Hello!
Could anyone advise on the best way to travel from Tashkent to Khiva? From what I understand, the best option is by train? How and where should I purchase tickets for it?
Also, is it a good idea to start exploring this "Eastern fairy tale" from Khiva? (After Khiva, we plan the usual route: Bukhara, Samarkand, and back to Tashkent.)
Thank you for your responses and tips!
By plane—there are three flights per day (and they’re inexpensive). Uzbekistan Airways Website (uzairways.com)
You can only take the train to Urgench. From there, you’ll need to continue either by taxi or trolleybus.
The official ticketing site isn’t reliable at the moment. Try alternative platforms or purchase directly at the station in Tashkent. There are two trains running to Urgench, so there should be available seats.
Taking the train is fine—just opt for the night train during hot weather (Train No. 056 departs at 17:15 but doesn’t run every day). From Urgench, it’s only 30 km to Khiva. As others mentioned, you can take either a trolleybus or a minibus. The trolleybus is the most enjoyable—it’s spacious, has large windows, and feels like a sightseeing tour. Good luck!
The fastest way is to fly to Urgench. There are several flights daily. From Urgench, you can take a car, trolleybus, or taxi to Khiva. Just keep in mind, if you arrive on an evening flight, you won’t catch the trolleybus. The trolleybus ride takes about 1.5 hours, while a taxi only takes 30 minutes.
We’re also planning a trip to Khiva from Samarkand and are now considering transport from Khiva to Bukhara. So far, I haven’t found any convenient options.
The train takes from 11 AM to 6 PM, which isn’t ideal. I haven’t found any reliable information about taxis. How are you planning to travel from Khiva?
I just returned from Uzbekistan, following the route Khiva–Bukhara–Samarkand–Tashkent.
There’s a 7-hour train from Khiva to Bukhara, and tickets can be purchased on the Uzbek Railways website. However, some trains listed on the site don’t actually sell tickets. This might be due to the winter schedule or low demand during the off-season.
For our trip, we couldn’t get tickets for a Saturday train despite constant monitoring. We ended up rescheduling to Sunday. The train departs Khiva, stops at Urgench, and continues to Bukhara. If you’re in Khiva, it’s more convenient to board there.
A tip: there are no shops at the Khiva train station, so bring enough water and snacks for the 7-hour trip. While vendors sometimes sell snacks onboard, availability isn’t guaranteed.
For the leg from Bukhara to Samarkand (and Tashkent), the high-speed Afrosiyob trains are very reliable—no issues getting tickets.
Taxi prices from Khiva to Bukhara are around $100, but negotiating is possible. Keep in mind, the road passes through the desert and can be challenging in places, so the train is a better option.
Feel free to ask if you have any questions—I’ll share what I know!