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Join Leica Store Miami and photographer Richard Sexton on an unforgettable journey through Uzbekistan, where the fabled Silk Road still pulses with history and life. From the dazzling mosaics of Samarkand’s Registan to the towering mud-brick walls of Khiva and the bustling bazaars of Bukhara, you’ll discover a land of striking contrasts: ancient cities set against sweeping deserts and vibrant, modern street life. Every stop offers exciting picture opportunities, uniting architectural splendor with intimate moments of daily culture.
This workshop is designed for photographers who want more than snapshots. We’ll time our visits for the best light, linger in places long after other tourists have moved on, and weave together sunrise sessions, bustling market walks, and quiet explorations of courtyards and caravanserais. With Richard’s guidance, you’ll refine your ability to capture both sweeping landscapes and meaningful human moments, creating a portfolio that tells the story of Uzbekistan in all its richness.
Along the way, you’ll be immersed in the warmth of Uzbek hospitality: from shared meals of plov and freshly baked bread to conversations with artisans keeping centuries-old crafts alive. Travel will be seamless and comfortable, allowing you to focus fully on your photography and the experience. By the time we return to Tashkent, you’ll not only have a collection of striking images, but also a deeper appreciation for one of the world’s most storied cultural crossroads.
Capture the UNESCO World Heritage cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, each glowing with Islamic architecture, tiled domes, and Silk Road history.
Wander through bazaars and backstreets, photographing vibrant local life and timeless craftsmanship.
Travel across the Kyzylkum Desert and experience landscapes that connect these legendary Silk Road stops.
Explore Shahrisabz, birthplace of Tamerlane, with its monumental ruins and palaces.
For this journey through Uzbekistan, attendees should plan to fly into Urgench International Airport (UGC), the gateway to the historic Khiva region, and depart from Samarkand International Airport (SKD), making the itinerary a convenient one-way route across the country.
Arriving in Urgench (UGC)
While there are no direct flights from the U.S. to Urgench, travelers can connect via major international hubs. We recommend Turkish Airlines (with a layover in Istanbul), but you can fly whichever carrier works for you.
Departing from Samarkand (SKD)
Samarkand International Airport offers daily international flights (via Turkish Airlines/Istabul for instance) and is well-connected domestically if you wish to visit more of Uzbekistan.
Arrive in Urgench (UGC), where you’ll be met at the airport by your guide and transferred to your hotel in Khiva. An early check-in will be arranged to allow you to rest from your international flight, as most arrivals are either late at night or early in the morning. The remainder of the day is free to relax, acclimate, or begin exploring the city at your own pace.
Even without a formal program today, Khiva immediately offers inspiration for photographers. The ochre-colored city walls, crowned with turquoise minarets, glow differently as the light shifts through the day. Wander into the quiet lanes for your first intimate encounters with local life, women in bright patterned dresses shopping at small stalls, children playing in the courtyards, or craftsmen at work in their shops. Sunset and blue hour are particularly magical, as the mudbrick walls reflect the warm evening tones and the sky turns a deep cobalt behind the domes. This evening, we’ll gather for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Farovon Khiva Hotel
Today is devoted to exploring and photographing Khiva’s Old Town, or Ichon Qala, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Within its perfectly preserved mud brick walls lie madrassahs, palaces, mosques, and mausoleums that have stood for centuries. From the Kalta Minor Minaret — an unfinished turquoise tower that photographs beautifully from every angle — to the Juma Mosque with its forest of 115 carved wooden columns, every corner of Khiva is a study in geometry, texture, and pattern. The Tash-Hauli Palace and the Kunya Ark fortress offer contrasting perspectives: intricate tilework and grand courtyards alongside the defensive austerity of a ruler’s stronghold.
Photographers will enjoy experimenting with light and perspective here. Early morning and late afternoon highlight the subtle textures of the clay walls, while the elevated views from Islam Khoja’s minaret capture the city’s domes, winding alleys, and the desert beyond. Street life adds another dimension: locals carrying goods through the gates, artisans demonstrating traditional wood carving, and market stalls displaying colorful wares. The Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum, with its turquoise dome mirrored in calm courtyards, is a perfect subject for wide shots as well as intimate details. Khiva’s compact size makes it ideal for slow, immersive photography, with plenty of time to pause and frame the scenes that resonate most.
