MTB stay on the road of Uzbekistan

Description

Most people imagine Uzbekistan as a country where the majority of activities consist in visiting the fairy-tale cities of Khiva, Bukhara or Samarkand. However, there are many other possibilities to discover the country and its different regions.

One of them is cycling, an excellent way to get closer to the culture and authenticity of the country and to explore remote lands, still preserved from the tourist influx. Moreover, cycling allows you to meet the inhabitants of the villages and to immerse yourself in the real Uzbek culture. This cycling holiday has been passionately designed to offer you a unique and incredible experience.

To better discover this region, I also propose a hiking and cultural trip on the golden roads and treks from the snowy mountains to the steppes of Central Asia.

Program

D1: Flight to Uzbekistan, arrival in Samarkand.
Flight to Samarkand on a regular Turkish Airlines flight via Istanbul. Night on board.

D2: Samarkand, the Sogdian city.
Welcome to the city of a thousand and one nights. You settle in your hotel to recover from the fatigue of the trip. After breakfast, you start your immersion in the capital of the Sogdian empire. Your visits are mainly focused on cultural, religious and historical sites. The main square of the city is the Reghistan square, composed of three gigantic buildings of the 15^th and 17^th centuries. The great mosque of Bibi Khanum is also among the other discoveries of the day. You finish your day by strolling on the famous Siyob market to taste oriental sweets.
Dinner in town and overnight at the hotel.

D3: Samarkand.
After breakfast, you continue your immersion in the city of Samarkand. The necropolis of Shakhi Zinda is composed of about twenty mausoleums built mainly during the reign of Amir Timur (Tamerlane) and Ulugbek. You continue by the observatory of Ulughbek which was a great center of astronomy during the 15^th century. You can still see the ruins of a huge sextant which allowed to observe the moon and the stars. The frescoes of the Afrosiyob museum mark your last cultural visit of the day.
In the late afternoon, free time to prepare your bikes.
Samarkand wine tasting and dinner in town. Night at the hotel.

D4: Samarkand - Mirbazar - village of Chachtepa - village of Chinar.
It is time to leave the city of Samarkand in the morning to reach the village of Chachtepa. On the way, you will stop to visit the big traditional market of Mirbazar, which is very popular with the locals. In the afternoon, you will cycle along a medium mountain track. You spend a moment around a water reserve and ride slowly towards the mountain oasis. After 24 kilometers of effort, you arrive at the camp.
Installation of the camp with our local team.
Dinner and night under the tent.

D5: Chinar - Maydan village.
Today's track offers breathtaking scenery through the Aktau Mountains (White Mountains). The route is quite difficult, for a distance of 40 kilometers. You will also pass through mountain villages where you will have the pleasure to meet the people and get acquainted with their way of life. At the end of the day, you arrive at the camp near the village of Maydan for dinner and overnight stay in a tent.

D6: Maydan - Langar pass - Chuya village.
In the morning, you continue pedaling to Langar Pass and climb to the highest point of the Aktau Mountains. This winding road is quite beautiful and has preserved many marble mines. Since the Soviet era, several marble mining factories are still operating. Once you reach the Langar Pass, you can enjoy a picnic and observe the beautiful nature. A short walk will take you to a beautiful waterfall. In the afternoon, you start to descend to the top of the pass.
The camp is located near the village of Chuva. Dinner and night under the tent.

D7: Chuya - Aktash village.
After an early breakfast, you leave the camp and cycle towards the Nourata mountains. This mountain range is located between the Samarkand region and the artificial lake Aydarkul. Your journey passes through villages on both a track and an asphalt road. On the way, you can even share a cup of tea with the locals. In the afternoon, still by bike, you reach the village of Aktash (ghost village), hidden in a valley.
The camp will be set up near the village. Dinner and night under the tent.

D8: Aktash - Fazilman lake - Sentob village.
Today you reach the highest altitude of your cycling trip in Uzbek mountains. First you reach Fazilman lake, located at 1985 meters above sea level, where you meet villagers who come to explore their land in summer. This natural lake is a crossing point for many hiking enthusiasts. In the late afternoon, you start to descend into the Sob valley, a green and inhabited oasis. You will have the opportunity to admire spectacular views of lake Aydarkul, an artificial lake created in the 20^th century. You will arrive at the village of Sentob at the end of the day through mountain trails. Settling in a guesthouse. Free time.
Dinner and night in the guest house.

