![]() ![]() Khiva to Nukus via the desert forts of Karakalpakstanīest road trip for amateur archaeologists Khiva–Nukus 240km (150 miles) allow two days The autonomous region of Karakalpakstan is home to desert forts such as Ayaz-Qala © Tuul & Bruno Morandi / Getty Images 4. Planning tip: An excellent alternative return route from Bukhara back to Samarkand will take you via the ancient Hepthalite city of Erkurgan – the highway runs straight through the ruined city walls – to the historic city of Qarshi, with its medieval madrassas, mosques and epic WWII Soviet-era War Memorial. You’ll almost certainly have all these unsung Silk Road sights to yourself, before you rejoin the tourist circuit at handsome, historic Bukhara – Central Asia’s holiest city. About 15km (9 miles) further down the road, detour 1km (0.6 miles) off the highway to admire the towering 39m-tall (128ft) Vabkent Minaret, dating back to 1196. Get your first Silk Road fix with a stop at the roadside Rabat-i-Malik Caravanserai, once an overnight stop for trade caravans, today just past Navoi airport.Īt Gijduvan, an hour or so before Bukhara, stop off to see the 15th-century Ulug Beg Madrassah and the nearby pottery workshop of ceramics master Abdullo Narzullaev. The roads are in good repair and there are plenty of off-the-beaten-track historical and architectural detours to explore en route, as you travel between Central Asia’s two most storied Silk Road cities.Īfter spending a couple of days ogling the architectural glories of Samarkand, drive northwest out of the city, stopping to join pilgrims at the Imam Al-Bukhari Mausoleum, then continue along the M37 highway through the oasis-like Zeravshan Valley. If you’ve ever fancied road-tripping along the Silk Road, this is the itinerary for you. Silk Road highlights: Samarkand to Bukharaīest road trip for Silk Road dreamers Samarkand–Bukhara 270km (168 miles) allow one day Bukhara is the holiest city in Central Asia © Mlenny / Getty Images 1. ![]()
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