The first thing you'll need to pack for a trip to Uzbekistan is a visa, which you can obtain at an embassy or consulate allowing for plenty of time to spare before you leave. You should also get visas for neighboring countries in advance and a multiple-entry Uzbek visa if standard overland travel will inadvertently take you across borders. On entry you'll have to fill out a customs declaration and register if you're going to be in the country more than three days. You'll find better tourist facilities generally confined to the large cities, including the capital Tashkent, and historical points of interest. Uzbek is the official language, though you'll find many that speak Russian.
The majority of Uzbekistan's people practice Sunni Islam, and you'll discover antiquity and grandeur in the country's classic mosques from Samarkand to Bukhara. Religious tradition influences the conservative side of the colorful ethnic clothing. Similar to Turkey, which is also majority Muslim yet a secular state, dress in the major cities is Westernized and women wear everything from miniskirts to heels. In rural areas of Uzbekistan, you'll want to dress more conservatively -- pants or longer shorts when it's hot out, with shoulders covered and tops not cut too low. Carry a headscarf or dress in layers if visiting a mosque is on your itinerary.
Depending on what time of year you plan to visit Uzbekistan, you should dress for either freezing or sweltering. The mean temperature in Tashkent in January is 33 degrees Fahrenheit, but in July the mercury can hit nearly 100 degrees. Destinations in the south are generally hotter than northern locations, with summertime highs that can reach 113 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Temperatures well below zero in the winter aren't unheard of. Layer up, because even if you're enjoying an 83-degree day in Tashkent it can dip by 30 degrees at night. You can be flexible on the fabrics you pack because humidity in Uzbekistan is low.
Traversing this country a bit bigger than California isn't always easy because of its poor roads and lack of gas stations, but some of those corners should be avoided entirely. This is the staging ground for Central Asian al-Qaeda affiliates, so there is always a terror threat even though security forces keep a tight watch on points of interest in the cities. Avoid the border with Afghanistan if possible and take caution near the mountainous borders with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, as land mines planted in 2000 to ward off Islamic militants have not all been accounted for. Be prepared for government travel restrictions, identification checks including your passport and visa, and roadblocks by authorities.
