photo tours uzbekistan

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Uzbekistan Photo Tour

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- Our stay in Khiva within the walls of the Ichan-Kala fortress

- Photo session with girls in a village wearing the wedding dresses

- Samarkand and the real Uzbek style of life

- A meal in a village house with the family sharing a typical Uzbek lunch.

 - Tiny alleyways, mosques, minarets, madrassas

 - Nurata, a village where pilgrims from all across Uzbekistan come to drink from the mystical spring of Chashma.

 - Tashkent and the Soviet-style Metro

An intense photographic tour across Uzbekistan.  A trip with a plethora of photographic opportunities, mausoleums, minarets and walled enclosures. We will be interacting with the local population and capture with our camera the atmosphere of this incredible culture.

According to the global law and order report 2020, Uzbekistan is ranked as the 10th safest nation in the world ahead of countries such as Canada and Germany itself.

A photo tour to Uzbekistan is a trip to the heart of the Silk Road, the most appealing of the Central Asian republics, once in the Soviet orbit and now a country of tolerant practices with the vast majority of its inhabitants professing the Muslim faith.

Uzbekistan has always stood out for its cultural heritage, the result of a historical trajectory that includes everything from Alexander the Great to Genghis Khan and Tamerlane, and for its trade vocation. For centuries, the Silk Road served as a highway along which not only goods traveled and were later exhibited at the fairs and markets of Venice or Seville, but also culture, as evidenced by the appearance of doctors such as Avicenna.

In addition to the mausoleums, minarets and walled enclosures that punctuate the circuit, there are claims that can hardly leave indifferent. The Chorsu Bazaar and the Kudeldash Madrasa, in Tashkent, contrast with the ultramodern metro, with stations that have nothing to envy to those of Moscow.

In Samarkand, the Ulugbek astronomical observatory and Reguistan Square, the most fabulous square in Central Asia, a crossroads of roads and madrasas. In Shakhrisyabz -like the previous one, a World Heritage Site-, Tamerlane's summer palace and his family's funerary complexes.

In Bukhara, the medieval city and bazaars are dominated by turquoise domes and madrasas such as Nodir Devan Begi offer dance performances. And Khiva, two cities enclosed within as many concentric rings, the most spectacular of which is a brick wall, which houses palaces, minarets and mosaics, and which is of all the cities that best preserves its ancient flavor.

My trip with Harry was an experience beyond anything I could imagine. The locations and itinerary are extremely well thought out and organized to maximize your photographic opportunities. Harry’s advice and approaches to evaluating a scene and working your subject were invaluable. It took me outside of my comfort zone culturally and technically and as a result, I returned with some of the most dramatic and moody photographs in my collection.  

Mike Benford United States

24 March.- Tashkent – Flight to Urgench- Khiva

Our representative will be meeting you on arrival. Transfer to hotel. In the afternoon we will be Flying for Khiva, next to the Urgench airport. If time allows we will start visiting the city before dinner and later go for a sunset.

25 March.- Khiva

Early sunrise session.

Khiva is settled in the middle of the Kyzylkum and Karakum deserts, and was founded in the 5th or 6th centuries. The place became recognized as a modest trading stop on the Silk Road. Not until the 16th century did the majority of Khiva's enormous architectural projects begin, and the town defined itself as a regional center of power.

Photographic opportunities unfold before our eyes with local visitors wandering around the city as well as pilgrims. We will photograph domestic tourists coming from remote regions, often in attire that is still only seen in villages. Long tunics consisting of a loose cotton coat, called chapan. The chapan is long-sleeved, knee-length or longer, and is made of cloth with a variety of colored stripes.

Our accommodation is strategically located within the Ichan-Kala fortress, which was the first site in Uzbekistan and Central Asia to be designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is a photo tour to Uzbekistan where the opportunities are appearing opening the door of our hotel. As we walk through the narrow labyrinthine streets, we will get a sense of how crowded and bustling this town must have been in the past.

