Dear Friends.
I have just returned from a wonderful week with a group in Tunisia and my attention is back on our trip to Uzbekistan. I will be in Uzbekistan at the end of November and will be sending out a full report when I return. In the meantime I want to give some more information about visas and flights.
Visas
All visitors require a Visa to visit Uzbekistan. There is no need to do this immediately, but it needs to be completed before the trip.
There is a new e-visa regime in place for visas to Uzbekistan, which makes applying for a visa very easy. To apply for your visa you will need to visit http://evisa.mfa.uz/evisa_en/ . Once you have completed the form, you will need to complete it and send/bring it to the Uzbekistan Embassy (41 Holland Park, London W11 3RP. Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday closed on Tuesday and Thursday) from 10.00 till 13.00.
The visa information that appears on the website isn’t accurate, as it reflects the situation before they changed to the e-visa system. You do not need to send 2 copies of the form, a photocopy of your passport or pictures. Instead, you now fill the form on-line, upload a picture and print out and send one signed copy only of the form only with your passport and payment. Please check the current fee at http://www.uzbekembassy.org/e/visa_fees/ . You will also need to send your passport and a self-addressed special delivery envelope for its return.
You need to state how many days you will be in Uzbekistan on the form. Note that the flight to Uzbekistan is an overnight flight, and you will arrive one day later that you depart London.
My experience was it took 8 days from sending off my passport until it was returned.
Flights
It is now time for those travelling in April and in May to look at flights.
I checked group flight options, but these are so restrictive that they won’t suit enough travellers to allow me to arrange group flights. You will need to book your own flights.
There are several flight options.
Option 1: Regular Trip (No Extension)
The simplest flight combination is to fly Uzbekistan Airways. There is a flight out from London on Tuesday evening and a return flight a week later on Tuesday afternoon. The trip is coordinated with these flights, and you will be collected from the airport in Tashkent and brought to the airport at the end of the trip in time for the return flight.
If you choose this option your flight dates are:
April trip: Out Tuesday 28 April 2015 – Return Tuesday 5 May 2015
May Trip: Out Tuesday 5 May – Return Tuesday 12 May.
Option 2: Extended trip – Return on Friday.
If you have chosen the trip extension the trip will finish in Tashkent Wednesday night in time for a return flight on Thursday. There is no return flight to London on Thursdays, and the simplest way to return home is to stay an extra day in Tashkent, and to return to London with Uzbekistan Airways on Friday. Please note that this flight gets in to London on Friday night, and is not suitable for those who observe Shabbat.
If you choose this option your flight dates are:
April trip: Out Tuesday 28 April 2015 – Return Friday 8 May 2015
Mat Trip: Out Tuesday 5 May – Return Friday 15 May.
Option 3: Extended Trip- Return on Thursday.
Those taking the trip extension and wish to return on Thursday have a few options. Uzbekistan Airways does not offer a flight to London on Thursday, but it is possible to return to another European Airport including Frankfurt, Milan, Istanbul and Riga. You can choose any of these options that you wish. You will then need to book a separate one way flight from that airport back to London.
Please note that you will be flying on 2 separate tickets, and that you will not be able to check your luggage all the way through to London. You will need to collect your suitcase in the transfer airport and then check in again. (You may be able to book the return through Milan via the Uzbekistan Airways website, in which case you might be able to check your bag through, but I can’t guarantee this). Also, if you miss you connecting flight, the airline will not take responsibility.
All this means that to avoid difficulty you should allow plenty of time for this transfer. The flights to Frankfurt and to Milan leave very early Thursday morning (around 5:00 am). The flight to Riga leaves even earlier. (4:40) The flight to Istanbul is the only one that leaves at a reasonable hour (around 10:30) but you will need a visa to clear customs in Istanbul. This costs around £20 and can be done online. The choice is yours. In my experience, Frankfurt airport is fast and efficient and in the EU so the transfer is easy. The other airports are less efficient, but it comes down to a matter of personal choice.
If you choose this option your flight dates are:
April trip: Out Tuesday 28 April 2015 – Return Thursday 7 May 2015
Mat Trip: Out Tuesday 5 May – Return Thursday 14 May.
Option 4: Other Airlines
Finally, if you wish to fly to Uzbekistan on different airline the choice is yours. The only European Airline flying into Tashkent is Turkish Airways. This is a world class airline, and I have flown with it several times. It flies to Uzbekistan via Istanbul. If you fly with them you will be able to book your luggage all the way through. For more details go to their website.
I am flying to Uzbekistan at the end of November on Uzbekistan Airways. I will let you know how it was when I return.
You do not need to book immediately, but should not wait too long as the cheapest fares go early – and there are a limited number of seats on each flight.
