2-day Fergana Valley tour from Tashkent by train

See three Fergana cities and the 21 km tunnel in one overnight trip

A 2-day tour from Tashkent to Fergana Valley by train, visiting Margilan's silk workshops, Rishtan's ceramic studios, and Kokand's royal palaces. The itinerary includes train travel through Central Asia's longest tunnel, a local guide for sightseeing, one night's hotel stay with breakfast, and all monument entry tickets. Pickup and drop-off in Tashkent are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Train to Margilan, sightseeing, drive to Kokand

• Meet driver at 6:50 am
• Transfer to Tashkent train station
• Take train to Margilan at 7:54 am
• Arrive Margilan at 13:23 pm
• Meet driver and guide outside station
• Visit silk weaving factory in Margilan
• Visit pottery studio in Rishtan
• Drive to Kokand for overnight

Day 2: Kokand sightseeing and return to Tashkent

• Start tour at 11:00 am
• Visit Khudayar Khan Palace
• Visit Juma Mosque
• Visit Norbutabey Madrasa and mausoleum
• Transfer to Kokand train station
• Take train to Tashkent at 17:31 pm
• Arrive Tashkent at 21:48 pm

The experience

The train leaves Tashkent at 7:54 am and passes through four stations before reaching Margilan at 1:23 pm, crossing the 21 km tunnel that runs through the mountains. A driver meets you at the station with a local guide who leads the sightseeing for the rest of the day. In Margilan, you tour a small silk factory to see traditional weaving methods still used along the Silk Road. The guide explains the difference between real and artificial silk, and how to spot it by touch and burn. From there you drive to Rishtan, the oldest center of ceramic art in Central Asia, and visit one of the pottery studios to watch artisans at work. The day ends with a drive to Kokand, where you stay overnight in a 3-star hotel or boutique property in the city center.

Day two starts at 11 am with a guided tour of Khudayar Khan Palace, one of the most ornate royal residences in Central Asia. The palace originally had 113 rooms arranged around seven courtyards. Visitors can see 19 of the remaining rooms. You also visit the Juma Mosque, built between 1809 and 1812 with 98 carved redwood columns imported from India, and the Norbutabey Madrasa from the 1790s, which has an attached cemetery holding the tombs of Omar Khan and his wife, the poet Nadira Begim. At 5:31 pm the train departs Kokand and arrives back in Tashkent at 9:48 pm.

Bring some extra cash in US dollars for souvenirs and tips. ATMs in the valley dispense local currency only. When visiting the mosques and religious sites, wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees, and women should bring a headscarf or shawl. If you have large luggage, most Tashkent hotels will store it free while you travel, so you can move between cities with just a day bag.

What’s included

• Train tickets from Tashkent to Margilan and back.
• entrance tickets to Khudayar Khan Palace, Juma Mosque, and Norbutabey Madrasa.
• one night in a 3-star or boutique hotel with breakfast.
• local English-speaking guide for sightseeing in Margilan, Rishtan, and Kokand.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• pickup and drop-off in Tashkent.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:50

Book up to2d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 14 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Samaria Travel

Is this one for you?Two days means you leave Tashkent early morning and return late evening, so this fits into a longer trip without eating a full day on either end. If you're staying in the city for three or four days, this tour fills one overnight without blocking the rest of your schedule.

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Top questions

How does the train route work on this tour?

The train departs Tashkent at 7:54 am, stops at Orzu, Pop, and Kokand stations, and reaches Margilan at 1:23 pm on day one. On day two, the return train leaves Kokand at 5:31 pm and arrives in Tashkent at 9:48 pm, passing through the 21 km tunnel both ways.

What's included in the price?

Train tickets both directions, entrance to all monuments, an air-conditioned vehicle, a local English-speaking guide for sightseeing, one night in a 3-star or boutique hotel, and breakfast are all included. Pickup and drop-off in Tashkent are also covered.

What should I know about visiting the mosques and palaces?

Khudayar Khan Palace, the Juma Mosque, and the Norbutabey Madrasa are important religious and historical sites. Wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Women should bring a headscarf or shawl to wear when entering the holy places.

Can I see how silk and ceramics are actually made?

Yes. In Margilan you tour a small factory to watch traditional silk weaving methods still in use, and the guide explains how to tell real silk from artificial. In Rishtan you visit a pottery studio where artisans work, in the oldest ceramic art center in Central Asia.

What happens with my luggage between the two cities?

Most hotels in Tashkent offer free luggage storage, so you can leave your large bags there and travel light between Tashkent and Fergana Valley with just what you need for the overnight stay.