Blog
Useful articles about trips, tips and service updates
Kuvasay: a town at the foot of the valley's southern mountains
An industrial town twenty minutes from Fergana where the roads to the foothills, the river and a reservoir begin. What to see, where to eat and how to get there.
Marhamat: Mingtepa and the ancient capital of Dayuan
A quiet district town south of Andijan with the earthen walls of an ancient city nearby. What is known about Mingtepa, what to see and how to get there.
Shahrikhan: one of the biggest bazaars in the Fergana Valley
Why shoppers come to Shahrikhan from all over the valley, which days the bazaar is busiest, and what else to do in town once you have left the stalls.
Asaka: the car-making town of the Andijan region
A small town twenty minutes from Andijan where cars for the whole country are assembled. Here is how Asaka works and what to see in and around it.
Chust: Knives, Skullcaps and a Bazaar
A small town in Namangan Province where smiths forge famous knives and embroiderers stitch black-and-white skullcaps. Where to see the masters, what to buy and how to avoid fakes.
Namangan: City of Gardens and the Flower Festival
Mulla Kyrgyz Madrasa, the Khoja Amin mausoleum, parks in bloom, a lively market and trips to Chust and Kasansay: a guide to the northern hub of the Fergana Valley.
Andijan: Babur's Birthplace and the Valley's Trading Heart
The Jami Mosque and its tall minaret, the Babur museum, a bustling bazaar and trips to the ancient Mingtepa site and Asaka: a guide to the valley's easternmost city.
Fergana: A Green City and Base for Exploring the Valley
Shady streets, parks, comfortable hotels and short trips to Margilan, Rishtan and Kuvasay: why the valley is easiest to explore from a base in Fergana.
Rishtan: A Town of Potters and Their Workshops
How Rishtan works for visitors: which workshops welcome guests, how to arrange a visit, what ceramics to buy and where to have lunch between potter's wheels.
Margilan: The Silk Capital of the Fergana Valley
Margilan is famous for its ikat silks, but the town is more than one factory: Kumtepa bazaar, old mosques, family workshops and hearty Fergana plov.
Kokand: City of Khans and Craftsmen
Khudoyar Khan's palace, a Friday mosque of carved wooden columns, craft quarters and the famous halva: how to spend a day or two in Kokand.
How to get to the Arashan lakes: hike logistics from Tashkent
How to reach the trailhead, when to go, what about permits and how to get back to Tashkent after hiking to the turquoise lakes above Chimgan.