Brief information about Uzbekistan:
The Republic of Uzbekistan is a young state in Central Asia, which became independent after the collapse of the USSR in 1991.
Territory - 447.4 thousand sq. km. The distance between the southern and northern extreme points is 925 km, between the western and eastern – 1400 km. Uzbekistan borders Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyzstan), Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
The capital - Tashkent, a metropolis with a population of more than 3.3 million people.
The official language is Uzbek. Russian is the language of interethnic communication for people of more than 100 nationalities living in Uzbekistan.
The population of Uzbekistan is more than 37 million people, the rural population is 50%. There are 16 cities in Uzbekistan with a population of more than 100 thousand people.
Birth rate: 500 - 550 thousand people per year. The average family size is 5-6 people, children and adolescents under 15 years old make up 43%.
Administrative division of the country: 12 regions (viloyats) and the Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan.
The climate in Uzbekistan is sharply continental with short and warm winters and long, hot summers. The average temperature in January is minus 2 - 5 ° C (absolute minimum - 38 ° C) in July 30 - 38 ° C (absolute maximum 49.6 ° C). The number of sunny days is about 300 per year.
Uzbekistan is one of the popular centers of world tourism, a country with a rich history and culture. It is the birthplace of many ancient civilizations. Here such powerful states as Bactria, Sogdiana, Parthia and Khorezm arose, flourished and disappeared. In the Middle Ages, this was the center of Tamerlane's vast empire. More than 20 centuries ago, countless caravans transporting priceless silk, porcelain, tea and spices from China to Europe passed along the Great Silk Road.
World-famous scientists and poets were born here and created their creations: Avicenna, Alisher Navoi, Ulugbek, Al-Khorezmi. Thousands of years ago, fabulous cities with mosques, madrassas, parks and gardens were built here. Many of them have already been destroyed, but the surviving monuments of the Middle Ages in Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva are still worthy of admiration.
Tall and elegant minarets, grandiose mosques, medieval palaces and mausoleums, decorated with amazing ornaments, the unique bustle and bright color of oriental bazaars, ancient legends, traditional hospitality and age-old traditions of local residents, diverse natural landscapes from hot deserts to snowy mountains attract millions of tourists to Uzbekistan from all over the world.
It is best to plan a trip to Uzbekistan from April to May and from September to October; this is when the tourism season takes place.
Every year, many interesting festivals and international exhibitions are organized in Uzbekistan, and you can combine your trip with one of these events. In addition, it is worth visiting Uzbekistan during the spring holiday of Navruz or the annual festivals “Silk and Spices” in Bukhara, Baysun Spring in the Surkhandarya region, Melodies of the East in Samarkand, Flower Festival in Namangan, Colors of Dance in Khiva, etc., which are always very popular colorful.
Visas: VISA-FREE entry into the Republic of Uzbekistan is valid for citizens of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine and 80 other countries.
For citizens of another 76 countries, there is a simplified procedure for obtaining visas (without an invitation letter). Citizens of these countries can apply for an e-visa.
You can find detailed information about visas on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan through the link https://mfa.uz/en/pages/visa-republic-uzb
Medicines and vaccination: Uzbekistan is a country with highly developed medicine and a favorable sanitary and epidemiological situation. There are no mandatory vaccinations required before entering Uzbekistan. As for the import of medicines for personal use into Uzbekistan, there are a number of restrictions, and some medicines can only be imported with a prescription from a doctor. See more details https://mfa.uz/en/consular/drugs/
Registration: Every foreigner upon arrival in Uzbekistan must be registered with the migration service within 72 hours from the moment of entry into the country. Citizens of Russia can stay in Uzbekistan for 15 days, citizens of Kazakhstan for 30 days. If the tourist stays in hotels during the tour, registration is done by hotel staff. When staying in a hotel, the tourist is required to pay the tourist tax for each day of stay. Tour tax can be included in the cost of the tour (voucher)
Customs: Upon arrival in Uzbekistan through international airports or land checkpoints, tourists can choose the “green” or “red” corridor at customs control. The customs declaration (in 2 copies) is filled out in the “red” corridor if there are items to be declared or the amount of imported currency exceeds 100 million soums (approximately 7900 US dollars (or equivalent) as of June 1, 2024. If the amount of imported currency less than 7900 USD there are no goods and items prohibited for import, the declaration is not filled out.
It is allowed to export cash currency outside the Republic of Uzbekistan without a declaration in an amount equivalent to no more than 7900USD or a larger amount on the basis of a customs declaration filled out upon entry into the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Persons over 16 years of age are allowed duty-free import of up to 1,000 cigarettes or 1,000 g of tobacco products, up to 1.5 liters of alcoholic beverages and up to 2 liters of wine.
