Travel from Samarkand to Bukhara the desert way — lunch at Aydarkul Lake, a short camel ride and a night in a traditional yurt at a desert camp, then Nurata, Rabati Malik and Gijduvan on Day 2.
Ends at your Bukhara hotel, not back in Samarkand. A separate guide is not included — your driver handles the logistics and the camp hosts look after meals and activities.
Estimated price — availability and the final quote are confirmed by our team. No payment is taken on this page.
Private tour — price per person depends on group size:
| 1 traveler | $286 / person |
| 2 travelers | $176 / person |
| 3 travelers | $145 / person |
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This is the classic way to cross from Samarkand to Bukhara: instead of a fast highway transfer, you swing north into the Kyzylkum Desert, stop for lunch at Aydarkul Lake, spend the night in a felt yurt at a desert camp, and arrive in Bukhara the next afternoon having seen Nurata, Rabati Malik and Gijduvan on the way.
Most guests remember the evening: a short camel ride in the late afternoon, dinner at the camp, the campfire and — on clear nights — a sky full of stars, far from any city lights.
It runs as a 2-day / 1-night private tour and ends at your Bukhara hotel — so it doubles as your intercity transfer. See pricing — per person, depending on group size.
Activities are shown in their planned order. Exact timing may vary with weather, traffic, season and the group's pace.
Your driver collects you from your hotel in Samarkand at 08:30. Leave the city behind and travel northwest through the changing landscapes of rural Uzbekistan towards Aydarkul Lake and the Kyzylkum Desert.
Discover Aydarkul Lake, a wide expanse of blue water surrounded by the dry landscapes of central Uzbekistan. Enjoy the included lunch near the shore, take photographs and stretch your legs on a short walk along the water. In the warmer months, swimming may be possible when weather and local conditions allow. Afterwards, your driver takes you on to the yurt camp, a separate drive away.
Continue to the desert camp near Yangigazgan and settle into your traditional felt yurt. Inside you will find beds and bedding; the camp’s shared toilets and showers are in a separate building. Take a little time to relax and enjoy the quiet before the afternoon activities.
Take a short ride on a Bactrian camel near the camp and see the desert from a different perspective. The included ride lasts about 10 minutes and suits first-time riders; it is optional, and the exact time depends on the season and the camp’s schedule. Longer rides can be arranged in advance for an extra charge, subject to confirmation.
Enjoy an included dinner prepared by the camp’s local hosts — a chance to taste Uzbek and regional home cooking in the relaxed setting of the desert camp. The menu changes with the day and the camp’s arrangements.
After dinner, settle into the evening at the camp. Gather around the campfire when conditions allow, and enjoy the local tradition of music and song when the camp hosts it. On clear nights, look up at a sky full of stars, far from the lights of the cities.
Return to your felt yurt for a peaceful night away from the cities. Beds and bedding are provided — a simple, memorable night in the desert. Temperatures can drop sharply after sunset, so bring warm clothing; heating is not guaranteed, though a heater may be available on request if you ask in advance.
Fresh breakfast by your hosts — coffee, tea, eggs, bread, jam and fruit.
The ancient Silk Road town of Nurata and its sacred spring complex.
Time for lunch at a local restaurant on the way to Bukhara. Day-two lunch is not included.
Visit the historic caravanserai before continuing west to Gijduvan.
Visit a working ceramics workshop, then continue to your Bukhara hotel.
Drop-off at your Bukhara hotel.
Questions about this itinerary? We reply within 24 hours, and there is no payment to enquire.
