Uzbekistan: Silk Road and Off-the-Beaten-Path Getaway

Departure for Bukhara at 8:30 am.

For about a hundred kilometers, we travel through the villages of the Khorezm region and then across the Kyzylkum Desert (Red Sand). We make several stops for photos and lunch at one of the "Chaykhana" – oasis cafes. The unique beauty of the Central Asian desert transports us back to the time of the caravaneers who crossed this sea of ​​sand on camelback.

Arrival in Bukhara towards the end of the afternoon. Check-in at the hotel, dinner and overnight stay in Bukhara.

The entire day is dedicated to exploring the old part of Bukhara. Most of Bukhara's points of interest are concentrated in the old city of Shakhristan and are best explored on foot. First, the Ismail Samani Mausoleum (9th-10th century), the oldest building in the city and one of Uzbekistan's most beautiful treasures, then the Chashma Ayub Mausoleum (12th-14th century), the Bola Hauz complex (18th century), and the Ark Citadel. The symbol of the Emirate of Bukhara stands majestically in Registan Square, a reminder of the terror of the Manguit era. Lunch will be served on the terrace of a local café with a magnificent view of Poi Kalon. The entire Poi-Kalian district, the Ulugh Beg Madrasa, the Khan Abdalaziz Madrasa, the Lyabi-Hauz complex, the Nadir Divan Begi Madrasa, the Kukeldash Madrasa, and the Khanaka Madrasa. Lunch is included during the tour. Dinner will be at the Modar-i-Khan Madrasa , followed by an overnight stay in Bukhara.

After breakfast, you set off to explore the surroundings of Bukhara. The sacred site of Bakhaoudin Nakshbandi (16th century) where one of the founders and one of the most revered saints of Sufi Islam is buried, then you visit the summer residence of the last emir "Setora-i-Mokhi Khosa" (19th century).

The tour continues with the Chor Minor Madrasa (early 19th century), one of the most seductive and strangest buildings in Bukhara.

Free time to stroll through the narrow streets of the old town or enjoy the magnificent 16th-century hammam of Bukhara. Dinner and overnight stay in Bukhara.

We leave at 9am for the village of Abou-Abdulloh-Guijdovani – Guijdovan (70 km) which is famous for its fine ceramics.

On the way, visit the small town of Nurata where you can climb Alexander the Great Hill and visit the Nomozgokh Mosque and the sacred spring "Chashma". Arrive at the yurt camp around 5:00 PM. Free time to watch the sunset in the desert. Camel ride in the steppe (the ride lasts 15-20 minutes and costs 3 euros per person). Overnight in a yurt.

Breakfast at the yurt camp. Start of a hike in the desert towards Lake Aydar (12 km). Arrival at the shores of Lake Aydar, continue along the lake's banks to observe the birdlife that inhabits the shores (pelicans, cormorants, ducks, etc.). The turquoise Lake Aydarkul, "the sea of ​​sand," is located on the southeastern edge of the Kyzylkum Desert . Swimming in the lake is possible depending on the weather and the season. Picnic lunch by the lake.

Departure for the village of Sentob, a very beautiful Tajik village on the banks of a river and surrounded by lush orchards. Arrival in the village and check-in at the guesthouse. Then, a stroll and meeting of the locals in the pretty village, at the foot of the small Nurata mountains.

Overnight stay in a guest house (twin or double room, shared toilet and hot showers).

After breakfast, our driver takes us to Oukhoum, a charming village nestled at the foot of the Nurata mountain range.

After getting acquainted with the family, we set off for a pleasant two-hour walk around the village, between orchards, fields and streams, with an elevation gain/loss of 190 meters over a route of just over 4 km. The late afternoon light beautifully illuminates the surrounding mountains, while the locals peacefully go about their business.

Back at the guesthouse, enjoy lunch with the family before setting off on a magnificent hike to the village of Asraf, nestled in a verdant valley in the heart of the Nurata Mountains. This approximately 6 km (3-hour walk, elevation gain +240 / -370 m) trail offers exceptional panoramic views of the arid mountains, the desert, and the shimmering Lake Aydar in the distance.

Arrival in Asraf, a charming village with stone and clay houses. Check-in at the guesthouse.

Towards the end of the day, we participate in the preparation of the traditional evening dish — a moment of sharing and conviviality around the simple gestures of local cuisine.

Dinner and overnight stay at the guesthouse.

Breakfast and a 3-hour hike around the village. You'll hike around the village, walking to the nature reserve. You'll meet the villagers going about their daily lives. You'll then climb back up the mountain and arrive at the guesthouse.

Lunch and drive to Samarkand. Arrive in Samarkand and check into your hotel. Relax for a bit, then dinner at a restaurant and Samarkand by night. Overnight in Samarkand.

Visit the 15th-century Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, housing the tombs of the great conqueror Timur (Tamerlane) and his descendants. Beneath its turquoise dome lie the emblematic figures of the Timurid dynasty, a symbol of past power and glory.

A visit to Registan, the grandest complex in Central Asia and the official center of the Timurid Empire in the 15th century. This majestic site was once a crossroads of commerce, crafts, culture, and religion, as well as a place for military parades and public executions. Admire the Ulugh Beg Madrasa, dedicated to Timur's grandson and renowned astronomer; the Sher-Dor Madrasa, recognizable by its solar tigers and colorful motifs; and the Tilla-Kari Madrasa, whose inner mosque gleams with gold and exquisite craftsmanship.

Visit to the Bibi-Khanoum Mosque, dedicated to Timur's favorite wife. Built to celebrate the conqueror's victorious return, it was one of the largest mosques in the Muslim world and remains an impressive testament to its founder's ambition.

Visit to the Shakhi Zinda necropolis (11th–19th century), a veritable city of the dead, composed of a series of mausoleums richly decorated with turquoise faience.

Night in Samarkand.

Visit to the Ulugh Beg Observatory, the first astronomical observatory in the East, built in the 15th century by Tamerlane's grandson, Ulugh Beg, a great ruler and visionary astronomer. Unique of its kind at the time, this observatory was equipped with a gigantic sextant allowing for remarkably precise observation of the movements of the sun and moon.

Explore the archaeological site of Afrosiab, the ancient Samarkand founded in the 7th century BC. From the viewpoint, the panoramic view over the valley is superb. Visit the Afrosiab Museum, which houses exceptional murals depicting the history and life of the ancient city.

Explore the Siab Bazaar, one of the city's most vibrant, a riot of colors, the aroma of spices, and the smiles of the merchants. An ideal place to soak up the daily atmosphere of Samarkand's inhabitants. Lunch in the city.

At the end of the day, transfer to the train station to take the train to Tashkent.

Arrival in Tashkent, dinner and check-in at the hotel for the night.

Explore the old city and Khasti Imam Square with the Barak-Khan Madrasa, the Kaffal Shochiy Mausoleum, and the Tilla Shaykh Mosque, where you can admire the Quran of Usman, written in the 7th century. This is the only original Quran in the world preserved as a book. Then visit the Chor Su Bazaar ("Four Roads"). Lunch and then explore the modern part of Tashkent, including Independence Square, Alisher Navoi Theater Square, and Amir Timur Square.

Dinner and overnight stay in Tashkent.

Breakfast, then drive to the village of Sukok (60 km). Stroll through the village until lunch awaits you at a local teahouse (chaikhana). Relax, enjoy an easy walk around the village and meet the locals, then drive back to Tashkent in the evening. Overnight in Tashkent.

Transfer to the international airport to catch the return flight.

End of our services.