Declaration of jewelry and valuables at entry and exit is mandatory.
The export from Uzbekistan of cultural property (precious metals and stones, furs, artistic and historical items) created 50 or more years ago is prohibited.
Prohibited for import:
unmanned aerial vehicles (drones)
printed works, manuscripts, cliches, drawings, photographs, films, negatives, film, video and audio products, recordings, sound materials aimed at undermining the state and social system, violating territorial integrity, political independence and state sovereignty, promoting war, terrorism, violence, national exclusivity and religious intolerance, racism and its varieties (anti-Semitism, fascism), as well as pornographic materials; narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors without permission from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan; IMPORTANT!!! The medical drug PHENAZEPAM in Uzbekistan is classified as a psychotropic substance, its import into the country is limited, and violation of import rules can be classified as a criminal offense.
It is recommended to refuse to import this drug and similar medicines.
For official information on customs regulations for entry and exit, see here https://www.bojxona.uz/en/page/%D1%9Ezbekiston-respublikasi-hududiga-kirib-kelayotgan-zhismoniy-shahslar-uchun-bozhhona-qoidalari
Rules of conduct, safety measures and recommendations:
Carefully read the terms of the contract for the provision of tourist services concluded between you and our company, the tour program, be sure to insure yourself and read the rules for using the insurance policy.
Carefully read the tourist instructions for this route, remember, if possible, the telephone numbers of the police, medical care institutions, telephone numbers of our company’s partner - for communication on all questions and problems that arise.
Uzbekistan is practically safe, but do not leave your belongings in crowded places, we advise you to always carry your documents with you. Never put your documents in your backpack if you are in a busy place, especially in bazaars - there is a risk of becoming a victim of pickpockets.
Documents: Have with you all the necessary documents for the trip (passports with visas, birth certificates for children - photographs of traveling children must be pasted into the passport of one of the parents. Have enough financial resources for unforeseen situations. We recommend at least $500. Keep the basic money in the hotel safe.
Medicines: If there are medical indications, carry with you all the necessary medications you need (do not forget to take prescriptions for these drugs with you, some of them may be prohibited for export/import without medical indications).
Food: When ordering food in cafes and restaurants, give preference to cuisine that is familiar to you - do not get carried away with exotic dishes. Dishes in Uzbekistan are very tasty, with an abundance of meat and dough, prepared with an abundance of vegetable oil and animal fat, and are somewhat unusual for the stomachs of visitors. It is recommended to limit the amount of food you eat, do not overuse fruits, melons, and do not drink unboiled water. We recommend drinking hot tea.
Familiarize yourself with the location of the hotel and the routes to get to it when traveling independently around the city and its environs. Carry your hotel business card with you.
Clothes and shoes: if your trip is planned between April and October, you should use a wide-brimmed hat and loose clothing made of thin natural linen. Don't forget sunglasses and sunscreen as the sun in Uzbekistan is very bright. The clothing style can be anything, including shorts. As for city and evening dresses, there are no restrictions.
Uzbekistan is a secular, hospitable, tolerant country, but tourists need to follow several simple rules of behavior: do not enter religious institutions in shoes, shorts, women with bare shoulders and bare heads, do not make noise, laugh, respect the feelings of believers, do not speak negatively in relation to government officials, behave politely with others. It is not customary to drink alcoholic beverages, including beer, on the street and in public places; this can be done in restaurants and cafes. Men are greeted by offering a hand. It is not advisable to take women and girls by the arm without first asking their consent. It is not customary to shake hands with women; a verbal greeting or a slight bow of the head is enough. You cannot enter an Uzbek's house wearing shoes. If the owner walks ahead of you and comes in wearing shoes, then this ban is lifted
Export of cultural property and illegal souvenirs: Some artistic products (carpets, suzanis, antiques, musical instruments, artistic furniture, fiction over 50 years old, paintings, graphics, sculpture, artistic items made of silver, silver dishes) are subject to examination, without which the export of these items is impossible from Uzbekistan. If you have questions about the examination, please contact sellers, guides, drivers or our employees.
The full list of prohibited items and souvenirs can be found here.
Transport: When using transport (on excursions, when moving between cities), be sure to fasten your seat belts, do not get up while driving, and do not stick your limbs out of the windows. It is prohibited to require the driver to exceed the speed limit or stop in unauthorized places.
