Along with Liechtenstein, Uzbekistan is one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world. Its many cultural and historical links with Iran and with its position as a major waypoint on the silk road mean that the incredible, ornate mosques of Samarkand and Bukhara have long been on many tourists' wish lists. Since 2016, the former Soviet Republic has been going through a process of significant modernisation, making it much easier to visit.
Daniel Simon