can soften temperatures, the Central Asian mainland climate is characterized by sharp temperature fluctuations in winter versus summer. Central Asia’s climate is generally characterized by a lot of drought and cold, which has not been compatible with agriculture. This climate is especially evident on the high plateaus and plateaus, thus only real agriculture exists in a few river valleys and oases.

Central Asia is an incredibly large region with an extremely varied geography, which includes highlands and mountains (Tian Shan and the Pamir Mountains), deserts (Kara Kum, Kyzyl Kum, Taklamakan), and is characterized by treeless steppes.

Uzbekistan – an important part of Central Asia

Uzbekistan borders Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, and is thus more or less located in the middle of the Central Asian region. With its 447,000 km2, the country is the third largest country in the region, however, there live around 30 million. people in Uzbekistan, which makes up well over half of the entire population of Central Asia. Uzbekistan’s central location in Central Asia makes it an ideal destination for a trip where the Silk Road and the region’s cultural heritage are to be explored.

Uzbekistan’s climate is very similar to the rest of Central Asia’s climate. Thus, they have very hot summers and incredibly cold winters. Therefore, we recommend trips to Uzbekistan in the spring or autumn, as the temperatures are most comfortable in these seasons, however, travel is possible all year round if you are ready for more extreme weather conditions.

Experience Tashkent – the stone city of Uzbekistan

The capital of Uzbekistan is Tashkent, which is located in the northeastern part of the republic in the Chirchik river valley. The mountains around the city offer a beautiful view, where you can see the snow-capped mountain peaks at Chimgang, which gives a very special feeling that must be experienced. Tashkent is more than two thousand years old and hides lots of history and culture, for example, the city Islamized because Turkish nomadic tribes continuously conquered the city. Due to Islamic history, a fantastic Islamic cultural heritage exists. In Tashkent you can visit a myriad of amazing mattresses (Quran schools) and mosques, and one of the oldest copies of the Qur’an is kept in a library in Tashkent.

As the capital of Uzbekistan, Tashkent offers many quirks that are traditional to the region. Among other things, it is possible to see the country’s unique art on display, you can explore beautiful rugs, jewelry, ceramics and even musical instruments and try to think back to the area’s heyday in all its splendor. If you are the exploratory type, the city’s famous market area Chorsu is worth a visit. In this colossal market, one can easily get lost an entire day between piles of proboscis shoes, blankets, incense, spices, vegetables and fruits of all kinds and whatever else the heart may desire. All these scents and color impressions conjure one’s thoughts far to oriental dreams of bygone times.

Taste the national dish “plow” on your Uzbekistan trip

If you want to embark on a culinary journey while visiting the country, it is worth tasting one of Uzbekistan’s national dishes: ‘Uzbekistan plow’. This dish has more or less gained cult status in several countries, which is why it is worth tasting it in its home country. The dish is a rice dish (pilaf) prepared with lamb and fat, as well as various vegetables such as onions and carrots. The dish has many variations, but common to them all is that they are extremely tasty. One can almost see the ancient nomads cooking this dish in a single pot, which simply adds authenticity to the experience.