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Uzbekistan - Things to Do in Uzbekistan in November

Things to Do in Uzbekistan in November

November weather, activities, events & insider tips

November Weather in Uzbekistan

20°C (68°F) High Temp
5°C (41°F) Low Temp
25 mm (1.0 inch) Rainfall
65% Humidity

Is November Right for You?

Advantages

  • Absolutely perfect weather for exploring - daytime temperatures around 15-20°C (59-68°F) mean you can walk all day through Samarkand's Registan or Bukhara's old town without melting. The heat that makes summer brutal is completely gone, but it's not yet the bone-chilling cold of January.
  • Dramatically fewer tourists than the spring and early fall rush - you'll actually get photos of the Registan without 50 people in the frame. Hotels in Samarkand and Bukhara drop prices by 30-40% compared to September-October, and you can often negotiate walk-in rates. I've seen guesthouses in Khiva's old town go from $80 in October to $45 in November.
  • Pomegranate season is in full swing - markets overflow with the deep red fruits that Uzbekistan is famous for. You'll also catch the tail end of persimmon season and the beginning of quince availability. This is when Uzbek families make pomegranate juice by the gallon, and street vendors sell fresh-squeezed cups for 5,000-8,000 som (about $0.40-0.65).
  • Clearer skies for photography and stargazing - November has some of the year's lowest humidity and least haze. The desert air becomes incredibly crisp, which means the tilework on Samarkand's mosques practically glows in the afternoon light. Night photography in the Kyzylkum Desert is exceptional, with minimal atmospheric interference.

Considerations

  • Mornings are genuinely cold - temperatures around 5°C (41°F) at 7am mean you'll need proper layers for early starts. If you're planning sunrise photos at the Registan, you're looking at near-freezing conditions. Hotels outside major cities often have inconsistent heating, and some guesthouses don't turn it on until mid-November.
  • Daylight is noticeably shorter - sunset around 5:30pm means your sightseeing day compresses. By 6pm it's dark and temperatures drop quickly. This matters more than you'd think when trying to fit in multiple sites across a city like Samarkand, where attractions are spread 3-5 km (1.9-3.1 miles) apart.
  • Some mountain passes and remote areas become inaccessible - if you're planning to visit the Fergana Valley via the Kamchik Pass, weather can close the road unpredictably. The Nuratau Mountains and more remote yurt camp experiences start shutting down for winter. By late November, many high-altitude guesthouses have already closed until March.

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Best Activities in November

Samarkand architectural photography tours

November's low-angle sun and crystal-clear air create the year's best conditions for photographing the tilework masterpieces. The light hits the Registan's facades at perfect angles between 3-5pm, bringing out the blues and golds in ways that summer's harsh overhead sun never does. With fewer tourists, you can set up tripods and spend actual time composing shots. The cooler weather means the tiles aren't shimmering with heat distortion.

Booking Tip: Photography-focused walking tours typically run 150,000-250,000 som ($12-20) for half-day sessions. Book 5-7 days ahead through your hotel or local guides you'll find through accommodation. Look for guides who actually know the architectural history, not just the Instagram spots. Early morning slots from 7-10am are coldest but give you that golden hour light with almost zero crowds.

Bukhara old town walking experiences

The weather is absolutely ideal for spending 6-8 hours wandering Bukhara's compact historic center. You can comfortably walk the 2-3 km (1.2-1.9 miles) between the Ark Fortress, Lyabi-Hauz complex, and the trading domes without overheating or freezing. The afternoon sun warms the courtyards perfectly, and the lack of summer crowds means you can actually hear the acoustics inside the madrasahs. Local craftsmen in the trading domes are more relaxed and willing to chat when business is slower.

Booking Tip: Self-guided walking is perfectly feasible, but hiring a local guide for 3-4 hours costs 200,000-300,000 som ($16-24) and adds tremendous context. Book through guesthouses rather than street touts. The best timing is 10am-4pm when temperatures peak around 15-18°C (59-64°F). Avoid early morning starts unless you genuinely enjoy walking in 5°C (41°F) temperatures.

