Tirmiz
Introduction
Termez is the capital of the Surxondaryo Region in southern Uzbekistan, a district-level city on the country's southern edge. Its layers of history are unusually deep: it was the site of Alexander the Great's Alexandria on the Oxus, became a centre of early Buddhism, later drew Muslim pilgrims, and in the Soviet era served as a base for military operations in Afghanistan, with the Hairatan border crossing lying nearby.
When to go
< p >Termez has a cool arid climate, so plan around two very different seasons. Summer is long and sweltering, with dry conditions throughout. The heat makes daytime activity uncomfortable, so push your sightseeing toward the early mornings or evenings and keep the middle of the day free. < /p > < p >Winters are short and cool, a sharp contrast to the summer. Days are milder than the season's reputation might suggest, but nights turn cold, so pack for a real drop in temperature after dark. < /p >Three days in Tirmiz
Day one: Start in Termez, the main city of the Surxondaryo Region in Uzbekistan. Get your bearings in the modern town, which grew under Soviet rule, then turn to the older layers of the area. Its history reaches back to Alexander the Great and to Alexandria on the Oxus, and the region later became a centre of Buddhism before the coming of Muslim rule. Use your first day to take in this long story at an easy pace.
Day two: Look south, where the region meets Afghanistan. The border crossing at Hairatan is the gateway on that side, and the proximity shapes the character of the area. Summers here are hot, while the winters are cold, so plan your walking and sightseeing around the season. Days can be long and bright, which gives you time to move between the sites without rushing.
Day three: Return to Termez and fill in what you missed, keeping to the places tied to the city's Buddhist, Muslim and Soviet past. If you have time, revisit the riverside associations with Alexandria on the Oxus and the memory of Alexander the Great. Leave some room to simply sit and watch the town, since the mix of old and new is the point of a stay in this part of Uzbekistan.