Hi Guys, rafcarlosaid here! Sharing with you my itinerary to two of my very first Central Asia countries, Uzbekistan, and a nature side trip to Kazakhstan! All the information you need is here, from Bus tickets, train tickets, what to expect, and more!
ITINERARY & GUIDE:
DAY 1: MNL-KL-TAS Flight TRAIN TO BUKHARA
Flight to Kuala Lumpur from Manila
6-hour layover in Kuala Lumpur
Flight to Tashkent / Arrive at Tashkent
Train ride from Tashkent to Bukhara
Available Fights to Tashkent and Almaty:
AirAsia offers the most affordable flights to either Almaty or Tashkent. They have a convenient fly-thru program with layovers in Kuala Lumpur. Flights from Kuala Lumpur are available three times a week, departing for both Almaty and Tashkent.
Take note that layovers can take approximately 6 to 8 hours. The flight from Manila to Kuala Lumpur is about 3 hours, and the flight from Kuala Lumpur to Tashkent or Almaty is roughly 8 hours.
When visiting either of the Central Asian countries, make sure to book or select the right side window seat to enjoy the breathtaking view of the Himalayas mountains.
It’s also advisable to pre-order meals for long-hour flights. However, meals are still available on board, and you can pay using your local debit or credit card.
DAY 2: BUKHARA WALKING TOUR
Arrive at Bukhara
Check-in Hotel & Rest
Start of Half-day trip
Chor‑Minor Madrasah
Poi‑Kalyan Complex
Lyab‑i Hauz Ensemble
Lunch in the City
Samanid Mausoleum
Magok‑i‑Attori Mosque
Ark Fortress (Ark Citadel) (Sunset)
Bukhara Tower
Overnight in Bukhara
Bukhara Tips & Guide:
Reaching Bukhara can be done by taking their fast, sleeper, or third-class trains. Bus trips are also an alternative. If you plan to visit the three major cities of Uzbekistan with limited day trips, it’s best to travel first to Bukhara, then back to Tashkent.
Bukhara's historic and must-see places are all within walking distance, and most of them don’t charge any entrance fees.
You can book a stay at a guesthouse for a more authentic local experience, or you can opt for a luxurious hotel located within the historic squares of the old city.
Uzbekistan is home to beautiful handicrafts. You can score great deals of pasalubong or souvenir here.
DAY 3: MORNING TRAIN RIDE TO SAMARKAND & CITY TOUR
06:00 AM - Bus Trip to Samarkand
Arrive at Samarkand | Check in and rest
Start of Samarkand Day Trip
Registan Square
Shah‑i‑Zinda necropolis
Bibi‑Khanym Mosque
Siyob (or Siab) Bazaar
Gur‑e‑Amir Mausoleum
Afrasiab Archaeological Site & Museum
Eternal City (Optional. 30-40 minutes ride from Samarkand proper)
Samarkhand Tips & Guide:
Most of the touristy places in Samarkand are far apart from each other, so it is best to hire a tour, rent a driver & guide, or use the Yandex app.
Registan Square has light shows in the evening. The time depends on the season. Ask the ticket office to confirm the schedule to anticipate the shows on your visit.
Traffic in Samarkand is at its peak around 4-5 PM.
You can also explore the places at night. Samarkand has the best night light, especially on other mausoleums.
If you have extra time, the Eternal City is also an option for a more historic site.
DAY 4: MORNING TRAIN RIDE TO TASHKENT & CITY TOUR
02:00 AM - Early Morning Train ride to Tashkent
Arrive at Tashkent | Check in Hotel | Rest
Half-day DIY Trip in Tashkent
Chorsu Bazaar
Khast Imam Complex (sometimes spelled Hast-Imam)
Munor Mosque open
State Museum of Applied Arts of Uzbekistan
Tashkent TV Tower (Sightseeing)
Dinner near Hotel | Overnight in Tashkent
Tashkent Tips & Guide:
There are limited ATMs in the arrival area, but money exchange services are available. If you have the opportunity, you can ask your taxi driver to stop you at an ATM to withdraw some cash.
Tashkent can be quite crowded, especially during peak hours from 4 to 6 PM. Therefore, it’s advisable to plan your itinerary for the places you intend to visit within the city.
Tashkent Metro Train is highly accessible and convenient. It offers easy payment options and straightforward train stations. Some stations are conveniently located near tourist attractions and key points. Additionally, the metro stations are renowned for their unique designs, each with its own distinct aesthetic.
