Things to Do in Uzbekistan in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
March Weather in Uzbekistan
Is March Right for You?
Advantages
- Navruz celebrations on March 21st transform the entire country into a massive spring festival with street performances, traditional games, and sumalak cooking ceremonies in every mahalla. You'll see Uzbekistan at its most festive without the summer heat.
- Perfect hiking weather in the Nuratau Mountains and Chimgan range with daytime temperatures around 15-18°C (59-64°F) and wildflowers starting to bloom. Snow has mostly cleared from lower trails but peaks still have that dramatic white-cap backdrop.
- Significantly fewer tourists than April-May shoulder season means you'll actually get photos of the Registan without 50 people in the frame. Hotel prices in Samarkand and Bukhara run 30-40% lower than peak spring rates.
- Fruit and vegetable markets explode with early spring produce - fresh greens, radishes, and the first strawberries from Fergana Valley. You'll catch the transition from winter preserved foods to spring harvests, and locals are genuinely excited about it.
Considerations
- Weather is genuinely unpredictable in early-to-mid March with temperature swings of 15°C (27°F) between days. You might need a winter coat one morning and just a t-shirt by afternoon, which makes packing frustrating.
- Occasional dust storms, especially in Karakalpakstan and around the Aral Sea region, can reduce visibility and make outdoor activities unpleasant. These typically last 1-2 days when they hit.
- Some mountain passes and remote areas remain inaccessible until late March due to lingering snow and mud. If you're planning the Aydarkul Lake route or high-altitude hiking, confirm conditions within 48 hours of departure.
Best Activities in March
Silk Road architecture tours in Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva
March gives you ideal conditions for exploring the massive tile-covered monuments without the 35°C (95°F) summer heat that makes climbing minaret stairs genuinely exhausting. The cooler temperatures mean you can spend 4-5 hours walking the old cities comfortably, and morning light at 8-9am creates incredible shadows across the Registan's facade. Crowds are minimal - you'll often have entire courtyards to yourself at Gur-e-Amir or the Ark Fortress. The variable weather actually works in your favor for photography, with dramatic clouds adding texture to those endless blue-tiled domes.
Nuratau Mountains village homestays and hiking
The mountains are genuinely beautiful in March as spring arrives earlier here than in the valleys. Wildflowers start appearing on south-facing slopes, and you'll catch almond trees blooming in villages like Sentob and Asraf. Daytime temperatures reach 15-18°C (59-64°F), perfect for the 8-12 km (5-7.5 mile) trails to petroglyphs and shepherd camps. Snow has cleared from trails below 2,000 m (6,562 ft) but higher peaks still have coverage, creating dramatic scenery. Homestay hosts are less busy than summer months and have more time to teach you bread-making or take you foraging for wild greens.
Fergana Valley ceramics workshops and artisan visits
March is actually ideal for the Fergana Valley since summer temperatures here regularly hit 40°C (104°F) and make workshop visits unbearable. You can spend comfortable hours watching master ceramicists in Rishtan create their distinctive blue-and-green pottery, or visit silk weavers in Margilan without melting. The valley is starting to green up with early crops, and apricot trees begin blooming late March. Locals are preparing for Navruz, so you'll see craftspeople creating special ceremonial items. The Kokand-Fergana-Margilan-Rishtan circuit covers about 200 km (124 miles) and makes a perfect 2-3 day loop.
Aral Sea and Nukus Museum expeditions
March is one of the few months you can realistically visit the Aral Sea region before temperatures become punishing. Daytime temps stay around 12-16°C (54-61°F), and the notorious dust storms are less frequent than April-May. The journey to the ship graveyard at Moynaq and former fishing villages is stark and powerful, and the Savitsky Museum in Nukus holds one of Central Asia's most unexpected art collections. That said, this is still a challenging trip - roads are rough, accommodations basic, and you need a solid 4x4 vehicle. March weather makes it merely difficult instead of impossible.
Tashkent food market tours and plov centers
March brings the transition between winter and spring produce, so markets like Chorsu and Alay show both preserved foods and early fresh vegetables. You'll find the first greenhouse tomatoes, spring onions, and greens alongside dried fruits and nuts from last harvest. Wednesday and Sunday mornings are when plov centers across Tashkent cook massive cauldrons of the national rice dish - arrive by 11am at places like Besh Qozon or Central Asian Plov Center to see the process. The weather is perfect for walking between multiple markets and food stops without overheating, and locals are preparing special Navruz dishes like sumalak throughout the month.
Chimgan and Beldersay mountain resort activities
Late March hits a sweet spot where ski season is ending but hiking season hasn't quite started, meaning you might catch both on the same trip. The resorts sit about 80 km (50 miles) from Tashkent at 1,600-2,200 m (5,249-7,218 ft) elevation. Snow conditions vary wildly year to year, but the cable car to Beldersay Peak operates regardless and offers spectacular views across the Ugam-Chatkal range. By late March, lower trails become accessible for day hikes, and you can escape Tashkent's increasing heat. Weekends get busy with local families, but weekdays are quiet.
March Events & Festivals
Navruz Spring Festival
March 21st marks the Persian New Year and is Uzbekistan's biggest celebration. Every city, town, and village hosts festivities with traditional music, dance performances, wrestling matches, and communal cooking of sumalak - a sweet paste made from wheat sprouts that takes 24 hours to prepare. In Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara, you'll find massive street festivals with craftspeople demonstrating traditional skills, food stalls serving seasonal dishes, and performances of epic poetry. Families clean their homes thoroughly beforehand and wear new clothes. The celebration officially lasts one day but festivities often extend several days before and after. This is genuinely the best cultural experience Uzbekistan offers, and you'll be welcomed to join neighborhood celebrations if you're respectful and interested.