Uzbekistan Cycling Holidays: Mountain Bike Tours in Uzbekistan

What's included

The tour begins in Tashkent — please plan to arrive on Day 1 of the itinerary. Your departure flight should be scheduled for the final day of the tour.

🧳 Arrival & Transfers
Airport transfer is included on Day 1.

No matter what time you arrive, you and your luggage will be transferred to the joining hotel.

If you arrive before midday, your room may not be immediately available, and you may need to wait while it’s being prepared.

🗓️ Arriving Early / Staying On

For those arriving early or staying later than our tour dates, we are happy to assist with extra nights at the tour accommodation and additional airport transfers for an additional cost.

If you are considering independent travel before or after the tour, you should be aware of the following requirements:

Registering with the authorities

You must register with the local district OVIR (Department of Foreign Travel and Exit) within 3 days of your arrival. Saturdays and Sundays count as part of the 3-day period. If you travel to another city and plan to stay for longer than 3 days there, you’ll need to register again.

If you’re staying at a hotel, the staff will register you. If you’re staying in a private house, your host should register you with their local district OVIR or on the electronic registration system, Emehmon. Tourist tax is usually included in the hotel bill, and private hosts pay the tourist tax on behalf of the guest.

If you’re travelling in Uzbekistan in a camper van or staying in tents and camping, you must register yourself. Register online through the electronic registration system, Emehmon, within 3 days of arrival. When registering online, you’ll have to pay a tourist tax charge for each day of your stay. At the moment you can only pay the tourist tax online with an Uzbek debit card in local currency.

The authorities will require a full record of where you’ve been in Uzbekistan upon departure. If you are unable to account for your whereabouts, or fail to get registered, you could get a fine for each day that is missing or late and possibly be deported.

🕌 Optional Khiva Extension
If you're joining the Khiva extension, we recommend booking a multi-destination flight as follows:

Inbound: Tashkent

Outbound: Urgench (the closest airport to Khiva)

Websites like kayak.com and opodo.co.uk can help you arrange this type of itinerary.

Please note: International flights and the internal flight to Khiva are not included in the tour price.

Currency Exchange - Spending Money - Staff Tips

💱 Currency Exchange

Uzbek Currency

The local currency in Uzbekistan is the Uzbekistani Som (UZS). All purchases must be made in som—foreign currencies are not accepted in shops, restaurants, or hotels.

What to Bring

We recommend bringing:

Around £200 / $270 in your local currency for exchange
A Visa or Mastercard debit/credit card for ATM access and backup

Travelers from the UK, EU, US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand should bring USD or Euros, as these are widely accepted and offer the best exchange options in Uzbekistan.

Where to Exchange

You can exchange money or withdraw cash on arrival at Tashkent International Airport.

Exchange a small amount at the airport for immediate expenses
Better rates can be found at licensed exchange offices and ATMs in the city

✔ Your redspokes guide will assist you with locating trustworthy exchange services and ATMs throughout the tour.

💸 Spending Money

Spending will depend on your personal preferences for meals, drinks, and souvenirs, but we estimate that £200 / $270 is more than sufficient for the 14-day tour.

Typical Costs in Uzbekistan

Item	Price in UZS	Approx. GBP
Mid-range meal	150,000–300,000 UZS	£9–£18
Soft drink (can)	6,000–10,000 UZS	£0.30–£0.50
Bottled water (1L)	3,000–6,000 UZS	£0.15–£0.30
Local beer (bottle)	15,000–25,000 UZS	£0.80–£1.30
Imported beer	25,000–40,000 UZS	£1.30–£2.20

Uzbekistan is generally very affordable, especially outside the main tourist areas.

🧭 Helpful Tips

Cash is essential, particularly in smaller towns and rural areas
Inform your bank before travelling to avoid card issues
Carry small denominations for local shops and tips
Check your card provider’s currency conversion fees
Your guide is available to help with any money-related needs

💁‍♂️ Staff Tipping

Tipping is a valued way to show appreciation for your local guides and support crew. While it’s not mandatory, it is encouraged when the service has been excellent.

How to Tip

We recommend tipping as a group at the end of the tour. The total is collected and given to your guide, who will fairly distribute it among the team.

Suggested Amount

💷 £60–£80 per person
💵 $80–$100 equivalent

Note: Tips are not part of wages. redspokes ensures all staff are paid fairly. Tipping is simply a personal gesture of thanks for great service.

Extra Expenses

Bike Support & Grading

Bike Hire

Bringing your own bike

Eating & Drinking (Special diets)

Accommodation

Solo Travellers

Insurance

Passport & Visa

You must hold a valid passport in order to travel. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the date of your return from any overseas destination.

Visa and entry requirements for most countries can and do change from time to time and so we strongly recommend that you consult the government travel website for where your passport was issued.

For UK nationals, please visit the gov.uk website for up to date information about entry requirements for Uzbekistan. The website also provides vaccination advice as well as the option to sign up for Alerts so that you are aware if requirements have changed.

Uzbekistan E-Visa Information

For most of our international customers, Uzbekistan offers a convenient e-visa system, making the visa application process straightforward and accessible.

✅ Who needs a visa?
You can check whether you need a visa on the official Uzbekistan e-visa portal.

📌 Important notes
Please travel with the same passport that you used for your e-visa application and also carry a printed copy of your e-visa with you.

On our tour dates, our local team will register you with the local authorities for all hotel, camping and ger stays.

For those considering independent travel before or after the tour, please be aware of the following:

Registering with the authorities

You must register with the local district OVIR (Department of Foreign Travel and Exit) within 3 days of your arrival. Saturdays and Sundays count as part of the 3-day period. If you travel to another city and plan to stay for longer than 3 days there, you’ll need to register again.

If you’re staying at a hotel, the staff will register you. If you’re staying in a private house, your host should register you with their local district OVIR or on the electronic registration system, Emehmon. Tourist tax is usually included in the hotel bill, and private hosts pay the tourist tax on behalf of the guest.

If you’re travelling in Uzbekistan in a camper van or staying in tents and camping, you must register yourself. Register online through the electronic registration system, Emehmon, within 3 days of arrival. When registering online, you’ll have to pay a tourist tax charge for each day of your stay. At the moment you can only pay the tourist tax online with an Uzbek debit card in local currency.

The authorities will require a full record of where you’ve been in Uzbekistan upon departure. If you are unable to account for your whereabouts, or fail to get registered, you could get a fine for each day that is missing or late and possibly be deported.

Health & Vaccinations