Last Updated on: 1st June 2026, 04:37 pm
Termez, a dusty border city at the southern end of Uzbekistan, feels a world away from the colorful domes of Samarkand and Bukhara. Yet this remote outpost along the Amu Darya River – once the ancient Oxus – holds some of Central Asia’s most remarkable archaeological treasures.
The top things to do in Termez featured below will appeal to those with a special interest in the Hellenistic period and Iron Age – and especially to those who prefer their historical sites a little rough around the edges.
To learn more about where to stay in Termez and reaching the city – either from within Uzbekistan or from neighboring Afghanistan – be sure to check the end of the article.
GETTING AROUND TERMEZ: While it may be possible to reach many of the locations below via public transport or ride hailing apps, hiring a private driver during your time in Termez is recommended.
Not only is it affordable, but given the extreme heat in southern Uzbekistan during the warmer months, you certainly don’t want to find yourself stranded outside on a scorching summer day.
I visited the following locations over the course of two days, paying about $20 USD for the first day and $25 for the second day. But if you’re short on time or on a budget, you could see a lot of the main highlights in just one day.
My driver was arranged through my hotel, and the price was only for transport with no guide services. If you’d like both, consider a local guide named Maksut, who normally works at Kara Tepe. I didn’t go with him, but another traveler I met had a positive experience. His number is +998-93-633-2253.
The locations below are presented in the order in which I saw them.
Zurmala Stupa
Our first stop on my first day in Termez was Zurmala Stupa, located on the outskirts of town in the midst of agricultural fields.
The large stupa, which measures 12 m high and 14.5 m in diameter, is one of the most significant intact Buddhist structures in Uzbekistan.
Built of mudbrick and then coated in plaster, archaeologists date it to the 2nd century AD – a time when the vast Kushan Empire controlled these lands.
The Kushan Empire, which lasted from around the 1st-4th centuries AD, stretched as far east as Pataliputra in India (modern Bihar) and as far north as here in ancient Bactria.
As a result of the conquests of Alexander the Great, Hellenistic culture was introduced to the region. Bactria also neighbored Gandhara, which had been heavily influenced by the Maurya Empire of India – a mighty Buddhist kingdom.
What formed here were kingdoms such as the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom (c. 256–125 BC) and its successor, the Indo-Greek Kingdom (c. 180 BC-10 AS), where Hellenistic culture fused with ancient Indian philosophies.
And later, once the Kushan Empire absorbed ancient Bactria, the ancient Greek, Zoroastrian, and Buddhist religions coexisted side-by-side. But Buddhism was dominant here for centuries.
Zurmala was actually the first Buddhist stupa discovered in former Soviet Central Asia in the early 20th century. Relics of the Buddha and other sacred texts would’ve been stored at its top, and interestingly, it was originally painted bright red.
As fascinating as the site is, there’s nothing else here but this single stupa, so your visit probably won’t last much longer than 10-15 minutes.
Fayaz Tepe & Kara Tepe
Our next stop was Fayaz Tepe, which, as we’ll cover shortly, is just across from Kara Tepe. Still, they technically count as separate sites, with entrance costing 40,000 som for each.
Oddly, there was nobody at the ticket gate when entering, and I was only asked to pay for both sites when leaving. And after the staff member had seen my camera, he asked for an extra 60,000 som.
I sensed something fishy, and since there were zero indications about camera fees up until that point, I simply refused to pay. Now having traveled through much of Uzbekistan, I can only recall camera fees ever being implemented at certain indoor museums.
The Buddhist stupa of Fayaz Tepe is arguably Termez’s most iconic site. And while what we see today appears to have been largely reconstructed, it’s still somewhat surreal to see such a prominent Buddhist monument in a former Soviet republic.
Fayaz Tepe was also known as ‘Haya Vihara,’ a Sanskrit name which means ‘Monastery of the Horsemen.’