Khiva walled city exploration

Itchan Kala, the walled inner city, becomes magical in November. The summer heat that makes climbing minarets genuinely dangerous is gone, and you can ascend the Islam Khoja Minaret's 118 steps without feeling like you'll pass out. The town is small enough - about 650 m (2,130 ft) across - that you can see everything in a full day of walking. The lack of crowds means you'll often have entire madrasahs to yourself, which is remarkable for a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Booking Tip: Entry to Itchan Kala costs 100,000 som ($8) and covers most monuments. Private guides run 250,000-350,000 som ($20-28) for a full day. Book accommodation inside the walls if possible - November rates drop to 250,000-400,000 som ($20-32) per night for decent guesthouses. The best time to explore is 11am-4pm when the sun warms the narrow streets. See current guided tour options in the booking section below.

Tashkent metro and Soviet architecture tours

When it's too cold for extended outdoor exploration, Tashkent's metro system becomes the perfect activity. The stations are genuinely spectacular - think Moscow metro meets Central Asian design. Each of the 29 stations has unique Soviet-era artwork, chandeliers, and marble. A single ride costs 1,400 som ($0.11), and you can spend 2-3 hours hopping between the most impressive stations like Kosmonavtlar, Alisher Navoi, and Mustakillik Maydoni. Above ground, the November weather is perfect for photographing the Soviet modernist buildings around Amir Timur Square.

Booking Tip: This is easily self-guided - download the Tashkent metro map and go. If you want context, architectural walking tours covering both metro and Soviet buildings run 180,000-280,000 som ($14-22) for 3-4 hours. The metro runs 5am-midnight, but aim for mid-morning or early afternoon to avoid rush hour crowds. Photography is officially allowed now as of 2018, though some older guards might still object.

Fergana Valley ceramic workshop visits

November is actually ideal for visiting the pottery centers of Rishtan and Gijduvan because the workshops are warm and the artisans have more time when tourist numbers drop. You can watch the entire process from clay preparation to the distinctive blue glaze application. The valley itself is beautiful in November - the poplar trees turn gold and the air is crisp. It's about 4-5 hours by car from either Tashkent or Samarkand, making it a solid day trip.

Booking Tip: Day trips from Tashkent or Samarkand including transport and workshop visits typically cost 400,000-600,000 som ($32-48) per person for small groups. Private car and driver runs about 600,000-800,000 som ($48-64) for the day, giving you flexibility to visit multiple workshops. Book through your hotel 3-5 days ahead. The Kamchik Pass road can close in bad weather, so confirm conditions the day before departure.

Nurata Mountains village homestays

Early November is your last chance before winter closures to experience village life in the Nuratau range, about 200 km (124 miles) from Samarkand. The weather is cool but manageable for moderate hiking - typically 10-15°C (50-59°F) during the day. You'll stay with Uzbek or Tajik families, eat genuine home cooking, and potentially help with late harvest activities. The mountains are stunning in November with clear air and the last of the fall colors. By late November, many homestays close until spring.

Booking Tip: Two-day homestay packages including transport from Samarkand, meals, and light hiking typically cost 500,000-750,000 som ($40-60) per person. Book through Samarkand guesthouses or community tourism organizations at least one week ahead. Confirm that your specific dates work - some families close operations after mid-November depending on weather. Bring warm layers for evening temperatures that can drop to 0°C (32°F).

November Events & Festivals

Throughout November

Pomegranate Festival in various regions

While not a single organized event, November is pomegranate season and various markets and communities hold informal celebrations. You'll see massive displays of pomegranates in Samarkand's Siyob Bazaar and other major markets. Some villages in the Fergana Valley organize small festivals with pomegranate juice pressing competitions and traditional music. It's not a tourist event - it's genuinely local, which makes it more interesting. Ask your guesthouse owner about any celebrations happening during your visit.

