Uzbekistan in Winter: Silk Road Cities Without the Crowds, and Snow in the Mountains

Most travellers come to Uzbekistan in spring or autumn. Winter, from December to February, is the quiet season — and for some travellers the best one. The great squares of Samarkand and the old towns of Bukhara and Khiva are almost empty, the light is clear and low, and snow often covers the mountains around Tashkent. This guide explains what winter is like, what to plan for and what to pack.

Key facts

• Season: December to February; spring arrives with Navruz on 21 March.
• Weather: many days are dry and sunny, but nights are cold, often below zero, and snow is possible in the cities as well as in the mountains.
• Crowds: few visitors at the main monuments.
• Snow and skiing: the Amirsoy resort in the Chimgan Mountains, about 80 km from Tashkent.
• Getting around: the high-speed train between Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara runs all year; mountain passes can be snowy.

The Silk Road cities without the crowds

In winter you can stand on Registan Square in Samarkand with only a handful of other people, walk the lanes of Shah-i-Zinda in silence and climb to the walls of Khiva's Itchan Kala without waiting. The tiled facades glow in the low winter sun, and in the evening the illuminated madrasahs are at their most beautiful. Monuments and museums stay open, and a private city tour with a guide works as well in January as in May. See our Samarkand city tour and Bukhara city tour.

Snow in the mountains: Amirsoy and Chimgan

For snow, head into the mountains east of Tashkent. Amirsoy is an all-season mountain resort in the Chimgan Mountains, about 80 km from the city, with a cable car to the Kumbel ridge at about 2,300 m and wide views of Big Chimgan. In winter it is the place for skiing and snowboarding in Uzbekistan, and a beautiful snowy day out even if you do not ski. See our Chimgan and Charvak tour.

Winter roads and mountain passes

The roads over the mountain passes — the Takhtakaracha (Kitob) Pass between Samarkand and Shakhrisabz, or the Kamchik Pass on the way to the Fergana Valley — can be covered in snow in winter. They are open most of the time, but conditions change from day to day, so plan mountain trips with some flexibility and ask us about the road before you book. Between the big cities the Afrosiyob high-speed train is the easy choice in any weather: see our Afrosiyob train guide and Samarkand in one day from Tashkent.

Warm food for cold days

Winter is the season for Uzbek comfort food: plov cooked in a big kazan, samsa straight from the tandir, rich soups and endless pots of green tea in a warm chaikhana. Tashkent's Chorsu Bazaar, under its great tiled dome, is full of dried fruit, nuts and fresh bread in every season. Read our guide to Uzbek plov.

What to pack

• Warm layers, a warm jacket, a hat and gloves for the evenings.
• Waterproof shoes with a good grip: old-town lanes and steps can be icy.
• Clothing that covers shoulders and knees for mosques and mausoleums — easy in winter.
• Sunglasses and sun cream for bright snowy days in the mountains.

Plan it with TravelBliss

We arrange private tours, guides, trains and transfers in winter too, and we tell you honestly when a mountain road is not a good idea on your dates. Write to us on WhatsApp and we will plan a winter trip that fits the season.