Oybek border crossing (Tashkent – Khujand)

Southwest of Tashkent, the road runs across the cotton fields of the Syr Darya region towards the narrow neck of land where Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and the entrance to the Fergana Valley meet. Here, near the town of Bekabad, is the Oybek border crossing. On the other side lies Fotehobod, and an hour further, Khujand, an ancient city on the Syr Darya, founded according to tradition by Alexander the Great as Alexandria Eschate.

Oybek is the most convenient crossing for travellers going from Tashkent to northern Tajikistan, and from there over the mountains to Dushanbe. For an overview of all crossings, see border crossings in Central Asia.

The border is about 1.5–2 hours by car from central Tashkent, roughly 120 km. A taxi or a private car with driver is the easiest way; shared taxis also leave from Tashkent towards Bekabad and the border. See our transfer service. Uzbek drivers usually take you only to the border; you continue with a Tajik taxi on the other side.

1. Uzbek exit: passport control and customs; your luggage is X-rayed. Keep your hotel registration slips, which may be checked, and declare large amounts of cash if required.
2. Walk across the neutral zone.
3. Tajik entry: passport and visa check, sometimes a registration form, and customs.

Allow 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on queues. Crossing with your own car takes longer.

Tajikistan’s entry rules have changed in recent years: citizens of a growing number of countries can enter visa-free for a limited period, and others can obtain an e-visa online. If you plan to visit the Pamirs (Gorno-Badakhshan), you need a special GBAO permit, which can be added to an e-visa. Rules change, so check the current situation for your nationality before you travel. See Central Asia visas.

To return to Uzbekistan, make sure your Uzbek visa or visa-free stay allows another entry. See Uzbekistan visa and entry rules.

Taxis wait after the Tajik checkpoint. Khujand is about 1 hour away. Agree the fare first, in Tajik somoni; some drivers accept US dollars or Uzbek som, but at poor rates. Exchange a little money at the border if possible, or withdraw from an ATM in Khujand.

In Khujand: see the fortress and museum on the Syr Darya, the Panjshanbe bazaar, one of the largest covered markets in Central Asia, and the mosque and mausoleum of Sheikh Muslihiddin.

Onward: from Khujand, a mountain road crosses the Shahristan pass and the Anzob tunnel to Dushanbe, about 5–6 hours. You can also visit Istaravshan, an old town with traditional crafts, on the way.

A popular loop: Tashkent → Oybek → Khujand → Istaravshan → Penjikent, then back into Uzbekistan via the Jartepa border to Samarkand. This combines northern Tajikistan, the Fann mountains and the Seven Lakes with the Silk Road cities of Uzbekistan. Alternatively, travel on from Khujand to the Fergana Valley.

Opening hours and busy times change; check before you go. Queues are longer on weekends and around holidays. Mornings on weekdays are usually best. The roads over the mountains to Dushanbe can be affected by snow in winter.

• Keep your Uzbek registration slips until you leave.
• Do not photograph the border facilities.
• Carry small amounts of som and somoni.
• Have your destination written in Russian or Tajik.
• Mobile roaming may not work immediately; a Tajik SIM card is cheap in Khujand.