UZBEKISTAN

Central Asia's cradle of culture for more than two millennia, Uzbekistan is the proud home to a mesmerizing arsenal of ancient cities and architecture, all deeply infused with the fascinating history of the legendary Silk Road. Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva never fail to impress visitors with their fabulous mosques, medressas and mausoleums, while its more eccentric attractions, such as the fast disappearing Aral Sea, its boom town capital Tashkent mean that even the most diverse tastes can be catered for.