Termez is the main city in the far south of Uzbekistan, on the banks of the Amu Darya river and very close to Afghanistan. It is a unique place where early Buddhist archaeology, Islamic mausoleums, Soviet memory and borderland culture all meet. For curious travellers, Termez is a living capsule of the Silk Road on the edge of the desert and South Asia.
Here you will find Buddhist monasteries carved into the desert such as Fayaz Tepe and Kara-Tepe, Hellenistic remains that recall the legacy of Alexander the Great, Sufi mausoleums revered by locals and bazaars with an Afghan flavour. Termez is not only ancient history: it is also the present, a frontier, a crossroads of caravans, soldiers, mystics and merchants.
This guide covers the city’s millennia-old history, the most important archaeological sites, local culture, food, transport within the city and how to get to Termez from Tashkent, Samarkand or Bukhara.
Termez has been documented for more than 2,500 years. It was a strategic stop for caravans crossing the Amu Darya river, carrying silk, spices, horses, metals and religious manuscripts between Central Asia, Persia and the northern Indian subcontinent. In the Greco-Bactrian period, after the campaigns of Alexander the Great, the region kept close contact with Hellenistic cultures.
Between the 1st and 3rd centuries AD, the region flourished as a Buddhist centre. Monasteries carved out of mud and brick, with statues of Buddha, prove that Buddhism travelled along the Silk Road westward much earlier than many travellers imagine. Later, with the expansion of Islam and the rise of Timurid power, Termez was reshaped as a Muslim spiritual enclave with Sufi mausoleums, madrasas, caravanserais and fortresses.
During the Soviet period and after the independence of Uzbekistan, Termez remained a key military, logistical and commercial point on the border. This mix of ancient Buddhism, Sufi Islam, Soviet memory and a living frontier is precisely what makes Termez unlike any other city in the country.
Travelling to Termez literally means walking through layers of history. These are the main places you should not miss:
• Fayaz Tepe: a Buddhist monastic complex (1st–3rd centuries AD)
with remains of murals and Buddha statues. It is one of the
clearest pieces of evidence for the early spread of Buddhism in Central Asia.
• Kara-Tepe: another Buddhist complex dug into earthen hills,
with monastic cells and meditation halls. Some areas resemble sacred caves,
reminiscent of ancient Gandhara or Afghanistan.
• Mausoleum of Al-Hakim al-Termezi: a Sufi pilgrimage site
dedicated to a 9th-century Islamic scholar. Here you feel Termez shifting
from a Buddhist centre to a Muslim spiritual stronghold.
• Fortresses and Timurid remains: defensive ruins, madrasas and
later Islamic structures that show the military and religious importance of the city
during the Middle Ages.
• Termez History / Archaeology Museum:
very useful for understanding the context before visiting the sites.
You will see original sculptures, Buddhist reliefs and pieces recovered
from excavations in the region.
Tip: many of these sites lie on the outskirts, halfway between desert and farmland. The best way to visit them is with a local guide and private car, as distances are long and the summer heat can be intense.
If you have already seen the classic Islamic architecture in Samarkand, Bukhara or Khiva, Termez will show you a different face of the country: fewer blue domes, more dust, more frontier, more raw archaeology.
Termez is all about mixing worlds. You feel Uzbek heritage, Tajik and Afghan influence due to the nearby border, and a Soviet legacy still visible in some neighbourhoods and avenues. You notice it in people’s faces, in the languages they use with friends, in wedding music and even in the kind of goods displayed in the bazaar.
In the markets you will find hand-woven carpets, traditional knives, local ceramics, crafted leather and even objects that seem to come from “the other side of the river”. It is a perfect place to observe everyday life far away from the classic tourist circuits of Samarkand or Bukhara.
You will also notice a visible military and border presence. This is part of Termez’s modern identity. It is not dangerous for visitors who use common sense, but it is a constant reminder that this city always was and still is a strategic crossing point between worlds.
Culturally, people are very hospitable. Foreign travellers are often surprised by how easy it is to start a conversation, be invited for tea or have someone walk with you “so you don’t get lost”.
Southern Uzbek cuisine is hearty, flavourful and very homemade. Here are some dishes you should try:
• Plov (rice with meat, carrots and spices),
the local version is oilier and richer in flavour than in other regions.
• Samsa baked in a tandoor clay oven:
hot pastries filled with meat, onion and sometimes pumpkin.
• Homemade sujuq (or sudjuk):
smoked, spiced sausage typical of the border area, much loved by foodie travellers.
• Fresh salads with herbs, cucumber and tomato, plus hot bread straight from
the tandoor oven and endless green tea. Tea is never missing.
Eating in Termez is not just about food: it is about sitting in a chaykhana (tea house), watching the city move, listening to stories about the Amu Darya and understanding what life is like on this southern edge of Uzbekistan.
The urban centre of Termez is easy to move around by local taxi or with a car and driver. Prices are low compared to European standards. To reach archaeological sites such as Fayaz Tepe or Kara-Tepe you definitely need private transport: they are far away and the heat can be extreme.
Do not expect a polished tourist infrastructure like in Samarkand or Khiva. Here logistics are more “local”: ask, negotiate, move at a relaxed pace. That is part of the charm. If you are short on time, the best option is to book a private tour in Termez combining Buddhist monasteries, Islamic mausoleums and viewpoints over the Amu Darya river.
The fastest way to reach Termez is by air. Termez Airport has domestic flights from Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. This is the most convenient option if you want to optimise your itinerary and avoid long hours on the road.
There is also a night train or long-distance train linking Termez with Samarkand and Tashkent. It is a slow but authentic experience: you watch the arid southern landscape, deserts and rural villages pass by your window.
By road, Termez is far. This is the very south of the country, even further down than Bukhara. On a full Uzbekistan route, a common order is: Tashkent → Samarkand → Bukhara → Termez. In other words: you keep heading south until you reach the Amu Darya.
Important: Termez is a sensitive border area. Some zones near the river may require permits or be restricted. Always travel with your documents in order and follow local instructions. As long as you respect this, it is a safe destination for visitors.