D9: Sentob - south of the lake Aydarkul - yurt camp.
The morning is quiet enough to rest a little after several days of cycling. After breakfast, you cycle to the huge Aydarkul lake and explore its southern part. Back on the asphalt road, you reach the camp. After settling down in a Kazakh yurt, you can rest. Don't miss the beautiful sunset over the sandy hills of the desert. Dinner is served in the camp's restaurant, before attending the concert of an Akyn (a Kazakh troubadour) around a fire under the starry sky.
Night under the yurt.

D10: Yurt camp - Aydarkul lake - Nourata - Bukhara.
This morning you will start by pedaling about ten kilometers to reach the shores of Aydarkul lake. This salt water lake stretches for many kilometers and attracts many migratory birds. You have a moment to stroll around the lake and why not, enjoy a swim. After the picnic, you continue your drive for about 60 kilometers in the middle of the Kyzylkoum desert (red sand desert). Then transfer to Bukhara with a late arrival and, on the way, visits to the city of Nurata, the ruins of the fortress of Alexander the Great and a ceramic workshop.  
Dinner in the city and overnight at the hotel in Bukhara.

D11: Bukhara - the caravan city.
This day is devoted to the discovery of the old city of Bukhara. Some old monuments are unavoidable like the mausoleum of Ismail Samanide (dating from 907), built by the founder of the first Persian Muslim dynasty of Central Asia, the Samanides. You discover other wonders of the caravan city such as the Ark, a fortified citadel, and the Poyi Kalyan complex before reaching the center of Bukhara where you finish the day. You have a moment of rest before going to the house of a local craftsman.
Dinner at the craftsman's house and overnight at the hotel.

D12: Bukhara - noble city of the Muslim world.
Today, exploration of the surroundings of Bukhara to discover the great necropolis and the summer palace, both located 5 km away. This palace dates from 1917 and has beautiful interior decorations in plaster and stucco. It was the residence of the last emir of Bukhara. Visit the courtyard, the reception rooms, the rose gardens, the pool and the harem which is now the museum of traditional embroidery. Return to the old city and lunch at the restaurant. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner in the city and overnight at the hotel.

D13: Bukhara - Khiva by tourist van, crossing the red desert.
On this thirteenth day of the trip you will leave Bukhara to reach the third historical city of the country, Khiva, through the Kyzylkoum desert (red sand desert). The caravaneers crossed this desert for several weeks and followed the Amu Darya river to have access to water during their journey. Some stops will be planned along the way to take pictures. You will arrive in Khiva at the end of the day and you will settle in the heart of the old city.
First walks in the city to have an overview of the visits of the next day.
Dinner in town and night in a madrasa.

D14: Khiva, Unesco heritage.
Your whole day will be dedicated to the discovery of the inner city of Khiva, Ichan Kala, surrounded by imposing walls. Khiva is a real open-air museum-city, restored by Unesco. The silhouettes of its minarets, dominating the terraces of the clay houses, and the powerful walls of its fortress, give it the exotic image of a feudal city of the Asian center of the famous silk road. On the program: visit of the landmark monuments and climbing on the defensive bastion.
Dinner in an old Koranic school with a magnificent view of one of the minarets of the city. Night in a madrasa.

D15: Khiva - Urgench - return flight.
Early in the morning you will be transferred to Urgench international airport to take your flight on Turkish Airlines. 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, please 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 homes and guesthouses with proper comfort (mattresses, shower and shared toilets).
• Economy class train tickets according to the program.
• Air-conditioned transports according to the size of the group.

The price does not include

• Round trip from your country of departure to Uzbekistan.
• Your personal cycling equipment as well as the travel bike. Bike rental is possible on site. You can ask me for it.
• Alcoholic drinks.
• Repatriation insurance.
• The 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 with local people.
• Tent camps.

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