Best time to go to Uzbekistan for a perfect weather and where to go?
Julie Parment and Tony Samson last update: 22/04/2024When is the best time to go to Uzbekistan?
This Central Asian country is rich in extraordinary cultural and natural heritage. The best time to visit Uzbekistan is from April to October, although spring and autumn are preferable if you are sensitive to heat.
The best time according to your desires
The choice of your vacation dates will also depend on the experiences you wish to have on the spot:
- For trekking enthusiasts, this country is a dream destination! To walk in the best weather conditions in the heart of the impressive canyons of the Angren Valley, choose the months of April and May. It is not too cold then, the countryside turns green and is covered with multicolored flowers, and it is the perfect time to observe the numerous birds, with the snowy peaks in the background.
- For hiking in the high Uzbek mountains, on foot, on horseback, or even on a camel, the summer period is the most favorable to have mild temperatures.
- To practice rafting and kayaking near Tashkent, prefer the months of September and October.
- If you never miss a market during your travels, autumn is also the best time to indulge in freshly picked fruits that fill the stalls of local markets following the harvest.
- When to go to Uzbekistan to discover its cultural treasures? The Timurid architectural ensemble of Samarkand, Bukhara, the ancient city of the famous Silk Road, and its downtown, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are best explored when it is not too hot. It is therefore preferable to go there in April-May or September-October.
What to pack for a trip to Uzbekistan?
This will of course depend on the season you are traveling:
- Between June and late August, it is very hot. Take light-colored cotton clothes. To respect local traditions, make sure they cover your shoulders and legs. Don't forget the necessary items to protect yourself from the sun: hat or cap, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
- In spring and autumn, bring something to cope with significant temperature variations throughout the day: it can be very hot during the day and cool, even cold at night, especially in the desert. The ideal is to adopt the technique of multiple layers, allowing you to easily add or remove a garment according to the weather.
- In winter or if you are trekking in the mountains, warm clothes and an insulated jacket are essential. Also remember to take gloves, a scarf, and a hat.
- Regardless of the season, it is better to have good non-slip walking shoes and, if you are a woman, something to cover your head to be able to visit holy places and active mosques.
Where and when to go based on the weather?
Central of Uzbekistan
Samarkand, Zaamin National Park, Aydar Lake...
Karakalpakstan
Nukus, Jasliq, Ayaz-Kala...
Kyzylkum Desert
Boukhara, Khiva, Uchkuduk...
Northeast of Uzbekistan
Tashkent, Fergana, Namangan...
South of Uzbekistan
Termez, Qarshi, Denov...
To get all the information about the climate and weather in Uzbekistan for a specific month, click on the corresponding link below:
Uzbekistan in january Uzbekistan in february Uzbekistan in march Uzbekistan in april Uzbekistan in may Uzbekistan in june Uzbekistan in july Uzbekistan in august Uzbekistan in september Uzbekistan in october Uzbekistan in november Uzbekistan in december
Best time to travel to Uzbekistan by cities
Climate and Weather in Uzbekistan
The climate of Uzbekistan varies according to altitude and the location within the country. Here are the main variations:
- A cold and dry desert climate prevails in the Bukhara region and in Karakalpakstan.
- A hot summer Mediterranean climate is present around Tashkent, throughout the central region, and in the Denov area in the south of the country.
- A cold and dry steppe climate is found in the south, around Termez, in the northeast in the Fergana region, as well as in the Kyzylkum desert near Navoiy.
- Less commonly, there is a subarctic (or subalpine) climate with short and cool summers, for example in the Ugam-Chatkal National Park, as well as a humid continental climate with hot and dry summers, as in Namangan.
In general, the weather in Uzbekistan is characterized by a very large temperature range, both between seasons and within the same day, especially in the desert. While summers and winters experience extreme temperatures, spring and autumn offer very pleasant highs.
Rainfall is quite low, with March being the wettest month, although showers are scattered and very short. The country experiences about 320 sunny days per year, making clouds quite rare.
