How to Get from Samarkand to Termez: a Hell of a Journey!
If you’re anything like us and you love the idea of getting well off the beaten path when you travel, Termez in Uzbekistan should really be on your list!
Termez is the major city in the hottest region of Uzbekistan regularly hitting 55°C in the middle of summer. It sits right on the border with Afghanistan, separated only by a river. And it’s a mission to get to from the other major cities in Uzbekistan.
There are two main methods to get from Samarkand to Termez. Both are uncomfortable, but have their own advantages (and plenty of disadvantages!) depending on your travel style.
We travelled this route with both transportation methods in July 2025 (FYI July is a horrifically hot month to be in Termez!), so let’s break it down: how to get from Samarkand to Termez.
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Shared Taxi
Quicker, more comfortable, more expensive, less convenient
I hope you’re up for some haggling! To get a shared taxi, get a lift to here for pretty early in the morning (we arrived about 08:30).
This location isn’t an official stand, it’s just a kind of layby area along the main road heading down to Termez. There are food stalls, and several cars with drivers parked up ready to haggle.
A standard shared taxi will usually hold three or four people, plus the driver. There is a boot with enough space for some luggage, but just hope that your taxi mates don’t have a ton of luggage, otherwise it might all get a bit cosy. Also, don’t expect anything fancy like aircon or seatbelts!
When you’re haggling on the price, bear in mind that in July 2025, we paid 200,000 UZS per person, so 600,000 UZS for three people.
The drivers will likely start with some wild price and suggest that you have a private car. We said ‘no’ and walked away to speak to some other drivers, and then suddenly they realised their game of hardball hadn’t worked.
Oh, and they likely won’t speak English, so make sure you confirm everything with Google Translate to make sure that everyone is on the same page with prices and drop-off points before you set off.
We waited for an hour before one other person turned up, which we had heard was actually pretty good. Some people have said that they have waited for a good few hours.
The journey itself took about six hours. The roads weren’t in great condition and the driving was pretty chaotic. Our driver stopped for us a few times along the route to get some cool water, and some lunch.
But yeah, the veg options on the road are very non-veg-friendly, so maybe pack yourself a wee sandwich for the journey.
Overnight Train
Slower, less comfortable, more affordable, more convenient
This is rough; the roughest journey I think we have ever experienced and that’s including a 25-hour bus down Bolivian mountain roads that definitely weren’t meant for buses.
BUT the biggest pluses with this method are that you have a good idea of when you are leaving, can prebook your tickets, and you travel overnight which means that you won’t lose any time travelling like you would travelling in the day by shared taxi.
You can book your tickets in advance online (we have put a guide together for all things Uzbek Railways). There are two overnight trains leaving both Samarkand and Termez each evening.
So, technically you could arrive in to Termez in the morning from one overnight train, spend the day in Termez, and then get the overnight train out of Termez that same day. It would be intense, but if you’re tight for time, doable.
It’s a long old journey! And the bad news is that it’s uncomfortable and overly cosy, which is absolutely not a term you want for describing your non-aircon transport during July in the hottest part of Uzbekistan. The most budget ticket will set you back 105,000 UZS.
Once you arrive into Termez, order yourself a taxi on Yandex Go to get to your accommodation.
Is Termez Worth the Journey?
Yes! Well, it depends how much you’re into ancient ruins and how much you like getting off the beaten path.
Because the ruins are well and truly ruins, and well off the beaten path; Termez doesn’t see much tourism at all so the ruins aren’t well-maintained.
But still, it absolutely blew our minds how old the ruins were, dating back to pre-Islam in the region when Buddhism was around in the 1st century.
We also loved how un-touristy the city was, our accommodation and host, and how much of an adventure it was to get there. Yes, the journey is likely going to be a mission, but who doesn’t love having a good story to tell?!
Savvy Traveller Pro Tips 🇺🇿
After exploring Uzbekistan for three weeks, these are our favourite booking tools that we couldn’t travel without!
Where to Stay in Termez
Confortable Homestay (££)
Termez isn’t full of accommodation options, but the lesser quantity doesn’t mean lesser quality. Honestly, one of THE absolute best guesthouses we have stayed in in Uzbekistan is sat right here (and I’m not just saying this because the guy running the place used to live in our hometown in the UK!).
Comfortable Homestay is exactly what it says on the tin. Rooms are large, the shared bathrooms are modern and clean, the huge communal space has a large TV, loads of seating, a huge kitchen with all the utensils you could ever imagine to need, a large outdoor courtyard space, and Akbar might even give you a bottle of local wine, which is delicious!
And if you stay at Akbar’s place, let him know that you heard about him through us, his ‘paisanos’. He’ll know it’s us.
🛏️ Plan your Stay 🛏️
Where’s Next?
If you’re staying in Uzbekistan, you should make sure you visit the other ancient Silk Road cities: Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva.
One of our favourite cities in the country is actually the capital, Tashkent. It doesn’t see too much tourism because travellers often fly in and leave straight away to hit the tourist cities. However, it is absolutely worth your time and Tashkent is a great foodie hub (even for vegetarians!).
Plan more of your trip with these:
- Travel Tips for Uzbekistan: 13 Useful Things to Know
- Uzbekistan Railways: Your Guide to Uzbek Train Travel
- What to Wear in Uzbekistan: Responsible Travel Tips
- 9 Spectacular Things to Do in Samarkand, Uzbekistan
- Where Uzbekistan Meets Afghanistan: 7 Things to Do in Termez
- Top 12 Things to Do in Tashkent
- Things to Do in Khiva: The Traveller’s Guide
- How to Take the Khiva to Bukhara Train for Adventure Travellers
- 10 Fascinating Things to Do in Bukhara (plus food & drink spots!)
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