Essential Tips

What to Pack

Layering system for 20°C (36°F) temperature swings - you need a base layer, mid-layer fleece, and outer jacket that you can shed as the day warms from 5°C (41°F) mornings to 20°C (68°F) afternoons. That single heavy coat approach doesn't work here.
Comfortable walking shoes with actual support - you'll cover 8-12 km (5-7.5 miles) daily on uneven cobblestones and marble courtyards. The Registan alone is about 1.5 km (0.9 miles) of walking when you explore all three madrasahs. Skip the hiking boots unless you're doing mountain homestays.
Light scarf or shawl for mosque visits - required for women, useful for everyone when the morning chill hits. Uzbek mosques are generally relaxed about dress codes compared to other Muslim countries, but covering shoulders and heads shows respect. You can buy beautiful scarves at any bazaar for 30,000-50,000 som ($2.40-4).
Sunglasses and SPF 30+ sunscreen - that UV index of 4 seems moderate, but the desert sun is intense, especially reflecting off all that white marble and tilework. The clear November skies mean zero cloud protection. I've watched tourists burn badly while photographing the Registan for hours.
Small daypack for market visits - Uzbek bazaars are incredible in November with fall produce, nuts, and dried fruits. You'll want something to carry your pomegranates, fresh bread, and the inevitable ceramics you'll buy. A 15-20 liter (915-1,220 cubic inch) pack is perfect.
Cash in small denominations - while Tashkent has ATMs everywhere, smaller cities have fewer reliable machines. Bring US dollars in good condition and exchange as needed. Cards work in major hotels but almost nowhere else. Keep 50,000-100,000 som ($4-8) in small bills for snacks, taxis, and entrance fees.
Warm hat and gloves for early mornings - if you're doing sunrise photography or catching early trains, temperatures near 0°C (32°F) are common in late November. Your hotel room might be warm, but that walk to breakfast at 7am will be brutal without head coverage.
Reusable water bottle - Uzbek tap water isn't drinkable for foreigners, but hotels and restaurants provide filtered water. A 1-liter (34-ounce) bottle saves money and plastic waste. Water costs about 3,000-5,000 som ($0.24-0.40) for 1.5 liters at shops.
Basic first aid and medications - bring your own pain relievers, stomach medications, and any prescriptions. Pharmacies exist but finding specific Western brands is hit or miss outside Tashkent. The combination of new foods, different water, and temperature changes affects most visitors at some point.
Portable battery pack - you'll be using your phone constantly for photos, maps, and translation apps. November's shorter days mean you're often out from 9am-6pm, and that will drain most phone batteries. A 10,000 mAh pack gives you 2-3 full charges.

Insider Knowledge

Book accommodation in Samarkand and Bukhara for mid-November to catch the sweet spot - early November can still have lingering crowds from October, and late November gets genuinely cold with some services reducing hours. The second and third weeks of November offer the best balance of weather, prices, and atmosphere.
Uzbek families make huge batches of pomegranate juice in November that they freeze for winter. If you're staying at a guesthouse, ask if they're making any - you might get invited to help press the fruit and taste juice that's absurdly fresh. This is the kind of experience you can't plan but happens naturally when you're around during harvest season.
The Registan is free to enter after 6pm when the ticket office closes, though the madrasahs themselves are locked. You can walk the plaza, take photos, and enjoy the evening lighting without paying the 40,000 som ($3.20) day ticket. The illumination turns on around 6:30pm in November and creates completely different photo opportunities than daytime.
Shared taxis between cities are faster and more comfortable than buses, though slightly more expensive. A shared taxi from Samarkand to Bukhara costs about 80,000-100,000 som ($6.40-8) per seat and takes 3.5-4 hours versus 5-6 hours by bus. They leave when full, typically every 30-60 minutes from designated taxi stands. November's lower tourist numbers mean less waiting.
The best plov in any city is served Thursday and Friday mornings at the local osh markazi or wedding hall - this is when Uzbek families traditionally eat plov, so restaurants make huge batches. Show up between 11am-1pm. A massive plate costs 20,000-30,000 som ($1.60-2.40) and will absolutely defeat you. The plov served other days is fine, but Thursday-Friday plov is an event.
November is when Uzbeks start preparing for winter, which means you'll see families buying and storing huge quantities of carrots, potatoes, and onions at markets. The bazaars shift from summer produce to storage vegetables and dried goods. It's fascinating to watch and photograph - this is real daily life, not tourist theater.

Avoid These Mistakes

Underestimating how cold those 5°C (41°F) mornings feel - tourists pack for the 20°C (68°F) afternoon temperatures and then freeze during breakfast or early sightseeing. The temperature swing is massive, and most guesthouses have tile or marble floors that feel icy first thing in the morning. Bring actual warm layers, not just a light jacket.
Trying to cram too much into short winter days - sunset at 5:30pm means you lose 2-3 hours of sightseeing compared to summer. I constantly see tourists frustrated that they can't fit in that fourth site because it's already dark. Plan for 6-7 hours of effective sightseeing time, not 9-10. Build in buffer time for the slower pace that comes with shorter, colder days.
Booking mountain or remote experiences for late November without confirming they're actually open - many yurt camps, mountain guesthouses, and high-altitude experiences close between November 15-25 depending on weather. Tour operators sometimes don't update their websites, so you book something that's actually shuttered. Always confirm within 48 hours of your planned visit, especially for anything above 1,500 m (4,921 ft) elevation.

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