26 March. - Khiva

We'll be out early in the morning strolling and photographing the historic city with its tiny alleyways, mosques, minarets, and an old graveyard set against the city walls.

We have many chances to witness a typical wedding ceremony. Khiva is a favorite destination for weddings and it is not uncommon to see parades in the street and the occasional visit to the mosque by the bride and groom-to-be. In addition to the extraordinary architectural and cultural beauty, daily life offers photographic opportunities: from a street celebration to a communal meal.

The city is home to 54 massive historical structures and 250 historic residences. It is going to be an unforgettable experience. With 94 mosques and 63 mosques, Khiva is regarded as an important Islamic center.

The day in Khiva concludes with a folk show and dinner at Khiva Khan Toza Bog's summer home.

27 March .- Khiva - Bukhara.

Morning Filght to Bukhara. Arrival and Check-in.

Bukhara has a number of well-preserved walls and gates, and you may see these ancient landmarks during our photo tour experience.

Again, around the extraordinary buildings and streets of this landmark on the Silk Road, we will seek to meet the pilgrims visiting the mausoleums, mosques and necropolises. It is tradition for devout Muslims to pray at the tombs of the great guides of Islam. We will also provoke occasions to witness, as much as possible, the local life and immortalize the events with our cameras.

We'll also go to the Kosh Madrasah, which consists of two Abdullah Khan and Modar-i-Khan madrasahs, the Poi-Kalon ensemble, and a visit to one of the working madrasahs, one of the most prominent Islamic educational institutions in the post-Soviet environment. We will visit as well the Chor Bakr necropolis, one of Uzbekistan's biggest architectural groupings.

28 and 29 March - Bukhara

After breakfast, we'll continue our fascinating photographic discovery of Bukhara's sites. Spectacular ancient mosques, mausoleums, and synagogues, a historic necropolis, dusty backstreets, dilapidated buildings, and a magnificent early Soviet wrought-iron water tower are among the treasures. 

We'll stop by a teahouse for a cup of green tea and to take in the atmosphere.

The photo tour in Bukhara will conclude with a visit to the old synagogue and the Jewish quarter.

30 March .- Bukhara - Samarkand

Drive to Samarkand . We have organized the trip to coincide with the celebration of Navruz. The atmosphere at this time is special. After lunch we will start discovering Samarkand.

Samarkand is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, approximately 2,750 years old.

Alexander the Great came there in 330 B.C., as part of his campaign to seize the possessions of Darius III. In 1220, Genghis Khan invaded, devastated, and destroyed the city.

When the Uzbeks conquered Samarkand in the 16th century, the capital was relocated to Bukhara. The Persian, Turkish, and Chinese emperors that succeeded them were unable to reverse the city's collapse, which was virtually abandoned two centuries later due to a series of earthquakes.

It was resurrected by the Russians following their annexation of it in 1868 and later Sovietized culturally and scenically.

It would re-enter the world upon Uzbekistan's independence in 1991.

We will have a photo session on our visit to the neighboring Rukhabad and Aksaray mausoleums as well as the Gur-Emir mausoleum. Today's dinner at the Novy Arbat restaurant in Samarkand will feature oven-cooked mutton.

With gorgeous blue tiled walls as a backdrop, photographing the pilgrims is a dream come true. We'll then proceed to Registan Square, which is a genuine gem in the heart of the old city. An incredible architectural photography milestone.

31 March and  April 1st .- Samarkand.

We will visit a village, document and enjoy the experience of a lunch with a family at their home. In Uzbekistan people in the villages generally live in large families consisting of several generations, so preference is given to large houses built on the land.

The traditional hospitality of the Uzbek people is legendary and the national dish, Plov (made with rice, chunks of meat, grated carrots and onions), is shared at all family events.

The tea ceremony occupies an important place in life as an element of hospitality. And preparing tea and sharing it with guests is the exclusive prerogative of the host. Invitations for lunch and dinner are always accepted and you are expected to arrive on time.

