Things to do in Termez

Termez lies in the far south of Uzbekistan, on the Amu Darya river, which forms the border with Afghanistan. For more than two thousand years it was a crossing point between Central Asia and India. Alexander the Great passed through the region; under the Kushan empire in the first centuries AD it became a great centre of Buddhism; later it was a prosperous Islamic city and home of famous scholars, until the Mongols destroyed it in 1220. The modern city, a Soviet-era town, grew a short distance east.

Few foreign tourists come here, which is part of its appeal. Termez rewards travellers interested in archaeology, the Silk Road and the history of religions.

1. Start at the Archaeological Museum. The Termez Archaeological Museum displays Bactrian, Kushan and Buddhist treasures and explains the sites.

2. Walk around a 2,000-year-old stupa. At Fayaz Tepa, the original stupa of a Kushan monastery is preserved under a protective dome, with the outlines of cells and courtyards.

3. See the Zurmala stupa. The eroded mud-brick tower of the Zurmala stupa, from the 1st–2nd centuries, rises alone in the fields.

4. Visit the cave monastery of Kara Tepa. Kara Tepa combines cave sanctuaries and courtyards by the Amu Darya. It lies in the border zone, so arrange permission in advance.

5. Pay respects at the shrine of al-Hakim at-Termizi. The mausoleum of al-Hakim at-Termizi, patron saint of the city, has a fine carved marble tombstone and a peaceful setting near the river.

6. Walk through seven centuries at Sultan Saodat. The domed tombs of the Sultan Saodat ensemble show the evolution of brick architecture from the 10th to the 17th century.

7. Explore the Kyrk Kyz fortress. The square mud-brick Kyrk Kyz, “forty maidens”, is a mysterious building of the 9th–10th centuries.

8. Visit the tomb of Imam at-Termizi. North of the city, at Sherabad, is the mausoleum of Abu Isa at-Termizi, compiler of one of the most respected collections of hadith, an important pilgrimage site.

9. See the ruins of Old Termez. The vast site of the ancient and medieval city, with its citadel by the river, is mostly unexcavated mounds, but evocative with a guide.

10. Discover Kampyr Tepa. An ancient fortified town on the Amu Darya, west of Termez, sometimes linked to a city founded in the time of Alexander. Access may require permission.

11. Visit Dalverzin Tepe. The site of a Kushan city near Denau, where a famous gold treasure was found.

12. Travel to the mountains of Boysun. The Boysun district in the mountains north of Termez is known for its traditional culture, recognised by UNESCO as a masterpiece of intangible heritage, with villages, gorges and the Teshik-Tash cave where Neanderthal remains were found.

13. Taste the south. Surkhandarya is famous for its hot climate and early fruit and vegetables; try the local bread, plov and shashlik, and in season melons, pomegranates and dates.

• One day: the museum, Fayaz Tepa, al-Hakim at-Termizi, Sultan Saodat and Kyrk Kyz.
• Two days: add the Zurmala stupa, Kara Tepa (with permission), and the tomb of Imam at-Termizi at Sherabad.
• Three days or more: add Boysun and its mountain villages, or Dalverzin Tepe.

The sites are spread out around the city, so a car with a driver and a guide is the best way to see them. Termez is very hot in summer: visit sites in the morning and late afternoon and spend the midday hours in the museum or your hotel.

Termez has a small number of hotels in the city centre, from simple to comfortable modern ones. Book ahead in spring and autumn.

Termez is far from the classic Samarkand–Bukhara–Khiva route, but it can be reached by air or overnight train from Tashkent, or by road from Samarkand via Shakhrisabz and Boysun. See how to get to Termez. The best seasons are spring (March–May) and autumn (October–November); summer temperatures often exceed 40 °C. We can arrange drivers, guides and permissions for border-zone sites.