Most Inspirational Moment
The long drive from Bukhara to Samarkand, stopping for drinks and toilet breaks in places where people have been doing exactly the same thing for thousands of years!
Thoughts on Group Leader
The group leader, Dilshod, was excellent. Incredibly knowledgeable and experienced, he balanced the needs of a diverse group very well.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't listen to anyone who tells you that Uzbekistan is unsafe or inaccessible. The recent tourism initiative has got rid of pretty much all red-tape, and there is virtually no street crime etc. Much less stressful than travelling in Egypt or the US! The vegetarian food is also much better than everyone leads you to believe.
Suggestions
There were several problems with the admin before leaving - I'd requested an extended return flight many months before departure, but incorrect docuemts were sent through repeatedly. I'd already paid for this and was provided with the updated invoice, but the onus was on me to find the emails where this had been requested and agreed. Luckily I requested to be booked into the end hotel for additional nights, as otherwise the error would not have come to light and I would have been stranded at the other end! I requested additional nights at the end hotel, but was booked into their sister place. Luckily the leader was able to resolve this for me but, if I had known I might need to move hotel, I would have booked myself into a cheaper/more conveniently located place. It seems that everything is fine if you book the standard arrangement, but I'd now hesitate to arrange even the simplest extensions through Exodus again. I spent more time checking documents and pushing for what I'd requested than I would have spent making the arrangements myself, and feel like I paid a premium for this.