Uzbekistan Travel Notes

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Access to your government’s embassy while travelling

Australia www.dfat.gov.au
New Zealand www.mfat.govt.nz
Canada www.travel.gc.ca
United Kingdom www.gov.uk
America www.usembassy.gov

Time Zones

Tashkent, Uzbekistan is GMT +5 hours. Uzbekistan does not operate daylight savings.
To obtain the current local time and date in the cities and countries you are travelling to, please visit: www.timeanddate.com

Electricity and Plugs

Uzbekistan 220 volts. Plugs are of the two-round-pronged European type – www.korjo.com/adaptor-guide

Currency

To obtain the most up-to-date exchange rate you may wish to visit: www.xe.com/currencyconverter

Credit Card payments (Visa & Mastercard) in Uzbekistan are becoming common when making a larger purchase, however cash payments are still preferred. Some smaller and family-owned businesses and markets may not accept credit cards.

The official currency of Uzbekistan is the SUM (also som, soum) and tiyin. Banknotes come in denominations of: 1,000 2,000 5,000 10,000 20,000 50,000 100,000 200,000. All the banknotes differ in colour. US dollars and Euros are also accepted in some places.

We recommend taking spending money in US dollars or Euros in new, clean crisp notes. Foreign currency can be exchanged at Tashkent Airport, or by using the Money Exchange Machines (not to be confused with ATM’s) as many restaurants, shops and bars only accept hard currency.
Alternatively, you are also able to exchange money at a bank. There is a bank branch on the ground floor of the Hotel Lotte in Tashkent. If so, make sure you take your passport and ensure your money in smaller denominations and that the notes are new, clean and crisp (EUR50 or US50 the largest).

Australian Dollars will not be accepted.

ATM’s in Uzbekistan dispense Uzbek SUM. They are starting to appear everywhere in the major cities but may run out of funds and are now lowering the limits for cash withdrawals from ATM machines. Most will dispense with your Mastercard or Visa card. Make sure you inform your bank of your travel plans, so they don’t unnecessarily block your cards whilst on tour. They may also offer safer alternatives for transacting, such as Travel Money cards as opposed to using your actual credit or debit cards in ATM’s.

Visa

Australian & New Zealand Passport holders no longer require a visa to enter Uzbekistan under a new visa-free arrangement for single-entry stays of up to 30 days.

For other nationalities, please check with your local authority, consulate or embassy for requirements.

Telephone & Communication

Mobile Telephones

Most mobile telephones work in Uzbekistan and coverage is reasonable throughout the country, apart from the desert areas.
Check with your local provider regarding ‘Global Roaming’ and coverage in the places you are visiting. If you are planning to purchase a local sim card, please check with your local provider prior to departure to make sure your phone is unlocked and will accept another sim card.

It is far more economical and efficient to purchase a local SIM card on arrival at the airport prior to making your way to your hotel. Check the local SIM is working before leaving the airport.

WhatsApp Messenger is an economical way to stay in touch with friends and family. WhatsApp is free and offers simple, secure, reliable messaging and calling service.

ASA tour leaders use WhatsApp to communicate with tour participants while travelling, so the app should be downloaded to your mobile devise prior to joining the program.

Internet

Internet access varies in speed and availability throughout Uzbekistan. Many hotels and cafes offer access.

Personal Safety

We recommend you drink only bottled water. Tap water is not recommended.
We strongly recommend the use of a money belt to keep your cash, cards and travel documents safe. This should be kept under your clothes at all times. This is a precaution that should be taken anywhere due to the difficulties that can be experienced when trying to replace stolen items.
Take photocopies or photos of all important documents (passport, credit cards, E-tickets, insurance).
It is generally helpful to take a business card from the hotel you are staying at. This can assist hugely if you get lost or if there is a language barrier. If you have a key card for your hotel, make sure you keep these two cards separate. Take a photo of your room number so you do not need to carry the ‘envelope’ in which your key card was provided.
Take extra care in crowded places and avoid keeping your wallet or phone in your hip pocket.

Australians Studying Abroad takes the health and safety of its travellers seriously and every measure is taken to ensure that trips are safe, fun and enjoyable. We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure:

Australia Smart Traveller
New Zealand Safe Travel
Canada Canada Travel Information
United Kingdon UK Foreign Travel Advice
USA US Department of State

The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.

Health

It is advisable to consult with your doctor or local travel clinic in the weeks leading up to your departure, allowing enough time to obtain any relevant vaccinations or travel medication that may be required. Medication for traveller’s diarrhea is recommended (see Centre for Disease Control for further information https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2024/preparing/travelers-diarrhea).

Travelling with Medication

Not all medications available in your home country, over the counter or by prescription, are available in other countries. Some may be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by a doctor. If unsure, travellers should check the regulations on importing or transporting medicines to their chosen destination by contacting the relevant embassy or high commission for clarification.

All medication should be carried in their original packaging and in your hand luggage. If you are taking medication whilst travelling, please make sure you have enough for the duration of your trip.

Carry a letter from your doctor stating:

what the medication is and what it is for
your required dosage
that it is for personal use

For more information, contact the Uzbekistan Embassy in your country.

