Border Crossing from Tajikistan (Panjakent) to Uzbekistan (Samarkand) with a Malaysian Passport & Motorcycle

The border crossing from Panjakent to Uzbekistan started early in the morning after waking up at 8am. First stop was to drop by the central bazaar to find the elusive fat short man with a plastic bag that does money exchange between Tajiki Somani and Uzbek Som. 

The day before I was late waking up past 5pm from the afternoon heat and the central bazaar was already half closed so I could not find the guy. This time round in the early morning the Central Bazaar of Panjakent was bustling with people causing massive traffic congestion and just mass amount of people going in and out of the market buying daily goods. It was a chaotic yet interesting market but only if I had time to soak it in.

Leaving Panjakent 

I risked parking my bike where there was too much foot traffic and decided a little bad exchange won’t be so bad and tried the money changer out front but the lady had no Uzbek currency and directed me to the Central Market to look for that same elusive man with big plastic bag. 

I went into the market to find the guy and asking the nearest shopkeeper for money exchange soon led me to the guy sitting next to a shop. Money exchange was very fast, and I did not linger around to negotiate the rate. I was changing the balance 700 Tajiki somani anyway and got a fair rate of 1100 to 1. Money changed, I made a run for the border.

Tajikistan Side of the Border at Panjakent Crossing

Tajikistan border exit was fairly simple although I went to the wrong passport control for pedestrian and eventually got re-directed to the vehicle crossing checkpoint. The Immigration cum customs stamped me out and did not bother to collect back the temporary import permit that was issued in the Kyzyl – Alt border.

I was not too concern and continue on to the other side bracing myself for a long border crossing for the Uzbekistan side. I kinda skirted the vehicle queue all the way to the front and then it was off to immigration. 

The immigration officer for some reason can’t seem to believe that I was from Malaysia. He asked me twice if I was from Korea and even asked for more document to prove that I was from Malaysia.

I gave him my Malaysian Identity card which he scrutinizes with the passport and after nearly half an hour procrastinating, finally stamped me into Uzbekistan. It was then off to customs, and this time I just chilled around the bike chit chatting with the guards and locals for they were all curious with the bike while the customs officer tried to figure out how to key in the bike into the system.

Midway through the paperwork's process, I had to take the bike back to some camera point to get the number plate recorded. Too dirty they said and my plate had to be wipe clean for a clearer photo-shot. Camera was dead angle and could not read the back plate due to the large box so many tries and error was done going from one camera to another and eventually one of the officers asked me to dismantle the box just so they could get a camera footage of the bike with the back plate.

Little Customs /  Guardpost slip that I had to give up when entering Uzbekistan with Bragge

Paperwork done, I was good to go and the whole process crossing both borders took about an hour and half. Fairly good timing. The interesting part of this was that there were no customs papers for the bike at all. 

Everything was keyed into their system (Uzbekistan), and no copy of temporary import permit was issued for the bike. I had this small little checklist paper that was stamped by immigration, customs, animal control, and something else but it was to be handed over to the guard before leaving the compound. Luckily, I took a picture and that was my only record that the bike entered Uzbekistan officially.

Accross the Border at Uzbekistan side (Samarkand Border)

Little Tourist Information Booth where i Bought a Sim Card

Immediately after the border was a simcard booth but I was weary if this was a possible scam where they don’t activate the card but take your money knowing that you will be gone and on your way in five minutes. I was cautious for sure but seeing that the sim card cost only 50,000 som (about USD5) for 20gb a month, I guess it was cheap enough that if I got scammed it would not be too painful and proceeded to get one.

Connected to internet, Uzbek currency in pocket, it was time to really hit the road to do some distance. I decided to skip Samarkand entirely going straight for Bukhara. The idea was that I would try to get to Khiva first and slowly make my way back and visit Samarkand later.

Roads were definitely much better in Uzbekistan, but the landscape was entirely boring. Weather was also changing to high heat, dry desert landscape and it was really boring but coupled with the constant honking from Uzbek drivers every-time they overtook me gave me a fright.

Boring Desert Roads to Bukhara 

It seems bikers was a rarity in Uzbekistan. Most drivers would overtake me and give me a honk with a good thumbs up. It was friendly and good but the constant shock of being horn by these big truckers not knowing if it was danger or a passing thumbs up got to my nerve fairly quickly. It was annoying but I returned the wave and the smile whenever I could.

Travelled on: Jul 2024