Uzbekistan with Kids: A Family Route and Tips

Uzbekistan is a good country for family travel: people treat children warmly, the food is simple and tasty, and the history and fairy-tale cities appeal to kids of any age. At the same time, travelling with children requires a slightly different pace from a trip for two. Here is how to build a route so everyone is interested and nobody gets exhausted. For getting between the main cities, Tashkent — Samarkand, for example, works well.

Principles of a family trip

1. Less is more. Do not try to see the whole country in a week. One or two cities in a week beat five in ten days.
2. Plan one main stop a day. Leave the rest of the time for rest, food and play.
3. Consider age. Toddlers need sleep and meal routines, school-age children enjoy stories and impressions, teenagers want independence and photo opportunities.
4. Build in a time buffer. Children may tire, get hungry or need the toilet at the worst moment.
5. Bring familiar things. A favourite toy, a snack and wet wipes make life much easier.

Tashkent: a good starting point

The capital is good for getting to know the country and has plenty of children's entertainment: a zoo, parks with rides, a planetarium, museums, a children's railway. Spacious parks and fountains are good for walks. The metro, decorated with mosaics and paintings, is a sight in itself, and children love riding it. Tashkent is the easiest place to adjust to the heat and the time and to stock up on what you need.

Samarkand: a fairytale city

Blue domes, huge squares, mosaics and tales of Tamerlane and Ulugh Beg captivate children. You can invent games for them: find the most beautiful pattern, count the domes, make up a legend about the building. The Registan has lots of room to walk, and at Siab Bazaar you can try flatbread and sweets. Explain history in short, lively stories rather than a lecture.

Bukhara: a city that is fun to wander

A small, compact old town with ponds, domes and narrow lanes. It is convenient to walk, and children like finding the trading domes, workshops where you can watch potters and metal chasers, and puppet shops. It is cooler in the evening, and a stroll by the Lyabi-Hauz pond becomes a pleasant ritual.

Mountains and nature near Tashkent

If you want a break from cities, head to the mountains by the Charvak reservoir. Fresh air, water and greenery please children. We wrote more about this in our article on family rest in the mountains. For the trip, the Tashkent — Chirchik route is handy, continuing toward the mountains.

Transfers with children

Transfers are the hardest part. What helps:

• Timing. Leave in the morning when children are rested, or plan the transfer for a toddler's nap.
• Stops. Every hour and a half to two hours: stretch, use the toilet, drink water.
• Activities. Books, colouring, audio stories, songs, games like "spot a red car". A tablet with downloaded cartoons helps too.
• Safety. Children should ride in a suitable child seat or booster, buckled in.
• Choice of transport. A high-speed train is handy because you can walk through the carriage. A shared ride is good for flexible timing and pickup near home. Read more in our article on travelling with children.

Where to stay

• Family guesthouses. Often the warmest option: roomy courtyards, home cooking, attentive hosts. Ask about a cot and a kitchen.
• Hotels. Convenient for service and pools. Check for family rooms.
• Apartments. Good for a long stay: a kitchen and washing machine.

Check the conditions for children in advance, and whether there is air conditioning: it can be hot in May and September too.

Food

Uzbek cuisine is child-friendly: flatbread, samsa, plov, kebabs, manti, soups, fruit. If a child is fussy, you can always get bread and plain broth. Spicy dishes are usually served separately. Use bottled water and wash fruit. Seasonal melons, grapes, apricots and pomegranates are usually loved by children more than any sweets.

Season

The best time to travel with children is April-May and September-October: comfortable temperatures. Summer is very hot, and it is better to rest in the shade at midday and sightsee in the morning and evening. Winter is cool, but there are few tourists.

What to bring

• sun protection, sun hats, light clothing;
• a supply of water and snacks;
• wet wipes, a motion-sickness remedy on a doctor's advice;
• a simple first-aid kit and documents, including insurance;
• a carrier or light stroller for toddlers, bearing in mind the uneven paving of the old towns.

Bottom line

Uzbekistan with children is an adventure the whole family will remember. Plan unhurriedly, look after routine and rest, and the stories and vivid impressions will do the rest. You can browse all directions on the all routes page, with booking details on the for passengers page.

Cover photo: Carpodacus, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.