We will later drive to the Khujum silk factory and Konigil village for a tour to a paper mill and dinner with the craftsmen after a brief break.

2 April .- Samarkand – Tashkent.

Early speed train to Tashkent.-

We will go to the subway for a photo session in the Soviet-style stations. The day will be followed by a visit to the huge market, Chorsu Bazaar, where we will enjoy street photography with the local shoppers and the local visitors where they gather outdoors for lunch.

If time permits, we will go to some strategic points of the city to see the daily life and, especially, Plov central restaurant - the famous Uzbek food - where we will document photographically the activity in the kitchens and with the consumers.

Finally, we will have a farewell dinner in a grandiose 

Uzbek-Soviet style restaurant, ending our cultural and photographic immersion in Uzbekistan.

Tashkent, 3 April

Transfer to the airport for our return trip home after breakfast.

Aral Sea Extension (03 Apr 2022)

The minimum number of participants for this photo tour will be 5 people.

For the more adventurous this three day photo expedition to the area and the Aral Sea. The possibility of documentary photographs and a different experience.

It is a remote region, and we will have long and interesting itineraries in our 4x4. It is more a photographic expedition than a photo tour. An excuse to witness what the human being can eventually damage in his intervention on nature through industrial policies. Villages of clear soviet profile semi abandoned or reconstructed that do not give the impression of being lived, empty remote landscapes, the feeling of neglect and remoteness of a civilization that has gradually abandoned the region.

We will be sleeping two nights in hotels with decent "western" comfort and one night in a yurt camp , In a double or single yurt, with facilities (shower and toilets) outside the yurt. It is a basic accommodation - for one night only - in a remote region. There is no alternative accommodation in the area.

DAY 1- April 3.-Tashkent – Nukus – Aral Sea

Early morning flight (1,5 hours) to Nukus.

After reception on arrival we depart directly on a long journey full of interesting cultural and photographic landmarks to the Aral Sea.

Our first stop on the way will be our visit to the historical Mizdakhkan complex (IV-II BC, XIII-XVI AD), a necropolis with several mausoleums: Nazlumlhan Sulu, Khalifa Yerejep and Shamun Nabi as well as the Gyaur Kala fortress from the Zoroastrian epoch (IV-III BC).

Then we’ll head north towards the rather desolate Soviet city of Kungrad, once a thriving stagin spot along the Karakalpak branch of the Silk Road.

After a short visit to Kungrad’s central bazaar, we’ll drive further north to reach the otherworldly salt fields of Baras-Kermes. From there we’ll then move east to visit the Sudochie Lake, an almost intact natural reserve within the vast Amu Darya delta and a key location for the preservation and maintenance of the biodiversity of the region. Near the lake we’ll visit traditional fishing hamlets and stop at the deserted village of Urga.

Leaving Urga, we’ll eventually enter the mighty Ustyurt Plateau, an endless transboundary clay desert shared by Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

Visit the Kubla Ustyurt settlement (a small village built in Soviet times in the middle of Ustyrt Plateau). From Kubla we’ll then descent to the current shores of the legendary Aral Sea: formerly the fourth largest lake in the world, the Aral Sea has been shrinking since the 1960s after the rivers that fed it were diverted by Soviet irrigation projects.

  The southern shoreline of the Aral Sea, our goal for the day, is now more than one hundred miles further north than it used to be and what’s been left behind is a somber windswept desert named Aral Kum (Aral sands), while former fishing towns along the original shores have now become ship graveyards.

We should finally reach our Yurt Camp, hundreds of miles from any form of civilization, in the Aral Sea (dinner made by the fire, staying overnight in the national Karakalpak yurt. You are welcome to swim in the salty water of the Aral Sea (shower with fresh water is available at the camp). The camp area is a place for hiking, observing endemic wildlife and truly unique landscapes and a night full of stars.

DAY 2. April 4.- Aral Sea - Monyak - Nukus

After photographing the sunrise over the Aral Sea, breakfast.