Today’s Highlights
Ichon Qala (Inner City), UNESCO World Heritage Site
Islam Khoja Madrassah & Minaret
Juma Mosque
Kalta Minor Minaret
Kunya Ark Fortress
Tash-Hauli Palace
Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum
Accommodation: Farovon Khiva Hotel
This morning we journey overland to Nukus, a desert city that houses one of Central Asia’s great cultural treasures: the Savitsky Art Museum. Known as the “Louvre of the Steppe,” this extraordinary collection tells the story of Soviet avant-garde artists whose works were banned or suppressed in Moscow. The museum’s bold colors, modernist forms, and expressive portraits contrast vividly with the stark desert surroundings — offering photographers a chance to capture not only the artwork but also the context that makes it so improbable and powerful here.
After lunch, transfer to the airport for your flight to Tashkent. On arrival, check in to the Hyatt Regency, a modern five-star property in the heart of the city. The evening is free to rest or explore the capital at your own pace. Photographers may wish to stroll to nearby Amir Timur Square, where illuminated fountains and the equestrian statue of Tamerlane offer striking subjects at twilight. It’s a gentle introduction to urban night photography before tomorrow’s deeper dive into Uzbekistan’s capital.
Today’s Highlights
Overland transfer Khiva → Nukus
Savitsky Art Museum (Karakalpak Museum of Arts)
Domestic flight Nukus → Tashkent
Evening at leisure for independent exploration and photography
Accommodation: Hyatt Regency Tashkent
After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide and driver to begin exploring Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s vibrant capital. Although much of the city was rebuilt after a 1966 earthquake, Tashkent combines wide, tree-lined boulevards, 20th-century Soviet architecture, and carefully restored traces of its historic medina. Every corner offers textures, light contrasts, and urban scenes perfect for photography, from bustling plazas to quiet courtyards.
Begin at Amir Timur Square, where the bronze equestrian statue of Tamerlane dominates the leafy plaza, providing a dynamic focal point for wide-angle shots, especially in the soft morning light. Continue to Khast Imam Square, home to Tashkent’s oldest monuments and the Tillya Sheikh Mosque, which houses the Uthman Koran. The intricate calligraphy, carved wooden doors, and patterned domes offer rich detail for close-up and architectural photography. Later, wander the Chorsu Bazaar, a sensory feast of colors, patterns, and movement — ideal for capturing the rhythm of daily life. Evening offers the opportunity for cityscape shots from the Tashkent TV Tower or Independence Square, where light and shadow interplay across grand Soviet-era facades.
Today’s Highlights
Amir Timur Square
Khast Imam Square & Tillya Sheikh Mosque (Oldest Koran)
Chorsu Bazaar
Alisher Navoi Theatre (exterior)
Rakhimov Family Ceramics Studio
Tashkent TV Tower
Independence Square
Museum of Applied Arts
Accommodation: Hyatt Regency Tashkent
After breakfast, transfer to the railway station for a high-speed train to Bukhara, one of the most photogenic Silk Road cities, with its labyrinthine streets, domed bazaars, and historic monuments. Begin exploration with Poi Kalon, including the Kalon Mosque and Minaret, where early morning light accentuates the delicate brick patterns and towering structures.
Next, wander through the Trade Domes and Jewish Quarter, capturing the rhythm of daily life, vibrant textiles, and local characters. Small details, from handwoven suzani embroidery to brassware — make for compelling close-ups. Bukhara’s combination of grand architecture and intimate street scenes offers endless possibilities for composition and light-play throughout the day.
Today’s Highlights
Kalon Mosque and Minaret
Magoki Attori Mosque
Trade Domes of Bukhara
Jewish Quarter
Accommodation: Alexia Hotel
Explore Bukhara’s historic core, from the serene Bolo Hauz Mosque with its reflective pool, to the Ark Citadel, where architecture tells the story of centuries. Capture the Zindan Prison for moody, textured shots, and the Samani Mausoleum for geometric patterns in brickwork.
