From Bukhara through the sands of Kyzylkum and to Samarkand
ATTENTION! The excursion is individual, for any day you need and DOES NOT IMPLY joining any group.
Bukhara-Gijduvan-Nurata-yurt camp Safari – Samarkand.
This is an interesting trip for nature and adventure lovers.The short tour is full of many events, meetings, discoveries and impressions. You will visit the workshop of the Narzullaev family of potters and ceramicists, the cult complex “Nur” - a place of pilgrimage for Muslims, the ruins of an ancient fortress built by Macedonian warriors, swim in the huge Lake Aydarkul, sandwiched on all sides by sand, get acquainted with the flora and fauna of the desert, ride camels -Bactrians, spend the night in a real nomadic yurt, listen to the songs of the local poets by the fire, and see incredibly close and bright constellations.
09:00 – Departure from Bukhara (transport will be provided at your hotel) to Gijduvan (50 km, 1 hour):
A short stop at the family workshop of the Narzullayev ceramicist dynasty, including an introduction and demonstration of traditional ceramic production techniques, with an opportunity to purchase original handmade items:
After exploring the petroglyphs, we drive over a mountain pass to Nurata – a small town and sacred pilgrimage site centered around the ancient Nur complex:
Visits include a medieval mosque, a pool with sacred fish, and the ruins of an ancient fortress traditionally associated with the era of Alexander the Great. Lunch is available at a local café (optional), after which we continue by road (60 km, approx. 1 hour) to the yurt camp.
Here the desert landscape begins, with saxaul trees and sand dunes. Upon arrival, accommodation intraditional yurts(2–4 persons per yurt):
Camel riding on Bactrian camels in the camp area, leisure time, and swimming atLake Aydarkul:
Watching the sunset from a sand dune. Dinner. Evening campfire with a solo performance of traditional Kazakh songs by a local akyn. Overnight at the yurt camp.
2
Yurt Camp – Sentob – Majrum – Hayat / Uhum
After breakfast, transfer (100 km, approx. 2 hours) to the mountain village of Sentob – an ancient settlement of gold seekers. Walking tour of the village, visit to the historical ruins of Upper Sentob, and exploration of nearby petroglyphs (2–2.5 hours). Lunch at a guesthouse.
After lunch, a short drive to the neighboring gorge and the village of Majrum (10 km). A пешая walk (3 km round trip) to a giant, millennia-old Oriental arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis). This sacred tree, revered by local residents, belongs to the cypress family, rises over 20 meters in height, and has a trunk circumference (including side branches) of about 24 meters. Nearby are the ruins of an old mosque.
Returning on foot to the vehicle, we then drive (20 km) to the final destination of the day – the mountain village of Hayat. Here we will walk to an enclosure housing endemic Kyzylkum Severtsov’s wild sheep (Ovis severtzovi). Accommodation and dinner in a family-run guesthouse(simple conditions: 2–3 beds per room, toilet and shower):
3
Hayat / Uhum – Samarkand
After breakfast, departure for Samarkand. Arrival at your hotel after approximately 4 hours. The scenic route runs between the Nurata mountain range to the south and the steppe descending toward Lake Aydarkul to the north, before joining the Tashkent–Samarkand highway.
