Most Inspirational Moment
The diversity of the cities. Everywhere so clean and safe. Uzbek people very friendly and helpful.
Thoughts on Group Leader
First female leader we've had and I couldn't fault her.
Reviews
Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It’s the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you’re interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.
Simply use the selector below to search our trip reviews and start reading real feedback from real Exodus travellers who have ‘been there and done that’!
Lots of our clients also like to post handy tips and advice about their travels. It’s great to know what to expect on an Exodus adventure before you go, so make the most of their experience and you’ll make the most of yours!
Haven’t posted your review yet? Here’s how to do it…
Once you return from your Exodus adventure holiday, you will be emailed a link to add your review. Any feedback collected is posted onto our website, totally unedited.
Alternatively you can navigate to the relevant trip page and add your review via the Reviews tab.
Select a trip specific review:
Reviews
Discover Uzbekistan
10 people on trip was a good size group
Discover Uzbekistan
Exodus organisation was very well put together and the tour guide, Sergey Matrosov was the perfect person to lead the trip. He immersed himself into the group and had a passion for his country and was extremely knowledgable in the history of all sites visited.
Most Inspirational Moment
It is difficult to single out particular highlights as the itinerary had so much variety to offer that everything we experienced was a highlight in itself. But one place that stood out for me was the Aya Kala Forteress in the desert. This place has a special energy and was well worth including on the itinerary.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Sergey Matrosov was the perfect tour leader. He fully immersed himself into the group, was very well organised, had a passion for his country and was extremely knowledgeable about the history and facts of every place on the itinerary. His friendliness and social persona was well received by the whole group and everyone held him in high regard.
Discover Uzbekistan
A great trip – excellent variety during the fortnight and our guide Khaitov Dilshod was wonderful – knowledgeable, great sense of humour, and he kept us organised with an enviably calm authority. He consistently gave very clear instructions about the important bits – where and when to meet etc. Being older (in his 50s) he also has own (plus his parents’) personal perspectives on the Soviet era which added a lot to our knowledge and understanding of the country.
Most Inspirational Moment
In their different ways, all our visits and experiences were highlights. In under two weeks we learnt a huge amount about the country, its culture and history.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Superb. Definitely should be nominated for the Exodus Annual Leader Awards.
Fascinating insight into central Asia and the silk road
Fabulous trip. We saw the famous cities and sites, and also travelled out into more remote areas. A real insight into the geography, the culture, and the history
Most Inspirational Moment
Too many to mention. The merging of soviet influences on top of earlier history in Tashkent, breathtaking buildings in Samarkand, treasures around every corner in Khiva, the desert, remote settlements and 2500 year old forts, making dumplings during the homestay, wonderful people...
Thoughts on Group Leader
Muhammed was a fabulous group leader. Not only did he share his expert knowledge of the country past and present, but he managed the logistics of the trip seamlessly so that we could just relax and enjoy the adventure.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Currency - take US dollars, easy to change them at the airport on arrival or at exchange booths in the cities. Clothing for ladies - best I suggest to be covered from shoulders to below the knees to fit in with local norms. At religious sites you will need a head covering (I used a scarf for protection from the sun as well, others had a hat). I did see one or two ladies in vest tops and shorts in the cities, and they were not getting frowned at but personally I would have felt uncomfortable vs what locals were wearing. Shopping - Samarkand or Khiva for silk scarfs and clothing. Bukhara for embroidery eg wall hangings - the quality here is better than the earlier cities. If shopping in the cities vendors will happily quote in USD or euros but once you have agreed a price, if you are paying by card will of course convert back to som for the transaction...watch the exchange rate, I'd suggest better to haggle in som. We usually got around 10-15% off through haggling. Travel - there are some long journeys by road and rail. Aircon on the trains goes off in the stations, and you can be there for half an hour, so be prepared to get hot! The road to the Aral sea is awful - more potholes than tarmac. Everyone is very welcoming - don't be surprised if you are asked for your photo, or to have strangers coming up to you for a chat. Security is absolutely not a concern. Food - good, and cheap! Though veggies in our group did struggle on occasion. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this trip - go, and enjoy!
Breathtaking
An epic adventure full of jaw dropping moments & experiences: Desert to ancient cities, mountains, museums & a whole lot more. The scale, size & beauty of the architectural monuments alone is spectacular. An unforgettable(but tiring) trip..the people are very friendly, the food is plentiful & cheap compared to the UK & the artisanal crafts just exquisite. Be prepared for a tiring first 2 days especially, as jet lag will ‘get’ you & overall I think the trip should be re-classified as Moderate as their isn’t much down time at all & the middle 3 days (Home stay, overnight train, Yurt camp ) with a long minibus drive on extremely bumpy track is quite exhausting. Pack as light as you can (make space for taking some of the amazing textiles home)& comfortable travelling clothes. Take dollars & change them when you get there (not everywhere takes cards or dollars-Uzbek Som preferred). I do think that Exodus should review the itinerary if possible as the long road trip on very bumpy track was tough & we had a full size coach into the Homestay when 2 Mini buses would have been better as the coach really struggled to get through the narrow roads. Does the final section from Bukhara to Tashkent have to be by train??Travellers be prepared for long presentations by the Tour Leader when you arrive at a site (to be honest, these should be shortened as its very hard to take lots of info in when you’re recovering from jet leg). Hotels overall very good . An experience (or hundred) for a lifetime!!
Most Inspirational Moment
Too many to single out but the friendliness of the Uzbek people stood out for me, just as much as all the incredible UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent.
Advice for Potential Travellers
As above
History, Hospitality and Heart Across the Silk Road
This trip was the perfect mix of big-name Silk Road cities and places I’d never heard of but will never forget. It was amazing to explore the spots you read about in history books, but I also really loved getting off the main tourist trail. Walking through what used to be the Aral Sea was eye-opening. It’s one of those moments that makes you pause and reflect. Uzbekistan is bigger than you expect, so there are definitely some long travel days, but they’re totally worth it if you go in with a good attitude.
Most Inspirational Moment
So much happened in two weeks that choosing one highlight feels impossible. Walking the quiet streets of the famous Silk Road cities in the early morning, with the sun just coming up and locals setting up for the day, felt like stepping back in time. The warmth of our homestay family in the Nurata Mountains and the calm, open beauty of Aydarkul Lake were grounding and peaceful moments. Standing at the edge of the Aral Sea, surrounded by what was once a bustling harbour town, was something else entirely. It was confronting and really stuck with me. The Savitsky art museum in Nukus also really surprised me. I didn’t know much about it before going, but the collection of Soviet-era art that had been hidden away from censorship was incredible. I didn’t expect to be so drawn in, but it ended up being one of the most interesting parts of the trip. Our final day was a surprise favourite. Visiting the solar furnace and learning about the research happening there was so interesting. We stopped for grass-filled samsa at a local roadside spot, made fresh by a team of women working in perfect rhythm. Then we took a gondola into the snowy mountains, and it felt like we had landed in a completely different country. Our final day was a surprise favourite. Visiting the solar furnace and learning about the research happening there was so interesting. We stopped for grass-filled samsa at a local roadside spot, made fresh by a team of women working in perfect rhythm. Then we took a gondola into the snowy mountains, and it felt like we’d landed in a completely different country.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Dilshod was the best. You can tell how much he loves his country, its people and his family. He shared so much about the history and culture with genuine enthusiasm, and he’s built strong relationships throughout the years that added to the experience. He always had the best food recommendations and made sure we had the nicest table wherever we went. He really made the trip feel personal and seamless, and it wouldn’t have been the same without him.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Check the weather just before you go. Our trip was unseasonably hot but had been rainy the week before Bring a scarf with you to cover up in the holy places, or buy one at a local market. It’s best to get a light one that balls up small so it is easy to carry. Be ready for long travel days on some bumpy roads. Bring something to keep yourself entertained. Try to get up early in the main Silk Road cities. It’s a great time to enjoy the atmosphere before the crowds arrive and to see locals setting up for the day. And of course… all you need is plov. But make sure to try the local version in each region as the dish changes as you travel around.
Beautiful ornate buildings, welcoming locals and a rich history.
A fascinating mix of tree-filled, modern cities and desert with welcoming locals and well-situated hotels. Uzbekistan is a country I would recommend to anyone looking for something a bit different. Bukhara had a lovely atmosphere and which I enjoyed exploring in the evenings.
The mosaic-tiled buildings, although there are a lot of them throughout the trip never fail to be awe-inspiring with the detail and care put into their construction.
Other highlights included a visit to a desert fort after a delicious traditional lunch at a neighbouring yurt camp and the Savitsky Museum/Nukus Museum of Art in Nukus, which houses a large collection of ancient artifacts and soviet era avant-garde artwork.
The food was also fantastic value.
Most Inspirational Moment
Samarkand's Registan Square, although being a familiar sight in brochures and travel guides is just as breath-taking in real life with a lovely light show in the evening.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our tour leader was the wonderful Dilshod, a guide with many years of experience, incredible knowledge, attentive and organised. A proud Uzbek who can answer any question and is happy to share his stories and
Advice for Potential Travellers
While you're there use a mixture of US Dollars and Uzbek Som - souvenirs were all quoted in dollars. It's best to have clean crisp new dollars to exchange. A scarf to cover your head and long trousers when entering mosques is essential but shorts down to the knee are acceptable for most other days.
A very well organised trip with many highlights
A trip full of colour and beautiful buildings. The blue and turquoise colours and the intricate design of the religious buildings are breathtaking.
Our guide Dilshod made the trip with incredible knowledge and passion for his country. The group also contributed to a great trip, all lovely people and we all got on well.
Most of our hotels were well situated. There are so many parks and trees in each town which made walking very pleasant. We felt completely safe at all time. The people are very friendly and welcome tourists.
The only disappointment was our stay in a yurt. The camp lacked atmosphere, no entertainment was provided except half of hour of singing and music organised by our guide who borrowed a nice man from another camp. Exodus should choose another camp or spend another day in the beautiful Samarkand.
Most Inspirational Moment
Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand are the hi lights but there are so many other moments like our lunch with music and dancing near the fortress. The Registan in Samarkand is very impressive by the sheer size. I loved Bukhara and its atmosphere at night. The fortified town of Khiva is beautiful and the colour of the wall change at night. The train journey was also nice.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Dilshod was a walking guide book with outstanding knowledge of the history and culture of his country. He was very organised and as a result we did not waste any time. He told us many personal stories which added to our understanding of the difficult history of this country.
Advice for Potential Travellers
You have some long days on the bus but we could all have a seat by the window. Bring a scarf to cover your head in the mosques. Clothes covering shoulders and knees are required for religious buildings
Truly amazing
A fantastic country, with open and welcoming people who are delighted to see European tourists, incredible sights and inspiring interiors
Most Inspirational Moment
The interior of the Amur Timur mausoleum, a true wow moment…or arriving in Khiva to feel we were really on the Silk Road…no, the Registan or, or… in other words, the whole holiday
Thoughts on Group Leader
Takhir handled the usual “mixed” personalities with diplomacy and care. His telling of the stories behind the sites demonstrated his passion for history
Advice for Potential Travellers
Go
Spectacular
One of the most beautiful places I’ve been from the turquoise blue mosaics and the hand crafted embroidery and silks to the art deco style space metro station and Soviet constructivist sculptures
Thoughts on Group Leader
Tahir was kind, knowledgeable and consistently there for us whether it was endlessly changing money from one currency to another or patiently waiting for one or other of us, his recommendations of where to eat and what to eat, moving is between local eateries to internal flights and local trains and finally using his contacts to reclaim my coat after I left it on the last day in the train station hundreds of miles from Tashkent ~ a remarkable human being
Advice for Potential Travellers
Go!