Uzbekistan has 4 well-defined seasons:
Winter in Uzbekistan
From November to February, winter is in full swing and the weather is cold, even very cold. It even extends until March in Karakalpakstan, in the west. It is in this region that it is the harshest, with minimum temperatures always negative and maximum temperatures around 5°C from December to February. Temperatures drop even more drastically when Siberian winds cross this part of the country.
It is in the center that nighttime temperatures are the lowest. Expect averages between -3 and -5°C from December to February and just above 0 in November and March.
During the day, the Kyzylkoum desert, the northeast, and the center have averages ranging from 6 to 11°C, with January always being the coldest month of the year. In the south, temperatures are about 2°C higher.
In November, a trip to the south of Uzbekistan is still possible, with temperatures around 17°C during the day, but the rest of the country already experiences winter averages: between 10 and 14°C.
March is an intermediate season. While it can be pleasant in the valleys and in the south of the country (between 17 and 21°C), mountainous areas and Karakalpakstan still experience winter weather with temperatures rarely exceeding 15°C.
Spring in Uzbekistan
The climate of Uzbekistan between late March and June gradually brings warmth and some moderate precipitation.
- In April, temperatures range from 18 to 24°C, with the southern regions showing the mildest temperatures.
- In May, summer arrives quite suddenly and temperatures quickly rise between 31 and 34°C. Nights remain cold in the central mountains, with around 12 degrees near Samarkand, but elsewhere, the weather is idyllic.
- In June, the heat wave sets in: the average temperature is 36°C in the center and northeast, 38°C in the Kyzylkoum desert, and up to 39°C in the south.
Summer in Uzbekistan
Uzbek summer is very hot and very dry. Temperatures reach extremely high maximums and precipitation is almost nonexistent, so humidity is very low. During this period, the country can also be crossed by dusty winds. To cool off, one will have to seek refuge in the mountains.
- July is the hottest month of the year. It averages 42°C in the south and between 38 and 40°C in the rest of the country. In the center, there is a significant temperature difference as it drops to around 19°C at night. The difference is less elsewhere, especially in the Kyzylkoum desert where it is around 36°C at minimum.
- In August, expect 2 to 3 degrees less, but the atmosphere remains scorching throughout the country.
- September marks the beginning of temperature drop. It generally ranges between 30 and 32°C, except in the south where averages are still close to 35°C.
Autumn in Uzbekistan
Autumn ultimately only consists of the month of October during which temperatures drop rapidly, returning to pleasant averages for a discovery trip. During this season, precipitation slightly increases but remains moderate.
October is still quite warm, but far from the intense heat of summer. It ranges between 20 and 26°C depending on the location and altitude. However, nights become very cool again in the central mountains.
Temperatures and rainfall in Uzbekistan
On these 2 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Uzbekistan and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Tashkent, Boukhara, Samarkand, Ayaz-Kala and Aydar Lake.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in Uzbekistan
Find out when Uzbekistan has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.
Tourist seasons in Uzbekistan
The months with low numbers of tourists are: January, February, June, November and December. The number of visitors to Uzbekistan is high in: March, April, May, July, August, September and October.
- Very low season in Uzbekistan: January, February and December.
- Low season in Uzbekistan: June and November.
- High season in Uzbekistan: March, April, May, July, September and October.
- Peak season in Uzbekistan: August.
Figure: Visitor index for Uzbekistan month by month
Average price for flights to Uzbekistan
A return flight between London and Tashkent is generally cheaper if you go in january ($ 591 on average): this is the best time for travellers on a tight budget. In contrast, you may end up paying $ 234 more for your airline ticket to Tashkent if you go in august.
Find the best price for your flight Flight prices to Uzbekistan
Where to go in Uzbekistan?
