Today we leave Tashkent and take a short early morning flight to Urgench, then transfer to our hotel in Khiva. Leaving the modern hub of Tashkent, we will prepare for a truly Oriental experience in the days ahead, starting in the picturesque town of Khiva. Today we set off from our hotel by foot, discovering the beautiful Old Town with its mud brick walls in muted colors of ochre, contrasting with stark tones of navy blue, deep indigo and turquoise colored ceramic.

Despite its small size, Khiva has many photographic opportunities. The fairytale-style architecture of Itchan Kala including the Djuma Mosque, madrasas, mausoleums and palaces are an outstanding example of Islamic art and architecture. Khiva has so much to offer for the photographer, we will take advantage of the best light according to each location, as well as head out with our tripods during evening blue hour, before enjoying a well-deserved meal and rest from a great day’s shooting. (B, L)

Today we leave Khiva and take a high-speed train heading southeast to our next destination – Bukhara. One of the most important hubs on the ancient Silk Route, the entire centre of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and for good reason.

One might expect Aladdin to fly in on his magic carpet, such is the air of untouched authenticity that exits here. Bukhara holds many religious monuments of outstanding beauty, and architectural masterpieces that were ahead of their time in their ingenuity. Just one example of the architecture found here is the 47m high Kalyan Minaret, built in the 12th Century. During its time, it was the highest minaret in Central Asia, which acted as a lighthouse to show the way for trade caravans and pilgrims.

Today we will have a full day of driving to arrive to Bukhara, so on arrival to our hotel we will head out in the late afternoon armed with our cameras and tripods to stretch our legs, explore some of Bukhara and get an overview of the next 3 days spent here. Just before sunset, we will enjoy a delightful dinner overlooking the illuminated Poi Kalon Ensemble, the most beautiful part of the Old City, and an unforgettable sight at this time of day. (B, D)

Today, we begin a delightful day of photography in Bukhara. With around 140 medieval structures, many decorated with intricate ornaments, turquoise and emerald ceramics, magnificent arches, doors and domes, the architectural photographer will be in their element here. Apart from photographing the architecture and practicing street photography of the locals, we will also enjoy the technical and creative skills needed when shooting portraits of people in ambient light. With excellent backgrounds of color and texture, and avoiding harsh lighting, we will have a planned photoshoot of folklore performers in their traditional clothing and headwear with contextual surroundings.

And then there are the markets! There are 3 undercover bazaars known as Trade Domes – the dome of money-changers, dome of hat-makers and the dome of jewelers. At the end of the day, we will photograph the Chor Minor Madrasa, with its four turquoise minarets – a stunning sight during sunset, and a great ending to our day. (B, D)

Today our photo adventure starts early, as we head out to capture the light illuminating the city. Part of Bukhara’s charm is that it feels untouched by time. While restoration is evident, it is more subtle than efforts made to repair Khiva for example. It simply feels more lived in, and this will reflect in your images. Weaving through the monuments and labyrinths of the city, we will stumble upon master craftsmen from a variety of trades – silk weavers, hatters, blacksmiths, potters, woodworkers and more will make for great spontaneous environmental portraits.

Throughout the day we will likely to be approached by students who are curious about foreign travelers and simply want to chat and practice their English, or by locals who will welcome us into their homes to share some tea. While many consider Bukhara to be all about architecture and history, the people of Uzbekistan are what make the country such a delight to explore and photograph. In the late afternoon we will capture the last light in the Ark Fortress, and photograph the sunset over the city from the top of the fortified walls. (B)

We leave Bukhara this morning and head to Gijduvan, a small town famous for its ceramics tradition. We visit a family of potters at work, photographing the whole process from wheel to kiln, before sitting down together for a shashlik lunch cooked over an open fire.

From here, we continue into the Kyzylkum Desert, arriving at Aydarkul Yurt Camp in time for golden hour with the camel herders and their animals silhouetted against the dunes. As night falls, far from any city lights, we set up for astrophotography under one of the clearest night skies in Central Asia, ending the day around a campfire under the stars. ​(B, L)

We rise early to photograph sunrise over Lake Aydarkul, the still water and desert dunes catching the first color of the day. Afterward, we visit a rural family for a hands-on bread-baking session, photographing the whole process — from kneading the dough to pulling fresh non from a traditional tandoor oven.

Continuing on to our next destination, we arrive to the city of Samarkand, the crown jewel of Central Asia. One of the oldest cities in the world, no other city evokes the mysterious wonder of the ancient Silk Route like Samarkand. Before checking in to our hotel, we will capture the last light at sunset of the Registan Plaza – one of the most iconic sites of Uzbekistan. With 3 stunningly beautiful Madrasas facing each other, the smallest details found on the interior and exterior walls are as worthy to capture as the buildings in their entirety. (B, L)

On Day 8 we head out for a great day of photography around the town. Being of such importance at the crossroads of East and West, and due to its long and turbulent history, over the years Samarkand and its masterpieces of architecture and design have suffered at the hands of man and nature. Numerous earthquakes occurred here, but over the years the city has returned to its former splendor. You will see depictions of the conqueror Timur all over town. He worked tirelessly to turn the city into the cultural heart of Central Asia. As well as a regional hub of culture, teachings in philosophy and science was also prominent in Samarkand. One of the holiest monuments of the city, the Necropolis marks the final resting place of many of Timur’s relatives, and has an alleyway of Mausoleums covered with brightly colored tiles.

We will also explore the interior courtyards, marveling at the tiles and mosaics, and examples of some of the best Islamic art found anywhere in the world. Viewing all of the intricate details created by master craftsmen, and the sheer scale of the buildings, it is easy to forget that the city was built in the 7th Century BC, making Samarkand even older than Rome. (B, L)

Today we head out early to photograph Registan Plaza at sunrise for one last photo session here, before heading back to the hotel to have breakfast. Today we will also visit a mill that has revived the ancient art of paper-making. The process of creating hand-made paper using bark of the mulberry tree was lost due to newer technologies, but thanks to the efforts of the Mukhtarov brothers, visitors can see the entire process in this picturesque spot outside of the city.

We will also plan to spend some time going over some of your favorite selected images to date on a group critique. This process is invaluable in assessing the photographer’s skills in composition, use of light and creativity. We will also discuss the editing process to create drama and give your images impact. On our final evening in Samarkand, we will take advantage of the colors in the sky at dusk as the city starts to light up. (B, L)

After we check out of our hotel in Samarkand, we will drive back to Tashkent. After we settle in, we can once again explore the city for more photo opportunities. In the evening we celebrate with our “Farewell Dinner” and share all of our experiences while exploring Uzbekistan. (B, D)

As we come to our final day, we urge you to extend your stay in Uzbekistan or elsewhere in Central Asia and make good use of everything you will learn on our photo adventure. (B)