This three-day trip from Samarkand to Bukhara is a perfect adventure for nature lovers, offering a unique opportunity to experience the warm hospitality of Uzbek villages while exploring the breathtaking landscapes of the Nurata Mountains and yurt camp stay. The journey takes you through picturesque countryside, where you can witness the daily life of local communities, taste traditional Uzbek cuisine, and immerse yourself in the region’s rich cultural heritage.
ITINERARY & DETAILS
Day 1: Samarkand—Asraf village in Nurata mountain
Transfer from Samarkand to Asraf Village, with an optional lunch break en route to the village.
After check in, you will embark on an invigorating trekking adventure through the village and the surrounding mountain area. The trek lasts approximately 1.5 hours, taking you through picturesque trails that offer breathtaking views of the Nurata Mountains. As you walk, you will pass through lush valleys, small orchards, and grazing lands where shepherds tend to their flocks. The trail also leads to scenic viewpoints that showcase the natural beauty of the region, making it a great spot for photography and quiet contemplation.
Day 2: Asraf village—Aydarlake—Yurt camp
After breakfast, enjoy free time in the village to take photographs and appreciate the fresh air. Lunch will be served at the guest house, followed by a transfer to Aydar Lake.
Lake Aydarkul was created in 1969, when catastrophic springfloods made people drain excess water from the Syrdarya River into the Arnasay depression. Since then Aydarkul has been steadily growing in size. Nowadays lake covers an area of 4,000 square kilometers.
After visiting Lake Aydarkul drive to Yangiganzan to yurt camp (40 minutes’ drive). Upon arrival, travelers check in to yurt. Travelers sleep in the bed it might be a bit hard and there is an electricity inside of the yurt. Activities to do in yurt camp: camel riding, watching the birds and after dinner live music by Kazakh musician around the campfire.
Overnight in a yurt.
Overnight in Yurt Camp (shared bathroom facilities)
Day 3: Yurt camp—Nurata city—Bukhara
Visiting sights in Nurata:
Nurata—this city is surrounded by the Nurata Mountains. Nurata (“Nur means Light or Holy and Ata means Father”), this ancient town held a strategic position on the frontier between the cultivated lands and the steppe. Population of the town is 32,000 people and renowned for marble and astrakhan for production, Nurata has retained some of the holy sites that attracted pilgrims from all over Central Asia.
Chashma Spring—this Spring linked to Hazrati Ali (son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad). The centre of the complex is a pool where the faithful come to collect water as a good luck and health to relatives and friends. Regardless of the time of the year, the mineral-laden spring water is said to remain at consistent 19 °C. The population of Marinka fish in the pool is thriving as it is considered as a holy spot and hence no-one is allowed to catch them.
Alexander’s Fort—it is strategically located on the top of the hill to the south of the town, and Uzbek sources suggest that Alexander instructed one of his generals to build an impenetrable fortress here while he continued his conquest of Bactria and Sogdiana. When Alexander returned, his troops could neither break down the gates nor scale the walls, such was the strength of the construction.
