About the size of California, Uzbekistan lies at the heart of Central Asia, where some of the most important Silk Road routes once passed. For centuries, these routes connected China with the Middle East and Europe. During the medieval period, cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, all in present-day Uzbekistan, became major centers of trade and culture. Today, travelers come to see their historic madrasas, monumental squares, minarets, trading domes, and old neighborhoods.
Beyond its historic architecture, Uzbekistan is also known for its natural landscapes, from the Tian Shan Mountains to the Kyzylkum Desert, and its rich culture, particularly its traditional crafts and renowned hospitality. This diversity is reflected in the country’s UNESCO-recognized heritage, which ranges from medieval Silk Road monuments and Tashkent’s modernist architecture to cultural traditions and natural landscapes.
Getting to Uzbekistan from the United States is easier than many first-time visitors expect. U.S. citizens can travel visa-free for stays of up to 30 days, and Uzbekistan Airways operates regular non-stop flights between New York and Tashkent. For the trip itself, you can join a small-group tour, travel privately, or have an itinerary designed around your own interests and schedule. Advantour offers all three options, from classic tours of the Silk Road cities to longer journeys into the mountains, desert regions, or the Aral Sea.
Tashkent is 9 hours ahead of New York during U.S. daylight saving time and 10 hours ahead in winter. The time difference from the U.S. West Coast is 12–13 hours.
Before traveling, check that your passport will remain valid for at least six months from the date of entry. Flight schedules and entry requirements can change, so check both again shortly before departure.
A non-stop flight from New York to Tashkent takes about 12 hours. Uzbekistan Airways operates a non-stop service between John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Tashkent several times a week, with the frequency varying by season.
One-stop flights are also available from New York, including routes via Istanbul or Doha. Travelers departing from other U.S. cities can connect through New York for the non-stop flight or reach Tashkent through a major international hub.
As of January 1, 2026, U.S. citizens can enter Uzbekistan without a visa for stays of up to 30 days. Travelers staying longer will need the appropriate visa or other entry permission.
Foreign visitors must register their place of stay within three working days of arrival. Hotels normally take care of registration for their guests. If you are staying in a private home or other private accommodation, make sure your host completes the required registration.
Entry and registration requirements can change, so check the latest official information before your trip.
10-day Silk Road from Fergana to Khiva Tour from the USA
From the bold patterns of wool carpets to the intricate designs of ceramics to the grandiosity of tiled mosques and madrassas, see the best of Uzbekistan’s master craftsmen and applied artists.
Tashkent Kokand Fergana Margilan Rishtan Samarkand Bukhara Khiva
Details10 Days | Private | All year round from US$ 1,690 per person
15-day Exotics of the East Tour from the USA
After a long flight from the USA, immerse yourself in an exciting adventure imbued with the romance of the East. Two weeks of travel will give you magnificent views of ancient cities, peaceful landscapes of mountains and deserts, acquaintance with the hospitable Uzbek people. As a Westerner, discover the appeal of the East.
Tashkent Nukus Muynak Khiva Bukhara Sentyab village Samarkand
Details15 Days | Private | Spring, summer, autumn from US$ 2,190 per person
23-day The Five Stans Tour from the USA
This in-depth tour from the USA covers all five Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Though each of the Five Stans has a lot in common with their neighbors, you’ll be able to experience their own unique flavors and sights.
Uzbekistan Kyrgyzstan Kazakhstan Tajikistan Turkmenistan
Details23 Days | Private | Spring, autumn from US$ 5,070 per person
Advantour offers three main ways to explore Uzbekistan: escorted small-group tours, private tours, and custom tours.
Small-group tours are one of the most popular ways to travel around Uzbekistan. They depart on scheduled dates and follow a set itinerary, with hotels, transport, sightseeing, and other main arrangements organized in advance.
Advantour group tours include classic routes through Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, as well as longer itineraries covering less-visited parts of the country. Many have guaranteed departure dates and bring together travelers from different countries. They are suitable for solo travelers as well as couples and friends traveling together.
Private tours follow established itineraries but can usually be arranged for dates that fit your travel plans. Depending on the program, they may include private transportation, accommodation, local English-speaking guides, entrance fees, and other services listed in the itinerary. This option is well suited to couples, families, groups of friends, and travelers who prefer not to join a scheduled group.
If the existing itineraries do not fit your plans, Advantour can design a tour around your travel dates, available time, interests, and accommodation preferences.
You can choose how long to spend in each city, add or remove destinations, and include activities such as ceramics or textile workshops, cooking classes, village stays, hiking, archaeology, photography, skiing, or visits to less-traveled parts of the country.
Custom tours are a good option for families, travelers with specific interests, and anyone who wants more free time, or a route different from the standard itineraries.
Most Uzbekistan tour packages begin after you arrive in the country, so international airfare between the United States and Uzbekistan is usually not included. Some programs may include international flights that are part of the tour itself, so check the inclusions for the specific itinerary before booking.
Depending on the tour, the package may include:
The best time to visit Uzbekistan is spring and fall, especially April–May and September–October. Tashkent lies at roughly the same latitude as New York City, but Uzbekistan’s landlocked, continental climate is much drier, with hotter summers, colder winters, and greater temperature differences between day and night. Spring and fall bring the most comfortable weather for sightseeing, along with green landscapes and Navruz celebrations in spring and an abundance of seasonal fruit in fall.
Summer and winter are quieter travel seasons and have their own advantages. July and August can be very hot, particularly in the desert cities, although the mountains near Tashkent are much cooler. Winter is cold but brings fewer visitors to the major sights and good conditions for skiing in the mountains near Tashkent. March and early November can also be good choices for travelers who prefer fewer crowds and do not mind more changeable weather.
For a first visit, most travelers include Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva. Together, these four cities cover much of the history and architecture Uzbekistan is best known for. Tashkent combines bazaars, broad avenues, and distinctive modernist architecture. Samarkand is known for the monumental buildings of the Timurid period, while Bukhara has a compact historic center filled with mosques, madrasas, and trading domes. Khiva’s walled Itchan Kala preserves palaces, mosques, madrasas, and traditional houses within a remarkably intact old city.
With more time, head beyond the cities to see a different side of the country. The Tian Shan and Nurata Mountains offer hiking routes and scenic valleys. At Aydarkul Lake, travelers can spend time by the water and stay in nearby yurt camps, while the Kyzylkum Desert provides vast, open landscapes. Farther west, Nukus, Muynak, the Aral Sea region, and the ancient fortresses of Khorezm combine archaeology, remote desert travel, and the environmental story of the Aral Sea.
Uzbekistan’s crafts and everyday traditions are also an important part of the journey. Visit a bazaar, watch silk being woven in Margilan or ceramics being made in Rishtan, or stop for tea in a traditional chaikhana. These experiences bring you closer to the skills, customs, and daily life that continue alongside the country’s historic monuments.
Food is equally central to experience. Along with plov, Uzbekistan is known for samsa baked in a tandyr oven, shashlik, lagman noodles, soups, fresh bread, seasonal fruit, and regional dishes that vary across the country. Markets, family meals, and cooking classes are some of the best ways to discover these regional differences.
Uzbekistan is often combined with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, or Turkmenistan on longer trips through Central Asia. These itineraries bring together Silk Road cities, mountain landscapes, deserts, archaeological sites, crafts, and regional cuisines.
Some tours follow the Silk Road on a much larger scale, extending east into China or west to Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia – and occasionally linking China, Central Asia, and the Caucasus in a single journey. Traveling across these regions offers a rare chance to experience how the cultures and landscapes of the Silk Road change from one part of the route to another.
