From Samarkand to Bukhara through the Mountain Village and the Kyzylkum Desert
This interesting trip is designed for lovers of ethnography, natural history, and adventure. This short tour is packed with numerous events, meetings, discoveries, and impressions. In just 3 days, you will visit the exotic mountain village of Sentob, where locals live according to millennia-old traditions, the cult complex "Nur" – a place of pilgrimage for Muslims, the ruins of an ancient fortress built by the warriors of Alexander the Great, swim in the vast lake Aydarkul, surrounded by sand on all sides, get acquainted with the flora and fauna of the desert, ride Bactrian camels, spend the night in a real nomadic yurt, listen to songs by a local akyn around a campfire, and see incredibly close and bright constellations. On your way to Bukhara, you will visit the workshop of the Narzullaev family of potters in Gijduvan.
The tour can also be done in reverse – from Bukhara to Samarkand.
Tour program
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1
Samarkand – Hayat – Majrum – Sentob (300 km, 6–8 hours with stops, walks, and lunch)
9:00 AM. Departure from Samarkand (transport will pick you up at your hotel) to the mountain village of Sentob (250 km, approx. 4.5 hours). Lunch at a family guesthouse. Walk around the village and visit the enclosure with rare Kyzylkum sheep (Ovis severtzovi). After lunch, transfer to the village of Majrum, followed by a short hike to a giant ancient eastern biota tree (Platycladus orientalis). This sacred tree, part of the cypress family, is over 20 meters tall with a trunk circumference of 24 meters (including side branches). Nearby are the ruins of an old mosque. After the walk, return to the vehicle and transfer to Sentob village. Accommodation and dinner at a family guesthouse (basic conditions: 2–3 beds per room, shared toilet and shower).
2
Sentob (excursion) – Yurt Camp Safari/Aydar (100 km, 2 hours)
9:00 AM. After breakfast, a 2-hour walk around the village: learn about local life, visit ancient ruins, see petroglyphs, and walk along the mountain river. Transfer to Yurt Camp Safari Aydar (100 km, approx. 2 hours). Lunch at the camp. After lunch, relax at Lake Aydarkul with its sandy beach. Short camel ride on Bactrian camels around the camp. Learn about desert plants and animals. Watch the sunset from a sand dune. Dinner and campfire. Folklore performance by a local Kazakh akyn playing the dombra. Overnight in 4-person yurts. Toilet and shower located 20–30 meters from the yurt.
3
Yurt Camp – Nurata – Gijduvan – Bukhara (250 km, 5 hours)
8:00 AM. Breakfast. 9:00 AM. Departure to Bukhara. Stop in Nurata to visit the pilgrimage site “Nur.” Continue to the Narzullaev family ceramics workshop: learn about ceramic-making and shop for original pieces. Optional lunch at a roadside café or tea with sweets at the workshop. Arrival in Bukhara and check-in at your hotel.
Optional: For a more complete experience on Day 3, you can visit Sarmish Petroglyphs Park on the way to Bukhara. Cost: $25 per person Duration: 2–3 hours
Tour price from
$ 210
(2,562,000 UZS)
Highlights
Flora and fauna of the Kyzylkum desert
Huge Lake Aydarkul
Petroglyphs of Sarmyshsay
Ceramic workshop in Gijduvan
Included
Accommodation in a guesthouse for 1 night; in a yurt for 1 night
Transportation for transfers according to the program
Meals: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners
All taxes and fees
Not Included
Single accommodation
International airfare
Fees for photo/video shooting in museums
Medical insurance
Any services not mentioned above
per
Tour price UZS/per
Tour price USD/per
2
3,782,000
310
3
3,477,000
285
4
2,928,000
240
5
2,623,000
215
6
2,562,000
210
Ask the operator for group (more than 6 people) and seasonal prices
