Motorcycle trip

Uzbekistan

Geography Uzbekistan

From the Aral Sea in the North to the Pamir Mountains in the South, Uzbekistan’s geography is diverse and unique. A landlocked country between Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, it has two main rivers: Amu-Darya and Syr-Darya, which flow into the Aral Sea. The country covers 1 425Km from West to East and 930Km from North to South. During a motorcycle trip in Uzbekistan, you will ride through a part of the immense desert of Kyzyl-Kum, or “red sand” in Uzbek, which covers two-thirds of the country. Uzbekistan is a great authentic, pure and intact land with its vast expanses stretching out into the horizon. A few mountain ranges of medium altitude break the monotony of the desert, including the Nurata Mountains to the south of Lake Aydar Kul. Head to the southeast and the Fergana valley, a very fertile plain nestled between the foothills of Tian Shan and Pamir ranges. Thanks to an exceptional temperate climate, the region is home to the majority of the crops, between orchards and cotton fields. The snow peaks reach an altitude of more than 4000m. The highest peaks are found instead in the neighbouring Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.  

History and Culture in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan’s history starts with the Persian empire of Achaemenid and the foundation of the future Samarkand in 700 B.C. Later, in the 4th century B.C., Alexander the Great conquered Central Asia. At that time, the major commercial routes passed through the present Uzbekistan. During your motorcycle trip in Uzbekistan, you will ride on the some portions of the ancient Silk Route. In the 13th century, the country suffered from Mongol invasions by Genghis Khan’s armies which destroyed several cities including Samarkand. In the 15th century, it was the turn of Tamerlane Empire to invade Uzbekistan. In the beginning of the 18th century, the Russians became interested in the region because of strategic and commercial reasons. From 1865 onwards, they gradually took control of the country and the government of Turkestan was formed. The region officially became an autonomous republic within USSR in 1924, under the name of Uzbekistan. One had to wait until 1991 for the independence of Uzbekistan with the first elections and the victory of Islam Karimov, the former leader of the Uzbek Communist Party, who remained in power for 25 years. A crossroads of civilisations, influenced by the greatest empires, Uzbekistan is a rich blend of cultures and religions such as Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and enriched with the local shamanic traditions.