Tashkent to Yangiyer: Getting to the South of Syrdarya Region

Yangiyer is a young town by local standards. It was founded in the late 1950s as a centre for developing the Hungry Steppe, or Mirzachul, a vast plain between the Syr Darya and the mountains that canals turned into cotton fields. Today it is a quiet district town in the south of Syrdarya Region, close to the mountains and the border with a neighbouring country. People come here for work, to visit family and on the way to Jizzakh. Here is how to get there.

Where Yangiyer is and how long it takes

From Tashkent to Yangiyer is about 160 km by road; from Gulistan it is about 40–50 km. By car the trip from the capital takes 2.5–3 hours, and from Gulistan 40–60 minutes. The road is flat and runs through the fields, villages and canals of Mirzachul.

By train

The south of Syrdarya Region is linked to Tashkent by rail: the line towards Jizzakh and Samarkand passes through here, and the major junction station of Khavast is near Yangiyer. Depending on the service, you can travel to Yangiyer itself or to Khavast and continue by taxi or minibus.

Worth knowing:

• stops and timetables for individual trains change, so check when buying a ticket on the railway website or app;
• the train suits travellers with luggage who are not in a hurry;
• local trains are cheaper, while fast trains are quicker but do not stop everywhere;
• you will still need local transport from the station to your destination.

Buses and minibuses from Tashkent

Intercity buses and minibuses towards Gulistan, Yangiyer and Jizzakh leave from the southern and western exits of the capital. There are direct services to Yangiyer, but fewer than to Gulistan. Sometimes it is faster to go to Gulistan and change to a local minibus there.

From Gulistan to Yangiyer

Gulistan is the regional capital, and many people travel to Yangiyer from here for work, study or family. Minibuses and taxis run between the two towns and the trip is short. For regular journeys, shared rides are convenient: drivers who travel between the towns every day list their trips on Yo'ldosh and you book a seat in the app. You can find a ride on the Gulistan to Yangiyer page.

By car or shared ride from Tashkent

The road from Tashkent crosses Syrdarya Region over the plain. There are no difficult sections, but a few things to note:

1. Long straight stretches are tiring, so take a break every hour and a half to two hours.
2. Speed limits apply in villages and cameras are in use.
3. In autumn the roads carry many cotton lorries and farm vehicles.
4. In summer the heat on the plain is intense, so air conditioning and a supply of water are essential.

If you do not have a car, a shared ride is a good compromise between bus and taxi. On Yo'ldosh you can see the departure time, the route and the verified driver, and the price of a seat is typically far below a taxi for one person. Many drivers continue from Tashkent to Jizzakh and Samarkand and can drop you on the way, so confirm the drop-off point when booking.

When to set off

• From Tashkent, leave early, before 7:30 a.m., to beat city traffic and avoid reaching the plain in the hottest part of the day.
• From Yangiyer to Tashkent, travel in the morning or early afternoon so you do not arrive in the capital at evening rush hour.
• In summer, avoid travelling between noon and 4 p.m., when temperatures on the plain can exceed 40 degrees.
• At holidays, roads to the south are busy, so book shared-ride seats in advance.
• In winter, mornings on the plain can be foggy, so leave a little later once visibility improves.

What to see in and around Yangiyer

Yangiyer is interesting above all as an example of planned Soviet town building from the mid-20th century: straight streets, residential blocks and parks created from scratch in the middle of the steppe. Around it lie the endless fields of Mirzachul and the canal system without which this land would still be desert.

South of Yangiyer rise the spurs of the Turkestan range, and on the road towards Jizzakh the foothills begin. In spring the plain turns green for a short while, and that is the best time to visit if you want to see the area from more than a car window.

Practical tips

• Carry your passport: there are checkpoints on the region's roads, and the border is nearby.
• Do not photograph border or guarded installations.
• Bring cash, as small shops and markets do not always accept cards.
• If it is your first visit, confirm the address in advance: many locals navigate by block numbers.

Travelling via Gulistan

If there is no direct ride at the time you need, changing in Gulistan works well. First travel to the regional capital, which has the most transport, then take a short ride on to Yangiyer. It takes almost the same time as a direct trip, and you have far more options. It is handy to book both legs in advance so you do not have to wait in Gulistan.

How to find a ride

Look for direct rides from the capital on the Tashkent to Yangiyer page. If you cannot find a suitable one, check the route via Gulistan, and browse other destinations in the region in the routes section.

Cover photo: Jamshid Nurkulov, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.