We’ll say goodbye to the ever-shrinking waters of the Aral Sea and head south across surreal landscapes and remote post-Soviet hamlets to reach the one-time fishing harbour of Moynaq, an end-of-the-world outpost of Soviet civilisation located on the former shores of the now disappeared southern portion of the Aral Sea. We will pass by to Kurgancha Kala (XII-XIV), fortified trading center of the Great Silk Road in early medieval period. and the abandoned nomadic cemeteries and great canyons of Ustyurt Plateau. Then travelling offroad along what was the bed of the Aral Sea to Muynak.

Arrive Muynak. Visit the "Ship Graveyard" and the local history and Aral Sea museums.

Aral Sea Memorial, Former Fish Factory, Aral Sands, School, Aral Sea Museum, House of Culture and a vast array of abandoned Soviet remnants. During our time in the area we’ll have the chance to meet with local Karakalpak workers, students, former fishermen and herders, who will share with us their memories and the curious oddities of their endangered culture. Lunch at a local family's house and departure for Nukus.

DAY 3 – April 5.-Nukus- Tashkent

Transfer to airport of Nukus early flight to Tashkent. International departures

INCLUDED IN THE EXTENSION.-

- The trip will be led by Harry Fisch. In the event that he is unable to do so for any reason, Roberto Pazzi will lead the trip. - 3 days 3 nights (A hotel room is included for the last day back in Tashkent) - Hotels (2 nights) , Yurt Camp (1 night) - All meals  - All inland transfers - Two internal flights - Airport pick-up and transfer - Hotel pick-up and transfer to airport - English speaking guide

NOT INCLUDED.-

- International Flights - Travel insurance - Tips for the guides - Personal expenses - Extras at the hotels, minibar, massage - Alcoholic and soft drinks. Prices are per person, based on double occupancy. A limited quantity of single-occupancy rooms are available for an additional charge.

FITNESS LEVEL, TRAVEL CONDITIONS.-

Moderate level of fitness is required. You will need to be able to walk for a few hours -most of the time while you take pictures - at a gentle pace, remain standing, get on and off coaches, planes and trains unassisted. Carry your own luggage.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

The maximum number of participants is listed under "Maximum Group" in the Price section of each individual workshop. However, we reserve the right to add by up to two the maximum number of participants per workshop at any time.

• - The trip will be led by Harry Fisch. In the event that he is unable to do so for any reason, Roberto Pazzi will lead the trip.
• - 11 days 10 nights accommodations
• - All meals except two on your own
• - All inland transfers 
• - Two Internal Flights
• - Airport pick-up and transfer
• - Hotel pick-up and transfer to airport
• - English speaking guide

Not Included

• - International Flights
• - Travel insurance
• - Tips for the guides 
• - Personal expenses
• - Extras at the hotels, minibar, massage
• - Alcoholic and soft drinks.

Prices are per person, based on double occupancy. A limited quantity of single-occupancy rooms are available for an additional charge.

A deposit of $1,000 per person is required to guarantee your reservation, which will be applied toward the cost of your tour. Full payment due 91 days before departure. 

No financial risk if you cancel 91 days or more before departure. Combined with a cancelation insurance you can substantially reduce the cost in case of cancellation .  (Please refer to Cancellation Policy).  

FITNESS LEVEL, TRAVEL CONDITIONS:  

Moderate level of fitness is required. You will need to be able to walk for a few hours -most of the time while you take pictures - at a gentle pace, remain standing, get on and off coaches, planes and trains unassisted.

Uzbekistan Photography Tour & workshop

Amazing architecture and fascinating people, an eleven-day uzbekistan photography tour in stunning central asia.

Join me for a captivating Uzbekistan photography tour and workshop in Central Asia. A country where history, culture, and architecture converge in stunning visual harmony.

The Uzbekistan photography tour is designed for passionate travel photographers eager to explore the legendary Silk Road, capturing its rich heritage through the lens. We will concentrate on both the stunning architecture of Uzbekistan as well as the people we meet on our journey.

