Family Travel (5) Uzbekistan

Hi there,

I’m just starting my research for Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara... I’m not sure I’ll manage to organize everything with the train or find a driver every time I need one. I don’t want a packaged tour. Can you tell me if everything needs to be booked well in advance? I’m also looking for fun activities for my teens (other than museum and mosque visits). We’ll be traveling in October. Thanks for your tips!

Hi Barbara,

It was curiosity that led me to search online for places to cool off in Uzbekistan that might suit both teens and their parents—I haven’t tried them myself.

The country also has outdoor swimming pools, but I focused on water parks:

Tashkent -Aqualand or Akvalend Chinobod ST 61A: a water park with wave pools and slides, among other things.

Samarkand Sogdiana Water Park: quite old but has slides.

In Tashkent, Bukhara, and Khiva, there are also hotels with pools that are pricier and probably wouldn’t fit your budget—I’ll let you look those up.

Happy planning! Françoise

Thanks for your reply. Any ideas for transportation?

Hi there, Yes, why not rent a vehicle...

In Tashkent, Bukhara, and Khiva, there are also hotels with pools that are more expensive and probably wouldn’t fit your budget... Françoise

Just a quick note—Uzbekistan isn’t an expensive country... especially for the Swiss...

Hello, Yes, why not rent a vehicle...

Hello, I read that you can’t drive in Uzbekistan, and I’m not too keen on having to pay for and accommodate a driver. Maybe I’m wrong though...

It’s totally possible to rent a vehicle in Uzbekistan. Just take a look at the rental offers online to see for yourself.

The Rough Guide says this: But there are indeed car rental agencies. How did you find the roads?

Here’s an excerpt from the French government’s "travel advice" site for Uzbekistan. It clearly states that you can rent a vehicle there. However, I don’t quite get the question "how did you find the roads"—I assume it’s not about geography but rather the condition of the road network. So no worries, the roads are just like ours, except in some areas where the tarmac is a bit damaged, but that’s mostly in regions closer to Kazakhstan in the west.

Just so you know: From the Kazakh border (Beineu) to Jaslyk (Uzbekistan), a new road has been opened parallel to the awful one we all know. Official opening November 2024, but we drove on it in early October. Instead of 16 km/h, we now hit 80 km/h.

How did you find the roads?

Oh wow! The Routard! Our last trip through Uzbekistan with a heavy vehicle was in September/October 2024. The main roads are in good condition. Since 2019, there’s been a major improvement to the primary road network and some secondary routes as well. Happy planning!

Hi there,

I’m also planning my trip (solo) for next October. Apparently, it’s now possible to rent a vehicle (which wasn’t the case a while back). However, *Le Petit Futé* notes that it’s not the best option since their driving leaves a lot to be desired, especially at night.

I’m not thrilled about group tours either and am leaning toward an off-the-beaten-path trip with a driver-guide. I’d love to do a few day hikes if possible.

Maybe we can swap some great tips and addresses?

Looking forward to hearing from you