Uzbekistan Packing List Tips by TheWanderingCamel Top 5 Page for this destination

Some suggestions

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Although nominally a Muslim country, decades of living under Russian rule has resulted in Uzbekistan being a very secular society and you'll find you can wear pretty well anything you like here but, for all that, it is still a conservative society so covered shoulders and nothing shorter than knee-length is probably best. Women don't need to cover their heads except to protect themselves from the sun but the gesture is noticed and appreciated when visiting holy sites so a scarf is useful.

Uzbek men don't wear shorts so, if you do pack them, keep them for country excursions or travelling days.

Comfortable shoes are a must.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: As well as a good supply (ie sufficient for your whole trip + some to allow for an emergency) of any meds you take regularly, it's a good idea to bring a letter from your doctor listing those you are carrying. The customs form you fill out on arrival asks for meds to be listed, a letter will back you up if any questions arise.

You should also talk to your doctor about precautionary medications - ie a broad spectrum antibiotic and something for food poisoning (apart from the over-the-counter stoppers and rehydration mixes anyone travelling to Central Asia carries) and add these to a basic first aid kit. Apart from one clinic in Tashkent Uzbekistan's medical facilities are not anything like Western standard and you should be prepared to treat yourself if necessary.

DEET-based insect-repellant is essential if you intend to spend time out of the cities, either trekking, visiting farms or spending a day in the countryside. Central Asia is a known tick area and one tick-bite can really ruin any holiday.

Photo Equipment: Plenty of memory for your camera is a must - Uzbekistan will see you setting records for the number of photos you take and, unless you've brought your own equipment, places to get memory cards downloaded are just not there.

Don't forget your battery cahrger and a spare battery.

Miscellaneous: A folding fan takes no room in a bag and can be an absolute blessing on a hot day. Similarly, crystal-filled neck ties are another great little helper when it comes to keeping cool.

A small torch will help you find your way around at night if you move away from the main streets, most likely to happen in Bukhara but even some Tashkent and Samarkand streets can be very dark under those shady trees once night falls.

It's not only bird-watchers who will find a use for binoculars, a small pair will help you get a really good look at architectural details and the views from high minarets.

Do find room in your bag for some small gifts from your home land. These don't need to be elaborate - postcards, small key rings, stickers, little flag pins are the sort of thing I'm talking about. My big success was rolling stamps with Australian animal footprints - they cost me $1 each and lasted the whole trip. I've no doubt there are still children out there somewhere who have yet to wash off the wombat trail off their arm. Much better than sweets or pens and it didn't matter if a dozen children wanted a stamp, there was enough for everyone.