Crossroad of civilizations for three millennia, land of legends, the birthplace of sciences and religions, and nowadays Uzbekistan is the most populous country in Central Asia, as well as booming economic and intellectual powerhouse at the very heart of the Great Silk Road. Ancient cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva to amaze you with magnificent medieval minarets, madrasahs, castles and mausoleums, while diverse nature – ranging from snowy mountains and river valleys to Kyzyl-Kum desert – to be an unforgettable experience for any traveler.
Main facts:
State order – secular presidential Republic
Territory – 447 sq.km, double landlocked, borders Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, as well as has a small and a very secure borderline with Afghanistan. Capital – Tashkent.
Population – over 33 mln, Almost 80 % are the Uzbeks, but a multiethnic country and home for over 100 ethnicities, including Russians, Tajiks, Kazakhs, Karakalpaks, Tatars etc. The majority (88%) are Muslim (mostly Sunnis ), while Christian Orthodox 9 % and others 3% ( Judaists, Buddhists, Catholics, Protestants etc.).
Wish to read more about the country, its remarkable history, places, nature and traditions? We encourage you to visit the official website of the State Tourism Committee – http://uzbekistan.travel/en/welcome-to-uzbekistan/
Best time to travel:
Well, it really depends on individual preferences, but most people try to visit Uzbekistan anytime from March to late October.
The main factor is weather, because the temperature difference between the seasons is quite significant. Winter temperature can fluctuate anything between +20 C to -10 C, while in July-August +40 C is a usual figure. But with dry and very low humidity, Central Asian heat is quite bearable. If it rains, it happens mostly during March-April or November, but usually not very frequently.
If you wish to immerse in Navruz (New Year) festivities – second half of March and beginning of April is your time. In case you want to see blue domes of mosques through blooming trees and try fresh mulberries – go in warm and pleasant May or early June. Feel yourself in shoes of the Silk Road traders visiting ancient towns during hot July and August, tasting legendary yellow melons and green tree under the shadow. Taste the famous fruits of Uzbekistan just harvested in September and October. Fable Registan square in snow plus skiing in Chimgan resort? – make a difference and come in winter time!
Another important factor is the so-called “tourist season” with peaks during mid-April – May and September-October, when there are crowds in many sites, and hotels and services must be booked well beforehand.
How to get there and to places:
Tashkent Airport is well connected with major European and Asian capitals and cities by Uzbekistan Airways, Turkish Airways, Aeroflot, China Southern Airlines, Korean Air, Asiana, Air Astana, FlyDubai.
Regional airports have connections mostly with Moscow and other big Russian cities, while Samarkand with Istanbul and Dushanbe as well.
Uzbekistan Airways operates local flights with all provinces of Uzbekistan, except Syrdarya (too close to Tashkent anyway), as well as regional flights to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan. For more information, please, visit https://www.uzairways.com/en/ or simply contact us and we would be happy to advise.
Veres Vert has a longstanding experience in arranging private jet services in different airports of Uzbekistan.
When it comes to railroads, the pride of Uzbekistan is Afrosyob high-speed trains that will bring you from Tashkent to Samarkand just in 2 hours 10 minutes, and Bukhara or Karshi in 3,5 hours. The government put a task to expand the Afrosyob network further to Khiva and probably to other cities. The Uzbekistan Railways Co also promised to improve comfort in “traditional trains” and introduce special tourist carriages soon.
Veres Vert has been providing services for the transcontinental luxury trains for many years now.
Road network is vastly improving as Government and international partners are making a huge investment in regional infrastructure. Our own fleet of AC buses and cars can provide convenient and hustle-free transportation all around Uzbekistan with specially trained professional drivers and (when necessary) experienced tour-guides. Ride between Tashkent and Samarkand or Bukhara-Samarkand usually takes about 3.5-4 hours, while Bukhara-Khiva desert road takes around 6-8 hours (we organize a desert picnic midway).
If you are traveling overland from/to neighboring countries, there are a number of border-crossings and recent intensification of the regional cooperation means that this number is growing. Please, contact us, so we can advise you with the latest updates.
Where to stay:
There are over 250 hotels in Uzbekistan and this number is growing. Currently, only Tashkent can boast about international brands like Hyatt, Ramada, Lotte or Wyndham, while the majority of hotels elsewhere are opened by local companies or family-run. To choose a proper one might be a challenge, but Veres Vert has established partnerships and secured exclusive discounts with a selected number of hotels with good reputation in all cities of Uzbekistan.
Just as an example, we suggest the following hotels in four main cities:
| TASHKENT | SAMARKAND | BUKHARA | KHIVA |
| Hyatt Regency***** | Grand Samarkand Superior**** | Zargaron Plaza**** | Azia Khiva**** |
| Lotte Tashkent**** | Dilimah**** | Edem Plaza**** | Bek Khiva**** |
| Miran***** | Registon Plaza**** | Devon Begim*** | Orient Star*** |
| City Palace**** | Asia Samarkand*** | Fatima*** | Toza Bogh*** |
| Ramada**** | Jahongir Boutique*** | Volida*** | Qibla*** |
| Hotel Uzbekistan*** | Omar Khayam*** | Shams*** | |
| Minor*** | Erkin Palace*** |
Why not to go nomad? There are traditional yurt camps in several locations, where you can spend a night and have a dinner with fire-boiled tea and instrumental music under the open sky. See more in “Experiences”.
Please, also read separate pages Visa to Uzbekistan and 10 things you should know before visiting Uzbekistan
