Tashkent to the Fergana Valley by Car over the Kamchik Pass

The Fergana Valley lies just east of Tashkent, but a mountain range stands in between. The direct road crosses it at the Kamchik Pass, one of the most scenic drives in Uzbekistan, and a private car with a driver takes you from your hotel in Tashkent to the town you need in the valley — Kokand, Fergana, Margilan or another. This guide covers that transfer: the road, the seasons, the cars and how it compares with the train.

Key facts

• Route: Tashkent – Angren valley – Kamchik Pass – Fergana Valley, on the Tashkent–Osh highway.
• Pass height: about 2,268 m above sea level.
• Driving time: about 4 hours to the first towns of the valley, as on our Fergana Valley tour; stops add to it.
• Destinations: any town in the valley you need, for example Kokand, Fergana or Margilan; the transfer also runs back to Tashkent.
• Cars: any of our vehicles can be arranged on this route, from a sedan for 3 travellers to a coach for 45.
• Service: a private car with a professional driver, door to door, 24/7.
• Alternative: trains from Tashkent through the Kamchik railway tunnel.
• Price: per car, not per person — contact us for your date.

The road over the Kamchik Pass

The drive starts on the flat land around Tashkent and soon heads east into the valley of the Angren river, past the mining town of Angren. Beyond it the road climbs into the Kurama range in long curves and wide hairpin bends to the Kamchik Pass, at about 2,268 m. This is the Tashkent–Osh highway, a well-built and busy road with heavy traffic of cars and lorries, because it is the main road link between the capital and the valley.

On the far side the road descends through a long, dry mountain valley before the land opens out into the Fergana Valley: orchards, cotton fields, mulberry trees and towns that follow one another along the roads. From here the driver takes you to the address you gave us.

Where it is safe to pull over, a short photo stop is possible — tell the driver. A tea or lunch break on the way can be added on request too.

The pass in every season

Spring and autumn are the easiest seasons for the drive: mild temperatures, clear views and, in spring, green slopes. Summer is hot in the valley and in Tashkent, but cooler on the pass itself; an air-conditioned car and an early start make the day comfortable.

Winter is different. The pass is high, snow is common, and the road can be closed for a time because of snow and avalanche risk. On those days the train through the tunnel is the way into the valley. If you plan to travel between December and March, ask us about the road shortly before your date and keep the train in mind as a second option.

Car or train through the Kamchik tunnel

Since 2016 a railway line has linked Tashkent with the valley through the Kamchik tunnel, under the pass. The train avoids the mountain road completely and is a good choice in winter or when you travel light. Our Fergana Valley guide explains the rail route and the towns in more detail.

A car makes sense when:

• you want to go from your hotel door to the next hotel, not from station to station;
• you want to stop at the pass or on the way;
• the train has no seats, or its times do not suit your day;
• you travel as a family or a group, with luggage, and one car or minibus is simpler than tickets for everyone.

Many travellers combine the two: the train into the valley and a car back, or the reverse. On our tour the way back from Margilan to Tashkent is by road.

Which car for the trip

Any of our vehicles can be arranged for this transfer. The seats count travellers only, and each vehicle takes as many standard suitcases as it has seats:

• Sedan (standard or premium): up to 3 travellers.
• Minivan: up to 6 (VIP) or 7 (Lux) travellers.
• Minibus: up to 16 travellers.
• Midibus or coach: 29 or 45 seats, on request.

On a mountain road a little extra room is worth it: three travellers with large suitcases are more comfortable in a minivan. Child seats are available on request where possible, free of charge. For more on choosing a car, see our guide to hiring a private driver in Uzbekistan.

Combining the transfer with the valley

The transfer takes you to the valley; the valley itself is worth at least two days. Kokand has the tiled palace of Khudoyar Khan, Rishtan its blue-glazed ceramics, and Margilan its silk workshops — our guide to Fergana Valley crafts describes what you see in each. If you would rather have the visits organised, our 2-day Fergana Valley tour from Tashkent covers Kokand, Rishtan and Margilan with a night in Fergana.

If you book the car for those days, the same car and driver can stay with you in the valley and bring you back to Tashkent at the end.

Practical tips

• Start in the morning: you arrive in daylight, with time for a first visit.
• Pack a warm layer: even in summer the pass is cooler than Tashkent.
• Winter trips: ask us about the road before you go, and keep the train as a second option.
• Keep your passport with you: the valley borders Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
• Car-sickness: if anyone is sensitive, say so; the descent has long bends.
• Cash: carry some local currency for tea stops and small purchases.

Plan it with TravelBliss

We arrange private transfers from Tashkent to any town in the Fergana Valley and back, in any of our vehicles, as well as guides, hotels and train tickets for the rest of the trip. See all vehicles on our private transfers page or send your dates and route through Plan your trip. The price is per car and depends on the vehicle and the destination town; we confirm it for your date by WhatsApp or e-mail.