The stupa and its adjacent monastery were largely active in the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. But activity declined upon the invasion of the Persian Sassanians. From the 4th century, a sub-kingdom of the Sassanian Empire known as the ‘Kushano-Sassanian Kingdom’ formed in this region.
During this era, Hinduism thrived here, and so did Persian religions like Zoroastrianism and Mithraism. But notably, Fayaz Tepe was still operational when the Chinese Buddhist monk Xuanzang arrived here in the 7th century.
Next, I returned to my driver who took me a short distance over to Kara Tepe, a large complex of Buddhist temples and caves spanning from the 1st-3rd centuries AD. When it comes to exploration, this is arguably the most enjoyable site in all of Termez.
Interestingly, there wasn’t just one Buddhist monastery here, but several, as at least five different names have been noted in inscriptions.
But following the decline of Kushan influence in this area from the 4th century, some of the monastic cells were converted into burial sites.
While Termez was a part of the ancient Bactria region, various findings at Kara Tepe reveal a strong influence from Sogdia to the north. For example, Sogdian-style medallions, pendants, and combs were discovered in some of the tombs here.
Fascinatingly, inscriptions in the ancient Indian Brahmi and Kharoshthi scripts were discovered here as well, as pilgrims from India came to visit Kara Tepe in ancient times.
While you won’t find any on-site signage, you’ll observe multiple former monastery courtyards situated around a central hill.
And spread throughout the area are a near countless number of manmade caves. They’re mostly accessible to visitors and fascinating to explore, but don’t expect to find much inside.
Kara Tepe is situated right along the edge of Uzbekistan, with the nearby Amu Darya (Oxus) River functioning as a natural border. And on the other side? Afghanistan.
Looking at older online travel guides, the chance to view Afghan soil with one’s own eyes was something of an attraction in its own right. And various visitors to Termez would arrange taxis just look at Afghanistan from across the river.
But now, Afghanistan is easier and safer to visit than ever (but still not that easy), and a lot of visitors to Termez these days are either traveling from or to there. That was also my case, as I’d just come from the other side a day prior.
As mentioned, there’s no on-site signage. And though I thought I’d explored most of the site, near the end of my visit, a local guide appeared – seemingly out of nowhere – and showed me a few things I’d missed.
In addition to the bases of some stupas, he also led another visitor and me to a room where Zoroastrian fire worshipping ceremonies took place. And lying on the floor of that room were fragments of human bones.
After exchanging contact info with the other traveler who decided to hire the guide, Maksut, to see other locations, it seems like he is indeed a legit and knowledgeable guide. But as I already had arrangements with my driver for a two-day tour, I went on my way.
All in all, one could spend a few hours exploring Kara Tepe. But bear in mind that Termez gets HOT – especially in summer – and you’ll want to start as early as possible.
Al Hakim At-Termizi Mausoleum
Jumping ahead several centuries into the Islamic era, our next stop for the day was the Al Hakim At-Termizi Mausoleum. But as we’ll cover shortly, some of the earliest remnants of ancient Termez can be found in the area as well.
The complex was home to a Sufi monastery for dervishes, and one of the buildings has since been turned into a modern museum.
While the museum is indeed nice, it’s much smaller and by no means a replacement for the Termez Museum which we’ll cover below.
On display are various ancient ceramics discovered in the nearby ‘Old Termez’ district, along with vessels discovered at Fayaz Tepe.
Confusingly, the museum houses what seems to be a replica of at-Termizi’s sarcophagus, even though the real one is on display in the mausoleum just nearby.
But who, exactly, was he?
Abu Abdullah Muhammad at-Hakim Termezi, was a Sufi saint and scholar who authored numerous religious, philosophical, and scientific works. Incredibly, his works may number over 400, but only around 50 are known to us today.
He died in 869 AD, and while his year of birth is a debated topic, it may have been as early as 749!
And this complex was where he lived and taught. And then, following his death, an additional mausoleum was constructed by his son. But some of the structures here were later rebuilt in the 15th century during the Timurid era.
