Uzbekistan
Travel Tips. Just for you.
You’ve put so much thought, energy and time into picking your destination and finalizing your itinerary. Just as important as the big picture, the small details can make or break a trip. Select your destination and discover great tips, tricks, and hacks for making travel smooth and hassle-free.
Everything You Need to Know
Before You GO!
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VISA AND PASSPORTS +
- U.S. citizens must possess a valid Uzbek visa and a valid US passport.
- Visitors may not enter Uzbekistan with a valid Uzbek visa in a canceled or expired US passport, even if they present another valid US passport at the port of entry.
- Visas CANNOT be obtained upon arrival at Uzbek airports.
- US citizens can apply for electronic visas to Uzbekistan at e-visa.gov.uz.
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CONSULAR INFORMATION +
The US State Department provides Country Specific Information sheets for every country in the world as well as Travel Alerts and Warnings. For this information, call 888 407 4747 or 202 501 4444 or visit travel.state.gov.
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HEALTH +
- Insurance: Travelers should make sure their health insurance plan covers them when outside of the United States. The U.S Embassy cannot pay medical bills.
- U.S. Medicare and Medicaid does not pay overseas.
- Medical care in Uzbekistan is below Western standards, with shortages of basic medical supplies, including disposable needles, anaesthetics, and antibiotics. A large percentage of medication sold in local pharmacies is known to be counterfeit. Elderly travelers and those with pre-existing health problems may be at particular risk due to inadequate medical facilities. Most resident U.S. citizens travel to North America or Western Europe for their medical needs. U.S. Embassy Tashkent’s Consular Section maintains a list of medical contacts on the Embassy website.
- Trauma care in Uzbekistan is far below Western trauma care standards, and therefore emergency medical conditions and issues often require medical evacuation. Travelers are urged to purchase medical evacuation insurance before traveling to Uzbekistan
- Medical care is limited and well below U.S. standards.
- Drink only boiled or bottled water, peel fruits and vegetables, and avoid undercooked meat. Avoid eating unpasteurized dairy products and most food sold in the street.
- Be up-to-date on all vaccinations recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the World Health Organization (WHO), which contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information.
- Special meals and allergies: If you require special meals for health or dietary reasons, please let your J2 Adventures operator know at least 60 days prior to your departure.
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TRAVEL INSURANCE +
We strongly recommend that you purchase your own travel insurance. Please discuss land, air. and health insurance options with your insurance provider. Some insurance programs provide more comprehensive coverage when the policy is purchased in close proximity to the initial trip deposit. We therefore recommend that you secure insurance within 14 days of your initial deposit payment date.
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CURRENCY AND BANK INFORMATION +
- The Uzbekistani Som is the currency of Uzbekistan
- Click here to obtain the most current exchange rates.
- ATMs can be found in major cities, including in some top-end hotels and some banks, but they are frequently out of order. Try to avoid using ATMs on a Sunday when they are almost always out of cash.
- In most of Tashkent’s top-end hotels, in a couple of hotels outside the capital and in a few banks, but they are frequently out of order. Try to avoid using ATMs on a Sunday, when they are almost always out of cash.
- Cash US dollars are still the easiest way to change money into som. Make sure they are pristine notes with no marks on them. Euros can also be used and changed, but it’s not as easy.
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ELECTRICITY +
- In Uzbekistan, the standard voltage is 220 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. Most hotels provide hairdryers.
- Make sure to bring a travel adapter for Uzbekistan so you can safely use electric shavers, traveling irons, phone rechargers, and other small appliances.
- For more information, visit worldstandards.eu.
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TIME ZONE +
Uzbekistan is ten hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, US. To determine current time in major cities around the world, visit timeanddate.com.
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CELL PHONES +
ips to avoid international roaming charges:
- Use your existing plan – contact your local carrier to find out plans and prices for data roaming.
- Rent a device – rent a phone, download your information, and use the borrowed device as if it were your own.
- Get a local SIM card – Make sure your phone is “unlocked” before purchasing a local SIM card in your destination and using your phone on the local network.
- Wi-Fi only – Turn off your cellular data, switch your phone to airplane mode, and enable a Wi-Fi connection to access Internet hotspots in your destination.
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INTERNATIONAL CALLS +
Because of the time difference between the United States and Uzbekistan some advance planning is in order so you can call at a convenient time and when calling charges are lowest.
For international calls from Uzbekistan to US:
Dial 8 (wait) 10 – 1 – Area Code 00 + 1 + the area code and phone number.
