Subscribe to Explore With Finesse!
Get access to subscriber-only travel resources, giveaways, and blog updates that will transform the way you plan and experience your adventures.
*We keep your data confidential!
Subscribe to Explore With Finesse!
Get access to subscriber-only travel resources, giveaways, and blog updates that will transform the way you plan and experience your adventures.
*We keep your data confidential!
If you are traveling around Central Asia, a popular travel route is to go from Tashkent, Uzbekistan to Osh, Kyrgyzstan. I recently embarked on this journey, so I know the best way to travel between these two cities!
Keep reading to learn about traveling between Tashkent and Osh.
Table of Contents
Where is Tashkent?
Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan. It is located in northeastern Uzbekistan, close to the country’s borders with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
Tashkent is about 300 km northeast of the popular Uzbek city of Samarkand.
Where is Osh?
Osh is located in southern Kyrgyzstan, near the border with Uzbekistan. It is located in the famous Fergana Valley.
How Far is Tashkent From Osh?
The distance between Tashkent and Osh is about 570 km.
Traveling Between Tashkent and Osh
How to Get From Tashkent to Osh
Flying from Tashkent to Osh
The most convenient (and expensive) way to get from Tashkent to Osh is to fly.
However, I do not recommend this option because:
- The availability of flights can be pretty unreliable.
- Flights can be very expensive.
- You will likely have to get a connecting flight to Bishkek before arriving at Osh.
It is much better to travel by land.
Train From Tashkent to Andijan
Uzbekistan has an efficient railway system throughout the country. However, the train will only take you as far as Andijan, about 1.5 hours from Osh. From Tashkent, it makes sense to take the train to Andijan. You can book your tickets through the Uzbekistan Railways website.
The journey will take about 6 hours. There are both day and night trains available. The price can vary depending on how far in advance you book the ticket.
I booked a last-minute ticket from Tashkent to Andijan for 99,000 UZS (about $7.80 USD).
Seats fill up quickly, so be sure to book your tickets in advance!
Andijan to Dostuk Border
Once you arrive in Andijan, you will be surrounded by taxi drivers eager to take you to the border. I recommend ignoring them, and walking about 8 minutes southwest to the bus station.
You can find the bus station on Google Maps by searching Andizhon Sh. Avtostantsiyasi.
Once you arrive, look for a sign that says Chiptaxona (Uzbek for ticket office) and касса (Russian for cashier). This is where you will buy your ticket.
For Osh, you can take a marshrutka for about 6000 UZS (about $0.50 USD). It departs about every 30 minutes and will take about 1 hour to get to the Dostuk Border.
Crossing the Dostuk Border
You will have to go through two border crossings: first, to leave Uzbekistan. Second, to enter Kyrgyzstan. When I went, there were no lines at all, only the travelers on my marshrutka were going through. The process was quick and easy.
Note: I noticed that many times in Central Asia, the immigration officer would take my American passport and leave for a few minutes. I imagine that they were verifying with a senior official that the document was real. If this happens to you, don’t worry too much.
Dostuk Border to Osh
Once you have entered Kyrgyzstan, you can return to the marshrutka, where it will drop you off a few minutes down the road to a place where you can exchange money. If you would rather get a taxi from the Dostuk Border, you can find a taxi driver directly.
Most taxi drivers will quote you a high price and tell you there are no marshrutkas available (a common scam in Kyrgyzstan). This is not true, as several marshrutkas are available. They charge about 20 KGS (about $0.20 USD).
I would actually recommend getting a shared taxi. You will get to your destination much more quickly for only a few dollars more. After negotiating the price, you will pay about 300 KGS (about $3.50 USD).
How to Get From Osh to Tashkent
If you are traveling from Osh to Tashkent, you will first need to get to the Dostuk Border from the city. Take Marshrutka 107 or 138, or you can get a shared taxi to the border. I recommend just getting a taxi, as the marshrutkas may take a long time.
Once you cross the border, find a shared taxi or marshrutka to take you to the Andijan bus station.
From there, walk 8 minutes to the train station and take a train to Tashkent.
Bus 777
An alternate option of traveling between Andijan and Osh is to take Bus 777. This is relatively new, and will take you all the way from Andijan bus station to Osh bus station.
However, the Osh bus station is pretty far from the center of town. You can find it by searching Osh Avtovokzal in Google Maps. Because of this, you will have to get a taxi from the Osh bus station anyway.
I recommend taking marshrutkas across the border, as I detailed in this guide, rather than taking Bus 777.
Time Change
Don’t forget that Osh is 1 hour ahead of Andijan! This is important when choosing the right train ticket to buy.
Tips for the Journey
- Bring good earplugs. The marshrutka and train may be pretty loud, and you will probably want to relax. Grab some earplugs to avoid a headache and be able to sleep.
- Depart in the morning. This is going to be a long journey. If you want to get from Tashkent to Osh (or vice-versa) in the same day, you should leave pretty early.
- Have your passport easily accessible. Not only will you need it when you cross the borders, but you will also need it when entering the train station in Uzbekistan!