Exploring the rest of the complex, you’ll find the ancient city walls which actually now serve as part of the national border. And within these walls was the heart of ancient Termez for many centuries.
Termez was founded as early as the middle of the first millennium BC. As mentioned, it was part of the ancient region of Bactria, whose main city was Balkh in modern-day Afghanistan.
Interestingly, the city’s original name, Tarmita, may mean ‘Town on the Other Side of the River,’ which it indeed was from Balkh’s perspective.
Following the conquests of Alexander the Great, ancient Termez became a major hub of the Greco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek kingdoms from the 3rd-1st centuries BC. And the territory was later absorbed into the mighty Kushan Empire which we discussed above.
As mentioned, Termez was a major religious center during the Kushan era. But, given its position on the Oxus River, it was also a prominent economic center and trading hub.
Even centuries later, following the Islamic conquests, the city continued to thrive. It maintained its role as a center for craftsmanship as well as scientific study, as evidenced by figures like Abu Abdallah Muhammad in Ali al-Hakim at-Termizi.
Sadly, as is the case with much of Central Asia, little remains of the original parts of the city due to the Mongol invasion of 1220.
Termez wasn’t abandoned, however. It later served a role as a defensive outpost during the Timurid era and the Bukhara Khanate.
Amidst an open courtyard are a set of archaeological pits from Termez’s ancient past. Many were likely dug out as tombs, though some may have served as meditation cells. And visitors are free to enter some of them.
One that I encountered was accessible via a set of stairs. But within the manmade cavern was a simple donation box. It appears to now function as a modern shrine, but I’m not sure for whom.
On the way out of the complex, my driver stopped at the gates of Old Termez Fortress. While the foundations date as far back as the 1st century AD, the fortress played a major role in the 8th-9th centuries when it also served as a hotel for pilgrims.
The fort can be climbed and offers great views of the surrounding desert.
The Termez Archaeological Museum
At the end of the day, I had my driver drop me off at the Termez Archaeological Museum. Not sure how long I’d take, I just used the Yandex Go app to get back to my hotel when finished.
At the entrance, I paid 100,000 som (about $8 USD) which included a 50,000 som fee for photography. (I soon learned that, despite what some may claim online, Uzbekistan is NOT the ‘cheapest country in the world’ – at least not when it comes to attractions.)
Given Termez’s long and fascinating history, the Termez Archaeological Museum is arguably one of the best museums in the country. There’s quite a lot to see here, with the collection spanning two floors.
Highlights of the first room include the head of a prince dating to the 1st-3rd century AD found near the city of Denov.
There were also various terracotta figurines from Kara Tepe, a large jar for storing grain from the Sultan Saodat Complex (see below), a lion-headed basin from Fayaz Tepe, and a foot fragment from a Fayaz Tepe Buddha statue.
A side room on the first floor, meanwhile, features a clay Buddha statue from Kara Tepe dated to the 3rd-5th centuries AD.
I also spotted a copy of an elaborate sculpture of a meditating Buddha found at Fayaz Tepe and lotus flower lids from the same site.
While there are more artifacts from Termez on display in the State History Museum of Uzbekistan in Tashkent, that museum was unfortunately closed during my time in the capital.
The upper floor traces the history of Termez chronologically, dating from the Stone Age up through medieval times. And near the beginning of the large exhibit, you’ll find replicas of prehistoric cave paintings and prehistoric burials.
Other notable pieces include a fragment of a mural depicting a priest with children from the site of Dalvarzintepe near Denov. And you’ll also come across various examples of pottery and scale models of significant structures.
The upper floor also contains a large collection of busts of prominent historical figures who’ve left their mark on Termez.
Among them are Alexander the Great, Diodotus I (the first Hellenistic king of Bactria), Demetrius I of Bactria (founder of the Indo-Greek Kingdom), Kujula Kadphises (a Kushan prince), and Kushan emperors Vasudeva I and Vima Kadphises.
Some of the more eye-catching pieces, meanwhile, are replicas of standing Buddha sculptures found at Dalvarzintepe and Fayaz Tepe.