Australia www.dfat.gov.au
New Zealand www.mfat.govt.nz
Canada www.travel.gc.ca
United Kingdom www.gov.uk
USA US Department of State

What to Pack

Clothing (general)

The time of the year you visit this destination will dictate the type of clothing it is appropriate to bring, the weather can be changeable. In some places, particularly in the mornings and evenings, it can be quite cold and in addition, some potentially hot temperatures at the desert sites of Nukus, Khiva and Burkara. For daytime activities, we suggest a wardrobe that is versatile, casual and comfortable. It is recommended that “layered” clothing might offer the best comfort in a variety of conditions. Always expect the weather to be changeable.

It is important that women dress modestly, for example long skirts or dresses (below the knee) with long sleeves. Tight-fitting clothes must be avoided and always keep shoulders covered. Lightweight, loose-fitting pants are best. Shorts should never be worn in public. In some cases, women will also be required to wear a headscarf, especially at religious sites, so please ensure that you carry one or two for the duration of the tour.

Dress codes are more relaxed for men than women, but shorts and sleeveless tops are generally considered inappropriate, especially in more conservative areas and religious buildings. Men can, however, wear short-sleeved tops into mosques and do not need to cover their hair. Long trousers allowing for both mild and cool weather should be worn. Wearing shorts is not recommended.

Beyond the normal wardrobe, we suggest the following:

Day pack or a cross-body handbag. Site visits often involve walking on cobbled streets and uneven ground, up numerous steps and may be of a reasonable duration. You will want to have your hands free to hold rails or steady yourself as applicable. A day pack will allow you to easily carry your ancillary items: camera, torch, waterproof, sunhat, sunscreen, bottled water, sunglasses etc.
A hiking pole (fold-up) should be considered as many sites have steps and uneven ground, often without handrails.
Comfortable walking shoes are very important (hiking boots are not required); sandals or open shoes are only suitable for the evening.
Sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat.
Travel torch.
Folding umbrella and/or waterproof, windproof jacket.
Fleece or pullover. It can be cold in the mornings / evenings, and you do travel to medium altitude where the temperatures can vary considerably.
Shampoo and soap, while these are provided by all hotels the quality may not be great.
Toilet paper, wet wipes and hand sanitiser. (see note below – Toilets)
Camera: Please take all necessary equipment/spares as will be difficult to purchase additional supplies while on tour.
As this is a Muslim country, foreign women should dress modestly, and a head scarf will be required to cover your hair and shoulders when visiting a mosque.
Shorts and sleeveless tops are not appropriate.
Extra prescription eyeglasses (if required).
Small medical kit – you may wish to include antiseptic cream, antibiotics (check with your doctor and refer to note above), medicine for pain or fever e.g. Panadol or Aspirin (nothing with codeine however), anti diarrhoea & anti-nausea tablets, mild laxatives, motion sickness medication (if applicable), insect repellent, anti itch cream, cough drops, oral rehydration salts.

Eating and Drinking Precautions

You are advised to:

drink only bottled water
wash fruit and vegetable in bottled water and peel all fruits and vegetables, stay away from fresh salads
avoid eating unpasteurized dairy products, including ice cream unless a’ labeled brand’ and most food sold in the streets
never use ice unless you know it has been made from safe water (this includes luxury hotels)
clean your teeth in bottled water

Travellers need to be stricter with their personal hygiene habits when travelling in developing countries than when they are at home in a ‘safer’ environment. A simple and effective way of decreasing the ingestion of unwanted organisms is to use hand sanitiser frequently.

Toilets: Once you have left the hotel the toilets will be a mixture of Squat and Western style. Carry your own supply of soap/sanitiser and toilet paper, as these aren’t always provided.

Additional packing tips pertaining to Food and Drinks

We recommend you consider taking the following with you:

Instant coffee or coffee bags, tea bags, sugar (or sugar substitute) or powdered or tube milk. The coffee is not always good.
Instant soup, biscuits and other dry snack food (if the local cuisine gets too much on certain days!)
You can store biscuits in zip lock bags or containers. You may also wish to think about bringing a tube of vegemite or the like to put on your biscuits. Power bars, muesli bars & nuts make great snacks for afternoon or morning tea. It can be quite difficult to find this kind of snack food or sweet treats.

Etiquette

No attempt should be made to photograph anything remotely connected with the armed forces and police or in the vicinity of defense installations. Many people do not like being photographed, while others may try to obtain money from you. Always ask permission before photographing someone.
Handshaking is the normal form of greeting between men.
Tipping is expected in restaurants, coffee shops, taxi’s etc – the expected amount is 10%. Check your bill as some restaurants may already add the tip.

Climate

The climate in Uzbekistan differs according to region. We suggest checking the weather forecast for the most up-to-date information, prior to your departure.
www.worldweatheronline.com or www.weather-finder.com

Average minimum/maximum Temperatures (˚C)

City

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Tashkent

-1/8

0/9

6/17

11/23

16/29

21/35

23/38

21/36

16/30

10/22

4/13

0/8

The information above has been compiled with care and provided in good faith however it is subject to change.