To reduce the negative impact on the environment, we recommend choosing, if possible, more environmentally friendly public transport, which is widespread in all cities of Uzbekistan: bus, trolleybus, tram, metro and taxi. The Tashkent metro is recognised as one of the most beautiful in the world. Each station is a separate work of art with a unique concept.
Public city transport runs from 06:00 to 23:00 hours with breaks of 10-15 minutes and is paid in cash. The fare is 2000 soums (approximately 0,16$) per person per journey. For convenient navigation we recommend to use 2GIS application.
In general, travelling around the city is more comfortable and faster by taxi. In Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Fergana, Margilan, Namangan and Andijan there is Yandex.Taxi service, and you can order a car via mobile application. It is also possible to rent an electric scooter (JET app) or a bicycle. However, the infrastructure for cycling is not well developed due to the lack of cycle lanes in the country.
There is a well-developed railway network for travelling between cities, including a high-speed railway connecting Uzbekistan's largest cities Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara.
Currency: The national currency of Uzbekistan is Soum. All cash payments are made in the national currency of the Republic of Uzbekistan. 1 sum consists of 100 tiyins. Currently, the following types of banknotes and coins are in circulation: 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 5000, 10000, 20000, 50000, 100000, 200000 sum. In many shops, cafes, and restaurants in big cities, payments using VISA CARD are possible. You can withdraw national currency from a VISA CARD at street ATMs. Cash currency can be exchanged at banks and airports. The exchange rate changes every day and does not differ much from bank to bank. The dollar to soum exchange rate as of June 1, 2024 averages 12,600.
Responsible practices during the tour
One of our company goals is to develop sustainable tourism in Uzbekistan.
24-hour call center: +998 71 200 00 88 where you can contact with any questions related to your stay in the republic.
Tourist police: 1173
Single emergency number: 112
Fire protection - 101;
Police - 102;
Ambulance - 103;
Rescue Service (EMERCOM) – 1050;
State Customs Committee - 1108.
EMERGENCY AT ASIA ADVENTURES: + 998977377384
The Republic of Uzbekistan is a young state in Central Asia, which became independent after the collapse of the USSR in 1991.
Territory - 447.4 thousand sq. km. The distance between the southern and northern extreme points is 925 km, between the western and eastern – 1400 km. Uzbekistan borders Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyzstan), Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
The capital - Tashkent, a metropolis with a population of more than 3.3 million people.
The official language is Uzbek. Russian is the language of interethnic communication for people of more than 100 nationalities living in Uzbekistan.
The population of Uzbekistan is more than 37 million people, the rural population is 50%. There are 16 cities in Uzbekistan with a population of more than 100 thousand people.
Birth rate: 500 - 550 thousand people per year. The average family size is 5-6 people, children and adolescents under 15 years old make up 43%.
Administrative division of the country: 12 regions (viloyats) and the Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan.
The climate in Uzbekistan is sharply continental with short and warm winters and long, hot summers. The average temperature in January is minus 2 - 5 ° C (absolute minimum - 38 ° C) in July 30 - 38 ° C (absolute maximum 49.6 ° C). The number of sunny days is about 300 per year.
Uzbekistan is one of the popular centers of world tourism, a country with a rich history and culture. It is the birthplace of many ancient civilizations. Here such powerful states as Bactria, Sogdiana, Parthia and Khorezm arose, flourished and disappeared. In the Middle Ages, this was the center of Tamerlane's vast empire. More than 20 centuries ago, countless caravans transporting priceless silk, porcelain, tea and spices from China to Europe passed along the Great Silk Road.
World-famous scientists and poets were born here and created their creations: Avicenna, Alisher Navoi, Ulugbek, Al-Khorezmi. Thousands of years ago, fabulous cities with mosques, madrassas, parks and gardens were built here. Many of them have already been destroyed, but the surviving monuments of the Middle Ages in Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva are still worthy of admiration.
Tall and elegant minarets, grandiose mosques, medieval palaces and mausoleums, decorated with amazing ornaments, the unique bustle and bright color of oriental bazaars, ancient legends, traditional hospitality and age-old traditions of local residents, diverse natural landscapes from hot deserts to snowy mountains attract millions of tourists to Uzbekistan from all over the world.
It is best to plan a trip to Uzbekistan from April to May and from September to October; this is when the tourism season takes place.
Every year, many interesting festivals and international exhibitions are organized in Uzbekistan, and you can combine your trip with one of these events. In addition, it is worth visiting Uzbekistan during the spring holiday of Navruz or the annual festivals “Silk and Spices” in Bukhara, Baysun Spring in the Surkhandarya region, Melodies of the East in Samarkand, Flower Festival in Namangan, Colors of Dance in Khiva, etc., which are always very popular colorful.
