Some of the Silk Road’s biggest attractions are in Uzbekistan and this Central Asian country has the region’s most diverse accommodation options for travellers, from rural yurt camps to heritage B&Bs in UNESCO-listed old towns.
1. Mirzo Boutique Hotel, Tashkent
Near the busy Chorsu Bazaar, Mirzo has comfortable rooms with Uzbek architectural touches. Useful services such as bicycle hire help make this an excellent base for exploring the capital. Doubles from $95 (£77), B&B.
2. Malika Prime Hotel, Samarkand
Part of the Uzbek Malika hotel chain, this reliably clean and cosy spot next to the Gur-e-Amir mausoleum complex is a convenient point from which to explore both the old and new sides of Samarkand. Doubles from $90 (£73), B&B.
3. Bahodir B&B, Samarkand
This backpacker option is one of the oldest guesthouses in Samarkand and brilliantly located, just off the Registan square. There’s a mix of dorms and private rooms, as well as a shaded internal courtyard that’s great for meeting other travellers in. Doubles from £21, B&B. 132 Mulokandov Street
With just 20 rooms done up in traditional Uzbek style (such as colourful ikat throws and painted wall decorations) surrounding a quiet courtyard, this busy boutique hotel is one of the most appealing in Bukhara’s old town. It’s just a few hundred metres from central Lyabi Hauz Square. Doubles from $70 (£56), B&B. minzifa.com
Simple but attractive rooms set within the baked-mud walls of Itchan Kala old town make Meros an atmospheric base for exploring the back lanes of Khiva. There’s nothing better than breakfast on the rooftop terrace overlooking the city. Doubles from $40 (£32), B&B.
For a wildly different take on Uzbekistan, trek into the Nuratau Mountains to spend a few days living in rural villages. Sentyob village is the main travel hub here, with footpaths radiating out to smaller villages and family-run homestays across the region. Rooms from $25 (£20) per person, full-board.
Sink into the red sands of the Kyzylkum Desert at one of the yurt camps beside Aydarkul Lake. Guests get proper beds, running water and home-cooked dinners. Activities such as camel treks can be arranged. Yurts $35 (£28) per person, half-board.
Source: National Geographic