Finished with the museum, I decided to check out the park across from it before heading home. And in its center is a large sculpture of Alpamysh (also spelled Alpomish), the hero of the Turkic epic of the same name.
Kampir Tepe (Alexandria Oxiana)
Located about 30 km from central Termez, Kampir Tepe is easily one of the region’s most historically significant sites. It’s long been speculated to be Alexandria Oxiana, a city founded by Alexander the Great alongside the Oxus River that was written about by geographer Claudius Ptolemy.
But not every scholar agrees.
As the name suggests, Alexander’s city was situated right along the Oxus River, also now known as the Amu Darya. And Kampir Tepe does indeed overlook the same river.
The river has shifted course over time, however. And another major candidate for Alexandria Oxiana has long been the ancient city of Ai Khanoum, now situated in northern Afghanistan.
Archaeological excavations began at Kampir Tepe in 1977, five years after its discovery. And many of the findings date from the 2nd century AD during the Kushan era. So we at least know that the site was an important Kushan settlement.
But in 2000, a team of international archaeologists did further excavations, determining that beneath the surviving structures are layers dating back to the 4th century BC – the lifetime of Alexander!
And lead archaeologist Edvard Rtveladze formally announced his belief that Kampir Tepe is indeed Alexandria Oxiana.
So for those interested in Alexander the Great and his journeys, this is a must-visit site in Termez.
And in any case, it’s a lot easier to visit than Ai Khanoum, which is situated along a sensitive border area. (See photos of some findings from Ai Khanoum in our guide to Kabul.)
From a visitor’s perspective, exploring these ruins is akin to exploring Kara Tepe mentioned above. Minus the caves, at least.
Aside from the walls, which seem to have been recently rebuilt, much of the site is foundations. And while much imagination is required, there are a lot of different areas to explore, while the views of the river below are excellent.
I also observed an abundance of pottery and human bone fragments lying around. With the site unguarded, it sadly seems quite vulnerable to looting.
This is another site you’ll want to arrive extra early at in summer, as it can get extremely hot. It was already scorching by 9:00 am when I arrived, but I braved the heat and spent at least an hour exploring.
Kirk Kiz
Kirk Kiz is an ancient medieval structure whose name translates to ‘Forty Girls.’ Interestingly, nobody’s quite sure what this building was used for.
Popular theories include a fortress, a caravanserai, a monastery, a government building, or just an ordinary house. But it may have served multiple different purposes throughout its lifespan.
In any case, it’s believed to have been built in the 9th or 10th century in the Samanid era, making this a rare building to have survived the Mongol invasion.
But why is it called ‘Forty Girls?’
The structure is linked to a local legend about forty female Amazon warriors who fended off a fortress from an invading army. According to the story, the siege lasted for many days, with a lot of the girls losing their lives.
Their leader, Gauhar, then challenged the invading army’s commander to a duel. The commander then bowed out of respect and admiration for Gauhar before departing with his army.
Kokildor Ata House
We next stopped at the Kokildor Ata House. It was likely constructed in the 16th century as.a resting place for Sufi dervishes. But today, there’s nothing inside but empty rooms, and this attraction is very much skippable.
Sultan Saodat Complex
The Sultan Saodat Complex is the family tomb of the Sayyid dynasty – the local rulers of Termez from the 9th-17th centuries. Notably, they claimed to be direct descendants of the Prophet Muhammad.
The complex comprises of numerous buildings entombing various generations of the family, in addition to a mosque and a khanaqa, or Sufi gathering place.
But aside from the large building at the end, don’t expect the elaborate tilework you’ll find in Bukhara or Samarkand. You will, however, see some ornate brickwork, especially when looking up.
Near the entrance, I noticed a mosque with beautiful turquoise domes in the distance, but my driver informed me that it was a brand new construction. The mosque is beautiful, and it’s nice to see traditional Uzbek aesthetics being adhered to even in the 21st century.