Visas: VISA-FREE entry into the Republic of Uzbekistan is valid for citizens of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine and 80 other countries.
For citizens of another 76 countries, there is a simplified procedure for obtaining visas (without an invitation letter). Citizens of these countries can apply for an e-visa.
You can find detailed information about visas on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan through the link https://mfa.uz/en/pages/visa-republic-uzb
Medicines and vaccination: Uzbekistan is a country with highly developed medicine and a favorable sanitary and epidemiological situation. There are no mandatory vaccinations required before entering Uzbekistan. As for the import of medicines for personal use into Uzbekistan, there are a number of restrictions, and some medicines can only be imported with a prescription from a doctor. See more details https://mfa.uz/en/consular/drugs/
Registration: Every foreigner upon arrival in Uzbekistan must be registered with the migration service within 72 hours from the moment of entry into the country. Citizens of Russia can stay in Uzbekistan for 15 days, citizens of Kazakhstan for 30 days. If the tourist stays in hotels during the tour, registration is done by hotel staff. When staying in a hotel, the tourist is required to pay the tourist tax for each day of stay. Tour tax can be included in the cost of the tour (voucher)
Customs: Upon arrival in Uzbekistan through international airports or land checkpoints, tourists can choose the “green” or “red” corridor at customs control. The customs declaration (in 2 copies) is filled out in the “red” corridor if there are items to be declared or the amount of imported currency exceeds 100 million soums (approximately 7900 US dollars (or equivalent) as of June 1, 2024. If the amount of imported currency less than 7900 USD there are no goods and items prohibited for import, the declaration is not filled out.
It is allowed to export cash currency outside the Republic of Uzbekistan without a declaration in an amount equivalent to no more than 7900USD or a larger amount on the basis of a customs declaration filled out upon entry into the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Persons over 16 years of age are allowed duty-free import of up to 1,000 cigarettes or 1,000 g of tobacco products, up to 1.5 liters of alcoholic beverages and up to 2 liters of wine.
Declaration of jewelry and valuables at entry and exit is mandatory.
The export from Uzbekistan of cultural property (precious metals and stones, furs, artistic and historical items) created 50 or more years ago is prohibited.
Prohibited for import:
unmanned aerial vehicles (drones)
printed works, manuscripts, cliches, drawings, photographs, films, negatives, film, video and audio products, recordings, sound materials aimed at undermining the state and social system, violating territorial integrity, political independence and state sovereignty, promoting war, terrorism, violence, national exclusivity and religious intolerance, racism and its varieties (anti-Semitism, fascism), as well as pornographic materials; narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors without permission from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan; IMPORTANT!!! The medical drug PHENAZEPAM in Uzbekistan is classified as a psychotropic substance, its import into the country is limited, and violation of import rules can be classified as a criminal offense.
It is recommended to refuse to import this drug and similar medicines.
For official information on customs regulations for entry and exit, see here https://www.bojxona.uz/en/page/%D1%9Ezbekiston-respublikasi-hududiga-kirib-kelayotgan-zhismoniy-shahslar-uchun-bozhhona-qoidalari
Rules of conduct, safety measures and recommendations:
Carefully read the terms of the contract for the provision of tourist services concluded between you and our company, the tour program, be sure to insure yourself and read the rules for using the insurance policy.
Carefully read the tourist instructions for this route, remember, if possible, the telephone numbers of the police, medical care institutions, telephone numbers of our company’s partner - for communication on all questions and problems that arise.
Uzbekistan is practically safe, but do not leave your belongings in crowded places, we advise you to always carry your documents with you. Never put your documents in your backpack if you are in a busy place, especially in bazaars - there is a risk of becoming a victim of pickpockets.
Documents: Have with you all the necessary documents for the trip (passports with visas, birth certificates for children - photographs of traveling children must be pasted into the passport of one of the parents. Have enough financial resources for unforeseen situations. We recommend at least $500. Keep the basic money in the hotel safe.
Medicines: If there are medical indications, carry with you all the necessary medications you need (do not forget to take prescriptions for these drugs with you, some of them may be prohibited for export/import without medical indications).
Food: When ordering food in cafes and restaurants, give preference to cuisine that is familiar to you - do not get carried away with exotic dishes. Dishes in Uzbekistan are very tasty, with an abundance of meat and dough, prepared with an abundance of vegetable oil and animal fat, and are somewhat unusual for the stomachs of visitors. It is recommended to limit the amount of food you eat, do not overuse fruits, melons, and do not drink unboiled water. We recommend drinking hot tea.
