From Kokand to Tashkent: train, taxi and shared rides

You have spent a day or two in Kokand: walked through Khudayar Khan's palace, tried plov at the bazaar, and now you are working out how to get back to Tashkent. The return is no harder than the trip out, but it has its own details: departure time, boarding the train, limited seats on evening trips. Let us go through them in order.

How long the trip takes

By road from Kokand to Tashkent it is about 270 to 300 kilometres, including the climb over the Kamchik pass. Without stops a car usually needs 4 to 5 hours. With one or two stops for tea and fuel, allow 5 to 6 hours. By train the time is similar, but with the trip to the station and boarding add an hour.

The train from Kokand

Kokand's railway station is in the city, and from the centre a taxi reaches it in a few minutes. The line heads towards Tashkent, calling at stations in the valley and the mountain section. The advantages of the train:

• you do not have to think about the pass, and weather and ice do not matter;
• you can sleep, read and charge your phone calmly in the carriage;
• luggage is not limited by the size of a car's cabin.

The downsides: a fixed timetable, a limited number of departures a day, and evening seats get snapped up early. Buy tickets in the official app or at the ticket office, and check prices and timetables before you travel.

A taxi for the whole cab

A taxi from Kokand to Tashkent suits you if there are several of you, you have a lot of luggage or you are in a hurry. The cost is clearly higher than other options, so agree on the price before departure and ask what it includes. Do not climb into random cars on the station square if you are not sure about the driver.

Shared ride

This sits between a taxi and the train in price and flexibility. A driver is going to Tashkent on business and takes passengers; you book a seat in the Yo'ldosh app and see the departure time and the profile of the person at the wheel. The price per seat is usually lower than a whole-cab taxi, and you can agree on a more convenient pick-up than the station. See trips on the Kokand to Tashkent page.

How to choose a good trip:

1. Look at the driver's reviews and number of completed trips.
2. Compare the departure time with your own plan: morning trips often fill faster.
3. Check exactly where pick-up happens and where you get out in Tashkent.
4. Agree on luggage: it is best to mention large suitcases in advance.

When to leave

The best time for the return is the morning. By noon you will be over the mountains, and by evening in the capital. An evening departure is possible, but it gets dark early in the mountain section and lighting is modest in places. In winter try to cross the pass before dusk. Before holidays the road towards Tashkent is busy, so set off early.

What to do in Kokand before you leave

If you have an hour or two before departure:

• visit the city bazaar and buy dried fruit, nuts and flatbread for the road;
• see the Jami Mosque, which is not far from the centre;
• try local sweets: halva and navat travel well in a bag;
• fill a flask with tea at a tea house if you are going by car.

Do not count on buying gifts at the last minute: at the bazaar, buy things you can taste first.

What to expect on the road

You will cross a mountain pass, and in icy or foggy season traffic slows. Do not be surprised if stops take longer than usual. Bring water and a light snack, charge your phone and download a map beforehand, since signal drops in places. If you are prone to motion sickness on bends, sit in front and do not read from a screen.

Plan the return in advance

It is best to settle your return ticket while still in Tashkent, especially on holidays. If you do not know the exact return date, choose flexible options like a shared ride where you can book a seat a day or two ahead. Open the Kokand to Tashkent page to see the nearest trips, and look at all routes if you plan to keep travelling around the valley. Drivers going from Kokand to the capital will find the for drivers page useful.

Cover photo: upyernoz from Haverford, USA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons.