 At the crossroads of the world, Uzbekistan has over the centuries been part of the Persian, Macedonian, Arab, Mongol and Russian empires, and was itself at the heart of one of the most fearsome empires the world has ever seen – under the legendary rule of Amur Timur, also known as Tamerlane, in the 14th century.
The sweep of history across the Central Asian steppe has bequeathed Uzbekistan many gems. Wandering between the turquoise cupolas, mosques and madrasahs of the ancient cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva or immersed in the pungent scents of spices at one of Uzbekistan’s many markets, it’s easy to conjure up images of eastern riches, silk and adventure. Flights are operated twice a week, from Riga on Tuesdays and Fridays and from Tashkent on Wednesdays and Saturdays. One-way tickets between Riga and Tashkent start from EUR 141 (taxes included). The schedule, with planes departing Riga late in the evening and leaving Tashkent in the morning, allow airBaltic passengers from Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo, Helsinki, Berlin, Munich, Milan, Dublin, Tallinn and Vilnius flying via Riga to connect comfortably to and from the Tashkent flights. |