I will be in touch soon with further information.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Chaim Weiner
COMMENT? CLICK HERE
I have just returned from a wonderful week with a group in Tunisia and my attention is back on our trip to Uzbekistan. I will be in Uzbekistan at the end of November and will be sending out a full report when I return. In the meantime I want to give some more information about visas and flights.
Visas
All visitors require a Visa to visit Uzbekistan. There is no need to do this immediately, but it needs to be completed before the trip.
There is a new e-visa regime in place for visas to Uzbekistan, which makes applying for a visa very easy. To apply for your visa you will need to visit http://evisa.mfa.uz/evisa_en/ . Once you have completed the form, you will need to complete it and send/bring it to the Uzbekistan Embassy (41 Holland Park, London W11 3RP. Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday closed on Tuesday and Thursday) from 10.00 till 13.00.
The visa information that appears on the website isn’t accurate, as it reflects the situation before they changed to the e-visa system. You do not need to send 2 copies of the form, a photocopy of your passport or pictures. Instead, you now fill the form on-line, upload a picture and print out and send one signed copy only of the form only with your passport and payment. Please check the current fee at http://www.uzbekembassy.org/e/visa_fees/ . You will also need to send your passport and a self-addressed special delivery envelope for its return.
You need to state how many days you will be in Uzbekistan on the form. Note that the flight to Uzbekistan is an overnight flight, and you will arrive one day later that you depart London.
My experience was it took 8 days from sending off my passport until it was returned.
Flights
It is now time for those travelling in April and in May to look at flights.
I checked group flight options, but these are so restrictive that they won’t suit enough travellers to allow me to arrange group flights. You will need to book your own flights.
There are several flight options.
Option 1: Regular Trip (No Extension)
The simplest flight combination is to fly Uzbekistan Airways. There is a flight out from London on Tuesday evening and a return flight a week later on Tuesday afternoon. The trip is coordinated with these flights, and you will be collected from the airport in Tashkent and brought to the airport at the end of the trip in time for the return flight.
If you choose this option your flight dates are:
April trip: Out Tuesday 28 April 2015 – Return Tuesday 5 May 2015
May Trip: Out Tuesday 5 May – Return Tuesday 12 May.
Option 2: Extended trip – Return on Friday.
If you have chosen the trip extension the trip will finish in Tashkent Wednesday night in time for a return flight on Thursday. There is no return flight to London on Thursdays, and the simplest way to return home is to stay an extra day in Tashkent, and to return to London with Uzbekistan Airways on Friday. Please note that this flight gets in to London on Friday night, and is not suitable for those who observe Shabbat.
If you choose this option your flight dates are:
April trip: Out Tuesday 28 April 2015 – Return Friday 8 May 2015
Mat Trip: Out Tuesday 5 May – Return Friday 15 May.
Option 3: Extended Trip- Return on Thursday.
Those taking the trip extension and wish to return on Thursday have a few options. Uzbekistan Airways does not offer a flight to London on Thursday, but it is possible to return to another European Airport including Frankfurt, Milan, Istanbul and Riga. You can choose any of these options that you wish. You will then need to book a separate one way flight from that airport back to London.
Please note that you will be flying on 2 separate tickets, and that you will not be able to check your luggage all the way through to London. You will need to collect your suitcase in the transfer airport and then check in again. (You may be able to book the return through Milan via the Uzbekistan Airways website, in which case you might be able to check your bag through, but I can’t guarantee this). Also, if you miss you connecting flight, the airline will not take responsibility.
All this means that to avoid difficulty you should allow plenty of time for this transfer. The flights to Frankfurt and to Milan leave very early Thursday morning (around 5:00 am). The flight to Riga leaves even earlier. (4:40) The flight to Istanbul is the only one that leaves at a reasonable hour (around 10:30) but you will need a visa to clear customs in Istanbul. This costs around £20 and can be done online. The choice is yours. In my experience, Frankfurt airport is fast and efficient and in the EU so the transfer is easy. The other airports are less efficient, but it comes down to a matter of personal choice.
If you choose this option your flight dates are:
April trip: Out Tuesday 28 April 2015 – Return Thursday 7 May 2015
Mat Trip: Out Tuesday 5 May – Return Thursday 14 May.
Option 4: Other Airlines
Finally, if you wish to fly to Uzbekistan on different airline the choice is yours. The only European Airline flying into Tashkent is Turkish Airways. This is a world class airline, and I have flown with it several times. It flies to Uzbekistan via Istanbul. If you fly with them you will be able to book your luggage all the way through. For more details go to their website.
I am flying to Uzbekistan at the end of November on Uzbekistan Airways. I will let you know how it was when I return.
You do not need to book immediately, but should not wait too long as the cheapest fares go early – and there are a limited number of seats on each flight.
I will be in touch soon with further information.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Chaim Weiner
COMMENT? CLICK HERE
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