Additional Info
Uzbekistan generally has great value when it comes to accommodation – at least in the three main touristic cities. In Termez, on the other hand, options are limited for foreign travelers on a budget.
Though it’s still more expensive than what you’ll find in other Uzbek cities, Comfortable Home Stay is currently the cheapest option for those looking for a private room in Termez.
I paid around $25 per night, but that price did not even include breakfast, while bathrooms were shared. But on the positive side, the building was very modern and had a spacious kitchen and lounge area.
Snacks and coffee were available at all times, while the internet worked great. Furthermore, the hosts spoke excellent English and were very helpful when it came to arranging drivers. (I had the opposite experience at ‘homestays’ in Bukhara and Samarkand.)
Alternatively, a hotel known as Admiral is offering rooms with private bathrooms for a slightly higher price.
And for those not on such a budget, the Hilton Garden Inn Termez Airitom has very high ratings.
Generally speaking, Uzbekistan is one of the easier countries to travel through in Central Asia thanks to its rail network. You can book tickets online, and it’s possible to reach Termez directly from either Tashkent or Samarkand.
The train from Samarkand lasts about 10 hours. And if you’re coming all the way from Tashkent, the ride lasts about 14 hours.
Currently, there are no direct trains to Termez from either Khiva or Bukhara.
In my case, I hoped to later enter Tajikistan from Samarkand. So my ideal route was, after having arrived in Termez from Afghanistan, to visit Bukhara, head over to Khiva, and then back east to Samarkand.
Fortunately, taking a shared taxi was an option, and it was arranged by my hotel who knew a local driver. And the driver would also take me directly to my hotel in Bukhara. I paid 250,000 som or about $20, for the journey.
While I was told that the journey would last around seven hours, it actually took nearly twelve hours in my case.
First of all, despite being picked up at 8:00 in the morning, the driver went from place to place around the city for over two hours at the request of another passenger. He seemed to be picking up and dropping off various packages.
Finally on the way, we took a long break for lunch. And then, though this was never communicated to me directly (I had to contact my hotel in Termez to find out what was going on), we took a huge detour in the direction of Samarkand, apparently due to some type of roadwork.
But in the end, I did make it to Bukhara safely. After this excursion, I was later able to get around the country comfortably by train.
Note that it’s also possible to break up the Bukhara>Termez journey in the city of Qarshi. I considered doing this, but there didn’t seem to be enough to do or see there to warrant adding a few extra nights to my itinerary.
The nearest city to Termez on the Afghan side is Mazar-i-Sharif in Balkh Province. And the border is known as Hairatan, which is about 1.5-2 hours away from Mazar.
I paid a taxi driver 1500 AFN to get there from the city (I really had to haggle hard for this price). A bus to the border is another possibility.
Note that you will have to do a lot of walking at this border, and the region can get extremely hot in summer, so starting early would be a good idea.
The border is rather calm compared with the chaos of the Torkham Border with Pakistan. Notably, as I was leaving, one of the Taliban guards did ask to see some of the photos I took during my travels, but he soon got distracted and lost interest.
The two countries are separated by the Amu Darya River, and you won’t be allowed to walk across the entire bridge. You’re essentially forced to hop in a shared van to a checkpoint, but the price is minimal (about 5000 som, or less than $0.50 USD). On that note, it would be wise to get some Uzbek currency on the Afghan side of the border in advance.
Given the prevalence of the drug trade in Afghanistan prior to the recent Taliban takeover, expect heavy scrutiny on the Uzbek side. About halfway across the bridge, the military will inspect your luggage.
Later on, past passport control, Uzbek border guards inspected my bags again and checked EVERYTHING! I’d never experienced such a thorough check, but they were cracking jokes the entire time and the atmosphere wasn’t very tense.
If you have an Uzbek eSIM installed already, you may be able to use the Yandex Go ride hailing app. Otherwise, you’ll have to haggle with a private driver to get to town. Expect to pay around 50,000-80,000 som.