Nathan's Insights

World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas

Pages:
About | Countries | Tours | Trips | Bucket List – Done | Bucket List – To Do | Airport Lounges | Flight History

Travel Categories:
Flight Reviews | Lounge Reviews | Destinations | Short Breaks | World Trip 1986 | World Trip 1998 | World Trip 1999-2000 | World Trip 2006 | World Trip 2009 | World Trip 2009-10 | World Trip 2010 | World Trip 2011 | World Trip 2012-13 | World Trip 2015 | World Trip 2016 | World Trip 2017 | World Trip 2017-18 | World Trip 2018 | World Trip 2019 | Australia 2022 | World Trip 2023 | World Trip 2024 | World Trip 2024-25 | World Trip 2026-27

  • World Trip 2023: Day 31 – Khiva, Uzbekistan

    Khiva, Uzbekistan

    Monday 29 May 2023
    Highlights: Kalta Minor Minaret, Tash-Khovli Palace, Madrasah Qutlug Murad, Tash-Khauli Palace, Juma Mosque, Islom-Hoja Minaret (tallest in Uzbekistan), and Pahlavon Mahmud Mausoleum

    Today was a chance to explore this unique city-museum of Khiva in more detail. The city was established around 1500 years ago but there were inhabitants even earlier. In 1991 Khiva was the first site in Uzbekistan to be inscribed in the World Heritage List (UNESCO). Khiva was the former capital of the Khanate of Khiva, and the Khorezm People’s Soviet Republic.

    (more…)

  • World Trip 2023: Day 30 – Bukhara to Khiva, Uzbekistan

    Khiva, Uzbekistan – The city at night (Palace Entry Gate)

    Sunday 28 May 2023
    Highlights: Khoja Tabband Mosque, Exploring Khiva, Khiva at Night

    A long drive ahead of us meant we wanted to be on the road by 8 am. I woke up slightly unwell but hopefully nothing too serious for today’s 8 hour plus of driving.

    Before leaving Bukhara we had one final stop point the Khoja Tabband Mosque. This is a very picturesque former Mosque in a quiet part of the city. Lonely Planet had previously used this Mosque on the cover of their Uzbekistan guide.

    Bukhara, Uzbekistan – Khoja Tabband Mosque
    (more…)

  • World Trip 2023: Day 29 – Bukhara, Uzbekistan

    Bukhara, Uzbekistan – Samanid Mausoleum

    Saturday 27 May 2023
    Highlights: The Samanid Mausoleum, visiting the Boloi Havz Mosque, exploring the Ark of Bukhara (Fortress), learning the history of Kalyan Minaret, exploring the Kalyan Mosque.

    Today was day 2 of exploring Bukhara in depth. After breakfast at our hotel, we left at 8.30 am to try to beat the coming heat.

    Our first visit was to the Samanid Mausoleum. This Mausoleum was built in the late 9th century for the rulers of the Samanid Empire. It was built outside the ancient city and was later lost under sand and was therefore spared when the Mongol’s destroyed most of Bukhara in the 13th century.

    (more…)

  • World Trip 2023: Day 28 – Kyzylkum Desert to Bukhara, Uzbekistan

    Bukhara, Uzbekistan – Kalyan square

    Friday 27 May 2023
    Highlights: Sunrise over the Kyzylkum Desert, Exploring the Caravanserai Rabat-I-Malik, Exploring historic old sector of Bukhara

    I woke up around 5 am in our Yurt after a mostly peaceful night sharing accommodation with 4 other tour members. The early morning meant I have time to get up and see the sunrise over the Kyzylkum Desert.

    Kyzylkum Desert, Uzbekistan – Sunrise

    Breakfast was served around 7.30 am as we swapped stories of last night around singing and dancing under the stars. There was no shower this morning in this remote place, so we all had a small degree of sand and salt (from the lake yesterday) as we left our campground at 8.30 am on a bumpy and vert slow drive out of the desert.

    (more…)

  • World Trip 2023: Day 27 Samarkand to Kyzylkum Desert, Uzbekistan

    Kyzylkum Desert, Uzbekistan – Under the stars

    Thursday 25 May 2023
    Highlights: Nurata Holy Springs, Nurata Fortress Ruins of Alexander the Great, Aydar Lake, Kyzylkum Desert experience, dancing under the stars

    Today we set off out of the historic city of Samarkand and into semi desert and full deserts of Uzbekistan. Leaving at 8.30 am we said one last goodbye to Registan Square before a 3.5 hour drive to Nurata.

    This city is famous for its hot springs that supply water to the local town and are said to be Holy Springs that provide healing for those that consume or bath in them.

    Nurata, Uzbekistan – Holy Springs
    (more…)