For Architecture Buffs: Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan’s ancient cities still stand remarkably intact-along with their ornate, mosaic-laden monuments. As a result, this country brims with a fascinating sense of history, layers of architectural and religious heritage, and a global melange of cultural traditions forged over millennia. Quality hotels are a relatively new prospect here, says Bealby. There’s been an uptick in creatively designed accommodations tucked into old caravanserais in the old town of Samarkand and in the old walled city of Kiva.

How much time you’ll need: Seven to 10 days.

What to see and do: Though you’ll fly in via Tashkent, it’s best to connect straight through to Samarkand-a 2,500-year-old city 322km to the capital’s south. There, you can see where Genghis Khan sacked the city of Afrosiab in the 13th Century, watch daily life unfold against a backdrop of mud-brick Uzbek houses in the medieval quarter, and visit such eye-popping sites as the 15th Century Registan Mosque. Then it’s off to Bukhara, a city studded with glistening turquoise domes, ornate mosques, ancient forts, and layer upon layer of living history. It’s one of the region’s bestpreserved medieval cities-with several significant monuments, such as the Indian-influenced, fourminaret Char Minar, in proximity to one another. If you still have time left, Khiva is your last stop. It’s an incredible example of traditional Islamic urban design with its 200-year-old inner fortress, the Itchan Kala. Where to stay: In Samarkand, the Grand Samarkand offers a sense of Silk Road history with modern sensibilities; in Bukhara, Bealby recommends either the Minzifa Hotel, the Bibi Khanum, or the Malika Bukhara; and in Khiva, the character-packed Orient Star Hotel and Qosha Darvoza are the best games in town.