💬 WhatsApp us — ask anything or use the form below
- ⭐ Highly rated
- 📍 Local operator
- 💬 Direct WhatsApp
- 🔄 Flexible options
Book direct with Jahongir Travel — local Samarkand operator.
Choose your route
Choose your trip type
Private tour — price per person depends on group size:
| 1 traveler | $286 / person |
| 2 travelers | $176 / person |
| 3 travelers | $145 / person |
Quick facts
- Duration2 days / 1 night
- From$145 / person (private)
- Trip typePrivate or shared group
- Best seasonApril–June, Sept–Nov
- StaysTraditional desert yurt
- LogisticsTransport-only (driver)
The yurt camp is the desert highlight of any Silk Road trip through Uzbekistan. You leave the monuments behind, drive out into the Kyzylkum Desert, and spend a night in a traditional felt yurt on the shore of Aydarkul Lake — camel riding at sunset, a campfire dinner cooked by local hosts, and some of the clearest night skies in Central Asia.
It runs as a 2-day / 1-night trip and fits neatly between Samarkand and Bukhara. Below is the classic Samarkand → Bukhara experience — but you can run it in reverse, or as a round-trip back to Samarkand. Pick your route above for full details and the right pickup point.
How it works
Choose your route
Samarkand→Bukhara, Bukhara→Samarkand, or a Samarkand round-trip. Each route has its own page with the exact timing and pickup point.
Private or shared
Travel as your own private group, or join a small shared departure. Use the toggle above to see pricing for each.
Send the form
Tell us your dates and hotel. We reply by email/WhatsApp within 24 hours to confirm availability and the final price — no prepayment to ask a question.
Travel light
Bring warm layers (desert nights are cold year-round). Your driver handles all the logistics; meals at the camp are included.
Day 1 · Into the desert — Aydarkul Lake & the yurt camp
Included today
Lunch
Camel ride
Campfire dinner
Yurt overnight
-
Departure
Pickup from your hotel and drive into the Kyzylkum Desert in a private air-conditioned vehicle.
- Hotel pickup included
-
Aydarkul Lake — lunch by the shore
Lunch on the lakeshore in the heart of the desert, with a shoreline walk and an optional swim in warm season.
- Lunch included
- Optional swim
-
Yurt camp — check in
Arrive at the desert yurt camp and settle into a traditional felt yurt.
- Beds & bedding provided
- Modern toilets & showers
-
Camel ride at sunset
A roughly 15-minute ride on a Bactrian camel across the dunes as the sun drops — first-time riders welcome.
- About 15 minutes
- Bactrian camels
- Best photos of the trip
-
Campfire dinner & stargazing
Dinner cooked by local hosts around the fire, traditional music, and a sky full of stars.
- Local plov or BBQ
- Milky Way on clear nights
Day 2 · Desert to the Silk Road — Nurata, Gijduvan & onward
Included today
Breakfast
Nurata Chashma
Gijduvan ceramics
Rabati Malik
-
Breakfast at the camp
Fresh breakfast prepared by your hosts — coffee, tea, eggs, bread, jam and fruit.
- Breakfast included
-
Nurata — Chashma Complex
Visit the ancient Silk Road town of Nurata and its sacred spring complex.
- Sacred spring
- Silk Road history
-
Gijduvan ceramics & Rabati Malik
Stop at a Gijduvan ceramics workshop and the Rabati Malik caravanserai on the way to your final city.
- Working ceramics studio
- Historic caravanserai
-
Arrival
Drop-off at your hotel in the destination city for your chosen route.
- Hotel drop-off
What's included
Included
- Private air-conditioned transport for the whole route
- Lunch at Aydarkul Lake, dinner and breakfast at the yurt camp
- One night in a traditional yurt (beds & bedding provided)
- Camel ride at sunset and evening campfire
- Day-2 stops: Nurata Chashma Complex, Gijduvan ceramics, Rabati Malik
- Hotel pickup and drop-off on your chosen route
Not included
- Personal expenses and tips
- A separate guide — this is a transport-only tour; your driver handles logistics
- Travel insurance
- Anything not listed as included
Gallery
Frequently asked questions
What is included in the yurt camp tour?
Private transport on your chosen route, lunch at Aydarkul Lake, one night in a traditional yurt, dinner and breakfast cooked by local hosts, an evening campfire, a sunset camel ride, and Day-2 stops at Nurata's Chashma Complex, a Gijduvan ceramics workshop and the Rabati Malik caravanserai.
Is it private or a shared group?
Both are possible. You can travel as your own private group (priced by group size, from $145 per person), or join a small shared departure — use the toggle above and send the form to confirm the next group date and price.
Which direction does it run?
Three ways: Samarkand → Bukhara, Bukhara → Samarkand, or a Samarkand round-trip. Choose your route at the top of this page for the exact timing and pickup point.
What are the yurts like?
Traditional felt yurts with proper beds and bedding provided. The yurt camp has modern, clean shared toilets and showers. The felt walls keep yurts warm at night and cool by day, but desert nights are cold year-round — bring warm layers.
When is the best time to go?
Spring (April–June) and autumn (September–November) are the most comfortable. Summer is hot in the day but the nights are clear; winter is cold but possible with warm clothing.
Is there a guide?
This is a transport-only tour: your driver handles all logistics and the local camp hosts look after meals and activities. A licensed city guide can be arranged separately on request.