Southern Uzbekistan Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

• Kashkadarya — The northern region on the western slopes of the Pamir-Alay mountains.
• Surkhandarya — The southern region. It embraces the valleys of the Sherabad and Surkhan rivers which flow into the Amu-darya from the north

The Hissar (Gissar) Mountain Range ​marks an ancient frontier between ​the two regions: Kashkadarya was part of Sogdiana while Surkhandarya was part of Bactria.

Map of Southern Uzbekistan

• 38.203467.20141 Boysun — In 2001 the city of Boysun was proclaimed as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO along with its surrounding countryside.
• 38.27567.9012 Denov — rural town with a circular fortress and a Kushan archaeological site dated to the mid-1st century BC.
• 38.17967.0343 Derbent — Archaeological excavations in the area have revealed the existence of defensive system consisted of fortresses and massive walls.
• 38.85465.794 Qarshi — meaning "Palace" in Uzbek, the city is famous for its production of woven carpets.
• 38.06866.9725 Sairob — picturesque village in a narrow valley
• 39.059366.83086 Shakhrisabz —Timur birthplace and a UNESCO World Heritage site
• 37.2367.2777 Termez — The southernmost city of Uzbekistan and an important border crossing between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan

• 37.25436967.4512891 Airtam — ruins of an important caravan resting place on the Great Silk Road.
• 38.10111167.8605562 Dalverzin Tepe — ruins of an ancient city of the Kushan Empire developed around an earlier Hellenistic fortress.
• 37.38444466.5158333 Gora Karakamar — cave complex carved into the Sherabad ridge on the border with Turkmenistan.
• 38.22158366.9068334 Iron Gates (Timur Darvaza) — in ancient times this narrow valley across the Hissar Mountain Range was used as a strategic passage between Bactria and Sogdia and was of great importance to any power in the region.
• 37.4112167.028765 Kampyrtepa — ruins of an ancient city on the steep bank of the Amu Darya.
• 38.09569467.1840836 Kurganzol Fortress — ruins of a round fortress dated to the time of Alexander the Great.

Winters are the mildest in southern Uzbekistan, spring and autumn are bearable and summer are unbearable. In May-Augustus temperatures can reach an extreme 50 °C (122 °F)

• Termez Airport (TMJ ^IATA) is linked with Moscow-Domodedovo, St Petersburg and Tashkent by direct flights of Uzbekistan Airways and VIM Airlines ^{[formerly dead link]} .
• Karshi Airport (KSQ ^IATA) from Moscow and Saint Petersburg

Buses from Mazar-e Sharif, Dushanbe, Kerki are infrequent and rarely carry foreigners

Termez is linked to Dushanbe and Mary by rail lines.

Women travelling seem to face more harassment in southern Uzbekistan than in other parts of the country, whether due to cultural differences or the fact that the region sees fewer tourists. Dress conservatively and be careful.