From Jizzakh to Navoi
The journey from Jizzakh to Navoi is more than just a road trip — it’s a passage through time, nature and the unseen rhythms of everyday life. Connecting the ancient Silk Road city of Jizzakh with the industrial heartland of Navoi, the route offers a rich mix of landscapes: green steppes, shifting sands, mountain passes and hidden lakes.
For photographer Marat Nadjibaev, this path led into some remote corners of Uzbekistan. It was a journey of discovery as well as difficulty, surprise and quiet beauty, far from the familiar tourist trails.
Text by Dilfuza Abdumavlonova
Curiosity First
This journey didn’t begin with a plan. It began with a question: what lies beyond the familiar routes? Not the polished paths tourists often choose, but the quiet spaces in between, the places where maps blur and stories deepen.
Curiosity became the compass. It wasn’t just about beautiful scenery, though that, too, was expected. It was about discovering how life continues far away from civilization, about finding the rhythms of people who’ve learned to thrive in harsh, isolated terrain.
“I’d seen pictures, heard bits and pieces, but I always need to see things for myself. That’s how I travel – led by questions I want answered.”
Where Nature Shapes Life
Every few kilometres, the scenery changed, as if the land itself kept shifting its story. Wide green steppes gave way to dunes, then to mountain ridges and hidden lakes. What began as a straightforward drive soon unfolded into a series of vivid contrasts.
Among the sands, settlements appeared, half-swallowed by drifting dunes, yet still alive.
“We passed houses buried in sand, yet people were still living there. And then, suddenly, that lake in the Nuratau mountains – it was unreal in its beauty.”
The road crossed Mirzachul’s vast plains, curved through tamarisk thickets, and climbed toward peaks where life seems improbable – yet there it was. Nature wasn’t just a backdrop here; it shaped every detail of daily survival.
Through the Lens
Road photography is about capturing a journey’s essence, not just pressing the shutter button. But behind each image is a juggling act: long hours at the wheel, fading light, and moments that vanish if they’re not caught in time.
“The hardest part was switching between driving and shooting. Fatigue gets in the way, but you have to stay alert. The best moments usually come when you’re not ready.”
To capture the region’s scale – the vastness of the steppe, the silence of mountains – Marat relied on a universal lens, capable of embracing both sweeping landscapes and small, intimate details. And when that wasn’t enough, he launched a drone.
Advice for Travellers
Traveling a route like Jizzakh to Navoi isn’t something to take lightly. It requires more than curiosity – it demands preparation, patience and the right people by your side.
“Always go with a team and take more than one car. Travelling alone is possible, but far riskier.”
Out in remote terrain, a second vehicle means backup for breakdowns, unsafe roads or unexpected delays. It’s about safety, not just convenience.
Knowing the road ahead is just as important. Marat studied maps closely, marking dunes, mountain passes and areas where there is no cellular signal.
But he also stresses the importance of flexibility, leaving enough time to rest, wander and take it all in.
Out there, the road has its rhythm, and those who travel it well learn to move with it.
