Turquoise domes over Samarkand, the mud-brick walls of Khiva at sunset, a bazaar where the bread is still warm. Uzbekistan is a long way from Sydney or Auckland, but it is easier than it looks: no visa, one change of plane and a body clock only 3 to 6 hours out. We are a tour operator in Tashkent. You buy the flight, and from the moment you land we take care of the rest.
No visa for Australian and New Zealand passports, up to 30 days
One change of plane: Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Doha
Tashkent is only 3 to 6 hours behind Australia
Our best months fall on your April and September–October school holidays
Your trip, step by step
From the long flight to the last evening in Khiva: what each part of the trip looks like, what is worth knowing, what to eat, and where we can help.
The way in: one change of plane
There is no nonstop flight from Australia, so you change once. From the east coast, Seoul gives the easiest arrival: six mornings a week an Uzbekistan Airways flight leaves Seoul at ten and lands in Tashkent at 13:10. From Perth, Kuala Lumpur is the natural hub, and Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha work from Sydney and Melbourne. New Zealanders use the same hubs, often with a first leg to Australia.
After a long day of flying, we keep the first day light. A driver meets you with a name sign and takes you to the hotel, and with fast-track passport control you are out of the airport sooner. Later, go down into the metro, where every station is decorated in its own way, and walk under the blue dome of Chorsu bazaar.
About two hours from Tashkent on the high-speed train. See the Registan twice: in the morning, when the tilework is sharp and the square is quiet, and after dark, when the three madrasahs are lit. Walk the street of blue mausoleums at Shah-i-Zinda and stand under Timur's ribbed dome at Gur-e-Amir.
Everything worth seeing in Bukhara's old town is within walking distance: the Ark fortress, the Kalyan minaret, the covered trading domes and the pool of Lyabi-Hauz, where the teahouses fill up in the evening. In the evening, book a dinner with a local family.
Itchan Kala is a walled town of 26 hectares where people still live, and you can cross it in twenty minutes. Climb the walls for the sunset, then spend a night in a yurt in the desert, under more stars than you will see in a city.
Many guests from far away add a second country. The Fann Mountains of Tajikistan, with their turquoise lakes, are close to Samarkand, and a longer journey can cross all five Central Asian countries.
Hotels, train tickets, guides and transfers, timed to your arrival and departure. You buy the international flight; we arrange everything inside the country.
An easy arrival
Fast-track passport control in Tashkent, a driver with a name sign and a light first day after the long flight.
A route that fits your dates
A ready tour as it is, or the same route moved to your dates and pace. Tell us how many days you have on the ground.
Neighbouring countries
Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan can be added to one trip, with the borders and trains arranged.
Registration
Foreign visitors must be registered within three days of arrival. Hotels do this at check-in, so on a tour you hardly notice it.
On call during the trip
We are a team in Tashkent, in your time zone for the whole journey, and on call 24/7 while you travel.
No. Australian and New Zealand citizens can stay up to 30 days from the date of entry without a visa. For a longer stay you need a visa before you travel.
How do I get to Uzbekistan from Australia?
With one change of plane, in Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Doha. There are no direct flights. From the east coast Seoul gives the most comfortable arrival time, and from Perth Kuala Lumpur is the natural choice.
Do you book the international flights?
No, you buy the flight yourself. Send us the flight times and we build the trip around them: transfers, hotels, trains and guides.
What is the time difference?
Tashkent is on UTC+5 all year: 3 hours behind Perth, and 5 hours behind Sydney and Melbourne in the Australian winter, 6 in summer. New Zealand is 7 or 8 hours ahead.
When is the best time to go?
April–May and September–October. These months line up with the autumn and spring school holidays in Australia.
How many days do I need?
At least 10 days on the ground, because the journey takes a long day each way. Ten to twelve days cover Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva without rushing.
Can we add another country?
Yes. Tajikistan's Fann Mountains are close to Samarkand, and longer routes cross several Central Asian countries. Tell us how many days you have.
Plan my trip
Your flight dates (even rough ones), how many travellers and what you would like to see. We reply with a route and prices.
Deutsch
English
Español
Français
Italiano
Polski
Português
Suomi
Svenska
Türkçe
Русский
עברית
한국어
中文
日本語
