Means of transport Uzbekistan

Bahodir, our "ace of the sands" for years, can lead you to the most remote or less known desert citadels. Besides the fact that he drives very well, punctuality and efficiency are two other of his qualities, which he has started to pass on to his son Bakhtior, an English speaker, and whom you can reach directly to organize the same kind of tours (✆ +998 93 527 26 49 or ✆ +998 95 602 12 41). Bahodir also knows Karakalpakstan very well and can lead you to Bala Tugai, Mizdakhan, or Moynaq with closed eyes.

Night trains run from Tashkent-Ourgentch and vice versa every night of the week. Departures from Tashkent at 8.15 p.m., arrival in Urshentch the next day at 2 p.m. In the opposite direction, departing from Urshentch at 3 pm, arriving in Tashkent the next morning at 8.10 am. The train stops at Bukhara and Samarkand. A comfortable but still a bit long way to cross the Kyzyl Kum desert. Plan for some supplies, but street vendors come by regularly.

Many minibuses or shared cabs to Bukhara. Shared cabs cost a minimum of US$30, but it is not surprising that on some days the fare is US$50, US$60 or US$70, since the occupancy rate and the tourist season affect the fare. The duration of the journey has been significantly reduced in recent years. The road to Noukous is very passable. It takes about 2.5 hours to get there. Numerous departures throughout the day.

Ourgentch airport welcomes the A 310 in direct flight from Paris during the tourist season (the Friday evening flight, which lands at Ourgentch on Saturday morning). Connections with all other airports in the country, but also with neighbouring countries as well as Russia and China. For tourists, the most interesting connections are those with Tashkent (up to three rotations a day). Count around 100 US$ for a trip to Tashkent and 65 US$ for Bukhara.

The Afrosyab train connects Tashkent to Samarkand in just over 2 hours every day, even on weekends. Departures from Tashkent at 7am and 8am, and from Samarkand at 5pm and 6pm. It costs 25-30 US$ in economy class.

The Sharq train continues to connect Tashkent and Samarkand every day in a little less than 3h30. Departure at 8:25 am, arrival in Samarkand at 11:45 am. In the opposite direction, departure from Samarkand at 11:25, arrival in Tashkent at 14:25. The cost of the trip in first or second class is 35-45 US$.

The airport is located 4 km from the city center. You can get there by bus No. 10, which runs nearby connecting the railway station and the bus station, or bus No. 19, which runs along the University Boulevard. Uzbekistan Airways operates regular flights to Tashkent. It takes less than 1 hour to fly. Daily flights to Tashkent except Monday and Wednesday and from Tashkent every day except Tuesday and Saturday.

Termez is connected two to three times a week by a domestic flight from Tashkent. There are no connections to other cities in Uzbekistan but rotations with Moscow. This solution is ideal if you have little time to spend in the south, but it deprives you of a very beautiful road and the passage through the iron gates. By car, you need to have time and count on 4h30 to 5h drive from Shahrisabz. The marshrutka 264 connects the city center to the airport.

With the exception of the Ferghana valley whose road is too dangerous and forbidden to heavy goods vehicles, you can reach all the cities of Uzbekistan by bus: Termez, Samarkand, Bukhara, and even the most remote points such as Urgentch or Nukus (count not far from 20 hours). At the racecourse there are many other buses, minibuses and taxis leaving for the four corners of the country: do your market and negotiate prices boldly.

The railway station is located at the end of Movarounhar street (Tashkent metro station). The Afrosyab train connects Tashkent to Samarkand in about 2 hours, even on weekends. The Sharq train runs from Tashkent to Bukhara in 7 hours, serving Samarkand in the process. The Nasaf train serves the south of the country to Karchi every day except Monday. The only international connection is with Moscow: 4 departures per week at 18:50, arrival in Moscow 3 days later at 11:15.

