Short trips outside Uzbekistan, starting from Tashkent

[Numetshell]

In a few days, I'll be arriving in Tashkent. First time visitor to Central Asia. A friend and I will be doing what I think is a pretty standard route of Tashkent - Khiva - Bukhara - Samarkand over about two weeks.

At the end of those two weeks, my friend will be departing from Tashkent, while I'll have an additional 10 days to play about with. Any suggestions on how best to spend this time? I need to be back in Tashkent for my flight out at the end of those 10 days.

My original plan was to cross over into Tajikistan from Samarkand and spend some time in the mountains. However, I'm not a particularly keen hiker (though I do enjoy day hikes) and won't be travelling with much gear, so I'm wondering if there might be more suitable itineraries that take me into either Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan from Tashkent instead.

Alternatively, I could spend the 10 days checking out some of the lesser known places in Uzbekistan. I know 10 days isn't long, but if possible I'd like to see somewhere outside of Uzbekistan to get a bit more of an introduction to the region. I love night trains, but it doesn't seem like there's reliable info on whether the Tashkent - Bishkek train is running this year.

Basically, any good suggestions? Or stick with the original Tajikistan plan.

[Ian Sp]

Hi, i crossed from Samarkand to Panjakent and up the the seven lakes. I am not a hiker but the sever lakes were one of the best trips i have ever done. Stunning scenery, remote, friendly locals. One tip. make sure you have a visa ATM card, OR EURO/ USD, as there are are only two ATM's which take mastercard in Tajikistan. I had to change Uzbek money to Tajik money to keep me going.

Trip to the 7 Lakes, I was lucky enough for my hotel in Panjakent to organize a free ride up to the 7th lake and back to my guesthouse with 2 locals from Dushanbe in their Lexus 4wd (wow!!). (the hotel knew I was low on cash ) Coming down I got a lift back the mountian in a shared taxi, but luckily I was in the front seat as there were at least 10-12 people in the back. Always pay a little extra to get the passenger seat. That cost me only 5,0000 som (4usd) and i organized it through my guesthouse run by Jumaboy (Good food/ basic accommodation). I am 62 and not a hiker, but I easily walked up from 4th to 6th lake, and got a lift back with a Scottish couple. I could have walked back but good chance to meet some other travelers. I can send a few photos but there are probably heaps on the net.

Another short trip is Shahrisabz. but the trip over the mountains is probably more interesting that the site. Fergana valley by train from Tashkent is ok for a few days. Train trip was ok in late spring but in Autumn/winter it would be more interesting with the snow.

Crossing the border to Tajikistan is easy. I left my main bag in Samarkand, and returned to catch a train to Tashkent. I love trains as they are so comfortable compared to Shared taxi's or buses.

Ian

[rict11]

Hi Ian,

What is the name of the guesthouse where you stayed in Panjakant?

TIA

[squanderedhail]

Do the Seven Lakes! The hardest part is getting there by yourself. The hike is not that hard tbh, it's just a lot of walking.

[rict11]

I have been searching for information about hiring an "independant" guide in Panjakant for a day trek into the Fann Mountains. I do not want to go through an agency in Samarkand as I'm a solo traveller and without others to share the cost, it will be very costly. I assume that getting an "independent" guide in Penjakant when I get there will cost much less.

Any advices?

[bwv812]

You could try messaging the community-tourism organization in the region.

https://ztda-tourism.tj/en/about/

[Ian Sp]

For Rict11 and anyone else interested.
I stayed at the Sugd guesthouse in Panjakent which was a good stopping off point close the the market. Sugd put me in touch with Jumaboy as communications are difficult in that area. (See more info below)

At the south end of the 4th lake, I stayed at Jumaboy's (also know as 3 Juniper Branches Homestay, (but locals still refer to it as Jumaboy's and he still runs it). On google maps the number is listed as +992926366748 (also see reviews). It also has a link to the local tourist authority which was also shared by bwv812 above. I am not certain if this is his number or the tourist authority. As above, my guesthouse in Panjakent, which i used as a stopover was amazingly helpful and organized things with Jumaboy. Jumaboy also organized my seat in the return trip (and front passenger seat) by shared taxi.

To find jumaboys (which is up the hill100mt, look for an red or blue arrow to the pointing down and to the right where you cross the little bridge over the creek and it is on your left). Local tour companies stop there for lunch. On google maps the actual location is correct, but it doesn't show the road or the creek.Most guesthouse provide a package of meals and a room for a fixed price. Jumaboys was well set up with some social places to enjoy a meal and meet other travelers, but others may also. You could also try the guesthouse closer to the 4th lake and is a little easier to find than Jumaboys. It starts with N on the left hand side of the road which branches off from the road around the lake.

Others have previously advised how to catch the shared taxis. Most importantly ignore the TAXI MAFIA in the street in front of the market (they park on the main road in front of the Bazaar and quote $70USD. Instead, on the east side of the bazaar, is a street labeled "ulitisa Novoabadskaya" on google maps, take that and walk north only 20mt (next to bazaar), then turn right down hill unsealed road, to a gravel parking lot 40 mt on your right where all the mini vans pull in. Best to organize your ride for the following morning when you arrive in Panjakent. Other possibilities are to organise it through your guesthouse in Panjakent or totally through Jumaboy or similar guesthouse.

As previous, I went to the shared taxi place, but then my guesthouse (Sugd) arranged for a free lift with two locals from Dushanbe on a boys weekend, as the guesthouse knew I was short on cash (see previous comment about MasterCard ATM access in Tajikistan (2 atm's only accept MasterCard).

As previous I went to the 7th lake with the two locals in a Lexus 4WD, and was dropped off near jumaboy's. I only did walks around the lakes and from Jumaboys to the 6th lake.I didn't need a guide. the 7th lake was achievable, but depends on your fitness levels. You could also take a shared taxi passing up as far as you can and walk back.The walked up to the 6th lake and was offered a ride back by a Scottish couple on a tour, and they were stopping at Jumaboys for lunch as part of their tour as it turned out.

[rict11]

Thanks Ian!

[Uzi]

Hey, remember that you can always go by bus. It leaves below the bazaar in Panjakent around 1 or 2 PM.

I recently took that bus and it was an amazing adventure. As the only tourist on the bus, I became somewhat of a tourist attraction myself, but the locals were the most amazing and kindest people I've ever met. They fed me, hosted me at their homes on arrival, and even made sure I had my journey back sorted out. It was beautiful!

Of course, I stayed at Jumaboys during my trip. It was a great place to stay, but just a heads up, they recently opened a new guest house near the Sixth Lake that looks truly spectacular. It's the only building there with a postcard-perfect view, so if you want to be a pioneer, you could give it a try.

If you're interested in seeing what the bus trip looked like for me, here's a short video you can watch: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwui ... 7BzqRI9g-w

[TheNonFlyingDutchman]

As previous, I went to the shared taxi place, but then my guesthouse (Sugd) arranged for a free lift with two locals from Dushanbe on a boys weekend, as the guesthouse knew I was short on cash (see previous comment about MasterCard ATM access in Tajikistan (2 atm's only accept MasterCard).

I’m running into the same problem as we speak. Do you have info on which atm’s DO work? That could turn this post into a very valuable one.