Camel Safari
… The Kyzyl-Kum Desert… Barkhans (sand-dunes), merciless sun, sparse islands of saxaul, camel’s-thorn (alhagi) and sand, sand, sand… From time-to-time camels — these ‘ships of the desert’ — appear and vanish on the horizon. A majestic view unfolds as dunes roll ahead into the distance, as far as the eye can see. Only in early spring, thanks to the life-giving rains, the desert is covered with purple poppies and an emerald carpet of grass. But very quickly these colours fade and most of the year the desert looks lifeless.
The most exotic part of the tour starts on the camel farm when the tourists change their comfortable cars to camels- the only suitable form of transport in the desert. Unforgettable impressions of riding on camelback; watching the beautiful sunset, its colors bleeding into the horizon’s shimmering sands; overnight in yurts (Kazakh collapsible tents); exotic national dishes and ceremonies; picnics and fishing on Aydarkul Lake, plus sightseeing tours in such ancient and famous cities as Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand — this is what makes this tour popular with tourists.
Duration: 13 days / 12 nights
Destinations:
Tashkent - Samarkand - Nurata- Yangikazgan - Kulumbet - Sarykuduk well - Sugur well - Aidarkul lake - Bukhara - Urgench (Khiva) - Tashkent
DAY 1
Arrival at Tashkent airport. Meet at the airport. Transfer to the hotel
Overnight in Tashkent
Tashkent
DAY 2
Breakfast.
Morning sightseeing in Tashkent: Barak-Khan and Kaffal Shashi mausoleums (16th century), Friday Mosque
Transfer to Samarkand
Lunch en route
Dinner
Overnight in Samarkand
Tashkent - Samarkand
DAY 3
Breakfast
Morning sightseeing in Samarkand: Gur-Emir Mausoleum (15th century), Registan Ensemble (including Ulugbek Madrassah (15th century), Shir Dor and Tillya-Kari Madrassahs (17th century))
Lunch
Afternoon sightseeing in Samarkand :Ulugbek observatory (15th century), Shah-i-Zinda necropolis (14-15th centuries), Bibi Khanum Mosque (15th century),local bazaar
Dinner
Overnight in Samarkand
Samarkand
DAY 4
Breakfast
Transfer to Yangikazgan (110 km westward to Karmana town and then 75 km to the north, to Nurata town)
On arrival in Nurata sightseeing tour: ruins of Graeco-Bactrian castle, Namazgokh Mosque (15th century), holy spring “Chashma”
Lunch in Nurata (lunchbox)
Transfer to Yangikazgan village. Here, cross-country vehicles stocked with everything necessary for safari, ready to take tourists to the ‘Camel’ camping (6km).
On arrival - camping accommodation in national Kazakh yurts
After being instructed by the local camel guide on camel riding techniques, tourists will have an opportunity to get some practical skills in camel riding. Two humped specially trained camels are used for crossing the Kyzyl-Kum desert
Dinner round campfire
Overnight in the yurts – Kazakh half-round collapsible tent made of felt mats
Samarkand - Nurata - Yangikazgan
DAY 5
Breakfast
Camel trekking to local shepherds’ village Kulumbet (18 km)
Lunch en route (lunchbox)
On arrival at the village setting up at the camp
Dinner round the campfire
Overnight in the tents
Yangikazgan - Kulumbet village
DAY 6
Breakfast
Camel trekking to Sarykuduk well (20 km)
Lunch en route (lunchbox)
On arrival at the well a camp will be made for the night
Dinner
Overnight in the tents
Kulumbet village - Sarykuduk well
DAY 7
Breakfast
Camel trekking to Sugar well (20 km)
Lunch en route (lunchbox)
Leaving the camels in the camp which is to be set up near the well, tourists can walk to the nearby shepherds’ settlement Dongalyak to get acquainted with the life of local people
Dinner round campfire
Overnight in the tents
Sarykuduk well -Sugur well
DAY 8
Breakfast
Camel trekking to the lake Aidarkul (20 km)
Lunch on route (lunchbox)
After a long and a bit tiresome camel trekking tourists can swim in fresh water of the lake or to fish (catfish, sazan, pike)
Dinner
Overnight in the tents
Sugur well - Aidarkul lake
DAY 9
Breakfast
Transfer to Bukhara. Accommodation at the hotel
Lunch
Afternoon sightseeing in Bukhara: Ismael Samani mausoleum (9-10th centuries), Chashma-Ayub Mausoleums (14th century), Registan Ensemble, Ark Fortress (16th century) and Bolo-Hauz complex (18th century)
Dinner
Overnight in Bukhara
Aidarkul - Bukhara
DAY 10
Breakfast
Morning sightseeing: Poi-Kalon ensemble including Minaret (12th century), Mosque (15th century), functioning Madrassah Miri-Arab (16thcentury), Amir-Alim-Khan Madrassah (14th century), Taqi (trading domes), Kukeldash Madrassah (16th century)
Lunch
Afternoon sightseeing: Lyab-i-Hauz (17th century), Nadir Divanbegi (17th century), Magoki Attari (16th century), Ulugbek Madrassah (15th century), Abdul Aziz Madrassah (17th century), Chor Minor
National dinner with folklore show
Overnight in Bukhara
Bukhara
DAY 11
Breakfast
Transfer to Urgench (Khiva)
Lunch en route
Arrival in Urgench (Khiva). Accommodation at the hotel
Dinner
Overnight in Urgench
Bukhara -Urgench
DAY 12
Breakfast
Morning sightseeing in Khiva: Kunya-Ark fortress, including Kurinish Khana (17th century), Mohammed-Amin-Khan Madrassah (19th century), Islam Khodja Minaret, Palvan-Kari complex, Abd Al Bobo complex (18th century), Rafanek Madrassah, Mohammed Rakim Khan (19th century), Amir-Tur Madrassah, Sho-I-Kalandar Bobo Mausoleum
Lunch
Afternoon sightseeing in Khiva: Uch Avlioli Mausoleum, Jami Mosque (18th century), Kutluq-Murad Inaq Madrassah (19th century), Pakhlavan Mahmoud Mausoleum, Tash Hauli Palace, Alla-Kuli-Khan (18th century), Arab Mohammed Khan Madrassah (18th century)
Transfer to the airport. Flight to Tashkent. Arrival in Tashkent. Accommodation at the hotel
Dinner
Overnight in Tashkent
Urgench - Khiva - Tashkent
DAY 13
Breakfast
Transfer to the airport.
Tashkent