Uzbekistan by Train: A French Art-de-Vivre Journey on the Silk Road (2026)

Imagine settling into a window seat as the desert slides by in gold and rose, a glass of green tea in hand, the turquoise domes of Samarkand waiting at the end of the line. In 2026, the dream of crossing the Silk Road in comfort is no longer a fantasy — Uzbekistan has become one of the few places on earth where you can glide between thousand-year-old cities on a high-speed train. For the French traveler, raised on the romance of the rails and the art of slow, civilized voyaging, there is no better way to discover Central Asia.

Uzbekistan is the fastest-growing destination in Central Asia, welcoming a record 11.7 million visitors in 2025, and it is visa-free for citizens of more than 90 countries, including France, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada. This is le voyage en Ouzbékistan reinvented — la Route de la Soie, savored from a comfortable seat.

Samarcande in Two Hours: The Afrosiyob

The sleek Afrosiyob bullet train links Tashkent to Samarkand in just over two hours, replacing a long road journey with a smooth, scenic glide across the steppe. You leave the capital after breakfast and step out before midday beneath the colossal portals of the Registan — three madrasas sheathed in cobalt and gold tilework, one of the most breathtaking squares on the planet. For lovers of architecture and art de vivre, it is a coup de foudre.

All the Way to Khiva — Faster Than Ever in 2026

The big news this year: since May 2026, a new high-speed service reaches all the way to Khiva, cutting a journey that once took fourteen hours roughly in half. That means the most remote of Uzbekistan's three great desert cities — its walled inner town, Itchan Kala, a UNESCO World Heritage Site frozen in sandstone and tile — is now within easy reach. Wandering Khiva at dusk, when the minarets glow amber and the call to prayer drifts over the rooftops, is the kind of moment that justifies the whole journey.

The Samarkand Express: Slow Luxury Returns

For travelers who believe the journey is the destination, Uzbekistan Railways is launching The Samarkand Express, a luxury tourist train connecting Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. Think of it as the Central Asian heir to the great romantic rail journeys — wood, brass, white tablecloths and a moving window onto the desert. It is the perfect marriage of French taste for refinement and the timeless poetry of the Silk Road.

Why Uzbekistan, Why Now

Beyond the trains, Uzbekistan offers what discerning French travelers seek: extraordinary UNESCO heritage, warm and genuine hospitality, sophisticated cuisine, some of the lowest costs in the region, and a reputation as one of the safest destinations on earth — including for women traveling solo. Tilework that rivals any cathedral, bazaars perfumed with spice, and a pace that invites you to linger: this is travel as it was meant to be.

Ready to ride the new Silk Road? Create your own custom tour with our local experts, or explore our tours to design your perfect rail journey across Uzbekistan.

Plan your Uzbekistan trip — in your language

العربية

اكتشف طريق الحرير على متن القطارات السريعة في أوزبكستان. سمرقند وبخارى وخيوة أصبحت أقرب من أي وقت مضى — رحلة مريحة عبر التاريخ. صمّم جولتك الخاصة اليوم.

Deutsch

Entdecken Sie die Seidenstraße im Hochgeschwindigkeitszug. Eine Usbekistan Reise nach Samarkand, Buchara und Chiwa — komfortabel und stilvoll. Planen Sie Ihre Seidenstraße Rundreise und entdecken Sie unsere Touren.

Español

Recorre la Ruta de la Seda en los trenes de alta velocidad de Uzbekistán. Samarcanda, Bujará y Jiva más cerca que nunca, en un viaje a Uzbekistán cómodo y elegante. Crea tu propio tour a medida.

Français

Parcourez la Route de la Soie à bord des trains à grande vitesse pour un voyage en Ouzbékistan d'exception. Samarcande en deux heures, Khiva enfin accessible, et le luxueux Samarkand Express. Découvrez nos circuits dès aujourd'hui.

中文

乘坐高速列车畅游乌兹别克斯坦旅游丝绸之路。撒马尔罕、布哈拉与希瓦比以往更近——舒适优雅的历史之旅。立即定制您的专属行程。

Русский

Откройте Шёлковый путь на скоростных поездах в туре в Узбекистан. Самарканд, Бухара и Хива стали ближе — комфортное путешествие сквозь века. Создайте свой индивидуальный тур уже сегодня.