Need to know
Location: Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan are neighbouring republics in Central Asia.
Getting there: Uzbekistan Airways flies direct from Heathrow to Tashkent, Uzbekistan with connections to Dushanbe, Tajikistan. You can also fly to Dushanbe, Tashkent, and Ashgabat, Turkmenistan with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul. UK passport holders can enter Uzbekistan visa-free but require an e-visa for Tajikistan and a visa for Turkmenistan.
Getting around: In Uzbekistan, use the high-speed Afrosiyob train to reach Samarkand, Navoi, and Bukhara, the cities closest to the new UNESCO sites. For sites in Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, you’ll need a car and driver, which you can hire from Indy Guide.
When to go: Spring and autumn have the best weather.
Accommodation: Use Penjikent as your base in Tajikistan, staying at Umariyon. Move on to Hotel Bibikhanum in Samarkand, Grand M Hotel in Navoi, and Komil Boutique Hotel in Bukhara in Uzbekistan, then book into Hotel Mary for sites in Merv, Turkmenistan.
Further information: Tajikistan (Bradt Travel Guides; 2020) and Uzbekistan (Bradt Travel Guides; 2019).