How Do You Travel the Silk Road in Uzbekistan by Train?

Journey times between the Silk Road cities

The core Tashkent to Samarkand to Bukhara corridor is fast. Khiva is the long leg, reached by a newer high-speed service or the classic overnight sleeper.

This decides hotel nights. Samarkand to Bukhara is short enough for a morning departure, while the Khiva leg works as a daytime high-speed ride or a sleeper that replaces a hotel night.

Why rail fits a Silk Road itinerary

The old Silk Road cities sit along one rail corridor, so road transfers are optional. The Afrosiyob began running between Tashkent and Samarkand in 2011. The track gauge is 1,520 mm, shared with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

A trip that crosses a border by train needs a multi-entry Uzbekistan visa, Canada advises.

Afrosiyob, the Silk Road workhorse

The Afrosiyob is the train you will ride most. It covers 344 km between Tashkent and Samarkand in two hours fifteen minutes at up to 250 km/h. It has VIP, Business and Economy classes plus a restaurant car.

Every class gets air conditioning, USB and power plugs, and a free cup of tea with a small bag of pastries.

Jaloliddin Manguberdi, the Khiva high-speed train

This service links Tashkent with Khiva in about 7.5 hours, against 14 hours on the classic overnight sleeper. It offers Economy and VIP classes. It reaches Khiva without a night on the train.

Sharq, the budget option

The Sharq runs the same corridor as the Afrosiyob but more slowly, with a bumpier ride, at about half the Afrosiyob's fare. Use it if the Afrosiyob is sold out.

Overnight sleeper trains

Sleepers come in three levels: open-plan platskartny, a 4-berth kupe compartment and the 2-berth Spalny Vagon. They suit the 14-hour Khiva leg. Board in Tashkent and wake up near Khiva, then walk 30 minutes from the station to Ichan Kala.

Tours with the train ticket included

For a fixed price that already holds the train, compare what each tour covers. The table lists tours whose price includes train tickets, from their own listing terms.

Which leg deserves which train

Take the Afrosiyob for the Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara legs. The rides are short and the train runs twice daily between those cities. For Khiva, take the overnight sleeper to replace a hotel night, or the Jaloliddin Manguberdi to cross the desert by daylight.

Is there a bullet train in Uzbekistan?

The Afrosiyob is the train most visitors mean by the Uzbekistan bullet train. It covers Tashkent to Samarkand in two hours fifteen minutes and Tashkent to Bukhara in about 4 hours. The free tea and the restaurant car make the ride easy.

The Samarkand day trip tours use it in both directions: the Samarkand One-Day Tour from Tashkent lists 2.25 hours each way.

Sleeper or high-speed for Khiva?

The sleeper replaces one hotel night and offers three berth classes. The Jaloliddin Manguberdi takes about half the time and crosses the Kyzylkum desert in daylight. The Khiva station sits a 30-minute walk from Ichan Kala, so plan a short taxi ride with luggage.

The Uzbekistan 6-Day Private Tour with Khiva costs $800 per person and runs the train from Khiva back through Bukhara and Samarkand to Tashkent. It adds $275 in extra charges on top of the $800 base price, and the Tashkent-Urgench flight out is not included.

Where to buy

Uzbekistan Railways sells tickets online at chipta.railway.uz and through the Uzrailway tickets app, with a call center on 1005. Station ticket offices also sell tickets, and timetables are online. Seat 61 notes that 12go.asia sells the same trains, opens bookings 60 days ahead and accepts overseas payment cards.

When to book

Book Afrosiyob tickets a month in advance for high season, because the train fills up quickly. Sales open 45 to 60 days out, so spring and autumn travellers book on the day sales open.

Station security and arrival time

Arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. Stations have entrance security where luggage and passports are checked, and queues form. Keep your passport reachable.

The UK says you must carry it at all times in Uzbekistan.

Packing for the sleeper

Sleeper trains take large luggage, but it must fit inside your sleeping compartment. The 2-berth Spalny Vagon gives the most room per person, and the 4-berth kupe shares space with other travellers. A medium bag plus a daypack fits the 14-hour Khiva leg most easily.

Why rail wins for this trip

Tashkent to Samarkand in two hours fifteen minutes and Samarkand to Bukhara in 1.5 hours leave full sightseeing days. The Khiva leg is the only long ride, and the sleeper turns it into a hotel night. The Khiva to Bukhara road via the desert fortresses is the exception worth a car: the Khiva to Bukhara Transfer via Desert Fortresses costs $160 per group up to 3 for 9 hours, car and driver only, with guide and fortress tickets extra.