I included a day trip to Tajikistan while traveling in Uzbekistan. This required some preparation since these countries do not get along, and the border crossing is not that close to a town and there is no easy transportation available. The nearest town to this border is Chanak, Uzbekistan.
My Uzbekistan driver was not able to drive through any part of the border crossing, nor was my Tajikistan driver from the other side. This required me to walk through the whole border for about 4/5 of a mile while processing through 6 checkpoints. I hadn’t see this many checkpoints at one border since Jordan/Syria. Although it took some time (mostly waiting in lines), the process went very smoothly.
After spending several hours in Khujand, Tajikistan with the help of a Tajik driver and guide, I returned and processed back through the same border crossing. Interestingly, one of the Tajik border guards looked startled to see me back so soon and asked if I was a “shpion”. I was caught off guard and laughed, which made him look at me even more acutely. It turns out that even though I don’t speak Russian, Germany uses the same word for “Spy”. I told him I wasn’t one… really, isn’t that what a real spy would also say? Perhaps I should have been more worried, based on the tensions that exist between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. It wasn’t until he had let me pass that it occurred to me that laughing could have led to a detention of some sort.
Don’t laugh at anything that border guards say. 🙂
Why go?
- This is the closest border crossing from Tashkent, and Khujand offers enough of interest to make it worth a day trip.
What you need to know:
- US Citizens require a visa from both Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, neither of which allow you to obtain one upon arrival. You must get them from your country of origin before you leave on your trip.
- You will need to arrange for transportation from Tashkent to the border (Chanak), and from the border to Khujand beforehand. Drivers will not be able to cross the border with you.
- I worked with Olga Tyan from Advantour for all of my arrangements in both Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, and I can recommend them.
- Be prepared to walk and wait during the process.
Crossing the Uzbekistan / Tajikistan border near Chanak
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Uzbekistan / Tajikistan border
Location: Chanak, Uzbekistan
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I included a day trip to Khujand, Tajikistan in my visit to Uzbekistan. These countries do not get along. The border crossing near Chanak involved an over 4000 ft walk from where I was dropped off to where I could be picked up on the other side (see the X`s), and included 6 checkpoints to validate my passport and visas.
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I arranged for transportation before arriving in Uzbekistan, for both countries. The border crossing is not near any towns, so unless you have arranged transportation, you will have to hope to hop a ride. Both countries require prior-obtained visas for US citizens.
When I returned through the same border crossing several hours later, the Tajik guard looking startled to see me again so soon and asked if I were a spy. Really, how should one answer that?
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This picture is posted on Instagram as a way to include it in my travel blog. Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf
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Picture taken: 3/2017
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#uzbekistantajikistan #uzbekistantajikistanborder #uzbekistan #tajikistan #centralasiaborder #walkingacrosstheborder