This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).
| Cities | jan. | feb. | mar. | apr. | may | jun. | jul. | aug. | sep. | oct. | nov. | dec. |
| Tashkent | 8°C | 10°C | 17°C | 24°C | 31°C | 36°C | 39°C | 37°C | 32°C | 23°C | 14°C | 9°C |
| Boukhara | 9°C | 11°C | 19°C | 26°C | 33°C | 38°C | 40°C | 37°C | 32°C | 24°C | 14°C | 9°C |
| Samarkand | 5°C | 7°C | 13°C | 19°C | 24°C | 29°C | 32°C | 30°C | 26°C | 18°C | 11°C | 7°C |
| Ayaz-Kala | 5°C | 6°C | 15°C | 23°C | 31°C | 36°C | 38°C | 36°C | 30°C | 20°C | 10°C | 5°C |
| Aydar Lake | 8°C | 9°C | 17°C | 23°C | 31°C | 36°C | 38°C | 36°C | 31°C | 22°C | 13°C | 8°C |
| Denov | 7°C | 10°C | 16°C | 22°C | 29°C | 34°C | 37°C | 35°C | 31°C | 22°C | 14°C | 9°C |
| Fergana | 6°C | 8°C | 16°C | 23°C | 29°C | 34°C | 37°C | 36°C | 31°C | 21°C | 12°C | 7°C |
| Jasliq | -0°C | 1°C | 10°C | 19°C | 28°C | 34°C | 36°C | 33°C | 26°C | 17°C | 7°C | 1°C |
| Khiva | 5°C | 7°C | 16°C | 25°C | 32°C | 37°C | 40°C | 37°C | 31°C | 22°C | 12°C | 6°C |
| Namangan | 7°C | 10°C | 17°C | 24°C | 31°C | 36°C | 38°C | 37°C | 31°C | 22°C | 13°C | 8°C |
| Nukus | 4°C | 6°C | 15°C | 23°C | 31°C | 37°C | 39°C | 36°C | 30°C | 20°C | 10°C | 5°C |
| Qarshi | 10°C | 12°C | 18°C | 24°C | 32°C | 37°C | 39°C | 37°C | 32°C | 24°C | 15°C | 10°C |
| Termez | 11°C | 13°C | 21°C | 27°C | 34°C | 39°C | 42°C | 39°C | 34°C | 26°C | 17°C | 12°C |
| Uchkuduk | 3°C | 4°C | 13°C | 21°C | 29°C | 34°C | 36°C | 34°C | 27°C | 18°C | 8°C | 3°C |
| Zaamin National Park | -5°C | -4°C | 2°C | 7°C | 12°C | 16°C | 19°C | 18°C | 15°C | 8°C | 1°C | -3°C |
| Almalyk | 7°C | 8°C | 15°C | 21°C | 27°C | 32°C | 35°C | 33°C | 28°C | 20°C | 12°C | 8°C |
| Andijan | 7°C | 10°C | 17°C | 24°C | 30°C | 35°C | 38°C | 37°C | 32°C | 23°C | 14°C | 8°C |
| Angren | 3°C | 5°C | 12°C | 19°C | 25°C | 29°C | 32°C | 31°C | 26°C | 17°C | 9°C | 4°C |
| Buka | 8°C | 10°C | 17°C | 23°C | 30°C | 36°C | 39°C | 37°C | 32°C | 23°C | 14°C | 8°C |
| Chakhrisabz | 9°C | 10°C | 17°C | 23°C | 29°C | 34°C | 37°C | 35°C | 30°C | 22°C | 14°C | 10°C |
Legend:
perfect weather
good weather
tolerable weather
bad weather
very bad weather
About Uzbekistan
What can I do in Uzbekistan?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Crafts / shopping
Gastronomy
Nightlife
Is this weather information for Uzbekistan reliable?
Climate data for Uzbekistan has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Uzbekistan allows us to determine the average for each month in Tashkent, Boukhara, Samarkand, Ayaz-Kala, Aydar Lake, Denov, Fergana, Jasliq, and 30 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.