Quirky places to stay

When it comes to lodging, Uzbekistan tourism's main draw is not its five-star hotels, but rather its modest, one-of-a-kind accommodations. Historic merchants' mansions in Bukhara's UNESCO Old Town have been converted into boutique hotels. Breakfast is served in their galleried courtyards or dining rooms filled with ancient paintings. The madrassas of Khiva are no longer used as religious institutions, but the cells where students studied and prayed have been turned into atmospheric guest rooms in certain cases. The Hotel Orient Star is located at the Mohammad Amin Madrassa, just adjacent to the Kalta Minaret.

You can spend the night in a yurt camp at Aydarkul in the Kyzylkum Desert, surrounded by camels. If you require modern conveniences, you can upgrade to a swankier yurt with an en suite bathroom at Sarmishsoy. It's important to remember that staying in local properties like these not only allows you to learn more about Uzbekistan, its culture, and hospitality, but also directly contributes to the local economy, making tourism much more sustainable.