The Fergana Valley in 5 Days: All Three Regional Capitals and the Mountains
An extended loop around the valley: Namangan with Chust and the foothills, Andijan, Fergana with Margilan, and the way home through Rishtan and Kokand.
The Fergana Valley is the most densely populated part of Uzbekistan, and each of its towns has its own personality. Namangan is known for gardens and flowers, Andijan for its links to Babur, Fergana for its shady streets, and Margilan, Rishtan and Kokand for their crafts. Five days are enough to visit all three regional capitals, drop into the small craft towns and get up into the foothills, where summers are cooler. The route is a loop: we enter the valley through Namangan and leave through Kokand.
Day by day
| Day | Route | Time on the road |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tashkent to Namangan | 4.5–5 h |
| 2 | Chust, Akhsikent, the foothills | 2–3 h in total |
| 3 | Namangan to Andijan | about 1.5 h |
| 4 | Andijan to Fergana, Margilan | 1.5–2 h |
| 5 | Rishtan, Kokand, Tashkent | 6–7 h with stops |
Day 1: over the Kamchik Pass to Namangan
The road from Tashkent to Namangan runs about 300 km over the Kamchik Pass and usually takes 4.5–5 hours. Leave in the morning and you will be in town by lunch. Namangan is green and relaxed, full of parks and rose gardens, and every spring it hosts a flower festival.
What to see in the afternoon:
- the Mullah Kyrgyz Madrasa, a handsome late 19th-century building;
- the Khoja Amin mausoleum;
- the central park and the evening market selling local bread and fruit.
Day 2: Chust, Akhsikent and the mountains
In the morning head to Chust, about 40 km and 45 minutes away. The town is famous for handmade knives and for skullcaps with a black-and-white pattern. At the bazaar and in the workshops the knives are sold by the makers themselves; remember that a knife must go in checked baggage, never in your carry-on.
On the way back stop at Akhsikent on the bank of the Syr Darya, the ruins of the ancient capital of Fergana. It is not a restored monument but a working archaeological site, so wear sturdy shoes.
In the afternoon drive up into the foothills north of Namangan: the area around the Kasansay reservoir and the Chartak resort zone with its mineral springs. In summer it is several degrees cooler here than down in the valley, and locals come for shashlik and tea by the water. A car makes this much easier, as public transport is irregular.
Day 3: Andijan
The drive from Namangan to Andijan is about 70 km, roughly an hour and a half. Andijan is the birthplace of Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur, founder of the Mughal dynasty.
- The Babur house-museum in the old town, on the spot where his home is said to have stood.
- The Babur park and memorial on Bogishamal hill outside the city, looking out over the valley.
- The Juma Mosque and madrasa, the largest old ensemble in Andijan.
- The bazaar, one of the busiest in the valley.
Andijan lies near the Kyrgyz border, so expect road checkpoints. Keep your passport on you.
Day 4: Fergana and Margilan
The road from Andijan to Fergana is about 75 km, an hour and a half. Fergana is the youngest of the valley's cities, with broad streets and parks, and it is a convenient place for your last night.
After checking in, Margilan is 20 minutes away: the Yodgorlik silk factory, where atlas is woven on hand looms, and the Said Ahmad Khoja ensemble. If your visit falls on a Kumtepa Bazaar day, start there; check the market days in advance.
Day 5: Rishtan, Kokand and home
The last day is long but rewarding. Rishtan, famous for its blue ceramics, lies on the road west, 50 km from Fergana. Spend an hour or so in a workshop, then continue to Kokand: Khudayar Khan's palace, the Juma Mosque with its carved columns and the Narbutabey Madrasa. After lunch set off for Tashkent: about 230 km from Kokand and 3.5–4 hours over the pass. You will be back by evening.
Seasons
- April–May: orchards in bloom, the Namangan flower festival, mild weather.
- June–August: hot in the valley, but the foothills help; the best cherries and apricots.
- September–October: harvest time, grapes and melons, warm days.
- Winter: quiet and inexpensive, but the Kamchik Pass is sometimes closed in bad weather.
Tips
- Many workshops are private homes, so call ahead or arrange visits through a guide.
- Dress modestly, especially in mosques and at bazaars in small towns: cover shoulders and knees.
- Outside the regional capitals you will need cash almost everywhere.
- Do not plan a trip to the Shakhimardan exclave without checking the rules: the road crosses Kyrgyz territory and entry conditions change.
Getting around
Trains within the valley are infrequent, and towns are only 40–90 km apart, so a car is the most convenient option. A shared ride on Yo'ldosh is usually cheaper than a taxi: you book a seat in the app, drivers are verified and you can leave when it suits you. Look for rides on Tashkent to Namangan, Namangan to Andijan and Andijan to Fergana, and find other valley towns under all routes.
Cover photo: Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons.
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