Yurt stay, hiking, and Lake Aydarkul tour -3 days
Visit ancient Nurata city, stay in the luxury mountain yurt camp and explore the Nuratau Mountains on an easy to medium-difficulty hike with this Yurt stay, hiking, and Lake Aydarkul 3 days tour. The tour also includes a visit to Lake Aydarkul – the largest saline lake in Uzbekistan. You will be staying in traditionally decorated yurts, depending on the size; there are two to four beds in each yurt. The mountain yurt camp has an onsite restaurant, an ablution block that consists of showers and toilets, and an outdoor swimming pool. There is Wi-Fi coverage throughout the camp. During this tour, you can take a walk to the village of Sayyod and get to know the daily livelihood activities and land-use practices of rural Uzbek people. The tour can be done starting both from Samarkand and Bukhara.
Trip Highlights
- Ancient sights in Nurata city
- Stay in the Yurt camp and hike in the mountains
- Swim or stroll along the shores of the Lake Aydar
Best time: April – end of October
Quick Itinerary
Day 1 – Bukhara – Nurata- Sayyod Yurt Camp
At 9:00 depart from Bukhara via Nurata city to the mountain Yurt Camp located in the village of Sayyod in Jizzakh Region (total of 5 hours). On the way to the yurt camp, stop in Nurata to visit the ruins of Alexander the Great’s fortress, holly spring, and other sights. After having lunch in Nurata, continue to the yurt camp. Arrive at the camp and settle in the yurts. In the afternoon explore the mountains on a 3 hours/6 km easy hike. Enjoy the evening around the fireplace. (Please see the hike profile in the picture gallery).
Day 2 – Sayyod Yurt Camp
In the morning start a whole day medium difficult hike to the mountain plateau (7 hours/15km). During the hike, you will enjoy panoramic views of Lake Aydarkul, the Nuratau Mountains, and neighboring villages from the top of the mountain plateau. The picnic will be provided en route, before returning to the camp you will visit the village of Sayyod to get to know the life of the local people. Return to the camp. Depending on the temperature you may refresh yourself in our outdoor swimming pool. (Please see the hike profile in the picture gallery).
Day 3 – Sayyod Yurt Camp – Lake Aydarkul – Samarkand
In the morning, transfer to Lake Aydarkul (a 1-hour drive). Arrive at the lake and walk along the lake shores watching birds, you may also swim depending on the weather. After having a picnic at the lake depart to Samarkand (3 hours). Your tour will end in Samarkand and our driver will drop you at your hotel.
Optional: The yurt camp offers hands-on cooking classes with a market visit (45$ per participant), it is possible to participate in the class and leave for Aydarkul and Samarkand in the afternoon.
Note: When the tour is done starting from Samarkand, the visit the lake Aydarkul and to Nurata city is done on Day 3.
END OF THE PROGRAM
Price & Service
| Number of People | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Price per person | EUR 370 | EUR 240 | EUR 190 |
For groups greater than 3 people –price upon request
What is Included
- 2 nights in the Yurt Camp (private yurt for the group)
- 2 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 2 Dinner
- Mountain guide -2 days (1st and 2nd day)
- Transport throughout the tour. (sedan car for up to 3 people)
- Entrance tickets in Nurata city
- Registration
What’s not Included
- Personal travel insurance
- Alcoholic beverages in the yurt camp (can be purchased)
Day 1 – Bukhara – Sayyod Yurt Camp
After breakfast depart for Sayyod Yurt Camp located in the Nuratau Mountains (316 km / 5 hours) On the way to the mountain yurt camp, stop in Nurata city (about a 2,5-hour drive from Bukhara) to visit the ruins of Nurata fort believed to be a built by Alexander the Great, you will also see the holly spring and a local pilgrimage site located next to each other. You will have your lunch in a traditional guesthouse in Nurata.
After lunch, continue to the yurt camp. Arrive at the mountain camp and settle in one of 11 traditionally decorated yurts. Depending on the size of the yurt, there are 2 to 4 beds in each yurt. The yurt camp has an onsite restaurant, an ablution block that consists of showers and toilets, and an outdoor swimming pool. In the afternoon, start an easy 3 hours /6 km hike to the mountains. The hike offers picturesque views of the Nuratau Mountains and Lake Aydarkul from distance.
Return to the yurt camp in the late afternoon. After dinner, you may relax around the swimming pool or make a campfire.
Day 2 – Sayyod Yurt Camp
After early breakfast, start the whole day’s hike to the top of the mountain plateau (15 km / 7 hours). Start hiking through the valley up to the plateau, then hike on the plateau before descending down to the lush green valley. The scenery during the hike is stunning as you will have the opportunity to see the vast Kyzyl-Kum steppe, lake Aydarkul, and neighboring villages from the top of the mountains. The picnic lunch will be taken by the guide.
Before returning to the camp we will visit Sayyod village. People in the village mainly live on farming, they keep livestock, have large vineyards, and grow their own vegetables and fruit trees. Walking through the village you will see local women baking bread in the tandir oven or doing other household chores such as collecting firewood, harvesting, butter making, corn grinding, or preserving fruits. Many people will welcome you to enter their yards and watch what they are doing.
Return to the camp in the afternoon. After dinner, you may relax in the camp.
Day 3 – Sayyod Yurt Camp – Lake Aydarkul – Samarkand
After breakfast, we will drive to explore the vast Kyzyl-Kum steppe and Lake Aydarkul located at a 28 km distance from the camp (1-hour drive). The Lakes Aydar and Tuzkan and their adjacent wetlands are habitat types that cover extensive areas of the region. They are important breeding, resting, and wintering areas for more than a hundred species of birds. Arrive at the lake and walk around the lake shores to get to know the area. Depending on the temperature you may also swim.
END OF PROGRAM
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