Language

Uzbek (official) 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other languages 7.1%

Uzbekistan’s official and primary language, Uzbek, belongs to the southeastern or Chagatai branch of the Turkic language family. The Uzbeks were the least Russified of the Turkic peoples formerly part of the Soviet Union, and virtually all still use Uzbek as their primary language.

Following independence from the Soviet Union, Uzbek replaced Russian as the language of education. Russian language skills among Uzbeks have declined greatly since independence, but in a region that is very multilingual, Russian is still the lingua franca of Central Asia.

Basic English is spoken by some students, government officials and by those who work in hotels and other tourism industries.

Currency

Uzbekistani Som

USD is the best currency to carry in Uzbekistan.

We recommend you bring US Dollars cash only dated no earlier than 2006 (the newer the better) in larger denominations (US$50 & US$100) as your main source of money. ALL notes should be in excellent condition. They should not be torn or have any writing on them. If in doubt ask your bank to supply alternatives.

Credit cards and ATM’s are not as widely accepted in Uzbekistan so it is not recommended to rely on these solely.

International Dialing Code

+998

Electricity

Electricity in Uzbekistan is 220 Volts, at 50 hertz. The most common pin type is C. (2 round prong).

Visas

Passport holders from the following countries and all European Union citizens are eligible for visa-free entry for a stay of up to 30 days. This service can be used for multiple entries:-

Australia

New Zealand

Canada

United Kingdom

US citizens aged either under 16 years or over 55 years of age are eligible for visa-free entry for a stay of up to 30 days. All other US citizens can gain a visa via two ways. The easiest and quickest is an e visa through the official website https://e-visa.gov.uz/main The price for a Double entry e-visa is US$35 (subject to change) and takes up to 5 business days to issue the e-visa. The e visa works at all entry points: land borders and airports. No sticker is placed in your passport, only an entry/exit stamp. If you cannot apply to the e visa website, you will need to apply through your in country embassy. The cost changes regularly and can vary from US$55 to US$120. Refer https://uzbekistan.org/visa/ for more details.

Upon arrival you should carry spare passport photos (approx 2 photos).

It is very important that upon arrival in Uzbekistan you fill in a customs declaration form in duplicate and retain one form in your passport for your departure from Tashkent.

All other nationalities please check with your reservations consultant.

Please bear in mind that visas may be required for countries you are visiting en-route or transiting through on the way to your destination. It is important that you check the requirements of all countries you will visit.

Safety

Your safety is our number one concern. Our safety track record is exemplary thanks to careful management and thorough consultation with local partners. Our industry leading risk management procedures have become a skill that we continue to refine. Our leaders in the field are highly trained and have safety as their number one priority. Expert leaders, risk assessments, quality inclusions and your financial security all come standard when you travel with us.

Please refer to our Travel Advisory page for updates on recent events, travel warnings and advice.

We strongly recommend that all clients take out travel insurance at the time of booking to cover against sickness, accident, loss of baggage, unexpected alterations to travel arrangements and travel disruption, emergency evacuation, cancellations, etc. Insurance information is enclosed with your pre-departure information. Please contact us if you would like to obtain a quote for your trip duration.

We suggest that you consult your doctor, local government inoculation centre or a travel medical specialist in order to get the most current advice regarding vaccination requirements.

Money and valuables should always be stored safely when travelling. Keep your passport with you at all times and do not leave it in your main luggage. You will need it to change money and check into hotels. Where safety deposit boxes are available, we recommend that you use them. Keep jewellery and valuables to a minimum.