Uzbekistan What to Pack

Some suggestions

by TheWanderingCamel

Although nominally a Muslim country, decades of living under Russian rule has resulted in Uzbekistan being a very secular society and you'll find you can wear pretty well anything you like here but, for all that, it is still a conservative society so covered shoulders and nothing shorter than knee-length is probably best. Women don't need to cover their heads except to protect themselves from the sun but the gesture is noticed and appreciated when visiting holy sites so a scarf is useful. Uzbek men don't wear shorts so, if you do pack them, keep them for country excursions or travelling days.Comfortable shoes are a must. As well as a good supply (ie sufficient for your whole trip + some to allow for an emergency) of any meds you take regularly, it's a good idea to bring a letter from your doctor listing those you are carrying. The customs form you fill out on arrival asks for meds to...

Packing for the heat

by toonsarah

If like us you’re visiting Uzbekistan in summer (we were there in July 2007), go prepared for HOT weather! Think cool cottons and linens, loose-fitting and light-coloured, and make sure you take a sun hat. Although this is officially a Muslim country you don’t need to worry as much as you might elsewhere about covering yourself up. I took long trousers rather then shorts, but was told that the latter would have been perfectly acceptable, and found that although I’d brought a light shirt to wear over my sleeveless tops, it wasn’t considered necessary even when visiting (mostly non-practicing) mosques. In fact we were amazed by the skimpiness of the clothing worn by many of the young Uzbek women, particularly in Tashkent. Having said all that though, if you’re planning to travel in more remote areas I’d recommend that you exercise a degree of caution – better to be on the safe side and...

Toilet Paper

by SallyM

Sun cream and a hat (or umbrella to keep the sun off). Always make sure that you have some toilet paper about your person, just in case. You won't always need it, but it helps to be prepared.Immodium or similar diarrhoea tablets and rehydration salts are also useful, though you can obtain these in a pharmacy in an emergency. Ideally, bring a brush for cleaning your camera (one with the airbulb on the end) - sand is not good for cameras.

Packing list for Uzbekistan :-)

by Trekki

Travel light and as small as possible. No matter if you travel by bus, taxi or train, you will have to carry and store the luggage. If you travel by shared taxis, Uzbeks usually define a car full with minimum 4 people, so 4 people’s luggage has to go into the trunk ! If you travel with backpack, bring protection. Some cars will be repaired all the time, your luggage will be removed and put on the ground (sand or whatever). Some cars also travel with bottles full of gas (benzene) in the trunk. Clothing depends on your travel time. In summer it is bloody hot, so dress light, cotton is the best. Preferably long sleeves and trousers, just in case you visit mosques and encounter mosquitoes. However, bring a light sweater, as you might visit museums or other buildings, which have strong air condition. Be prepared to cover your arms when entering mosques, so a light shawl also comes in...

Packing list for Uzbekistan (2)

by Trekki

If you are used to drink coffee: be prepared that you most probably will not find freshly ground coffee in most of Uzbekistan's restaurants (the big hotels might have, a handful of restaurants and cafés as well). They serve Nescafe, which tastes... well, the way, Nescafe tastes.If you are used to have milk with your coffee: even if you see cows all over in the country, you hardly find restaurants or cafés, which serve milk. Some even don't serve powdered milk.Bring some powdered milk from home, but bring it in the original packaging !!! You don't want to be questioned at the border for suspicious looking white powder ! Yes, you can buy milk powder in the supermarkets or bazaars, but in my opinion it does not taste well.

Packing List

by kalypso

bring a backpack rather than a suitcase if you can. also, don't be too surprised if your bags are missing, have been opened, or have been damaged when they arrive in tashkent. if you're here in the summer definitely bring sandals and some good walking shoes. i wouldn't bother with hiking boots unless you're actually going hiking. bring some ant-diarrea medicine because if you get giardia you're going to need something to hold you over until you can get back to medical facilities that can get you some flagyll to get rid of it. those little guys are brutal and you'll know it if you get it (and anyone travelling with you will smell it)... bring a converter if you're coming from the states. in tashkent you can get film and batteries cheaper than you can in europe or america. processing (kodak or fuji) is also much cheaper. you're gonna be hard pressed to figure out away to get to the...

Packing List

by aliante1981

Depends on the type of activity. Suitcase is suitable if you plan to stay in hotels, otherwise take a rucksack. Once again, think of what you will be doing. In any case, take light clothes. You do not have to worry much about your clothes being suitable for the streets, as the country is not strict in this respect. However if you plan to visit mosques take some modest clothing with you. If you go to the desert take some covered shoes - you may see snakes there. Most of the things can be bought now (though it was not so when I went there) but if you need something special you'd better fetch it in your home country. Take some cash: ATm and credit cards are still quite rare.

Packing List

by schielen

A strong bag with wheels at one end. A suitcase is not practical because it can't be squeesed in when the lugage compartmant in a bus or other means of transportation is small. A backpack is easy to cary but as we all know: what you need is always at the bottom... Even in hot wheather I walk on my rather heavy hiking-boots. Trousers with legs that can be zipped off are the best for all circomstances. Mine are partly cotton, partly synthetic, so they will dry very fast after rain or washing. Toiletpaper of the quality we like can be bought in Tashkent. The paper we 'met' in hotels (if any) was very useful if you wanted to pack something, but could not be used for what is was made for. I use a Canon Eos 500n to make my slides. I have only one lense (28-200) so I never have to change lenses. Films I always take from home. I never rely on foreign quality.

Packing List

by filipdebont

Suitcase or backpack. Because mostly you sleep in a hotel. And the transport between different cities is by bus or train. Light coton cloths, light walking shoes. Bring something against diarrhoea, because the meals are extremely fat, they cook mostly with sheep's fat.Bring also some ORS, agains dehydration. nothing special, only bring enough rolls because there are so much beautiful sights. I'm not sure about the quality of the film rolls you can buy overthere.

Packing List

by Waldek.T