Fergana Valley

Ringed by mountains in the country's east, the fertile Fergana Valley is where Uzbek craftsmanship is at its most alive and least touristed.

In Rishtan, master potters turn out the celebrated blue-and-green ceramics from local clay and natural glazes. In Margilan, the Yodgorlik silk factory still weaves ikat entirely by hand, from cocoon to finished cloth. Add the palace and Friday mosque of the Kokand khans, and the valley's orchards and tea houses, and you have the most intimate side of the country.

This is a destination for travellers drawn to craft, food, and genuine encounters — time spent with the artisans themselves rather than only their monuments.