DAY 5: AMIRSOY & LAKE TRIP
Meet-up with Guide
Amirsoy Mountain Resort
Chimgan Mountain
Charvak Lake
Axmad Oltin Joja Restaurant
Back to the city
Amirsoy & Lake Tour Guide:
You can find group tours or join-in tours online that take you to Amirsoy and the Chimgan Mountains. These tours offer a chairlift ride to the summit and a visit to the tranquil Charvak Lake. Additionally, a local restaurant is included in the tour, where you can savor authentic Uzbek cuisine.
The tour, which includes pick-up within Tashkent, typically takes about 8-9 hours, depending on the tour agency you have chosen.
Amirsoy is one big place. It would take 2 cable cars to visit the peak.
At Chimgan Mountain, there are two options to see the snow mountain: through the famous chairlift or hiking.
DAY 6: TASHKENT FREE DAY & FLIGHT
Free Day in Tashkent
Flight to Almaty
Arrive in Almaty | Check in
DAY 7: SHYMBULAK DAY VISIT
Morning stroll in Almaty
Full Day Trip in Shymbulak Mountain Resort
Shymbulak Tips & Guide:
There are snow activities available in Shymbulak. If you are on a full-day tour, the ticket price is different. There’s also a half-day ticket price.
DAY 8: CANYON AND LAKE TOUR
5 AM - Meet up with Guide
Start of Tour
Charyn Canyon / The Grand Canyon of Kazakhstan
Kolsai Lake
Kaindy Lake
8 PM - Back to Almaty
Canyon & Lake Tips & guide:
The trip to the Canyons and lakes is around 2 hours and 30 minutes. Meet-up starts at 5 AM. There is a quick stop at a gasoline station for coffee or a bathroom break before the long ride.
Drones are free to fly to all of these places.
The Grand Canyon requires a hike for more scenic spots and photo opportunities. There is also a side trip to the Black Canyon to see one of the deepest sites of the canyon.
Kolsai Lake also requires a hike to see the lake up close. There are water activities on the lake, like paddling and kayaking. When going back, it is optional to walk or take the coaster ride.
In Kaindy Lake, there are three options to visit the site. Via transfers, hike, or ride a horse. The horseback ride is a great experience and is a must-try. There is a one-way route, and you can opt to have the transfers go down.
Going back, you can experience the sunset in the canyons.
DAY 9: FLIGHT BACK
Flight to Kuala Lumpur
Flight Back to Manila
GENERAL GUIDE FOR KAZAKHSTAN & UZBEKISTAN
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan General Guide:
SIM cards and e-SIMs are available online or at the airport.
Generally, not everyone in Uzbekistan knows English. It is best to communicate through translation apps. The mode of communication in Uzbekistan is WhatsApp or on Instagram.
Drones are PROHIBITED in Uzbekistan. Airport officials might confiscate your unit.
🇺🇿 Transportation:
Make sure to register the Yandex App in your home country before visiting Uzbekistan, as OTP on your local number does not work on the app.
Make sure to book train tickets in advance. Especially for those who have longer train journeys. Download the UZRailways Tickets app (Blue Logo) or visit eticket.railway.uz
The app doesn't always work properly. Always refresh the app if you encounter errors. Sometimes the payment tab doesn't work and crashes from time to time.
You can take bus trips within the country. Visit the website https://avtoticket.uz for schedules. Take note that international credit cards are not accepted as a mode of payment online. Better to arrive at the bus station to buy tickets.
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan e-Visa Guide for Philippine Passport Holders:
Apply 2-3 Weeks before your flight. Wait for 3 days to receive the status of your application.
Ensure all details you input are correct. In any case, there are discrepancies. Make sure to contact Uzbekistan Immigration ASAP, as the flights from Kuala Lumpur are still new. Check counters might reject you even if it’s approved.
Make sure to check in once the counters are open. So you can still amend the needed documents in case of inconvenience. Know the Uzbekistan Hotlines, Telegram Account, or any contact information.
Remember to print your e-Visa for convenience.
🇺🇿 Money:
It’s best to withdraw money from an ATM. Take note that not all banks accept international cards, so make sure to withdraw/carry enough cash to avoid any inconvenience. Debit and credit cards (Mastercard or Visa) are generally accepted at most restaurants and ticket booths.
🇺🇿 Best time to visit in Uzbekistan:
The best times to visit Uzbekistan are spring (April-June) and autumn (September-October) for pleasant weather, blooming landscapes, harvest festivals, and comfortable sightseeing. And freezing winters from Dec to Feb. Avoid the summer season from July to Aug.