For example, to dial a number in Atlanta, Georgia, you would dial 00 + 1 +404 (Atlanta area code) + your party’s phone number. -
CUISINE +
Uzbek cuisine shares the culinary traditions of Turkic peoples across Central Asia. There is a great deal of grain farming in Uzbekistan, so breads and noodles are a main staple. Mutton is a popular variety of meat due to the abundance of sheep in the country and it is a part of various Uzbek dishes.
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FACILITIES FOR THE DISABLED +
- The country is not well equipped for travelers with mobility constraints. Access to buildings and attractions can be a problem and ramps are not commonplace. Streets and walkways are often in poor condition and very uneven.
- Should you require handicapped facilities, please contact our office.
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LANGUAGE +
The official language of Uzbekistan is Uzbeck spoken by approximately 85% of the population. The Uzbek language is a Turkic language related to the Uyghur language, and both languages belong to the Kurlak languages, a branch of the Turkic language family.
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WEATHER +
Uzbekistan has an extreme continental climate: It is generally warmest in the south and coldest in the north. Best time to visit Uzbekistan is spring (April to June) and fall (September to October). Summers are mostly dry.
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BAGGAGE +
Confirm baggage limitations with your international carrier before packing. Remember that airlines can change their baggage restrictions at any time.
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FLIGHTS AND AIRPORTS +
- Be sure to reconfirm your international flights with your airline 24 hours prior to your departure.
- Passengers must check in for international flights from the US/Canada at least three hours prior to departure time.
Airport Security
Security checks are carried out routinely for your protection and safety. Expect to be asked about the contents of your luggage, about who packed it, whether anyone asked you to transport items for them, and whether your luggage remained with you before you arrived at the airport. Do not take any mail, packages, or unknown items from anyone either before or after arriving at the airport. -
ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE TRANSFERS +
- If your package includes arrival and departure transfers, this will be detailed in your travel documents which will be e-mailed to you up to one week prior to your trip.
- If you deviate from the arrival and/or departure dates and time as specified in your travel documents, you will need to arrange your own transfers. Alternatively, you may request a transfer service up to three working days prior to your arrival and the cost of the transfer service will be added to your invoice.
- When requesting a transfer service, please provide us with your flight information. Your arrival transfer is guaranteed for up to one hour from your scheduled arrival time in order to compensate for minor delays.
- J2 Adventures or the transfer company will not be responsible for delays, for any reason, beyond one hour from your originally scheduled arrival time. In case of a delay, it will be your responsibility to contact us directly and/or to make other transfer arrangements, such as by taxi.
- Transfer costs are not refundable and any additional expenses will be your responsibility.
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CHECKING IN AT YOUR HOTEL +
If you arrive at your hotel before the customary 3:00 p.m. check-in time, your room may not be available. Store your luggage with the concierge and take the time to walk around and get a feel for your new city.
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PROTECTING VALUABLE ITEMS +
- Hotel safes are usually provided and can be used to protect valuables such as passports, medications, jewelry, money, and electronics. If you must carry valuables, keep them on your person at all times, be mindful of your surroundings, and take extra caution in crowds.
- We recommend photocopying the personal information pages of your passport and leaving one copy with a family member or friend and packing another in a place separate from the passport itself. You can also scan your passport and email a copy to yourself for easy online access. This will help you to secure a replacement quickly should the need arise.
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SHOPPING +
Where and whether to shop while traveling with us is a personal choice and shopping is never compulsory. If at any point during your journey you feel pressured to shop or make purchases, please discuss the matter immediately with your tour educator.
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TIPPING GUIDELINES +
We recommend the following for tipping (amounts in US dollars):
- Groups of 20 participants or more:
J2 Adventures educator $8, local guide $5, and driver $3 per participant per day - Groups of 10-19 participants:
J2 Adventures educator $10, local guide $6, and driver $3 per participant per day - Hostess (when included):
$4 per participant per day or a minimum of $100 per group per day - Security guard and/or a youth counselor (when included):
$1 per participant per day to each security guard or youth counselor - Recommended restaurant tipping when lunch or dinner is on your own:
10%-15% depending on your satisfaction. - Porter:
Included in your package.
- Groups of 20 participants or more:
J2 STUFF.
We have everything you need to know before you go. Check out our Instagram my_j2adventures for cool updates and interesting tidbits.
START PLANNING LET’S EXPLORE.
Whether you have a journey in mind, want to join a featured trip, or simply want to explore, drop us a note. We work really hard to be a loved travel company that delivers amazing and memorable experiences. So please do not be surprised when we say “yes” to every reasonable request you make!