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The Echo of The Steppes – 3 Days of Nomadic Immersion in The Nourata Mountains

S&P Travel invites you to discover a rarely explored facet of Uzbekistan. Leave the splendour of the imperial cities of Samarkand for a journey that takes you to the beating heart of rural and nomadic life. Our four-day extension is a bridge between millennia-old history and desert hospitality, promising total immersion before reaching the holy city of Bukhara.
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Your adventure begins with a comfortable transfer from Samarkand to the foothills of the Nourata Mountains. You are welcomed at the Hayat village homestay. After lunch, a local guide leads you on a hike towards the mouflon reserve. In this sanctuary dedicated to these native regional animals, you enjoy panoramic views of the valley and observe these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. Returning to the village, the immersion continues with a hands-on masterclass dedicated to the art of traditional cooking or typical bread preparation. A warm homestay dinner, featuring local flavours, concludes this first day of cultural grounding.
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The second day is an ode to the tranquillity of the desert. After breakfast, you depart for Lake Aydar, that vast, calm mirror of water at the edge of the steppe. Lunch is served near the lake, offering the opportunity to swim and enjoy the unique peaceful ambience of the location. In the afternoon, you reach an authentic yurt camp. As the sun sets on the horizon, you take an unforgettable camel ride, experiencing the lifestyle of the ancient nomads. The evening lights up around a campfire, complemented by a dinner of traditional dishes and an enchanting Karakalpak music concert.
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The third day is dedicated to history and creation. En route to Bukhara, you make a strategic stop in Nourata to visit Alexander the Great's Fortress and the Chashma Sacred Spring, a millennia-old pilgrimage site. After an optional lunch at a local restaurant, history gives way to art. You visit the famous Gijduvan Ceramic Museum, the heart of Uzbek craftsmanship, where you can participate in a ceramic masterclass to discover the secret of the blue and green patterns. S&P Travel ensures your transfer to your final destination in Bukhara.

This extension with S&P Travel is a promise of authenticity: a window onto the life of villagers, nomads, and the secret history of the mountains. Embark on an immersion that will transform your perception of Uzbekistan.
• We will pick you up at your hotel or starting point in Samarkand. • You will embark on a 3-hour journey to Hayat in the Nurota Mountains (154 km). • Check-in and settling in Hayat. • Lunch with a local family, combining the taste of history with local cuisine, while savoring typical dishes. This authentic experience will allow you to discover local customs and traditions, surrounded by splendid landscapes and breathing pure air. • Hike with a local guide. • Observation of mouflons (wild sheep) and panoramic views of the Nurota Mountains. • Cooking and local bread making workshop with the host family. • Dinner.

Day 01

On the Trail of Mouflons and the Village Soul:
Samarkand – Hayat (Nurota Mountains)

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• Breakfast in Hayat. • You will travel to the Kyzylkum Desert, where, after nearly 1 hour of driving, you will visit Aydar Lake, a huge artificial basin surrounded by desert landscapes that do not diminish the serenity of the lake. • Lunch near the lake (beach). • You will have free time to stroll along its shores or, if you wish, swim in its tranquil waters. • Arrival at the yurt camp (20 km). • Later in the afternoon, you will take a camel ride in the Kyzylkum Desert, the perfect opportunity to admire a sunset like you've never contemplated before. • You will finally immerse yourself in the Uzbek nomadic culture by spending a night in a traditional yurt—a unique experience not to be missed! • In the yurt camp, you will appreciate the nomads' hospitality while dining under the stars on typical dishes like "plov," the national dish. • You will listen to Karakalpak music played around a campfire—a rich experience that will immerse you in the ancestral way of life of Central Asian nomadic peoples.

Day 02

The Call of the Desert and Nomadic Life:
Hayat – Aydar Lake – Kyzylkum Desert (Yurt Camp)

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• Breakfast in the yurt camp and departure for Bukhara. • En route, you will stop to visit the Nurota Fortress, an ancient bastion rebuilt by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BCE. There, you will also see the sacred Chashma Spring. According to legend, it was discovered by the Prophet Job. Still considered a place of healing by locals, it has also long been a major pilgrimage site for Muslims (45 min visit). • Lunch in Nurota in a traditional house (local cuisine). • Visit the Ceramic Museum in Gijduvan. Ceramic making workshop. • Afterwards, your journey will take you to the ancient city of Bukhara.

Day 03

Alexander’s Legacy and Craftsmanship:
Yurt Camp – Nurota – Gijduvan – Bukhara

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