History & Heritage
Private transfer
Bukhara to Khiva private transfer
The desert crossing to Khiva's walled city, in a private car that leaves when you're ready and stops when you need it.
- Price per car, not per person
- Free cancellation 24h
- Advance payment by Visa card before we confirm
- Reply on WhatsApp & Telegram
A private transfer from Bukhara to Khiva costs from $100 per vehicle (sedan, 1–3 passengers). The price is for the whole car, not per person. The drive is about 460 km and takes 6–7 hours. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup.
Price
from $100
per vehicle
Journey time
6–7 hours
by road, approx.
Distance
≈ 460 km
depends on pickup point
Directions
Both ways
Khiva → Bukhara at the same price
Bukhara to Khiva prices
Choose by group size and luggage. One price for the whole vehicle.
Prices are per vehicle, not per person, and are confirmed in writing before your trip. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup. Message us on WhatsApp, Telegram or email to cancel.
Stops along the way
Make the drive part of the trip
Long drives are part of the trip here. Tick the places you want to see on the way and your driver plans the day around them. Short roadside stops are included in the transfer price; longer visits are added to your quote before you confirm.
Nature · about 15 min
Kyzylkum desert stop
Step out into the Kyzylkum — the Red Sands desert the road crosses between Bukhara and Khorezm.
Included in the transfer price
Book this transferPhoto stop · about 15 min
Amu Darya river view
For part of the drive the road runs close to the Amu Darya, the great river of Central Asia. A stop for the view and a stretch.
Included in the transfer price
Book this transferThe Bukhara to Khiva journey
This is the longest drive on the classic Uzbekistan route: roughly 450–480 km, usually 6 to 7 hours including stops. After leaving Bukhara the road crosses the Kyzylkum desert, then follows the Amu Darya river into the green Khorezm oasis around Khiva.
Services are sparse on the desert stretch, so drivers plan a lunch stop at one of the roadside cafés about halfway. Bring water and snacks, and a little cash in Uzbek som for the café — cards are not always accepted outside the cities.
Your driver drops you at your hotel. Many hotels are inside Ichan-Kala, the walled old town, where access by car is limited; in that case you'll be dropped at the nearest gate, a short walk from the door.
More about getting around Khiva and getting around Bukhara.
Read before you go
- Bukhara to Khiva by train, shared taxi or car
- Shared taxi vs private transfer
- All transfer prices, per car and per person
Plan your time in Khiva
What's included
- Private car and driver for your group only
- Pickup at your hotel, the airport, or the railway station
- Drop-off at your door in Khiva
- Space for your luggage (see vehicle guide)
- Short stops for photos, food and rest
- Price per vehicle, confirmed before the trip
Who it's for
- Travellers heading west to finish their trip in Khiva
- Anyone whose date doesn't match a train
- Groups who want a flexible departure time
Bukhara to Khiva by train or private transfer?
An honest comparison. Both are good options — it depends on your plans. Train vs private transfer, leg by leg.
By train
Trains between Bukhara and Khiva take around 5 to 7 hours depending on the service, and some run only on certain days. Check the timetable for your date before planning around it.
By private car Door to door
The car takes a similar time but leaves when you choose, goes hotel to hotel and gives you the desert and the Amu Darya from the window instead of a railway cutting.
What the car costs per person
The price is per vehicle, so it gets cheaper per person as your group grows. Compare with train tickets for the same number of people — and remember the taxis to and from the stations.
| 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 |
Tips. Leave between 7 and 8 am to arrive in daylight and have time for sunset from the Khiva walls. Plan your exit from Khiva too: Urgench airport is 30–40 minutes away — see the Urgench to Khiva transfer.
Things to experience when you arrive
Experience Khiva like a local
Once you arrive, experience Khiva through its people, food, crafts and traditions.
Food & Cooking
Photography
Bukhara to Khiva: questions
How long is the drive from Bukhara to Khiva?
Plan for 6 to 7 hours including a lunch stop. The distance is roughly 450–480 km depending on the road taken.
Is the road good?
It is a paved highway most of the way. Some sections through the desert are narrower or rougher, which is why the drive takes longer than the distance suggests.
Can we visit the desert fortresses on the way?
The fortresses are north of Khiva rather than on the Bukhara road, so most travellers see them as a separate trip from Khiva. Ask us if you'd like to combine them — we'll quote it.
How much is a taxi from Bukhara to Khiva?
A private car is $100 for a sedan (up to 3 people) or $230 for a minivan, per vehicle. A seat in a shared taxi costs less but you wait for the car to fill.
Is the train or a car better from Bukhara to Khiva?
The newest trains take about 3.5 hours but leave from Kagan station outside Bukhara and do not run every day; sleeper and regular trains take 6–7 hours. The car takes 6–7 hours hotel to hotel.
Is the price per person?
No. The price is for the whole vehicle.
Bukhara to Khiva, sorted.
Tell us where and when. We'll confirm the vehicle, the price and your pickup details.