On the tour, you will discover the cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva which are renowned for their UNESCO-listed Islamic architecture, intricate tilework, and bustling bazaars. From Khiva, we will be heading out west to the autonomous region of Karakalpakistan before heading to Tashkent. With expert guidance, you’ll have the chance to photograph majestic mosques, vibrant street life, and timeless desert landscapes—an ideal blend of architectural and cultural photography.

Whether you’re interested in landscapes, portrait photography, or stunning historical architecture, the Uzbekistan photography tour offers diverse subjects and unique photographic opportunities. During the tour, you can refine your travel photography skills while exploring one of Central Asia’s most visually rich regions.

Perfect for those photographers who are looking to capture authentic cultural moments, this photography tour promises to elevate your travel photography skills as you delve into Uzbekistan’s past and present. Ready to photograph the Silk Road like never before?

Learn more and secure your spot now!

Tour details

Basic information.

11 nights/ 12 days

Fitness Level

Low to Medium

Various 4 star hotel accommodation

Travel photography

In late March and early April, the intense heat of the summer hasn’t yet arrived. The temperatures at this time of year average in the early 20s so our days during the photography tour will be comfortable. So we’ll be free to concentrate on getting stunning travel imagery documenting this beautiful country in Central Asia.

Colourful characters

A typical day on our tour will see us photograph the architectural wonders in the city before heading back for breakfast. From here we’ll then spend our time concentrating on the travel aspect of the photography tour. From the people to the various street scenes we’ll encounter you’ll be sure to come back with a whole raft of imagery. We’ll also make time to review our imagery and run through the processing of them too.

Photography techniques covered during the workshop

• Out in the field
• Exposure and understanding of how to get the best out of the light
• Composition techniques to create balanced images
• Lens choice and focal length. Typically people head for the wide-angle in a landscape but up in the mountains telephoto lenses are also heavily used.
• Panoramic photography. How to best compose the beautiful panoramas that we’ll see during the photography tour
• Using Adobe Lightroom or Camera Raw to process our images
• Using luminosity masks in Adobe Photoshop
• Colour correction
• Stitching panoramic images

Upcoming Uzbekistan Photography Tours

Uzbekistan photography tour | 24 march - 4 april 2025.

Uzbekistan Photography Tour | 23 March - 3 April 2026

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Photo tour. The disappearing Aral sea and fabulous cities of Uzbekistan

Tour program

Nukus-muynak-sq. ustyurt-aral sea, aral. photo shoots, relaxation, swimming in the sea, aral sea – lake sudochie – kungrad – mizdahan – gaur kala – nukus, nukus - khiva, khiva-bukhara, bukhara-samarkand, samarkand. train to tashkent, flight home., price by request.

• The vanishing Aral Sea and its picturesque surroundings
• UNESCO sites - Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva
• The capital of Uzbekistan is Tashkent
• Ancient fortresses of Khorezm
• Museum of Russian Avant-Garde in Nukus
• Kyzylkum Desert
• Narrow adobe streets of medieval cities
• Incredible sunsets and sunrises
• Craftsmanship
• Local national cuisine

What is included

• Accommodation with breakfast, overnights
• hotels 3* - 10
• Lunches and dinners - days 2-4
• Transport (car, train) according to the program
• Excursions in cities with local guides
• Entrance tickets to the main monuments
• All taxes and fees
• Additional payment for 1 person
• Meals (lunch, dinner)
• Guide photographer
• International flights
• Health insurance

Photo tour. The disappearing Aral sea and fabulous cities of Uzbekistan 01-06-2024

Photo tour. the disappearing aral sea and fabulous cities of uzbekistan 17-06-2023, photo tour. the disappearing aral sea and fabulous cities of uzbekistan 18-06-2023, photo tour. the disappearing aral sea and fabulous cities of uzbekistan 19-09-2021 06:00, photo tour. the disappearing aral sea and fabulous cities of uzbekistan 19-09-2021 14:00, photo tour. the disappearing aral sea and fabulous cities of uzbekistan 18-09-2021.