Later, visit Chashma Ayub Mausoleum, Emir’s Summer Palace, and Bahauddin Naqshband Mausoleum — all ideal for combining architectural photography with human-interest shots of daily life. Conclude with a plov-making demonstration, offering hands-on photography of local culinary traditions and vibrant food textures. The mix of architectural, cultural, and lifestyle opportunities ensures a full day of creative exploration.
Today’s Highlights
Bolo Hauz Mosque
Ark Citadel
Zindan Prison
Samani Mausoleum
Chashma Ayub Mausoleum
Emir’s Summer Palace & Museum of Crafts
Bahauddin Naqshband Mausoleum
Chor Minor
Plov Making Demonstration
Accommodation: Alexia Hotel
Spend the morning in Shafrikan Village at a Suzani coop workshop, photographing women creating brightly colored embroidered textiles. The close-up detail of needles and threads, combined with the vibrant fabrics, makes this a photographer’s dream for both candid and detailed craft images.
The afternoon is free to explore Bukhara independently, allowing you to revisit favorite spots, experiment with street photography, or capture cityscapes in the late afternoon light. In the evening, gather for a farewell dinner to toast your journey through Uzbekistan’s history, culture, and photographic treasures.
Today’s Highlights
Suzani Coop Workshop, Shafrikan Village
Afternoon free for rest and independent photography
Accommodation: Alexia Hotel
After breakfast, we’ll take the train to Samarkand. Upon arrival, meet your driver and begin exploring this oasis of color, light, and history. Samarkand is a photographer’s dream: majestic turquoise domes, intricate tilework, and expansive squares allow for dramatic compositions.
Start with the Gur-Emir Mausoleum, Tamerlane’s final resting place. Its gilded interiors and ornate domes catch light beautifully, while the marble tombs offer opportunities for detailed shots. Then, visit Registan Square, framed by three ornate madrassahs; the symmetry and vivid patterns create perfect compositions for sunrise or late-afternoon photography. End the day at Bibi Khanum Mosque and nearby Siab Bazaar, where street scenes and market life provide vibrant, candid shots of local culture.
Today’s Highlights
Gur-Emir Mausoleum
Registan Square
Bibi Khanum Mosque
Siab Bazaar
Accommodation: Movenpick Samarkand
Today, explore Samarkand’s lesser-known sites, offering a mix of historical grandeur and intimate scenes. Start at Shah-i-Zinda Complex, a line of mausoleums with intricate tilework and vivid mosaics. The interplay of shadow and light along the narrow alleys is perfect for dramatic, textured photography.
Next, visit Ulug Bek Observatory, a historic center of astronomy. The geometric shapes of the surviving structures, coupled with the open desert sky, allow for creative wide-angle and architectural shots. Later, the paper-making workshop in Konigil showcases local artisans at work, letting you capture hands-on craft, vivid colors, and the textures of handmade paper. Finish with the Afrosiab History Museum for close-ups of ancient artifacts, then a bread-making demonstration for rich, lifestyle-oriented shots.
Today’s Highlights
Shah-i-Zinda Complex
Ulug Bek Observatory
Paper-making Workshop, Konigil
Afrosiab History Museum
Bread Baking Demonstration
Accommodation: Movenpick Samarkand
Take a day trip to Shahrisabz, the birthplace of Tamerlane. This small town combines monumental ruins with pastoral landscapes, offering wide vistas for landscape photography alongside intimate shots of locals in village streets.
Visit Ak Saray Palace, where the massive tile-covered portal stands as a striking focal point for dramatic compositions. Explore Dorut Tilovat, the mausoleum complex on a hill, and Dorus Siadat, showcasing ornate brickwork and serene courtyards. The juxtaposition of vast open spaces, intricate details, and desert light makes Shahrisabz a compelling photography stop. Return to Samarkand in the late afternoon, and enjoy an independent evening capturing the city’s street life, architecture, or night-lit monuments.
Today’s Highlights
Ak Saray Palace
Dorut Tilovat Mausoleum Complex
Dorus Siadat
Accommodation: Movenpick Samarkand
After breakfast, check out and transfer to the Samarkand International Airport (SKD) for your flight, unless you’re extending your stay. Take a last opportunity for photography on your journey, whether it’s the morning light on Samarkand’s domes, bustling streets outside the hotel, or the final glimpses of the landscape from the car.
