Planning a route through Central Asia, and I’m figuring out the best way to get from Tashkent to Osh. From what I’ve gathered, it looks like I need to get to Andijan by train or bus, then maybe take a taxi to the border. What’s the deal with the border there? Is it operational, and does it have a pedestrian crossing? Has anyone done this before and can share their experience?
When you arrive at Andijan station, you’ll find local taxi drivers waiting just outside. They typically charge 30,000–40,000 UZS per person, depending on your negotiation skills. The taxis leave once full and take about 40 minutes to reach the border.
On the Uzbek side of the border, there are plenty of cafes and shops where you can spend any leftover Uzbek currency. Crossing the borders is relatively quick—around 10 minutes per side.
Once you’re through to the Kyrgyz side, you’ll find plenty of currency exchange booths right outside the gates. Just a heads-up—the exchange rates there are about 10% worse than the market rate.
From the Kyrgyz border to Osh, you have two main options:
Be mindful that minibuses don’t run as frequently on weekends—about once an hour.
The bus station in Andijan is just a 10–15-minute walk from the railway station. From there, you can catch a bus (a smaller “PAZ”-style one) to the border checkpoint called “Dustlik.” These buses run roughly every 30 minutes, and the fare is 6,000 UZS, payable in cash to the driver.
After clearing both borders, you’ll find Kyrgyz taxi drivers and minibuses waiting. The minibus fare to Osh is 15 KGS.
One important note: If you’re making the trip from Osh to Andijan, be sure to get Uzbek som while you’re still on the Kyrgyz side, as there are no exchange points on the Uzbek side. We once tried to negotiate with the bus driver to accept Kyrgyz som, but we ended up overpaying.
Don’t forget about another convenient border crossing called “Madaniyat.” It’s 37 km from Andijan and is great for those heading to Jalal-Abad or Uzgen.
From the Uzbek side, collective taxis charge 10,000 UZS from Andijan’s old bazaar to the Madaniyat crossing. Once you’re across the border, it’s just 100 KGS per person for a shared taxi ride to nearby destinations. The Madaniyat checkpoint is usually quiet, with no long queues.
The minibus fare to the border is still 6,000 UZS. Once you cross into Kyrgyzstan, you’ll already be in Osh. From there, you can use the city’s public transport (fares are 10–15 KGS) or just walk to your destination.
On the Kyrgyz side of the border, you’ll find plenty of currency exchange booths and SIM card vendors. They accept USD, EUR, RUB, and UZS for exchange.
For Russian citizens crossing the Uzbek border, you can go through the turnstile lanes, which speeds things up significantly. Keep in mind that the passport scanner doesn’t always work on the first try, so there’s no rush to head to the cabin. On the Kyrgyz side, the process is still old-school, but the queues rarely take more than 15 minutes.
How can I get from Fergana or Margilan to Osh?
I’ve noticed there are trains from Margilan to Andijan (a 45-minute ride), but the schedule isn’t ideal for me. Are there buses between these cities? How long do they take, and how much do they cost? Or maybe there’s a direct connection from Fergana to Osh or at least to the border, aside from taxis?
For trips from Fergana or Margilan to Osh, you can take either a minibus or a shared taxi to Andijan (10,000–15,000 UZS), then head to the border (6,000 UZS) and cross it on foot.
Trans-border direct routes are extremely rare and not worth considering.