Upon arrival at Tashkent International Airport in the morning, you will be met by our local team and transferred to a local café for breakfast. Your immersion will start in the old quarter of Tashkent with the visit of the large Chorsu market. Fruits and vegetables produced all over the country are sold on large stalls and are just waiting for you to taste them! By visiting the metro stations of the capital, you will reach the modern part of the city. You will then spend the whole afternoon discovering the Theater Square, the Independence Square and the central boulevard. After this day full of discoveries, you will go to your hotel to rest.

Dinner in the city and overnight at the hotel.

On the third day of your trip you will start hiking in the Uzbek mountains. First, two days of easy walking in the Tyan-Shan mountain range located southeast of Tashkent. Transfer in the morning to the village of Gimkul where you will meet the local team to start the day’s trek (2 hours transfer). The trail will go through stunning landscapes before going up along a stream. You will walk through sparsely wooded forest areas due to mountain rocks. Picnic lunch and arrival at the camp. Our local team will help you set up your tent in which you will spend the night (about 5 hours of walking).

Dinner and night under the tent.

After leaving the camp you will walk for about 1.5 hours to the highest point of the day’s hike. You will get a panoramic view of the Tyan-Shan mountains and then start your descent to the forest oasis of Nurekata. Picnic at the water’s edge and return to Gimkul village to catch the minivan (5-6 hours walk). After leaving the local team at the end of the afternoon, you will go admire the big Charvak lake which feeds the city of Tashkent. Swimming is possible in summer time. Return to Tashkent and transfer to the train station to take the evening high speed train to Bukhara (4 hours train).

Dinner on board the train and overnight at the hotel.

Bukhara has long been an important economic and cultural center in Central Asia. This ancient Persian city was an important Islamic cultural site for many centuries and became a major cultural center of the Caliphate in the 8th century. The entire day will be dedicated to discovering this medieval city and the commercial streets of Bukhara with your guide.

Dinner in town and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast you will visit the monuments in the surroundings of Bukhara. In the morning you will visit mausoleums, necropolises and unique palaces. The secondary residence of Bukhara emirs was built at the end of the 19th century where Bukhara and European handicraft traditions are mixed. After these interesting visits, you will return to the city center for a free afternoon.

Dinner at a craftsman’s house to discover suzanis, the decorative tribal embroidery of Central Asia. Overnight at the hotel.

It’s time to leave the caravan city and go off the beaten track. The first stop on the way is the ceramic workshop in Gijduvan, a town famous for this craft. The next stop will be in the town of Nourata. Most travelers come to visit this remote town because of its glorious past. It was here that the Greek soldiers built one of Alexander the Great’s fortresses, becoming a strategic and military place during his conquest of the city of Samarkand. Nurata is also famous for its healing spring. After these visits, you will go to the mountain village of Sob through steppe landscapes. On arrival, you will stay with a local.

Dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast at the local’s house, you will start the second step of your hike in the Nurata Mountains. Our local team will take care of all the organization. You will start by walking up the valley through the village. This valley is ideal for bird watching and has a very diverse vegetation. After the picnic, you will head to the Fazilman lake where you can enjoy a spectacular view of the Aydarkul lake. In summer, many villagers settle in their huts near Fazilman Lake to cultivate the fertile mountain lands. Our team will prepare the camp for the night.

Dinner and night in the tent.

In the morning, you will leave your camp to go to another mountain village, Sentob. The trail will lead you through small mountain peaks from where you can enjoy beautiful views of the Aydarkul Lake. You will descend into the valley and walk along a small river. After your picnic by the water, it will be time for a nap! As you get closer to the village, you will admire Arabic writings and petroglyphs. Upon arrival, you will settle in the guesthouse, then, at your choice, relax or stroll in the village.

Dinner and night in the guest house.

Today you will leave the mountainous landscapes and reach the second caravan city of Uzbekistan, Samarkand. After a few hours of travel, you will arrive in the historic Timurid capital and check into a charming hotel located in the heart of the ancient city. In the afternoon, you will discover the great Reghistan Square made up of three gigantic old madrasas. This square was very busy for many centuries. Stroll through the local market where you will have the opportunity to taste the local delicacies. After dinner, a night walk will be organized to show you the illuminated monuments of the city.

Dinner in town and overnight at the hotel.

Your day of immersion will continue with some visits to the city’s landmarks. The Shakhi Zinda necropolis, made up of about twenty mausoleums built throughout the centuries of Samarkand’s history. The visit of the Afrosiyob History Museum will show you not only the pre-Islamic mural paintings, but also the layout of the medieval city. At the end of the day, you will have some free time to stroll through the historical city one last time. A Samarkand wine tasting will be organized in the early evening.

Farewell dinner at the restaurant and overnight at the hotel.

You will be transferred to Samarkand international airport early in the morning to catch your flight. We wish you a safe journey back home and see you soon on the trails of Central Asia.