Hiking and culture on the golden roads of Uzbekistan

Description

I propose you a short tour which has been designed to allow hiking enthusiasts to discover the major cities of the Silk Road (Samarkand and Bukhara), but also to make beautiful hikes in the mountainous regions of Uzbekistan.

During this program you will discover the Tian Shan Mountains located east of Tashkent, Bukhara - a must-see stop on the Silk Road - and you will hike in the foothills of the Hissar Mountains located in the Pamir Alay massif. You will discover beautiful landscapes and meet the population curious to know you. You will finish this beautiful tour with a cultural immersion in the city of Samarkand.

In short, you will live a varied trip between nature, culture and meetings!

To better discover this part of Central Asia, I also propose a discovery of Uzbekistan by mountain bike and treks from the snowy mountains to the steppes of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Program

D1: Flight Europe - Tashkent.
Flight to Uzbekistan from the airport of your choice.
Dinner and night on board.

D2: Visit of Tashkent.
Welcome at Tashkent international airport. After breakfast in a local bistro, you will start your discovery of the Uzbek capital by visiting the big market of Chorsu. This is where you get the first glimpse of the local daily life. Then you take the Tashkent metro, very famous for its beautiful stations representing different traditional themes. During the day you will also walk around the new city to see the Theater Square, the Independence Square and other sights.
Check-in at the hotel and overnight in the city.

D3: Tashkent - Beldersay - Chimgan.
Departure in the morning for two days of easy hiking in the Tian Shan mountains, the massif located east of Tashkent. First you arrive in Beldersay from where you take a chairlift up to 2300 meters. From there you start your hike with an easy trail to the weather station to enjoy a beautiful view of the Tian Shan mountains and the Chirchik river valley. Then you go down to a pasture and have a picnic. Back to the bus and transfer to Chimgan village.
About 4 to 5 hours of walking.
Dinner and night in a bungalow.

D4: Chimgan - Charvak - Tashkent - night train to Bukhara.
After breakfast you continue your hike to Kyzyl Djar pass (1880m) on an easy trail. With good weather, a beautiful view of Charvak lake opens up. After the picnic, you continue your hike to the lake. Possibility to swim depending on the weather. About 5 to 6 hours of easy walking.
At the end of the day you return to Tashkent and have dinner in a restaurant.
Transfer to the train station to take the night train to Bukhara. Night in the train.

D5: Bukhara.
Arrival at Bukhara train station at 7am and transfer to the hotel located in the old city. After breakfast you start your exploration of the caravan city also called "meeting place". Get ready to discover a city full of mosques, madrasas (old Koranic schools) and royal residences inhabited by Bukhara's emirs. You will finish the day near a pond where you can have a refreshing drink.
Dinner at a craftsman's house and overnight at the hotel.

D6: Bukhara - Shahrisabz.
In the morning, you have free time to stroll through the artisanal city of Bukhara, famous for its carpets and traditional embroideries. For those who are interested, it is also possible to organize a hammam session. After lunch, departure to the birthplace of Amir Timur (Tamerlane), Shahrisabz, located in the south of the country. You will cross endless steppes and arrive in the city at the end of the day.
Check-in at the hotel and departure for a 2 hours walk to visit the historical monuments of the city, including the ruins of the Aksaray Palace (White Palace) which testify the existence of a gigantic building.
Dinner in town and overnight at the hotel.

D7: Shahrisabz - Langar village.
Today you start a new stage of trekking in Uzbekistan, in the Pamir Alay mountains. Departure to the village of Katta Langar located at 70 km from the city of Shahrisabz. This mountain village is characterized by its traditional mud houses and Central Asian village lifestyle. Once you pass the mountain path, a beautiful view opens up over the village of Katta Langar and you slowly approach the guesthouse where you spend the night.
About 6 hours of easy walking.

D8: Langar - Zarafshan.
After breakfast you explore the village of Katta Langar and visit the mausoleum of Sheikh Muhammad Sodiq and an ancient cemetery from the 15^th century. This is where one of the original Quran books was kept for years and was exhibited in Paris in 2022. Then you continue to hike by an easy path and pass by the red cliffs and canyons of the village.
About 4 hours of easy walking.
At the end of the afternoon, you take the minibus to reach the village of Zarafshan, located at the foot of a mountain range. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed in a guest house and have dinner with the host family. Exchange with the family about their daily life. Night in the host family's house.

D9: Zarafshan village - Samarkand.
Breakfast and departure for a 6 hours walk through the village and its sublime mountains. You pass by a track leading to the bottom of the oasis and eventually meet shepherds with their flocks. You also cross an old marble mine and enjoy a beautiful view of the mountain landscape. After the picnic you drive to Samarkand through one of the most beautiful mountain passes. You will make some stops to enjoy the scenery and visit a dried fruit market at the top of the pass.
Arrival in Samarkand and accommodation in a hotel for three nights.

D10: Samarkand.
For this day, you start by exploring the city, known as the crossroads of the Silk Road. On the menu of the day: the famous Reghistan square with its three madrasas (old Koranic schools), the Bibi Khanum mosque, built by the great emperor for his favorite wife, and other wonders. Samarkand is also a historical producer of wine and you will have the opportunity to taste it at the end of the day.
Dinner and overnight in the city.

D11: Samarkand.
The morning is dedicated to the visit of the monuments located around the city. The observatory of Ulughbek with its huge sextant, the museum of Afrosiyob and its mural painting and the village of Konigil for its manufacture of tissue paper will be your last historical discoveries. You have the afternoon free to stroll around to enjoy the last moments of your trip. In the evening you will see a traditional show and have dinner in a local restaurant.
Overnight in Samarkand.

D12: Samarkand - Europe.
Transfer to Samarkand international airport according to your flight schedule.
I wish you an excellent trip back home!

Note: this tailor-made tour is given as an indication and can be modified or personalized according to your wishes. For more details and information, you can contact me.

The price includes

• Supervision by  the local guide for the duration of the trip.
• Accommodation in comfortable hotels in the cities, with shower and toilet.
• Meals throughout the trip.
• Entrance tickets to the sites during the visits.
• Nights in local houses, in guest houses with a correct comfort (mattress, shower and common toilet).
• Economy class train tickets according to the program.
• Air-conditioned transport according to the size of the group.

The price does not include

• Round trip from your country of departure to Uzbekistan.
• Your personal equipment for the trek.
• Alcoholic beverages.
• Repatriation insurance.
• Activities not mentioned above.
• Tips for the guide and the driver.
• Anything not mentioned in "The price includes".

Accommodation

• Comfortable hotels in the cities.
• Guest houses in the homes of local people.

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