Hi all
We (2 people) will travel to Uzbekistan next April. We will land in Tashken, and we'd like to visit Samarkand, Khiva and Bukhara. Our question is: Do you recomend to arrange a car & driver, or it is better to travel in public transport?.
Thanks ¡
A contracted taxi could be also a possibility.
With a such limited time, don't use buses.
Night train is also an option as shared taxi.
Michel
You can use trains between Tashkent-Samarkand, Samarkand-Bukhara, Bukhara-Tashkent. From Bukhara to Khiva train goes only in high season, once a week. In low season you can go by car only, around 8 hours via desert. And from Khiva (Urgench) you can return to Tashkent by air.
As you have so limit time better to start from Khiva and next follow on the way Bukhara - Samarkand - Tashkent. I can only recommend you to arrange the transfer between Khiva - Bukhara (shared taxi cheaper option, but not safe). From Bukhara and Samarkand you can travel by speed trains (Shark and Afrosiab) local taxi in the cities work very good, any problems you alsways can ask help from receptionists.
Travelling between Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara will be easy enough by train. Khiva, like mentioned, is a bit more difficult because you would usually transit via Urgench. Personally I've found shared taxis pretty safe - just try to find out what the price should be before you get in, and preferably from a local who's not the driver. Khiva, Bukhara, and Samarkand are all walkable, so getting around the sites should be pretty easy, though Samarkand is much more spread out. Tashkent has an excellent metro system. Since you don't have a lot of time, you might want to consider either not going to Khiva, or getting an idea of where to spend more of your time. In a crunch, Khiva and Bukhara can each be experienced pretty well in one full day (e.g. 2 nights) since their sites are within old city walls. Bukhara is slightly more spread out. Samarkand should get at least 2 days / 3 nights, Tashkent 1, maybe 2 if you like cities a lot. My favourites were Khiva for the sites, and Samarkand for the sites (Registan, Shah i Zinda, Ulug Bek observatory & museum) and general vibe.
With a such limited time, you have better places than the capital city.
Don't stay too longer in Tachkent.
Michel
This topic has been automatically locked due to inactivity. Email community@lonelyplanet.com if you would like to add to this topic and we'll unlock it for you.