Travel guide
How to get from Bukhara to Khiva
The longest leg of the classic route crosses the Kyzylkum desert. New trains in 2026 made the rail option faster; the car is still the only door-to-door choice.
Short answer: trains take about 3.5 to 7 hours depending on the service. A private car takes 6–7 hours hotel to hotel and costs $100 for the whole sedan, $33 each for three people. A shared taxi is the cheapest option per seat.
The options at a glance
| Option | Time | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fastest train (from May 2026) | ≈ 3.5 h | Per person | New service reported in 2026; not daily on every date |
| Express train | ≈ 4.5 h | Per person | Check the timetable |
| Sleeper and regular trains | 6–7 h | Per person | Often overnight |
| Shared taxi | 6–7 h plus waiting | Around $18 per seat (12Go) | Leaves when full; little luggage space |
| Private car | 6–7 hours | $100 sedan, $230 minivan, per vehicle | Hotel to hotel, stops when you ask |
By train
Trains leave from Kagan station, about 15 km outside Bukhara, and arrive at Khiva station, a short ride from Ichan-Kala. A 2026 traveller report lists the newer fast service at about 3.5 hours, an express at about 4.5 hours and sleeper trains at 6–7 hours. Not every train runs daily and the timetable changes, so check your date on the Uzbekistan Railways site before you plan around one.
By shared taxi
Shared taxis gather in Bukhara and leave when every seat is filled. They are the cheapest way across the desert, but expect to wait, share the back seat and keep luggage small. Agree the price per seat in som before you set off.
By private car
The road is about 460 km. It crosses the Kyzylkum desert and then follows the Amu Darya river into the Khorezm oasis. Services on the desert stretch are sparse, so drivers plan a lunch stop at a roadside café about halfway. See Bukhara to Khiva private transfer.
What the car costs per person
| People | Vehicle | Per vehicle | Per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sedan | $100 | $100 |
| 2 | Sedan | $100 | $50 |
| 3 | Sedan | $100 | $34 |
| 4 | SUV | $130 | $33 |
| 5 | Minivan | $230 | $46 |
| 6 | Minivan | $230 | $39 |
| 7 | Minivan | $230 | $33 |
| 10 | Microbus | $280 | $28 |
| 16 | Microbus | $280 | $18 |
Before you set off
- By car, leave between 7 and 8 am to arrive in daylight.
- Bring water, snacks and some cash in Uzbek som: cards are not always accepted outside the cities.
- Many Khiva hotels are inside the walls of Ichan-Kala, where cars are limited, so you may be dropped at the nearest gate.
Leaving Khiva
Urgench airport is 30–40 minutes away: see Urgench airport to Khiva, every option. Going back to the capital by road? See Khiva to Tashkent by car.
Updated 4 October 2026. Sources: Megan Starr, getting to Bukhara (2026), 12Go: Bukhara–Khiva taxi, Uzbekistan Railways (tickets).