Tashkent to Qarshi: How to Get to Kashkadarya
Train, plane and car to Qarshi, keeping in mind that many travellers continue to Shahrisabz, Kitab or Guzar. We compare the options and travel times.
Qarshi is the main city of Kashkadarya, a large region in the south of the country between Samarkand and Surkhandarya. For many people it is not the final destination but a hub: from here they head to Shahrisabz, Kitab, Guzar, mountain villages and further south. So it pays to choose your transport to Qarshi with your next leg in mind. Here are all the options from Tashkent.
Distance
By road Tashkent to Qarshi is about 450–500 km, depending on the route. The main way is the M39 to Samarkand, then south over the low Jam pass along a steppe road to Qarshi. There is also a route over the Takhtakaracha pass and through Shahrisabz, but it is longer and harder.
By train
Both high-speed and regular trains run between Tashkent and Qarshi.
- The high-speed train is the most convenient option: the trip takes about 3.5–4 hours with a stop in Samarkand. Tickets for popular dates sell out early.
- Regular trains are slower, but some of them run overnight: board in Tashkent in the evening and arrive in Qarshi in the morning.
Timetables and the number of services change with the seasons, so check in advance. Qarshi station is within the city, a short taxi ride from the centre.
By plane
Domestic flights run from Tashkent to Qarshi and take just over an hour. There are few of them, and once you add the trip to the airport and check-in, the time saved compared with the high-speed train is small. Flying makes sense if the train is sold out or you have just arrived in Tashkent from abroad and want to connect south straight away.
By car
The drive takes 6–7 hours.
The route via Jam
- Tashkent to Samarkand on the M39: about 300 km, 4–4.5 hours, via Syrdarya and Jizzakh.
- Samarkand to Qarshi via Jam: about 150 km across the steppe, 2–2.5 hours. The road is flat with no serious hairpins and is passable all year.
The route via Shahrisabz
If you are heading to Shahrisabz or Kitab rather than Qarshi itself, it makes sense to turn off in Samarkand for the Takhtakaracha pass. And if your goal is Qarshi but you want to see Shahrisabz, you can go over the pass and through Shahrisabz, then follow the Kashkadarya valley down to Qarshi. This adds 1–1.5 hours.
Shared ride
Drivers heading south from Tashkent post trips on Yo'ldosh with a departure time and price per seat. Drivers are verified and you see their profile in advance. It is cheaper than a whole taxi, and when booking you can ask whether the driver can drop you on the way, for example in Samarkand. Trips are on the Tashkent — Qarshi page.
If you are going beyond Qarshi
Qarshi works well as a base or a transfer point:
| Destination | Distance from Qarshi | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Shahrisabz | about 90–100 km | 1.5 h |
| Kitab | about 100–110 km | 1.5–2 h |
| Guzar | about 60 km | 1 h |
| Termez | about 280 km | 4.5–5.5 h |
Figures are approximate. Minibuses and shared taxis run from Qarshi to these towns, and shared rides are posted too.
Which option to choose
- Going to Shahrisabz or Kitab. The most convenient is the high-speed train to Samarkand and a car over the pass. If the pass is closed or you want to avoid the hairpins, take the train to Qarshi and drive across the plain.
- Going to Guzar or southern Kashkadarya. Train or car to Qarshi, then a short hop.
- Going to Qarshi itself. The high-speed train is the best choice.
What to see in Qarshi
Qarshi is an ancient city, known in the Middle Ages as Nasaf. Today it is a calm, green regional centre with several interesting monuments:
- the Odina mosque, 16th century, with a distinctive dome;
- the Kok Gumbaz mosque, a large domed mosque from the same era;
- the Bekmir madrasa and other buildings of the old centre;
- the old brick bridge over the Kashkadarya, built several centuries ago.
At the local bazaar, try Kashkadarya flatbread and shashlik.
Practical tips
- Kashkadarya is very hot in summer, so if you are driving, leave early and bring water.
- There may be checkpoints at the regional border, so keep your passport with you.
- If your train arrives late in the evening, arrange accommodation or a transfer in advance.
- Before holidays and during the autumn wedding season, tickets and car seats sell out faster.
The bottom line
The easiest way from Tashkent to Qarshi is the high-speed train in 3.5–4 hours; by car it is 6–7 hours via Samarkand and Jam. If you are travelling further to Shahrisabz, Kitab or Guzar, decide in advance where it is easiest to change. Trips south from the capital are posted on the Tashkent — Qarshi page; all other destinations are in the routes section.
Cover photo: Jamshid Nurkulov, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
