Central Asia's Roads: the Best Way to Get Between Cities

Distances in Central Asia are bigger than they look on a map, and road quality varies sharply from country to country.

Trains in Uzbekistan

The high-speed “Afrosiyob” connects Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara — the most convenient and predictable way to travel within the country, with fixed travel times and comfortable carriages.

A car with a driver

For routes off the rail network (Khiva, Shakhrisabz, Nurata), a car with a driver is the best option. Roads in the main tourist regions are in good shape, but pavement quality outside cities can change abruptly.

Domestic flights

For longer hauls, like Tashkent-Urgench (Khiva), flying saves 15-20 hours of driving compared to a car.

Cross-border travel

Between countries in the region (Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan-Tajikistan), roads are generally decent on major highways, but routes through mountain passes (such as in Tajikistan) take much longer and need a properly prepared vehicle.

The main piece of advice

Don’t pack your inter-city schedule too tight — even distances that look short on a map can take far longer than expected in mountainous terrain.

Road conditions and train schedules can change by season.