A honeymoon in Uzbekistan

For couples who want more than a beach, Uzbekistan offers a journey into the world of the Thousand and One Nights: blue domes, mosaic courtyards, caravanserais and desert landscapes. It is safe, welcoming and still off the beaten track, so the experience feels personal. And Uzbek culture celebrates marriage enthusiastically: you will probably see wedding parties posing in front of the monuments, and newlyweds are warmly congratulated.

• Samarkand: watch the sunset over the Registan, then return after dark when the madrasahs are illuminated; walk through the turquoise lanes of the Shah-i-Zinda in the early morning light.
• Bukhara: dinner on a rooftop terrace with a view of the Kalyan minaret, an evening by the pool of Lyabi-Hauz, or a private hammam experience in a historic bathhouse.
• A desert yurt camp: camel rides at sunset, dinner around a fire and a sky full of stars near Lake Aydarkul or below Ayaz Kala.
• Khiva: the walls of Ichan-Kala at sunset and the quiet, lamplit lanes after the day visitors have left.
• The mountains: a day at the turquoise Charvak reservoir and a gondola ride at Amirsoy.

1. Tashkent (1 night): arrive and rest; a performance at the opera.
2. Mountains (1 night): Charvak and Amirsoy, a night in a mountain hotel.
3. Samarkand (3 nights): the Registan by day and night, Shah-i-Zinda, Gur-Emir, a wine tasting or a paper workshop.
4. Yurt camp (1 night): the Nuratau mountains and Lake Aydarkul.
5. Bukhara (2 nights): old town, rooftop dinners and a hammam.
6. Khiva (2 nights): sunsets on the walls, an evening in Ichan-Kala, perhaps a night in the yurt camp at Ayaz Kala.
7. Fly back from Urgench.

See Tashkent to Chimgan, Tashkent to Samarkand and Bukhara to Khiva.

Choose boutique hotels and historic guesthouses in the old towns, many in restored merchant houses with painted ceilings, courtyards and terraces. In Bukhara and Khiva, some hotels are inside former madrasahs or near the main monuments. Ask for a room with a view or a terrace. In Samarkand, larger hotels offer more facilities, such as pools and spas. See where to stay in Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva.

April–May and September–October are ideal: warm days, cool evenings, and comfortable nights in the yurt camps. Spring brings blossom and green landscapes; autumn brings golden light, fruit and harvest. Summer is very hot; winter is cold but romantic in its own way, with snow on the domes of Khiva in some years.

Share plov in a traditional chaikhana, try Samarkand bread fresh from the oven, and enjoy fruit, nuts and sweets in the bazaars. Uzbekistan has a long tradition of winemaking, especially around Samarkand, and wine tastings are available. In restaurants, wine and local beer are usually available, though not in every traditional café. See Samarkand food and Bukhara food.

Look for things to remember the trip by: a Rishtan ceramic plate, a silk scarf from Margilan, a suzani or a hand-knotted carpet from Khiva or Bukhara.

• Public displays of affection are not common in Uzbekistan, especially outside Tashkent; holding hands is fine, but keep kissing private.
• Dress modestly at mosques and shrines.
• A private guide and driver make the trip relaxed and allow surprises, such as a sunset viewpoint.
• Book the best rooms and the Afrosiyob train early in spring and autumn.
• Check visas for both passports: see our Uzbekistan visa guide.