Uzbekistan Tour

Uzbekistan Tour Packages: The Complete Silk Road Travel Guide

Traveling to Uzbekistan a decade ago would not have been an easy experience. Visa requirements, hotel documentation, and the country's closed economy discouraged any traveler from visiting the place. The situation is different now. There will be more than 90 nationalities able to travel visa-free to Uzbekistan, with punctual train arrivals and departures, as well as the ancient cities of the Silk Road restored for optimal tourist pleasure.

This is the actual information that one should know prior to booking a Uzbekistan tour package.

Entry Requirements: e-Visa, Visa-Free, and the Emehmon System

Most basic approach: Determine whether your passport is among those exempted from obtaining a visa when entering Uzbekistan. The United States entered the program, granting 30 days of visa-free entry. Other nationalities covered include the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, GCC nationals, and others who receive visa-free entry for 30 days. Citizens from neighboring CIS nations usually obtain 60-90 days visa-free entry.

If your passport nationality does not belong to those listed, then you can opt for Uzbekistan’s e-Visa at e-visa.gov.uz. This procedure typically lasts three to five business days, and fees are reasonable. No need to go to an embassy.

However, once you arrive in Uzbekistan, you will have one requirement that will definitely surprise you, namely, registration using Emehmon. All tourists must register after arrival in the country and get a registration slip within three days. You will be issued an official document if you reside in hotels, hotels, or guest houses; however, it should be emphasized that all documents should be saved for future reference since you may need them on departure from the country because the border service may require it during the verification procedure.

The Tourist Levy is paid while checking into a registered hotel or another accommodation. It is a small amount per night in hotels.

How to Move Between Cities: The Afrosiyob Train

The planning of the entire Uzbekistan tour package is dependent almost solely on the rail links, and the Afrosiyob train is perfect for traveling from one city to another. The distance between Tashkent and Samarkand is covered within 2.5 hours, and that between Samarkand and Bukhara takes another two. The speed is up to 250 km/h, air conditioning, restaurant car, complimentary drinks in business class and charging points at each seat are provided. The cost of an economy-class ticket between Tashkent and Samarkand ranges from 30 to 40 euros.

The real-world challenge: tickets get sold out fast. Travel groups and local ticket resellers usually buy tickets months in advance, especially in peak season, which goes from April to June and from September to October. Tickets should be purchased at least one month in advance from the official UTY site or your tour operator. If there is no available Afrosiyob train, the Sharq train runs on the same route at half the speed and price.

Another train line operates between Tashkent and Khiva and cuts the previous travel time by road, which was 14 hours, to about seven hours.

Tashkent: The Underrated Entry Point

Uzbekistan tour packages usually depart and return from Tashkent without giving it much attention. This strategy makes sense, but Tashkent deserves an entire day of exploration.

The subway stations in Tashkent are unique urban transportation constructions in all of Central Asia. The stations were constructed in Soviet times, each one acting like a stand-alone architectural masterpiece. Kosmonavtlar station has wall tiling with elements from space technology from the 1970s; Alisher Navoiy station features ceiling decorations with motifs typical of Uzbek handicraft artistry. A one-day pass can be used in the entire system, covering the stations in about two hours.

The Chorsu Bazaar next to the old town area of Tashkent is the equivalent of the Green Bazaar in Almaty. The central domed structure is where fresh vegetables, spices, and dried fruits are sold; the market stalls are scattered throughout many blocks of the city. Arrive early in the morning.

Samarkand: The Silk Road Heritage Tour's Centerpiece

A tour through the Silk Route heritage trail would be incomplete without Samarkand, and a trip to Samarkand should always include at least two days in this city.

The starting point would obviously be Registan Square with three madrassas facing one another within an open plaza. The buildings are decorated in elaborate designs of tiles in a variety of colors and styles. The Sher-Dor Madrassa is on the left with tigers and human faces forming part of the decor and which was religiously controversial when built in the seventeenth century. It is best to explore this place during either the early morning or late afternoon. The light conditions at midday are not the best for viewing the details.

Shah-i-Zinda is an architectural complex made up of funerary monuments stretching out along the slopes of the ancient Afrosiab where Samarkand originated. It has many more colorful tiles than those found in Registan, even if smaller in size.