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan General Guide:
Filipino passport holders do not need a visa/e-visa when visiting.
The Yandex app also works in Kazakhstan. No need to register again for a local Kazakh SIM card. Make sure to have the exact amount of money when paying taxi drivers, as some of them do not have change.
You can do a DIY trip to Shymbulak and Big Almaty Lake and book a Yandex Taxi. Going back, there are also Yandex Taxis on the site.
Almaty is a walkable city. There are places within the city with different restaurants.
🇰🇿 Almaty Airport Tips & Guide:
There are different ATMs in the arrival hall of the airport. There are no fees when withdrawing, even for international debit cards. Money exchange is also available at the airport.
If you are collecting tourist maps, ask the information kiosk for one.
There are also restaurants and coffee shops in the arrival hall.
🇰🇿 Best time to visit in Kazakhstan:
The best times to visit Uzbekistan are spring (April-June) and autumn (September-October) for mild weather, blooming landscapes, and fewer crowds, perfect for general sightseeing and hiking. And freezing winters from November to March. Avoid the summer season from June to Aug.
EXPENSES FOR KAZAKHSTAN & UZBEKISTAN
Total Expenses: 114,700+++ (Estimate)
✈️ FLIGHT, TAX & ESSENTIAL EXPENSES: ₱77,400.00++
₱55,000+++ - Round-trip flight AirAsia - (MNL-KL-TAS-KL-MNL)
₱18,000+++ - Tashkent - Almaty - Tashkent Flight (Booked Three Days prior day of the flight)
₱1,620.00 - Travel Tax
₱1,600.00 - e-SIM (Kazakhstan & Uzbekistan)
₱1,190.00 - (22 USD) Uzbekistan e-Visa
🇺🇿 Total Uzbekistan Expenses: ₱24,300++
🇺🇿 Train Tickets (Pre-booked):
₱1,200 - Sleeper Train Ticket (Tashkent to Bukhara)
₱1,400 - Train Ticket (Bukhara to Samarkand)
₱1,500 - Train Ticket (Samarkand to Tashkent) (Paid in Uzbek)
🇺🇿 Tours (Pre-Booked):
₱2,100.00 - Amirsoy Full-day Tour
₱3,000.00 - Samarkand Tour (Driver & Guide)
🇺🇿 Pocket Money:
₱15,100.00 - (3,000,000.00+++ Uzbek Som) - ATM Withdrawal (Hotel Payment, Taxi Payment, 3x Meal for a day) (Pasalubong not yet included)
🇺🇿 Hotels I stayed in Uzbekistan (All Paid in Uzbek part of Pocket Money):
₱950.00 - Bukhara - Afsona Guesthouse - (Deluxe Twin Room) (2 days)
₱1,260.00 - Samarkand - Samarkand Hostel (Dormitory Room) (2 days)
₱5,394.00 - Tashkent - City Centre Hotel (Standard Double) (3 days)
🇺🇿 Breakdown of daily expenses (Estimate):
Meals start at 30,000som
Bottled water starts at 30,000som
Snacks and pastries start at 3,000som
Train Tickets in Tashkent start at 3,000som
A regular SIM card starts at 150,000som
Entrance fee to tourist attractions for foreigners starts at 30,000 to 60,000 som
🇺🇿 TOTAL KAZAKHSTAN EXPENSES: ₱13,120.00++
Tour (Pre-Booked):
₱3,500.00 - Kazakhstan canyon & Lake Full-day Trip
Entrance Fee (paid with a debit card):
₱620.00 (5,500 Tenge) - Shymbulak Entrance Fee
Pocket Money:
₱9,000.00 (80,000 Tenge) - Pocket Money in Kazakhstan for 2 days (Food 3x a day, Pasalubong & Taxi ride)
Hotel I stayed at (paid in tenge):
13,000 Tenge (Hotel payment) (Bunk Bed)
Helpful Links and guides:
Uzbekistan Railway Site - eticket.railway.uz
Uzbekistan Bus Website - https://avtoticket.uz
Samarkand Guide - anvar.explorer (IG)
Amirsoy Join-in tour (Uzbekistan) - GetyourGuide link
Kazakhstan Railways Site - https://railways.kz/en/
Canyon and Lake Tour (Kazakhstan) - Trip.com link
Thank you so much for reading this guide! I hope you'll enjoy your trip to Central Asia soon! I would appreciate it if you could give me support by buying me a coffee! ☕️ Follow me on Instagram for more travel content, and you can also check out my Instagram for my KZ and UZ highlights for the whole trip!
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