Buddhist Termez beyond the classic route
Zurmala, Fayaz-Tepe and Kara-Tepe show a side of Central Asia many first-time Uzbekistan routes never reach.

Updated:
1 day · 09:00–18:00 · Termez · available daily · airport or hotel start · guide, transport and entrance tickets included
Termez is where Uzbekistan’s southern story becomes visible: Buddhist monastic sites from the Kushan era, excavated artefacts, desert-edge ruins, brick mausoleums and Islamic sacred sites. This is not a filler stop between the classic cities; it is a focused day for travellers who want a deeper historical angle.
CAJ.UZ arranges the day as one private service: local guide, air-conditioned vehicle with driver, entrance tickets and a clear order of visits. Choose Termez Airport → Termez Airport or any Termez hotel / address → the same point. The price is identical for both itineraries.
The tour is available every day and can be booked online. Published prices are valid until 31 December 2026. Lunch is not included; the planned lunch break is 13:00–14:00.
In brief: this private Termez day tour runs from 09:00 to 18:00. It covers the Termez Archaeological Museum, Sultan Saodat, Kokildor-Ota, Kyrk-Kyz, Zurmala Stupa, Fayaz-Tepe, Kara-Tepe and Al-Hakim at-Termizi Mausoleum. The price includes a local guide, entrance tickets and air-conditioned transport: a passenger car for 1–2 travellers or a minibus for 3–6 travellers. You can start and finish at Termez Airport or at any hotel / agreed address in Termez.
The value is not a long list of monuments. It is the way one day connects Buddhist archaeology, museum context, sacred Islamic sites and the physical landscape of southern Uzbekistan.
Zurmala, Fayaz-Tepe and Kara-Tepe show a side of Central Asia many first-time Uzbekistan routes never reach.
The museum gives meaning to the ruins: ceramics, fragments and excavation finds become part of one historical picture.
Al-Hakim at-Termizi and Sultan Saodat change the tone of the day from ancient remains to places still important in local memory.
The sights are spread across Termez and the ancient city area. A planned vehicle route saves time and keeps the story coherent.


Online booking records the date, number of travellers, guide language, start point and transport. CAJ.UZ then sends written confirmation with the practical details.


The price is per person and applies to both itineraries: airport → airport and Termez hotel → Termez hotel. Published prices are valid until 31 December 2026.
Private guide, air-conditioned transport and entrance tickets included.
Per-person price when two travellers book together.
Per-person price for a small private group.
For 7+ travellers, transport size and price should be confirmed separately.
The scope is simple: guide, tickets and transport are included; meals and personal expenses are not.