Familiarize yourself with the location of the hotel and the routes to get to it when traveling independently around the city and its environs. Carry your hotel business card with you.
Clothes and shoes: if your trip is planned between April and October, you should use a wide-brimmed hat and loose clothing made of thin natural linen. Don't forget sunglasses and sunscreen as the sun in Uzbekistan is very bright. The clothing style can be anything, including shorts. As for city and evening dresses, there are no restrictions.
Uzbekistan is a secular, hospitable, tolerant country, but tourists need to follow several simple rules of behavior: do not enter religious institutions in shoes, shorts, women with bare shoulders and bare heads, do not make noise, laugh, respect the feelings of believers, do not speak negatively in relation to government officials, behave politely with others. It is not customary to drink alcoholic beverages, including beer, on the street and in public places; this can be done in restaurants and cafes. Men are greeted by offering a hand. It is not advisable to take women and girls by the arm without first asking their consent. It is not customary to shake hands with women; a verbal greeting or a slight bow of the head is enough. You cannot enter an Uzbek's house wearing shoes. If the owner walks ahead of you and comes in wearing shoes, then this ban is lifted
Export of cultural property and illegal souvenirs: Some artistic products (carpets, suzanis, antiques, musical instruments, artistic furniture, fiction over 50 years old, paintings, graphics, sculpture, artistic items made of silver, silver dishes) are subject to examination, without which the export of these items is impossible from Uzbekistan. If you have questions about the examination, please contact sellers, guides, drivers or our employees.
The full list of prohibited items and souvenirs can be found here.
Transport: When using transport (on excursions, when moving between cities), be sure to fasten your seat belts, do not get up while driving, and do not stick your limbs out of the windows. It is prohibited to require the driver to exceed the speed limit or stop in unauthorized places.
To reduce the negative impact on the environment, we recommend choosing, if possible, more environmentally friendly public transport, which is widespread in all cities of Uzbekistan: bus, trolleybus, tram, metro and taxi. The Tashkent metro is recognised as one of the most beautiful in the world. Each station is a separate work of art with a unique concept.
Public city transport runs from 06:00 to 23:00 hours with breaks of 10-15 minutes and is paid in cash. The fare is 2000 soums (approximately 0,16$) per person per journey. For convenient navigation we recommend to use 2GIS application.
In general, travelling around the city is more comfortable and faster by taxi. In Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Fergana, Margilan, Namangan and Andijan there is Yandex.Taxi service, and you can order a car via mobile application. It is also possible to rent an electric scooter (JET app) or a bicycle. However, the infrastructure for cycling is not well developed due to the lack of cycle lanes in the country.
There is a well-developed railway network for travelling between cities, including a high-speed railway connecting Uzbekistan's largest cities Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara.
Currency: The national currency of Uzbekistan is Soum. All cash payments are made in the national currency of the Republic of Uzbekistan. 1 sum consists of 100 tiyins. Currently, the following types of banknotes and coins are in circulation: 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 5000, 10000, 20000, 50000, 100000, 200000 sum. In many shops, cafes, and restaurants in big cities, payments using VISA CARD are possible. You can withdraw national currency from a VISA CARD at street ATMs. Cash currency can be exchanged at banks and airports. The exchange rate changes every day and does not differ much from bank to bank. The dollar to soum exchange rate as of June 1, 2024 averages 12,600.
Responsible practices during the tour
One of our company goals is to develop sustainable tourism in Uzbekistan.
- In our activities, wildlife species are not extracted, consumed, displayed, sold or traded except as part of a regulated activity that ensures their use is sustainable and complies with local, national and international legislation.
- When travelling in remote areas, use biodegradable and environmentally certified hygiene and cleaning products. Do not leave rubbish behind, respect the nature and architecture of the places you visit, if possible, take other people's rubbish away with you.
- Take along a reusable bottle that you can fill up in the drinking water dispensers in hotels and restaurants.
- Respect the culture and traditions of local people.
- Try to use local services, buy local products and authentic souvenirs. By investing in the local economy, you support entrepreneurship and help create jobs in the community.
- While sexual and commercial exploitation is not a serious problem in Uzbekistan, we are committed to preventing any such incidents. We encourage you to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour. Your co-operation will help us to maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all.
24-hour call center: +998 71 200 00 88 where you can contact with any questions related to your stay in the republic.
Tourist police: 1173
Single emergency number: 112
Fire protection - 101;
Police - 102;
Ambulance - 103;
Rescue Service (EMERCOM) – 1050;
State Customs Committee - 1108.
EMERGENCY AT ASIA ADVENTURES: + 998977377384