Meet one of Uzbekistan’s leading guides, Nilufar Kuchkarova

When did you start guiding in Uzbekistan?
I have been working as a guide since 2009. I didn’t know much about this job until my peers and I were offered the role of assistant guide-interpreters for a visiting delegation while I was studying at the World Languages university in Tashkent. I liked this job very much. I really enjoyed talking about the culture, history, handicrafts and art of the country to foreigners. My love for Uzbekistan made me decide to become a guide.

What makes your homeland so unique to visit?
Because Uzbekistan was at the crossroads of the ancient Silk Road trading network, culture, architecture, education and art developed here for more than 2,000 years. Alongside this, huge cities sprang up across the network, which are now home to the grand monuments that you see today.

What are the must-sees and must-dos for first-time travellers?
When coming to Uzbekistan, one must visit the Silk Road cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. Watching the sunset from the ancient city walls of Khiva, walking the maze-like streets of Bukhara and looking at the pre-Islamic Sogdian frescoes in Samarkand make any trip unforgettable. And then, of course, there’s Registan Square in Samarkand, which is particularly beautiful at night when it’s all lit up.

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And where would you go to see how local people live?
I enjoy showing travellers rural Uzbek life by visiting villages in Nuratau Nature Reserve, where we have lunch with a local host family. Another great experience is the plov (pilaf rice) cooking demonstration in Bukhara, where guests can see how our national dish is made, before enjoying it themselves.

Are there any particular times of year you recommend visiting?
The climate of Uzbekistan can be quite sharp. It’s hot in summer, cold in winter; that’s why spring and autumn are the best times to visit. It’s neither one extreme nor the other – and there are some delicious fruits ripening then.

What typically surprises your guests when they visit?
The history always surprises visitors, especially lesser-known aspects such as [15th-century astronomer and mathematician] Ulugh Beg’s extraordinary astronomical work, which becomes apparent when you visit his observatory in Samarkand. He calculated the length of a year to within 25 seconds.

As well as the great food, visitors are also often surprised by how easy it is to travel in Uzbekistan, thanks in part to the new high-speed trains.

Nilufar leads regular tours of Uzbekistan for Wild Frontiers.