The airport itinerary and the hotel itinerary use the same sights, but not the same order. From the airport, it is more efficient to begin with Sultan Saodat, Kokildor-Ota and Kyrk-Kyz. From a hotel in Termez, the museum gives the clearest first context before the field sites.
Good for a transit-style day or a morning arrival. Total driving distance is approximately 50 km.
Good for travellers staying overnight in Termez. Distance depends on the address, usually around 45–50 km.
The museum, Buddhist archaeology and Islamic monuments are linked into one story instead of isolated photo stops.
The day is planned for real visits, not only quick photos. Timing may still change with traffic, heat and museum hours.
Meals: lunch break 13:00–14:00. Lunch and drinks are paid separately.
09:00 Meeting with your guide and driver at Termez International Airport.
18:00 Return to Termez International Airport.
Timing note: the table below is a planning schedule. Visit order and stop duration may change because of traffic, museum hours, weather and group pace.
| Time | Itinerary | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00–09:15 | Meeting at Termez International Airport. Your guide and driver give a short route briefing; luggage stays in the vehicle. | 15 min |
| 09:15–09:35 | Drive from the airport to Sultan Saodat — approx. 3–4 km. | 20 min |
| 09:35–10:15 | Sultan Saodat ensemble — mausoleums of the Termez sayyids and a major memorial ensemble and one of the strongest visual stops of the day. | 40 min |
| 10:15–10:25 | Drive from Sultan Saodat to Kokildor-Ota — approx. 1.5–2 km. | 10 min |
| 10:25–10:55 | Kokildor-Ota khanaka — a compact sacred stop with expressive brick architecture. | 30 min |
| 10:55–11:05 | Drive from Kokildor-Ota to Kyrk-Kyz — approx. 1–1.5 km. | 10 min |
| 11:05–11:45 | Kyrk-Kyz — a monument connected with the local legend of the Forty Girls. | 40 min |
| 11:45–12:05 | Drive to the Termez Archaeological Museum — approx. 4–5 km. | 20 min |
| 12:05–12:55 | Termez Archaeological Museum — excavated artefacts, ancient Bactria, the Kushan period and the Buddhist heritage of the region. | 50 min |
| 13:00–14:00 | Lunch break — lunch and drinks are paid separately. | 1 h |
| 14:00–14:20 | Drive to Zurmala Stupa — approx. 6–8 km from the city block, depending on the lunch point. | 20 min |
| 14:20–14:45 | Zurmala Stupa — a visible Buddhist monument linked with the Kushan-period heritage of the region. | 25 min |
| 14:45–15:05 | Drive from Zurmala to Fayaz-Tepe — approx. 6–7 km. | 20 min |
| 15:05–15:45 | Fayaz-Tepe — a 1st-century Buddhist complex discovered during excavations in 1963. | 40 min |
| 15:45–16:05 | Drive from Fayaz-Tepe to Kara-Tepe — approx. 6–7 km by road. | 20 min |
| 16:05–16:45 | Kara-Tepe — another Buddhist complex of ancient Termez. | 40 min |
| 16:45–16:55 | Drive from Kara-Tepe to Al-Hakim at-Termizi — approx. 2.5–3 km. | 10 min |
| 16:55–17:30 | Al-Hakim at-Termizi Mausoleum — a sacred place connected with the famous theologian and thinker. | 35 min |
| 17:30–18:00 | Return to Termez International Airport — approx. 13–15 km. | 30 min |
Notes:
Meals: lunch break 13:00–14:00. Lunch and drinks are paid separately.
09:00 Meeting with your guide and driver at your hotel, hostel or agreed address in Termez.
18:00 Return to the same address or another point inside Termez agreed in advance.
Timing note: the table below is a planning schedule. Actual time at sites depends on traffic, museum hours, weather and group pace.
| Time | Itinerary | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00–09:15 | Meeting with your guide and driver at your hotel, hostel or another agreed address in Termez. | 15 min |
| 09:15–10:05 | Termez Archaeological Museum — excavated artefacts and a useful introduction before the Buddhist sites. | 50 min |
| 10:05–10:25 | Drive from the museum to Sultan Saodat — approx. 5–6 km. | 20 min |
| 10:25–11:05 | Sultan Saodat ensemble — mausoleums, portal and brick architecture of an important memorial complex. | 40 min |
| 11:05–11:15 | Drive from Sultan Saodat to Kokildor-Ota — approx. 1.5–2 km. | 10 min |
| 11:15–11:45 | Kokildor-Ota khanaka — a local sacred place and a concise architectural stop. | 30 min |
| 11:45–11:55 | Drive from Kokildor-Ota to Kyrk-Kyz — approx. 1–1.5 km. | 10 min |
| 11:55–12:35 | Kyrk-Kyz — a monument linked with the legend of the Forty Girls. | 40 min |
| 12:35–13:00 | Drive to a convenient lunch point along the route. | 25 min |
| 13:00–14:00 | Lunch break — lunch and drinks are paid separately. | 1 h |
| 14:00–14:20 | Drive to Zurmala Stupa — approx. 7–9 km from the Kyrk-Kyz / city area, depending on the lunch point. | 20 min |
| 14:20–14:45 | Zurmala Stupa — a short but important stop for understanding Buddhist Termez. | 25 min |
| 14:45–15:05 | Drive from Zurmala to Fayaz-Tepe — approx. 6–7 km. | 20 min |
| 15:05–15:45 | Fayaz-Tepe — one of the key archaeological stops of the route. | 40 min |
| 15:45–16:05 | Drive from Fayaz-Tepe to Kara-Tepe — approx. 6–7 km by road. | 20 min |
| 16:05–16:45 | Kara-Tepe — the second Buddhist complex in the Fayaz-Tepe / Kara-Tepe section. | 40 min |
| 16:45–16:55 | Drive from Kara-Tepe to Al-Hakim at-Termizi — approx. 2.5–3 km. | 10 min |
| 16:55–17:30 | Al-Hakim at-Termizi Mausoleum — a calm final visit before returning to the city. | 35 min |
| 17:30–18:00 | Return to your hotel or agreed address in Termez. Total driving distance depends on the address, usually about 45–50 km. | 30 min |
Notes:
The descriptions are intentionally short. The deeper explanation comes from your local guide on site.
A stupa, a monastic complex and an archaeological zone reveal ancient Termez beyond the usual Silk Road classics.
The museum connects excavation finds with the places you visit later in the day.
These stops add the Islamic and spiritual dimension of Termez to the archaeological route.
Kyrk-Kyz is linked with the Forty Girls legend; Kokildor-Ota adds a compact sacred-architecture stop.


| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Guide languages | English, Russian and German. Select the language during booking; CAJ.UZ confirms it for your date. |
| Transport | 1–2 travellers: air-conditioned passenger car. 3–6 travellers: air-conditioned minibus. |
| Airport start | Suitable for a morning arrival or a same-day return flight. Add your flight number during booking. |
| Hotel start | Suitable for travellers already staying in Termez. Meeting can be arranged at any agreed address inside the city. |
| Clothing and shoes | Choose comfortable shoes. Archaeological areas may include uneven ground, dust and open sun. |
Useful pages: online payment · booking terms · cancellations and refunds.
Clear answers before booking.
The standard plan is 09:00–18:00, with a lunch break from 13:00 to 14:00.
Yes. The tour is available daily and can be booked online.
You can start at Termez International Airport or at any hotel, hostel or agreed address inside Termez.
It ends at the same practical point: Termez Airport for the airport itinerary, or your hotel / agreed address for the city itinerary.
Yes. Use the online booking button, choose the date, number of travellers, guide language and start option.
Yes. The published price applies to both: airport → airport and Termez hotel → Termez hotel.
A local guide, entrance tickets and air-conditioned transport are included.
No. Lunch and drinks are paid separately. The itinerary includes a lunch break from 13:00 to 14:00.
English, Russian and German are available. The selected language is confirmed for your date.
1–2 travellers use an air-conditioned passenger car. Groups of 3–6 travellers use an air-conditioned minibus.
Sultan Saodat, Kokildor-Ota, Kyrk-Kyz, Termez Archaeological Museum, Zurmala Stupa, Fayaz-Tepe, Kara-Tepe and Al-Hakim at-Termizi Mausoleum.
Yes. The museum is included and is used to give context before the archaeological sites.
Yes. Kara-Tepe is included as part of the Buddhist archaeology block of ancient Termez.
Yes. The order may change because of traffic, museum hours, heat, local conditions and the pace of the group.
Yes. Some archaeological areas have uneven ground, dust and open sun.
Yes. The 1-traveller price is 220 USD.
The price is 100 USD per person and the transport is an air-conditioned minibus.
Yes, but price and transport size should be confirmed separately.
Yes. Visa and Mastercard are available on official CAJ.UZ payment pages. Bank transfer and cash can be used when agreed in writing.
Payment creates an order. CAJ.UZ then checks the guide, vehicle and meeting details and sends written confirmation.
CAJ.UZ does not charge a cancellation fee if you cancel 24+ hours before the start time. Less than 24 hours before the start, cancellation fees may apply.
Yes. Termez adds a different southern layer to an Uzbekistan trip: Buddhist archaeology, ancient Bactria, memorial ensembles and the Amu Darya region.
Send the date, number of travellers and preferred start point. CAJ.UZ checks guide and transport availability, then confirms the booking in writing.
Phone: +998 71 236 39 45 · Email: cajourneys@gmail.com