Road Tashkent-Samarkand-Bukhara-Khiva-Urgench closed???
 

I found these (bad) news

urgent!!! updates for road and 3 nite rule needed!!!! - Lonely Planet travel forum

and this worries me a lot, because my passport is currently in Rome at the various embassies for the Visas of RUS, KAZ, UZB and KYGZ.
If the road Tashkent - Khiva is closed, for me there's no reason to proceed with this trip anymore, as the three cities of the Silk Road are the highlight of my motorcycle ride to Central Asia, from June 24 through July 24.
In this case, I'd prefer to postpone it to 2013, it would have no sense to ride half of Asia to visit only the steppe of Kazakhstan and the remains of rusty ships in Aralsk...

Is there anybody on location that can confirm (or not confirm, which is my hope) the closing of Uzbekistan's main historical road?

not possible
 

It would be impossible to close down the road. Its the main link between the cities of Khorezm and the rest of Uzbekistan. If you shut it down people would starve.

They may be doing road works on it but there would be detours etc. Trucks always have to get thru. All day every day. Its a major highway.

Sounds like some teenager has heard a story from a bus company that didnt want to take him. The story about closing the road for anything more than a few hours is just not credible.

As for the visa registration thing, I have no idea.

I think you are right, this is also my opinion.

Uzbekistan is not a Country that has "so many" alternative roads...


Thanks for your post, Walter! bier

We travelled there in 2008 and stayed in paid accomodation for about 4 out of 25 nights. We kept our receipts for the paid accomodation incase some official wanted proof or anything like that. I don't actually remember registering, but do remember receiveing a receipt (possibly registration slip) of some sort from the places we stayed at which we kept too until we left the country.

I wouldn't worry about it too much...just make sure you keep receipts and other paperwork from places you stayed at.

Don't Worry
 

For once I'm in agreement with Colebatch:innocent:, there is no way that road is closed.
I'll be at Khiva in about 10 days heading south east to Bukhara and Samarkand, if I can't get through I'll let you know:mchappy:

The visa registration issue- not a problem or a necessity two years ago, again, I'll let you know if they are asking for it.

Currently very hot and sweaty in my black chador in a humid town in Iran...dreaming of a cold beer.

have a great trip.

Tiffany, too bad we won't be able to hook up for a beer, I'll be at Khiva on July 5.

Have a great trip, you too! :scooter:

Riding a bike with a chador ...
 

Hi Tiffany,
just a curiosity as I might ride to Iran with my old R80 in the future, do we (unlucky ladies !!) have to ride the bike with a chador ?? Or "just" wear it when we are not on the bike ??

ciao
h.r.

road opened - constructions
 

Just a brief message if anyone is still reading this topic: we are now in Bukhara and have driven from Khiva yesterday. The road is opened and perfectly rideable. Not worse than some other stretches coming from Beyneu in kazakhstan. Works on the road for about 100 km, so dusty and slow. The total ride for us was 480 km. Approx 10 hours. But we took a few wrong turns to avoid part of the road works. CheersTijs