15/10/2026
Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Bishkek, Almaty. Several countries, a lot of border crossings, and ideally no SIM card queues at all.
Here’s how to get mobile data in Central Asia without buying a new SIM in every country 👇
If your trip covers more than one country (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan), a regional eSIM is usually easier and cheaper than collecting local SIM cards along the way.
How to set it up on the ZIM app:
1️⃣ Download ZIM: eSIM Calls & Data Plans
2️⃣ Search your first destination (we used Uzbekistan)
3️⃣ Tap “Regional” to see the multi country plans
4️⃣ Open a plan and tap the destinations link to check every country on your route is included
5️⃣ Tap Buy Now and use code CAMILA10 for 10% off
Not all regional plans are equal. The Regional UZB plan works in 53 destinations, while the Regional KGZ plan from Kyrgyzstan covers 4. Same region, very different plans, so compare before you buy.
Central Asia travel tips for staying connected:
✔️ Check your phone is unlocked and eSIM compatible
✔️ Install your eSIM at home on wifi, not in the arrivals hall
✔️ You have 90 days from purchase to activate, so you can sort it weeks before you fly
✔️ Plans are data only, so keep your home SIM in your phone for bank verification texts
✔️ Hotspot is supported, so one plan can keep a travel buddy’s laptop going too
✔️ Running low halfway through the trip? Top up in the app instead of buying a new plan
✔️ Download offline maps before heading into the mountains. The further you get from the cities, the less any network can promise
Save this for your Silk Road trip and send it to whoever is in charge of the itinerary.
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