Adventure Tours from Samarkand/Bukhara

Bukhara: Sarmish-Soy Gorge Petroglyphs Day Trip

Explore the ancient petroglyphs of Sarmish-Soy Gorge on a day trip from Bukhara. Visit a historic caravanserai, enjoy a picnic in nature, and learn about the region's history.

Sarmish-Soy Gorge Petroglyph Day Trip

Full-day excursion starting and ending in Bukhara (or finishing in Samarkand)

Itinerary

Morning Departure

Your private driver collects you from your Bukhara hotel for a scenic three-hour drive north toward the Nurata Mountains.

Historic Stop – Ancient Caravanserai

En route, pause at a centuries-old Silk Road caravanserai. These fortified inns once welcomed merchants, pilgrims, and camel caravans moving between Samarkand and Bukhara. Weathered stone walls, massive arched gates, and remnants of stables evoke the days when traders rested here after long desert crossings.

Arrival at Sarmish-Soy Gorge

Meet your English-speaking guide and enter the dramatic limestone canyon. Cliffs and rock terraces hide hundreds of prehistoric rock carvings, some dating back nearly 3,000 years.

Guided Exploration

During a gentle 1½–2-hour walk your guide explains how early steppe peoples engraved images of wild bulls, ibex, gazelles, deer, and dancing human figures. Scholars believe the art reflects seasonal hunts, shamanistic rituals, and the spiritual life of Bronze and Early Iron Age communities.

Picnic in Nature

Enjoy a simple picnic with fresh bread, local fruit, and tea amid silence broken only by the wind and birdsong.

Return Journey

After absorbing the timeless atmosphere, drive back to Bukhara or continue to Samarkand, arriving in the late afternoon or early evening.

Costs for the tour:

Single person - $90
Two people - $140 (70 per person)
Three people - $190 ($63 per person)
For four or more people, the price is upon request.

Inclusions:

Private driver from Bukhara
English-speaking guide
Guided exploration of Sarmis-Soy Gorge
Picnic (lunch)

Exclusions:

Tips
Personal expenses
Extra drinks/alcohol

3-Day Tour: Samarkand/Bukhara – Nurata – Kyzylkum Desert – Aydarkul Lake – Bukhara

3 Days / 2 Nights Tour: Samarkand/Bukhara – Nurata – Kyzylkum Desert – Aydarkul Lake – Villages – Bukhara/Samarkand

Day 1: Samarkand/Bukhara – Nurata – Kyzylkum Desert

Departure from Samarkand/Bukhara around 10:00 a.m. with our driver.

On the way, short stop in a small village where you can meet local families and see traditional carpet weaving.

Arrival in Nurata, lunch at our traditional guesthouse Riad Nur.

Visit the ancient Alexander the Great Fortress.

Continue driving about one hour north across the steppe landscapes into the Kyzylkum Desert.

Visit a Kazakh village and arrive at our yurt camp in a beautiful desert location.

Explore the desert and take part in preparing traditional dinner.

Enjoy the sunset over the dunes, followed by dinner, campfire, Kazakh folk music, and stargazing.

Overnight stay in yurts.

Day 2: Yurt Camp – Aydarkul Lake – Nuratau Villages

Morning sunrise watching and breakfast in the desert.

Drive to Aydarkul Lake, where swimming, walking, and birdwatching are possible.

Continue to the Nuratau Mountains and visit traditional villages.

Before lunch: enjoy a village-to-village cultural walk (about 2 hours) through orchards, fields, and local houses.

Lunch with a host family.

Afternoon walk in the valley to see abandoned old village houses and mountain views.

Evening arrival at our traditional Riad Nur Guesthouse in Nurata.

Dinner and overnight stay in the guesthouse.

Day 3: Nurata – Sarmishsoy Gorge – Bukhara

After breakfast, departure towards Bukhara.

On the way, visit Sarmishsoy Gorge, famous for its thousands of ancient petroglyphs.

Continue the journey to Bukhara/Samarkand, arriving in the afternoon.

✨ Highlights:

Overnight stay in a yurt camp in the desert

Traditional hospitality at Riad Nur Guesthouse

Ancient fortress of Alexander the Great

Cultural walks through Nuratau villages

Aydarkul Lake experience (swimming, birdwatching)

Sarmishsoy petroglyphs in a beautiful gorge

📍 Duration: 3 days / 2 nights

🏠 Accommodation: 1 night in yurt camp, 1 night in guesthouse

🚗 Route: Samarkand/Bukhara → Nurata → Kyzylkum Desert → Aydarkul → Nuratau Villages → Sarmishsoy → Bukhara/Samarkand

✅ Included:

Transport (Samarkand/Bukhara – Nurata – Bukhara/Samarkand)

Local driver

1 night in yurt camp, 1 night in guesthouse

All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Village walk & desert activities

Entrance fees and campfire evening

❌ Not Included:

Alcoholic drinks

Personal expenses

Camel riding ($20/hour, optional)

Travel insurance

Costs for the tour:

Single person - $230
Two people - $340 ($170 per person)
Three people - $410 ($136 per person)
For four or more people, the price is upon request.

Kyzylkum Nights Camp & Family Yurt – 2 Days / 1 Night

Discover authentic desert life at Kyzylkum Nights Camp.

Overview

Discover the peaceful heart of the Kyzylkum Desert at Kyzylkum Nights Camp & Family Yurt, a small, family-run site far from mass tourism. Surrounded only by dunes and endless steppe, our camp offers privacy, comfort, and a truly authentic Uzbek welcome. Your journey begins in Samarkand or Bukhara and passes through the historic town of Nurata, where you’ll share a traditional lunch with our family at Riad Nur before heading deep into the desert.

Day 1 – From Samarkand or Bukhara to the Kyzylkum

Hotel Pickup: Morning departure with our private driver.

Scenic Stops: Pause in the Nuratau Mountains and a local village for photos and encounters with daily rural life.

Traditional Lunch at Riad Nur: Enjoy a home-cooked meal and warm Uzbek hospitality in our family guesthouse.

Historic Sites: Visit Nurata’s sacred spring and the ruins of Alexander the Great’s fortress.

Desert Drive: Cross sweeping steppe landscapes with chances to spot wild horses.

Kazakh Village Visit: Meet families and learn about traditional nomadic culture.

Yurt Camp Arrival: Settle into your private yurt in our quiet desert location.

Evening Magic: Watch the sunset from the dunes, help cook dinner, and gather around the campfire for music, stories, and brilliant stargazing.

Day 2 – Sunrise & Aydarkul Lake

Early-morning sunrise tea walk on the dunes before Aydarkul Lake visit.

Then drive to Aydarkul Lake for swimming, bird-watching, or a peaceful walk along the shore.

Enjoy a light picnic lunch on the return journey back in Samarkand or Bukhara in the late afternoon.

Experience the quiet beauty of the Kyzylkum Desert, share a meal with our family at Riad Nur, and sleep beneath a brilliant starry sky—an unforgettable journey far from the crowds.

What’s Included:

Private round-trip transport from Samarkand or Bukhara

1 night in a private family yurt

1 dinner, 1 breakfast, 1 family-style lunch at Riad Nur, and 1 picnic

Local guide and all sightseeing stops listed above

Not Included:

Optional camel ride (USD 20 per person per hour)

Alcoholic or extra beverages

Personal tips or gratuities

Good to Know

Duration: 2 days / 1 night

Costs for the tour: