Customer Reviews

Uzebekistan: The Golden Road to Samarakand

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

I found this book just about perfect!
Unlike Odyssey's guide to neighbouring Tajikistan which I found carried too much dead weight with hundreds of pages on the history of past explorations, this book has hit the balance between history, sights and practical information very well.
The result is a guide that offers enough background info to be interesting rather than boring, enough info on where to go to let you go off the beaten track if you wish, and a range of accommodation options ranging from homestays to upmarket hotels, with actual prices noted.
And of course, as usual with this series, it has absolutely gorgeous photography, a very important point in a book about this country, where the stunning architecture is a main attraction.
As an added bonus, it even offers information on the most rewarding side-trips you can make to neighbouring Central Asian countries.
Really, it is better than I had hoped - if you want to visit Uzbekistan, take this book. It is better than Lonely Planet!

Gave a really good overview of the country's history and culture. Last Spring I was on a tour and had an opportunity to see a couple of the other available guidebooks from fellow travelers. This one was by far the best tour guidebook of Uzbekistan. A great way to see the country is with [...]

If you are going to spend a lot of time in Uzbekistan, this book is a better buy than the Lonely Planet which covers each Central Asian country briefly in the regional "Central Asia" guide. However, there's too much focus on culture and history in this book and not enough focus on things to do. If you want to read a fiction/thriller that takes place in Uzbekistan and accurately captures the people and culture, check out The Opportunists, by Yohann de Silva. Here's the link: The Opportunists: A Novel