Overview

Rural Uzbekistan in a weekend

Discover rural Uzbekistan on this 2-day adventure between Samarkand and Bukhara. Hike 6 km through the Nuratau Mountains with panoramic views of valleys, mountain slopes and distant Lake Aydarkul, then unwind at our comfortable yurt camp with modern facilities.

On day two, stop at Lake Aydarkul for a peaceful walk or a swim, and visit the historic town of Nurata — home to a sacred spring and the ruins of a fortress attributed to Alexander the Great.

$330 for 1 person · $200 pp for 2+

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Itinerary

Day by day

Day 1

Samarkand → Sayyod Yurt Camp

Meet your driver at 9:00 AM at your hotel and travel to the camp (the tour can also start from Bukhara). Arrive around noon and check into one of the eighteen traditional yurts. After lunch, set out on an easy 3-hour (6 km) hike through a scenic valley to a viewpoint over Lake Aydarkul and local villages. Back at camp, enjoy an Uzbek dinner, then relax by the pool or the campfire under the stars.

175 km / 3 h drive6 km / 3 h hike+327 m / −328 mYurt camp

Day 2

Yurt Camp → Bukhara via Lake Aydarkul & Nurata

After breakfast, depart for Bukhara with a stop at Lake Aydarkul for a lakeside walk or, in warm weather, a swim. Continue to Nurata for a traditional lunch at a local guesthouse, then explore the ancient fortress ruins and the sacred Chashma Spring. Arrive in Bukhara in the late afternoon.

410 km / 6 h driveBreakfast & lunchEnds in Bukhara