A Culinary Journey Through Fergana Valley

Fergana Valley is famous for its delicious cuisine thanks to its fertile lands and culinary traditions passed down through generations. This Fergana Valley CTN Recommended Route is a must for foodies as it highlights the unique dishes, cooking experiences and fresh markets throughout the Fergana Valley. Each region has their own take on the national favourite dish, plov or pilaf. Note: Please let the tour operator or tour guide know in advance if you are vegetarian/vegan or have food allergies.

Recommendation: Work with one of our Fergana Valley CTN member tour operators or tour guides to help you organize your trip. They can assist with customizing your itinerary, organizing visits to artisans, arranging transportation and accommodation, and many other services. At a minimum, we recommend hiring a private driver as not all places are easily accessible by public transport or shared taxi.

Note: Visiting artisans and their studios requires prior booking or reservation.

CTN Recommended Route: A Culinary Journey Through Fergana Valley

Length: 7 days

Fegana Valley CTN Recommended Routes help you discover immersive, off-the-beaten-path cultural and culinary experiences along the Silk Road to help you plan your visit to Fergana Valley in Uzbekistan. Routes can be adjusted in terms of duration, market stops and food-related visits according to your interests, needs and schedule.

Day 1-2: A Taste of Fergana Region

Transportation to Fergana Valley: We recommend that you to travel by train from Tashkent to Margilan (4.5 hours).

Accommodation: Stay at CTN Member Ikat House in Margilan

Explore and taste the cuisine of Fergana Region by choosing several culinary experiences:

• Fergana Plov cooking class: Buy the ingredients at the central farmers market and prepare the plov in an Uzbek family or local teahouse (chaxanna).
• Kokand Halva: This is a national dessert made from an ancient recipe that remains unchanged for centuries.
• Wine Garden: The only winery in Fergana Valley, located in Fergana city, offers a winery tour and wine tasting. Relax afterwards with a hearty meal in the restaurant.
• Mehrigyo Agro-Ecotourism Centre: This centre is engaged in the cultivation, processing and sale of medical herbs.
• Honey Tour: Learn about the activities of beekeepers and taste 40 different types of honey, including the role of honey in oriental medicine and its healing properties.
• Pomegranate Plantations: Learn more about this vitamin rich fruit that is a national symbol.
• Andarkhan (Winter Season): Learn about the traditional way of storing melons through the winter in special melon where they are tied with string and hang from the ceiling.
• Kumtepa Bazaar (Sundays and Thursdays): Enjoy the bustle of this traditional market just outside of Margilan with piles of fresh fruits, spices, vegetables, traditional fabrics and much more.

Days 3-4: The Flavours of Andijan Region

Transportation: Transfer by train or taxi to Andijan city and stay for 1-2 nights.

Accommodation: Stay at CTN Member Uzbechka Hotel.

Continue your culinary journey in Andijan Region by selecting a few experiences below:

• Old Town Bazaar and Craftsmen Alley, Andijan City: Take a walking tour through Andijan’s old town fresh market filled with friendly vendors and piles of fruits and vegetables. Continue outside to explore Craftsmen Alley with its handmade household goods and blacksmiths.
• Andijan Plov: Andijan Plov is famous as it is made from devriza rice that has a red color and a special taste. Be sure to try this at one of the chaxannas in the park or at a special plov center.
• Marhamat’s Giant Somsa: Marhamat is famous for its giant somsas (beef or lamb) cooked on the side of a tandoor oven and filled with broth, meat, onions and spices.  Combine with a visit to the nearby Mingtepa archeological site that dates back to 6^th century BC.
• Agro-Tourism Experiences: Andijan Region is famous for its fruit – grapes, apricots, pomegranates, melons and more. Visit one of the farms to learn more and taste some of freshest fruits possible.

Day 5-6: Savour the Specialties of Namangan Region

Transportation: Transfer by train or taxi to Namangan city and stay for 1-2 nights.

Accommodation: Stay at CTN Member Atlas Hostel in Namangan City or Chevrolet Hotel in Chust.

Discover the culinary specialties of Namangan Region through the following experiences:

• Chorsu Bazaar, Namangan City: Get lost in Namangan’s lively and bustling fresh market with friendly vendors and piles of bread, fruit, vegetables and more.
• Chust Plov: Chust is famous for its plov and its handmade knives. Share a plate of plov with friends at the Chaxanna in the central park. Nearby Chust Bazaar is a fun market with a good selection of Chust knives.
• Shirmov Non: This local bread is made from corn that you can see made at specialty bakeries.
• Shahand Halva (November – March): Learn the process of making local halva with a master chef. 
• Agro-Tourism Experiences: Each part of Namangan region is famous for growing a different type of fruits – cherries, apples, pomegranates and more. Learn what makes these fruits so sweet.  

Day 7: Return to Tashkent or Continue to Kyrgyzstan

Return to Tashkent: Take a train, shared taxi or flight from Namangan city.

Crossing into Kyrgyzstan: If you are continuing onto Kyrgyzstan, go through the Uchkurgan-Kensay border around one hour from Namangan city and cross into Jalal-Abad Region. Arslanbob is around two hours from the border. Alternatively, you can cross the Dostyk border near Andijan to get to Osh.