Shared Taxi

The most popular way to get from Tashkent to Khujand is by shared taxi. The route works like this: Uzbek taxi drivers take you from Kuyluk Market to the Aybek border checkpoint. After crossing the border, Tajik taxi drivers meet you and drive you to Khujand. These are private drivers who gather 4–6 passengers and make their living by working in a highly competitive environment.

First, you need to get to “Kuyluk Market” (Google Maps link available). The easiest way is to take the metro to 7-Bekat Station. Once you arrive, taxi drivers will greet you with loud calls of “Aybek.” They usually wait near underpasses and under the bridge. You will wait until the car is full before starting your journey.

The cost of a shared taxi is 100,000 sums per person. This means other passengers will also pay the same fare. If you don’t want to wait for other passengers, you can book the whole car for 300,000 sums. Keep in mind that Uzbek drivers can be quite enterprising and may try to charge higher prices, so don’t accept unfair offers.

Important Note:
If you don’t have a Tajik or Uzbek passport, you must cross at the international terminal at Aybek. There are other checkpoints on the map, but some of them are not international, and you won’t be allowed through.

At the border, many individuals offer currency exchange services, but their rates are typically around 2% higher than official exchange offices. Both Uzbek and Tajik taxi drivers usually accept dollars, Tajik somoni, and Uzbek sums. There is an official currency exchange office with reasonable rates just outside the Tajik checkpoint on the left, near where Tajik taxi drivers wait.

After crossing, negotiate with the Tajik drivers and wait until the car is full. The standard fare from the Aybek checkpoint to Khujand is 50 somoni. By default, they will drop you off at “Taksistkho Maschoh“, but they may take you closer to the city center if it’s on their route.

If you need to exchange money in Khujand, it’s convenient to do so at the Sanduk exchange office ([Google Maps link available]). This exchange is not listed on maps but does exist.

Bus

Here’s the thing: sometimes buses are not running, and it’s quite difficult to find their schedule online. For instance, the Tajik company Asian Express has stopped operating on this route, and they don’t respond to inquiries on Instagram. It seems that recently an Uzbek company has started running buses, but if you decide to try this option, you should go to the bus station in advance to confirm the schedule.

Train

There is a way to travel through Samarkand, but it takes nearly a day. And tickets (if available) must be purchased at the station in advance. Even then, the train will only take you to Chkalovsk, a neighboring city, making this option less practical.

Plane

There are no direct flights between Tashkent and Khujand. Traveling by land is faster and more convenient.

Have a wonderful trip to Khujand!

The post How to Get from Tashkent to Khujand? appeared first on Catharsis Travel.

Start by going to the Shakhriston metro station in Tashkent. Just a few meters from the metro exit, you’ll find a bus stop (check Google Maps). From here, the #169 bus regularly departs for the Zhibek Zholy border checkpoint. The bus will drop you off right at the customs area. You can check the schedule on Yandex Go.

At the border, you’ll first clear Uzbek customs and then Kazakh customs. After crossing, you’ll find plenty of currency exchange booths on the Kazakh side with reasonable rates .

From there, private minibuses can take you to Shymkent for 2000 tenge. These minibuses are parked in the lot across from the exchange booths and leave as soon as all the seats are filled.

Typically, these minibuses will drop you off in the Kolos district of Shymkent.

Train

The train ride takes around 6–8 hours. Uzbek ticket websites do not accept international cards (I couldn’t pay with my Turkish Visa card). Instead, I asked a hotel receptionist to purchase a ticket for me in exchange for cash. You’ll need a local card for online payment or can buy tickets at the train station.

Bus

The official website lists two buses per day, though the accuracy of this information is uncertain.

Plane

Flying is an option, but ground transportation is much simpler.

That’s all the ways to get from Tashkent to Shymkent. Have a great trip!

The post How to Get from Tashkent to Shymkent? appeared first on Catharsis Travel.