The Bukhara railway station is located in the village of Kagan, about 12 kilometres south-east of Bukhara. The Afrosyab high-speed train connects Tashkent with Samarkand and Bukhara every day, even at weekends. The Sharq train runs between Tashkent and Bukhara every day in 7 hours, and takes only two hours to Tashkent-Samarkand, and two hours more to Samarkand-Bukhara. Departure from Tashkent at 8.30 am, arrival in Bukhara at 3 pm. In the opposite direction, departure from Bukhara at 8.05 am, arrival in Tashkent at 2.25 pm.

Namangan is connected to Tashkent on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday by Uzbekistan Airways. The airport has undergone some very basic renovations, but don't expect to find any services there: there is no cafeteria, no ATM, no currency exchange office, and only cab drivers are on the lookout during the tourist season. Take a few steps outside before getting into a cab, you'll quickly win! Minibuses also run to the city center. For departures, take some time.

The reopening of the railroad line between Tashkent and the Ferghana Valley is a major progress for the Uzbeks as well as for the tourists, allowing the opening up of the cities of the valley up to the border of Kyrgyzstan. In terms of safety, the train is obviously a thousand times preferable to the road, even if the latter remains open for aficionados of strong emotions. Trains run every day, departure at 8:05 am from Tashkent (12:09 pm in Kokand and 1:49 pm in Andijan). The cost is 25 US$ per person in economy class.

For the visit of the valley you will find many minibuses and cabs to Marguilan at the bazaar (count less than 50 000 soums for Marguilan). Buses to other cities in the valley leave from Yor Mazar station, as well as cabs to Kokand (60 000 soums and 1 hour drive) and Tashkent (200 000 soums and 5 hours drive). Some cabs to Andijan as well (count 40 000 soums and 1 hour drive). By cab, think of negotiating the return trip.

Tashkent International Airport is the largest in the country. It is located 12 km south of the city center. There are the offices of Uzbekistan Airways, a currency exchange office and some duty free stores. Tashkent is connected to Paris by one direct flight per week: on Tuesdays in the direction Paris-Tashkent and on Fridays in the direction Tashkent-Paris. The rest of the time, you will have to go through Turkey (the fastest) or through Moscow (count 9 hours).

Uzbekistan Airways operates several flights a week to Ferghana (on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays), but a good plan is to look out for flights on the Moscow-Tashkent-Ferghana route, which are often half-empty during the second part of the flight. Seats are sold out and Uzbeks sometimes pay the same price as for a taxi. With this in mind, arm yourself with courage and come to Tashkent airport at dawn. Schedules change regularly, but this flight mostly takes off very early from Tashkent.

The airport is 3 km north of the city centre, accessible by taxi or bus No. 3 which passes rue Al Khorezmi, near Hotel Ourgentch. Three daily flights connect Tashkent to Ourgentch, flights to Namangan once a week, and a weekly link also with Moscow and Paris during the tourist season.

Bukhara airport is 4 km from the city centre. One or two flights a day depending on the season connect Tashkent with Bukhara. The flight takes 1 hour and a half and is operated by modern aircraft. In Bukhara, Uzbekistan Airways has an office on Navoi Avenue, but it's easier to contact your B&B directly. They will be able to inform you about schedules and tell you how to make reservations and save you a lot of paperwork. There is also a ticket office at the airport, where you can take bus no. 10.

Fast trains now go to Khiva from Bukhara. They are not as fast as the Samarkand-Bukhara or Tashkent-Samarkand line, but still allow to go much faster than by car and to travel more comfortably than by plane. Trains are air-conditioned and take about 5 hours. Bukhara-Khiva connection on Monday, Thursday and Saturday (departure 2:10 pm, arrival 7:20 pm) and Khiva-Bukhara on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday (departure 8:23 am, arrival 1:35 pm). The price of the ticket is 9 US$ per person in economy class.

An agency of the Uzbek National Company is located 100 m away from the Kokand hotel.

From Tashkent, taxis depart from the railway station (Tashkent metro station). According to the price of gasoline, it takes 50 000 to 60 000 hospitals in Lacetti, a little less in Nexia. You can also leave from the Kuyluk bazaar, 3 km south of the train station, with Damascus minibuses, at a slightly lower rate. Taxis usually deposit you at your hotel, provided that you have specified it prior to departure.