Uzbekistan

Notes (specific Fergana Valley notes before):
* This trip was completed in April and May 2023 and included two weeks in the Fergana Valley helping to teach English.
* I also required a 'visa run' in Samarqand because I only had 30 days and this journey really needs 45/60 days to get the best.
* Gas canisters are hard to get hold of and will require planning if you can only use gas.
* It is hard to find Presta inner tubes outside of Tashkent.
* Currently there is a warmshowers host in Nukus; however, they will be leaving in the next year or two.
* Uzbek people outside of the main cities are kind and always helpful, sometimes this can become a bit too helpful and you will want to be left alone.
* Headwinds can be a bit difficult if you are heading East. Just take your time and plan accordingly.
* I would recommend downloading Yandex and 2GIS maps, they are better filled out for finding shops or buildings.Lastly:
If you find this information useful please consider feeding my Latte habit, ko-fi.com/wanderingcrankOr if you would like further information on my journey, please see my website:
wanderingcrank.co.ukKazakh Border to Nukus via :
You can change money before the border on the Kazakh side in one of the shops on the right as you get to the border.
At the border, you can get almost everything you need. There are a couple of options but the cheapest for a room we found was the first truck stop you come to on the left after the border.
There is a new road being built which should be finished in 2024; however, you can ride on the road whilst it is under construction. You can also sometimes stay in the work camps, most will have a translator and a small team of engineers who speak English.Jasliq is the turn-off for crossing the South Aral Sea Basin, the sea is actually further North and getting further with each passing year. Jasliq is also the last point for food before Muynak. The only point to refill water before Muynak is at waypoint 3. There is a gas pumping station that will refill your bottles but also a shop/magazin in the village. The road is a dust track and will turn into sticky mud with rain. It will be hot and bare in the summer with some dangerous snakes, spiders and scorpions.After Muynak you will have a fairly good road all the way to Nukus. The main road whilst busy does have a hard shoulder and I found drivers always kind. They are likely to stop to give you water/food and ask for a selfie!After Nukus, you will want to get off the main road, as it starts to get a little too busy. Plus you will get better interactions with locals and possibly many invites. My route is designed on the paths we took and where we had great interactions with locals.Notes on Fergana Valley:
* Fergana is more religiously conservative but I found wearing cycling shorts whilst cycling was fine. I just wore trousers over when I stopped.
* The Internet is weaker across the whole region and is best in cities.
* The region is mainly agricultural so it can be difficult to wild camping spots but not impossible.