Where the Silk Road Began | Heavenly Horses & Handmade Silk in Uzbekistan

Today I ride from Kokand deeper into Uzbekistan’s Fergana Valley — a place at the very heart of the story of the Silk Road. More than 2,000 years ago, China’s search for the extraordinary horses of the Fergana Valley helped open the trading connections that would become the Silk Roads. After following that story all the way from Istanbul, through Turkey, the Caucasus and across the Caspian, I’m finally here — less than 200 miles from China. In Margilan, I visit a traditional silk workshop where silk is still produced from silkworm to finished cloth, and complete my own Silk Road journey by buying a handmade Uzbek silk scarf. But the best part of the day is completely unexpected. A night at a family guesthouse turns into friendship, dancing, salty ice cream, a theme park — and, just as I’m about to leave, the realisation that I simply don’t want to go. 🏍️ Solo around the world by motorcycle 🌍 Following every degree of longitude around the planet 📍 Kokand → Margilan → Fergana Valley, Uzbekistan Subscribe and ride along as I continue east towards Kyrgyzstan, China and beyond. #Uzbekistan #SilkRoad #FerganaValley #Margilan #MotorcycleTravel #SoloTravel #RoundTheWorld