Gur-e-Amir is a mausoleum containing the tomb of Tamerlane or Timur, a 14th-century conqueror that helped make Samarkand the leading Central Asian city of his time.

Bukhara Old Town: Lived-In History

Bukhara differs from Samarkand in several ways. In contrast to the heavily renovated Samarkand, much of the city’s old part is untouched, continuing to function as an inhabited urban area. The houses surrounding the monuments are inhabited, and workshops run inside medieval caravanserais.

The Ark in Bukhara, which was the royal citadel used by Bukhara rulers over many centuries, is located at the northwestern boundary of the city. The Kalon minaret adjoining it is said to be the only structure Genghis Khan spared during the sacking of the city in 1220. Whether the claim is true or not, the minaret still exists.

It is one of the best places to see and purchase in your Uzbekistan tour package. These amazing fabrics are in the craft workshops in Bukhara. Hand-woven ikat fabrics were developed as a part of traditional arts in the Fergana Valley pottery and fabric artistry. It is very characteristic to weave such fabrics since dying takes place prior to putting the threads on the loom.

Khiva and Itchan Kala

Khiva lies on the Turkmenistan border about a day's journey from Bukhara to the west. It contains a medieval city within itself called the Itchan Kala, which is listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This area serves as an open-air museum; however, in contrast to other open-air museums, it is manageable enough for a two-day visit.

The Kalta Minor minaret was left unfinished in the 1850s due to the death of the patron who had commissioned it. The Kalta Minor minaret serves as the architectural symbol of Khiva due to its unique features. This building is tall, wide, and decorated with tiles in turquoise and white, and was supposed to be the tallest minaret in the world.

The Fergana Valley and Off-Route Destinations

Two major products produced in the Fergana Valley region located in the eastern part of Uzbekistan near the border with Kyrgyzstan include silk and ceramics. Specifically, Rishtan is known to be the hub of Fergana Valley pottery where they produce blue-on-white glazed ceramics dating back more than 1000 years ago. Margilan is another nearby town where most of the Uzbek silk production occurs and visitors get a firsthand look at their process of making ikat cloth.

Tourists who are interested in landscape tours can visit eco-trails of the Nurata mountains, which are located near Nurata town. The Uzbekistan tour package involves walking from one guesthouse to another along a road that passes through villages where rural people seldom host foreign visitors. The second landscape to be explored is the Kyzylkum desert, where tourists reside in the yurts.

Uzbek Cuisine: What to Order

Uzbekistan tour package cannot be complete without food which remains an unwavering source of pleasure. Plov, rice prepared with lamb, carrot, onions and chickpeas in large cast iron kazan is the national dish and consumed during most mid-day meals. There are different versions of plov depending on the city and both can lay claim to the title of "genuine". Samarkand plov uses yellow carrots and the other one is darker colored. It makes a good discussion during the meal.

Samsa made from pastry filled with lamb and onions are served hot from the tandoor ovens found in bazaars while shurpa, which is made from lamb broth mixed with whole vegetables, is served in all teahouses. Lepyoshka, which is round flat bread served hot from the tandoor walls, is available in every meal.

The best place to have food if you have no fear of just pointing at the foods available is in Chorsu Bazaar, Tashkent and the covered bazaars in Bukhara.

Planning Your Uzbekistan Tour Package

A practical first-visit itinerary runs 8 to 10 days:

• Days 1 to 2: Tashkent metro, Chorsu Bazaar, city orientation
• Days 3 to 4: Samarkand, Registan Square, Shah-i-Zinda, Gur-e-Amir
• Days 5 to 6: Bukhara Old Town, Ark of Bukhara, craft workshops, ikat shopping
• Days 7 to 8: Khiva, Itchan Kala
• Days 9 to 10: Fergana Valley or Nurata Mountains, return to Tashkent

Extend to 14 days by entering Kazakhstan from Tashkent on your way to Almaty via the Silk Road cities of Uzbekistan and the Tian Shan mountains.

The best time for the Uzbekistan tour package is April-June and September-October. It gets unbearably hot during July and August in Bukhara and Khiva, with average daily temperatures going above 40°C. Winter tourism is also feasible and free from crowds; however, some guesthouses might be closed.

Buy the tickets for Afrosiyob in advance. Collect all your hotel registrations. Bring cash for use at bazaars and teahouses. Everything else is not important.