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Why to visit?

The main interest of area for tourists is to experience the real culture and environment of Uzbekistan not found in the established tourist cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, etc. Its favorable geographical location on-route to Samarkand, Bukhara, and Tashkent makes the future Nuratau-Kyzylkum Biosphere Reserve an attractive tourism destination. From each of these cities it can be reached in not more than a 3-4 hours drive. Additionally, not far away from the guesthouses in the Nuratau mountains there are also popular yurt camps in the Kyzylkum desert close to the Aydarkul lake. Excursions to these places can be organized at the guesthouses. All this provides the perfect opportunity to diversify and broaden the classic ancient city holiday experience in Uzbekistan. Those with particular wildlife interests will also appreciate the wide natural diversity of the area. An important tourist attraction is the opportunity to view the endemic and highly endangered Severtsov Agali (Kyzylkum Wild Sheep). Bird watchers will find a wide range of bird species inhabiting the future Nuratau-Kyzylkum Biosphere Reserve (link to bird check list).

Their unusual local lifestyle provides a unique opportunity to experience everyday life of rural Tajik and Uzbek population. Tourists can for instance stay in traditional clay houses, sleep on tapchans in the gardens, discover traditional water-mills and ancient handicraft. They will have a chance not only to watch but also to take part in spinning and weaving processes or in the production of colorful felt-carpets and national music instruments. In spring almost every household produces on a small scale raw silk.

On the territory of the future Nuratau-Kyzylkum Biosphere Reserve Uzbek, Tadjik, Kazakh, Russian and other nationalities live peacefully together. Independent of their nationality the region’s population is famous for its hospitality. On their way through the villages any visitor will be repeatedly invited to join meals with local families. Popular traditional dishes are for instance fried lamb, plov, mutton soup and refreshing sour milk drinks. Tourists have a chance to eat mulberries, cherries, apricots, peaches, grapes, pistachios, almonds, walnuts and many more straight from the tree. Intensive sun and delicious spring water gives locally cultivated tomatoes, cucumber, paprika and herbs a unique taste. The territory has been certified by international organizations as a supply area for organic food. Almonds, walnuts, dried cherries and apricots from the future Nuratau-Kyzylkum Biopshere reserve are sold on European and American organic food markets.

In spring and autumn Kup-kary become a part of village life. The Uzbek name Kup-kary literally means “work of many people”. The game is also known as Ulak and called Kozlodran’ye in Russian. Kup-kary is the most popular type of equestrian sport, not only among Tajiks and Uzbeks, but also among other neighboring nations such as Kazakhs, Kyrgyz’s, Afghans, Karakalpaks and Turkmens. Every nation calls the game differently, however, despite minor differences; the goal of the game is the same: to gain and deliver a dead goat to a target area.

The most crowded Kup-kary are usually held during weddings. Traditionally weddings are held mainly in late autumn (after the harvesting) or in early spring (before the major agricultural works). Guests come from nearby villages as well as from remote areas. Camels, horses, bulls, goats, carpets, cuts of fabrics, household items and even cars are used as prizes for the winners.

The rules of the game are simple: The riders have to pick up a dead goat, defend it against other players and take it to a target area. The game is very archaic and there are only few regulations – for example, it is not allowed to ride towards the audience, observers are not allowed to assist the participants to pick up the goat. Also pulling off riders from the horse and pulling the goat from behind of the rider are not allowed.

The Nuratau mountains can be explored by hiking as well as by horse or donkey riding. The diversity of the area offers opportunities for several day tours of different levels of difficulty (from easy to medium). Different natural and cultural sites of interest can be visited such as ancient rock drawings, tombs or ruins of mosques and houses. Local guides tell fascinating stories about the villages’ history, including myths related to the Alexander the Great.