Jewels of Uzbekistan

Ample opportunity to relax with free time this morning. With the impressive sights of Bukhara and Samarkand ahead of us, this is an ideal opportunity to catch up on some reading, or simply sit back and imagine you are a trader - relieved to have made it safely through the desert! Your own journey continues this afternoon as you drive the 450km to Bukhara through the Kyzyl-Kum (meaning 'red sands') desert. Along the way we meet the Amu Darya River – once known as the Oxus. This river bubbles up far to the south-east in the Pamirs and then runs west through the area now bordering modern Afghanistan - once famous throughout the ancient world for its lapis-lazuli mines. Curling slowly northward the river bisects the Kyzyl-Kum and Kara-Kum (‘black sands’) deserts, before stretching toward the southern tip of the shrinking Aral Sea. It was the Greeks who named this part of Central Asia ‘Transoxiana’ – literally ‘beyond the river’ – a name that echoes through the ages in literature and poetry - and the imagination of travellers. Guesthouse - 1 night (BL)

With regret, you leave captivating Bukhara and continue east towards Samarkand. The next destination is Nurata, formerly known as Nur and founded in the 3rd Century BC by Alexander the Great. This ancient town was once regarded as the frontier between the cultivated lands and the steppes, and the ruins of Alexander’s hilltop citadel stand testament to its ancient history. The city was also an important Muslim place of pilgrimage, reaching its peak in the 10th Century AD as devotees flocked to its many significant graves and memorials. You visit the Chashma, a complex of religious constructions that serves as the central point for such pilgrimages. After lunching in a local teahouse we continue onto the Nuratau-Kyzylkum Biosphere Reserve just south of Aiderkul Lake. We must change to smaller vehicles to navigate the narrow local roads as you climb into the mountains to reach the tiny village of Sentab. Here, as part of a UN Development Program project, local families have established small private guesthouses and welcome visitors to their homes. As your hosts are ethnic Tadjiks, this is a unique opportunity to hear another regional language, eat delicious home-cooked local specialities, and see the day-to-day life of the village. Accommodation is in the traditional style - the group will sleep on mattresses in communal rooms (usually divided by gender), a similar experience to staying in a yurt. The bathroom facilities are also basic but manageable - with very simple shower and toilet arrangements. Such things are minor inconveniences however as you lounge on tapchan (daybeds) under the walnut trees, with the sound of the stream running nearby, and an once-in-a-lifetime cultural exchange unfolds. This is the perfect place to relax, or for those wanting to stretch their legs there are numerous local walks nearby which your hosts will be happy to show us. You have more time to relax the following morning, and after lunch we depart for Samarkand. Homestay - 1nt & Guesthouse - 1nt (Bx2, Lx2, Dx1)

This morning is left free for you to enjoy just a little more time in Samarkand. Perhaps a visit to the local bazaar where you can sample delicious fresh produce, or you might like to return to the many stalls nestled in the Registan Ensemble to find that perfect souvenir. Your adventure in Uzbekistan is almost complete as you leave Samarkand and return to the capital for your final night. Tonight you have a farewell dinner to mark the end of your travels together as a group, and reflect on all you have seen. Hotel - 2nights (B)