Tashkent to Samarkand - Kazakhstan visa need?

I see what you are looking at, but I am fairly certain that you will not transit Kazakhstan when traveling between Tashkent and Samarkand. I did it a couple years ago by bicycle, no problem, and I have never heard of anyone mention this being an issue.

Good luck,

Mikey

Mikey is right. I travelled by train from Tashkent to Samarkand and definitely didn't pass through any part of Kazakhstan and therefore didn't need a Kazakh visa.

Not, you most certainly DO NOT need a transit visa for this trip.

Hi,

The highway from Tashkent to Samarkand used to pass through Kazakhstan. However, the Uzbeks have built a new section of road which detours around Kazakhstan. You'll see it as you drive past. So, nowadays the road is only in Uzbekistan. I'm not sure about the train, which might briefly pass into Kazakh, or possibly even Tajik territory. But you don't need visas for either of these countries to take it, and there are no stops (the train may well stay only in Uzbekistan as well, like the road).

As for getting from Shymkent to Tashkent - I did this a year ago, and have written a few times about it on the Thorntree. I suggest you look up my old posts. The rule about having to cross at Yalama might have changed since I was there, but I haven't seen anyone report anything different here on the Thorntree since.

Giora

''I'm not sure about the train, which might briefly pass into Kazakh, or possibly even Tajik territory.''
I did this rail journey last year, there were no stops for visa checks, just straight through.
So no worries at all OP.
Good luck.

There are definitely no stops or visa issue if you take that train, but it's possible that the train does actually leave Uzbek territory for at least a little bit. Just a point of interest.