TAS-UGC

Sat 30/5/26

Since it was summer and there is no daylight saving in Uzbekistan, sunrise is very early at 5am but we would have to wait another 2 hours for breakfast to start at 7am.

breakfast at Avant Wellness Hotel Tashkent

No plans today, only flying to Urgench via Uzbekistan airways and then take Yandex taxi to Khiva. It would take 14 hours one way if we take a train from Tashkent to Khiva, so a one way flight is more feasible to us. There is no airport in Khiva, and the nearest airport is Urgench. Then we would break our journey via train from Khiva to Bukhara, Samarkand and back to Tashkent.

After checking out from the hotel at 11am, we made our way to TAS domestic airport terminal 3 via Yandex taxi (19.5K UZS = RM 6.6)  which took about 10 minutes only.

Our flight to Urgench is at 1345 and the check in counter only opens 2 hours before at 1145 am so we waited a bit. While waiting, we withdrew cash of 1.5 Mil UZS (RM 508) from the ATM with Wise card. There was nothing much at the small domestic airport, so we didn't have to arrive early. 

One peculiar note is that we bought the most expensive economy ticket via the Uzbekistan airlines website online so we could choose our seats, and we selected our seats at 5E and 5F. However, during check in we were bumped to the middle of the flight at seat 17 in the old A320 plane. Also, we didn't receive the e-ticket, only the e-ticket number in our email, with no reference number. The one way flight ticket cost RM 360. We were served with a sandwich and water (the other options being carbonated soft drinks only)

A320 TAS-UGC

meal in Uzbek air TAS-UGC economy seat

Our flight departed on time and we landed at 3.15pm. After waiting briefly for our luggage, we took the Yandex taxi to our accommodation in Khiva at Ulli Oy boutique hotel, located within the walled city of the Unesco heritage site of Itchan Kala. The Yandex cost UZS 96.5K (RM 33) for a 50 minute (37 km) ride. The Yandex taxi entered Itchan Kala via the North Gate. Our hotel cost RM 745 for 3 nights with breakfast, paid with credit card. 

our room at Ulli Oy boutique hotel Khiva

Ulli Oy boutique hotel courtyard

We had dinner tonight at Old Terrace restaurant at the rooftop. Since we didn't have a reservation, we were seated a bit behind, but still had the view of Itchan Kala's . For dinner, we had Kazan kebab, manti spinach(dumpling) and Khiva plov with a pot of fruit tea for UZS 369K (RM 123) paid by card

having dinner at rooftop - spinach manti and fruit tea

Kazan kebab and Khiva plov

view from restaurant rooftop

interior decor of the restaurant with wooden column

After dinner, we walked briefly around Kalta Minor minaret, Kunya ark citadel and Mohammed Rakhim Khan madrasah at sunset. We then made our way back to our hotel to rest for the day and watch the final of the Champions League between Arsenal and PSG on the hotel rooftop to get better 4G coverage.

view of Itchan Khala from our hotel rooftop