Nauryz in Uzbekistan from Almaty: tours

Nauryz in Uzbekistan is celebrated on March 21, and festivities in cities last for several more days. From Almaty to Tashkent the flight takes 1.5–2 hours, the overland route through Shymkent takes 4–6 hours. On the holiday dates, accommodation in Samarkand and Bukhara rises in price by 30–50%, it is worth booking 2–3 months in advance. It is convenient to build a route through the country for 7–8 days in order to cover the capital and ancient cities without haste.

How to prepare for a trip to Nauryz?

The spring holiday in Uzbekistan falls on March 21, and it is better to start preparing for such a trip in advance. Below is what is worth deciding before departure from Almaty.

Documents and crossing the border

The basis of a trip to Nauryz in Uzbekistan is a valid passport, not an internal ID. On the overland route from Shymkent to Tashkent, the journey takes about 4–6 hours taking into account the queue at the checkpoint. These hours also include sanitary control and filling out the migration card, so allow a margin of time. On the holiday dates, the flow of people at the border grows, and the wait may drag on. Keep documents at hand, and copies separately from the originals.

Money and communication

The exchange rate of the som to the tenge is unstable, so it is more profitable to exchange currency at exchange offices in Tashkent, not at the airport. Cards from Kazakh banks are not accepted everywhere, and at bazaars, in taxis and in makhallas you need cash in soms. A SIM card of a local operator is easier to buy in the capital with a passport; in the regions there are fewer points of sale. During the days of Nauryz in Uzbekistan, disruptions in the operation of banks are possible, so the exchange should be done in the first day.

When to go and how many days to allow?

The holiday dates in Uzbekistan are tied to March 21, but festivities in cities stretch over several days. This affects both the hotel occupancy and how much time is needed for the route.

Holiday dates and city occupancy

The Uzbek side celebrates Nauryz on March 21, however festivities in Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva continue for several more days. Hotel prices in Samarkand and Bukhara on these dates rise by 30–50%, and available places disappear quickly. It is worth booking accommodation 2–3 months before the trip, otherwise the choice will remain only among expensive options. Trains between Tashkent and Samarkand are snapped up weeks before the holiday. In Khiva, guest houses inside Ichan-Kala also fill up in advance.

Optimal route duration

The route Almaty — Tashkent — Samarkand — Bukhara — Khiva takes at least 7–8 days. It is unrealistic to manage everything in 4 days, and an attempt to compress the program turns the trip into transfers. It is optimal to distribute time as follows: two days for the capital, two each for Samarkand and Bukhara, one and a half to two for Khiva. Samarkand and Bukhara are compact, the main sights there are within walking distance. In Khiva everything is concentrated inside the fortress walls, and sightseeing takes less time.

How to get from Almaty

There are two ways from Almaty to Uzbekistan — by plane and by ground transport through Shymkent. The choice depends on the budget and the margin of time.

Flight and overland route

There is no time difference with Almaty: Uzbekistan, like Kazakhstan, is on UTC+5 all year round. Domestic flights Tashkent — Urgench save a day of travel compared to the train to Khiva.

Transport within the country

Afrosiyob trains between Tashkent and Samarkand run daily, and this is the most convenient way to connect the two cities. Tickets for the holiday dates are snapped up weeks in advance, so buy them together with booking accommodation. For getting around Tashkent, the Yandex Go app is convenient. In Samarkand and Bukhara, taxis are hailed on the street, and haggling is appropriate. Between Bukhara and Khiva there is both a train and a bus, but in winter and early spring the schedule is less frequent.

Where to stay on the holiday days

Accommodation in Uzbekistan for Nauryz is a separate story: from hotels in the capital to guest houses in the makhallas of Khiva.

Booking and prices

On the days of the holiday, prices for hotels in Samarkand and Bukhara rise by 30–50%, so it is worth booking 2–3 months in advance. Hostels and guest houses in the makhallas of Khiva are cheaper than hotels, but booking through local platforms requires prepayment. Hotels in Tashkent are more expensive, but there is more choice and cancellation is easier. In Uzbekistan, there is a system of registration of foreigners: the hotel arranges it automatically, with private accommodation you need to monitor it yourself. Keep all receipts and stamps — they may be checked on departure.

Features of accommodation in makhallas

A guest house in a makhalla of Khiva gives what a hotel will not give: home cooking and neighbors who will invite you to a common dastarkhan. The conditions there are simpler — the bathroom is often shared, and water may be on a schedule. It is better to agree on check-in in advance and in writing, because on the holiday days the hosts are busy with their own affairs. In Samarkand and Bukhara, the private sector is also common, but it is more convenient to look for it on the spot. If you are traveling with children, still choose a hotel with a 24-hour front desk.

Visa and entry rules change: check with the primary source — the MFA of the Republic of Uzbekistan, https://gov.uz/en/mfa/activity_page/o-zbekiston-respublikasi-vizasi. The information on this page was verified on 14.09.2026.

What to take into account on the days of the holiday

The holiday changes the rhythm of Uzbek cities, and it is worth preparing for this in advance.

Operation of establishments and currency exchange

During the days of Nauryz in Uzbekistan, disruptions in the operation of banks and government institutions are possible, so plan currency exchange and excursions in advance. Many chaikhanas operate on a reduced schedule, although pilaf, samsa and shurpa remain available. In the makhallas on the holiday days, sumalak is offered free of charge, but the treat should be accepted with caution if you have a sensitive stomach. Exchange offices in Tashkent operate more steadily than in Samarkand and Bukhara. Keep a supply of cash in soms for bazaars and taxis. Museums and mausoleums on the holiday days are most often open.

Weather and well-being

For a trip to Khiva and Bukhara in March, warm clothing is needed: the nights are still cold, while during the day it reaches +18. In Tashkent and Samarkand it is warmer, but wind and rain do occur. There is no time difference with Almaty: Uzbekistan, like Kazakhstan, is on UTC+5 all year round. An insurance policy for Uzbekistan is not mandatory, but when actively traveling around the regions it is worth arranging in advance. Take a first aid kit with stomach remedies: a change of water and cuisine has an effect. Drink bottled water, especially in mahallas.

In brief

• It is better to go for a holiday in Uzbekistan for 7–8 days; any shorter and it is only travel.
• Accommodation in Samarkand and Bukhara should be booked 2–3 months in advance.
• Tickets for the Afrosiyob between Tashkent and Samarkand are snapped up weeks ahead.
• Cash sums are needed for bazaars, taxis, and guesthouses.
• It is more advantageous to exchange currency in Tashkent, not at the airport.