Responsible tourism in Uzbekistan
Our Uzbekistan Vacations
Uzbekistan tour, nature and culture
A tour to the towns of the ancient Silk Road in Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan small group tour
Explore cities and landscapes of the ancient Silk Road
Uzbekistan small group tour, Uzbekistan odyssey
Ancient cities, architecture & traditional craftsmanship
The Silk Road small group tour
Discover the Silk Road in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China
The Silk Route, Beijing to Tashkent
Travel from China to Central Asia on this historic journey
The five stans silk road vacation
Step into the pages of history on a silk road tour
Central Asia overland tour, the stans
An epic journey through the five 'stans' of Central Asia
Uzbekistan Silk Road tour
Discover the enchanting architecture of Uzbekistan
Silk Road vacation, small group
Discover amazing Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan
Uzbekistan classic tour
Stunning silk road architecture and breath-taking deserts
Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan vacation, Silk Road explorer
Discover the fascinating ancient history of the Silk Road
Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan group tour
Follow in Joanna Lumley's footsteps along the Silk Road.
Small group tour of the Stans
Get under the skin of all five 'Stans'
Uzbekistan tours
See the Silk Road cities of Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand
Uzbekistan tour, Road to Samarkand
Travel the ancient Silk Road through remote Central Asia.
Small group vacation to the Stans
Tread in the footsteps of the ancient Silk Road
Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan tour
The ancient Silk Route vacation, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikstan
Tashkent to Istanbul overland tour
Travel through Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan
Xian to Istanbul overland tour
Experience the Silk Road and the beautiful Caucasus
Uzbekistan small group tour, Uzbekistan embraced
Explore the fascinating country of Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan Highlights tour
Discover the rich culture and history of Uzbekistan
Silk Road overland truck tour
Overland through Central Asia's highlights
Delhi to Tashkent overland tour, Moghul Caravan
Encounter lands of ancient wonder and history
Istanbul to Xian overland tour
Epic overland trip across the continet of Asia
Central Silk Route & Western China overland tour
Epic trip through China, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan
The Great Silk Road Adventure via the Caucasus vacation
Our classic Silk Road Adventure via the Caucasus 48 day tour
Central Asia highlights tour
An incredible journey through the heart of Central Asia
Uzbekistan by train vacation
Historical odyssey in Uzbekistan moving mostly by train
Silk Road cultural vacation
See spectacular mountain scenery on this Silk Road journey
PEOPLE & CULTURE


"Across Central Asia, more and more farmers want to join Fairtrade. Dried apricot producers in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan would like to sell on Fairtrade terms and we are looking into extending the Standards to this region. But the challenge of finding buyers for their products remains."
Read up on the boycott of Uzbek cotton, with a lot of good information on leading ethical fashion website Good On You. And when you read up on it, take this opportunity to assess your pre-vacation consumer frenzy to pack as many t-shirts or summer dresses as possible from shops that support cheap and exploitative labour. Good on You has an excellent app which highlights the ethical practices of leading stores. Also, read up on the work of Amnesty International, which is not only fighting to stop forced labour in Uzbekistan but also to protect general human rights with regards to torture and freedom of expression there. Do consider becoming a member if human rights are important to you on your travels. These guys are fighting for human rights at the coal face all the time, not just vacation time.
And of course, when you are in Uzbekistan, seek out more traditional, ethical souvenirs:
Jonny Bealby, founder of our supplier, Wild Frontiers, says there are plenty of alternatives to cotton:
“The Fergana Valley is a little visited area of Uzbekistan and a good place for shopping, with silk factories to visit where you can watch and learn about the full silk making process. All round Uzbekistan you can buy locally produced pottery and ceramics that are painted by hand and are very beautiful souvenirs. And of course, everywhere in Central Asia is big on their carpets. They can be handmade depending on how much you want to pay and some tourists choose to have them sent home after their trip; you can spend thousands of pounds on a on a carpet if you want to.”
Culture & etiquette
Uzbekistan can be confusing. It is Islamic yet it has a lot of Soviet influences, so it is important to get a bit of a handle on cultural conventions. They seem to be quite fluid in some places but then rigid in others. So, for example, pork won’t be served in many restaurants due to the fact that it is a Muslim country, but you may be given vodka as an aperitif.The Uzbeks are very hospitable and love to invite visitors into their homes. You will get etiquette gold stars for remembering to remove your shoes, bring a gift and shake everyone’s hands – although some particularly strict Muslim homes don’t encourage shaking women’s hands, so let your hosts lead on that one. As a guest for a meal (and there is nearly always some food offered wherever you go), you may be asked to start the meal and, therefore, offer a toast. If this is the case, always thank your host in your toast. Sometimes there is cutlery, but most Uzbeks eat with their hand. If you join them in this tradition, it is important to remember to eat only with your right hand. Do also accept everything you are offered, even if you don’t fancy another vodka.
In general, do not discuss politics. Uzbekistan was under the rule of Islam Karimov for 27 years, a premiership shrouded in secrets, conspiracies and authoritarianism. It is still more or less a police state and criticising or commenting on the current government is not something people are happy doing.
“No one would discuss politics at all in Uzbekistan. Our guide very much toed the party line and said ‘the president’s great and everyone’s very happy with the president, and we have these very fair elections..."
WILDLIFE & ENVIRONMENT
During the Soviet era, the five countries of the region shared their energy and water resources successfully, but the new borders and politics make this tricky. And a lack of basics like water and energy has, hardly surprisingly, led to local unrest in many areas. According to the World Bank research from 2016, only a quarter of households have access to a centralised sewerage system and, outside Tashkent, many houses depend on public water pumps for their drinking water. Tourism is growing in Uzbekistan, and so we must be careful that by providing tourists with all the water they need, or think they need, local people aren’t being deprived further.
What you can do
Use water sparingly. All common sense stuff really. Shower instead of bath and keep them short. Don’t leave the tap running when brushing teeth, and ask your hosts how best to preserve it for their own uses. Short of taking on the department of the environment, there is little else you can do at this time. On a more positive note, there are scientists who believe that the Aral Sea, or Lake, can be restored. Read the New Scientist for more details.
Responsible tourism tips
“Be wary in hotels, because lots of ladies will approach you. You will think you are the most popular man in the world, but prostitution is rife throughout the country which is not a good thing.”