There is pattern and colour everywhere you turn in Uzbekistan.      The Khiva Retreat - A Journey Through Uzbekistan . . with me!! 17th - 30th October 2026  I am so looking forward to going back to Uzbekistan. Having led 2 x 14 day trips there in 2025, I know what wonders are in store for us on this exciting trip. This tour is particularly special as we will be staying longer in Khiva. There will be time to sketch, stitch, take photos, wander . . . This will be the first retreat style tour with Aahilya Holidays, I will be leading 4 more next year in Delhi, Spain, Morocco and Uzbekistan.  After all my tours last year, I felt there was a place for a slightly slower paced tour, spending longer in one city, giving us a chance to take in more, maybe develop some designs to stitch or get out and sketch. On this tour we will be traveling through Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and ending in Khiva for 5 days. I adore Khiva. It is small, everything is contained withi...

Jan painting her design There were so many highlights on the 2 tours I recently took part in. Isha from Aahilya Holidays really knows how to put a very enjoyable holiday together. Sight seeing, learning about the history of textiles and fabulous workshops for the holiday guests to take part in.  On the first day of our tour, after a busy morning enjoying the sights of madrassahs and a market, we had a wonderful, relaxing few hours painting pre prepared plates at the working studio of Akbar Rahimov.  Alisher, the son of Akbar Rakhimov giving us a welcome talk and outlining the history of this fascinating working studio. Alisher took us through the various rooms of the studio, telling us about the generations of the same family working in this beautiful, airy studio.   A large table was laid up ready for our group with several thin paint brushes each, a pre prepared plate and many small bowls of different glazes. Both groups thoroughly enjoyed this quiet and very relaxing t...

Me in Registan Square, Samarkand So! I have just got back from 2 x 2 week tours of Uzbekistan with Isha Sharma and Aahilya Holidays. Well, I have been back 2 weeks. It has taken me that long to settle back in after such a remarkable time with 2 fabulous groups. I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed . .  It is a weird feeling. I couldn't believe I was there, standing in front of those beautiful buildings. And when I got home I couldn't really believe I had been. To travel to a place you have always dreamed of visiting, but never, ever thought you would, it really was a dream come true. And it looks as though a few more dreams will be coming true - Isha (owner of Aahilya Holidays) and I have planned all my trips from November 2025 to November 2026. Having spent the last month traveling together, we managed to get everything finalised. Istanbul, India, Morocco, Uzbekistan and Turkey. You can find all the links to the itineraries for all the trips on my new 'Travel' webpage...