6-Day Nuratau Mountain Horse Riding & Camping Tour

Friendly Horses

Picturesque Campsites

Expert Mountain Guides

Horse Rides & Camping Amidst Nuratau's Mountainous Splendour

Prepare for a journey that seamlessly blends adventure and tranquillity with our exclusive horse riding and camping tour through the picturesque landscapes of the Nuratau Mountains. Imagine the rhythmic hooves of your noble steed echoing through serene mountain valleys as you traverse North-West, unveiling breathtaking panoramic views of Uhum Valley. Guided by the expertise of our knowledgeable mountain guides, each day promises a new chapter of exploration, from ascending ridges to discovering ancient petroglyphs at the foot of Patandaz peak.

As the sun rises, marvel at the expansive beauty from Hayat Bashi Peak, the highest point in the Nuratau Mountains, and ride westward towards the scenic mountain lake Fazilman, where locals cultivate seasonal treasures. This tour invites you to revel in the magic of horseback riding and camping amidst the unmatched splendour of Nuratau’s valleys.

To experience a scenic horse riding tour with the comfort of a homestay at the end of each day’s adventure, you may be interested in our 5-Day Village to Village Horse Riding Tour with authentic Homestays in the remote villages.

Highlights of the Tour

Embark on an enchanting journey led by expert mountain guides, unveiling the secrets of Nuratau with every step

Leave the packing stress behind! Tents, mattresses and snug sleeping bags are provided, ensuring a hassle-free and cosy camping experience

Dive into a horse lover’s paradise with abundant saddle time, ensuring an action-packed adventure throughout the tour

Uncover the rich tapestry of Nuratau's history as you explore ancient landmarks, from the mysterious petroglyphs in Uhum Valley to the intriguing ruins of Deh fortress in Sentob village

Marvel at sweeping views from Hayat Bashi Peak, taking in the beauty of the Kyzyl-Kum steppe, Lake Aydarkul, and charming villages

Day 1 – Transfer from Bukhara to Safar Ota: At 9:00 AM, meet our driver at the start point of the tour in Bukhara to drive to Safar Ota village. Upon arrival, a 2-hour test ride awaits to journey to your first valley camping area.

Day 2 – Uhum Valley Exploration: A 3.5-hour ride to Uhum Valley, ascending ridges with panoramic views. Set up camp at Patandaz peak where you’ll explore ancient petroglyphs.

Day 3 – Lake Fazilman: Ride to Hayat Bashi Peak for sweeping views, and continue on a 25km, 5-hour journey to mountain lake Fazilman where you’ll set up camp.

Day 4 – Ride from Fazilman to Sentob village: Descend to Sentob village, where you’ll explore Deh fortress ruins, and enjoy lunch at a local homestay. Later, continue riding 25km, (5.5-hour) to the steppe.

Day 5 – Lake Aydarkul: Venture to Lake Aydarkul, a 25km, 5-hour ride. Set up camp lakeside, and enjoy a refreshing swim, and birdwatch.

Day 6 – Last horseback ride before transfer to Samarkand: Set out on a 25km, 4-hour northward ride, encountering nomadic shepherds along the way. Reach Jizzakh-Nurata tar road where our driver will transfer you to Samarkand.
END OF THE TRIP

Click the “Itinerary” tab to see a detailed itinerary.

Trip Details

2 – 3 travellers: TBC upon enquiry
4 – 12 travellers: TBC upon enquiry

Please use our Private Tour Enquiry tab to enquire about pricing for private tours.

9am

Your hotel in Bukhara

All year round.

Check the availability for this tour on the sidebar calendar.

6 days

From 2 to 12 travellers

Tents, mattresses and sleeping bags,
Horse rental and helmets
All meals during the tour
Local guide
Transport
Registration

Additional tours and activities not mentioned in the itinerary
Tips
Items of personal nature

Horse riding guide

Your 6-Day Horse Riding & Camping in the Nuratau Mountains Itinerary

Day 1 – Bukhara – Safar Ota
At 9:00 AM, meet our driver at the start point of the tour in Bukhara to drive to Safar Ota village after a hearty breakfast. A scenic 4-hour drive sets the stage for your adventure. Upon arrival in Safar Ota, meet your experienced guide and make acquaintances with your noble steeds. You’ll go on a gentle 2-hour test horse ride to a charming camping site by the river, where you’ll immerse yourself in the tranquillity of nature. Unwind in comfortable tents as you enjoy a hearty dinner and a restful overnight stay.

Accommodation: Camping near a river valley

Day 2 – Uhum Valley
Today, your adventure unfolds with a captivating 3.5-hour horse ride to Uhum Valley. Traverse north-west, ascending ridges that offer breathtaking panoramic views of valleys and gorges. Descend to your picturesque campsite for the day, at the foot of Patandaz peak, where ancient petroglyphs beckon exploration.

Accommodation: Valley camping ground

Day 3 – Uhum – Fazilman
As the sun rises, enjoy a hearty breakfast and prepare for today’s thrilling horse ride towards Hayat Bashi Peak, the highest point in the Nuratau Mountains. Marvel at sweeping views of the Kyzyl-Kum steppe, Lake Aydarkul, and the quaint villages below. Continuing westward, you’ll ride to the mountain lake Fazilman, passing by locals cultivating seasonal vegetables. The day’s ride covers 25 km over 5 scenic hours, culminating in a campsite nestled at the foot of Kichik Fazilman Peak. Set up camp and enjoy the rest of the afternoon soaking in the natural beauty of your surroundings.

Accommodation: Valley camping ground

Day 4- Fazilman – Kyzilkum Steppe
Day four unveils more wonders as you descend from the mountain plateau to Sentob village. Explore the intriguing ruins of the Deh fortress and meander through abandoned villages. A delightful lunch at a local homestay in Sentob awaits. In the afternoon, continue descending Sentob village until you reach Djizak-Nurata tar road. Cross the tar road and continue to the northeast on the steppe until you reach today’s campsite. Your journey covers 25 km in approximately 5.5 hours.

Accommodation: Camping

Day 5 – Kyzilkum Steppe
After breakfast, venture northward through the steppe, arriving at the shores of Lake Aydarkul. Here, you can indulge in a refreshing swim or leisurely lakeside stroll, surrounded by a diverse array of aquatic birdlife. The day’s ride covers 25 km over 5 enchanting hours, providing a perfect blend of adventure and serenity.

Accommodation: Lake side camping

Day 6 – Kyzilkum Steppe – Samarkand
Bid farewell to the steppe as you embark on a northward journey, encountering friendly shepherds and their flocks. A 25 km/4-hour ride concludes as you reach Jizzakh-Nurata tar road, where our driver awaits to transfer you to Samarkand.

Not Ready to Let Your Trip Come to an End?

Why not make it longer? We have more exciting activities in store for you! If you have a private tour booked with us, extend your Horse Riding Tour in the Nuratau Mountains with further cultural and historical exploration. Check out these extension trips to add an extra “check” to your Uzbekistan holiday wish list!

See What Previous Travellers Have Said About Our Tours

					Wonderful time in the mountains The trip was extremely well organised, and our guide, the driver and the hosts in the guesthouses were very nice and helpful. We got a great insight in the way of people's lives in the valleys, in the amazing variety of nature and also in ancient culture (we took a glimpse at the stoneages). Alibek, our guide, made sure that we felt comfortable while hiking, we learned a lot from him about the history and the surroundings, and the food in the guest houses was delicious. We are vegetarians and the dishes provided were much better for vegetarians than in the cities. Thank you so much for giving these wonderful four days to us!
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Esther B
8/06/2023
					Hiking and relaxing to recover from Silk Road After having had wonderful days at Sayyod Camp I want to review this experience . - It started perfectly with your very nice driver who picked us up in Bukhara. - the lunch in Nurota was very delicious, the location perfect, the sight interesting - the Camp is so nice, we loved our yurt, the place in the mountains, the pool (!) , it is kind of luxury mountain camping - the meals where very good and traditional and the people working there were all very kind and friendly. - both hiking tours were fantastic, the view, the nature, perfect after many days with all the Ms (mosquées, medreses,…), it was a wonderful break and the guide was also very nice! - the only thing we did not like was the trip to the lake. It was very time consuming ( ok, the villages on the way were interesting to see), and there was nothing but millions of huge grasshoppers, we could nor sit, walk nor swim and left after 3 minutes (trip of 2,5 hours) But all in all we totally enjoyed the stay in nature and the hiking tours and relaxing in the pool with mountain view!
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916susanneg
6/13/2023
					Best cooking class! This cooking class is fantastic, it is hands-on and very informative. We did this course when we stayed at Sayyod Yurt Camp. We all really enjoyed our stay at the camp. The camp offers different activities such as hiking and cycling. The camp is ideal to have a rest and enjoy the nature.
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Andres R
5/23/2023
					Fantastic Trip to Uzbekistan Just got back from a fantastic 15 day trip to Uzbekistan with Responsible Travel & cannot recommend the company highly enough. From the start Sherzod of Responsible Travel was extremely helpful & responsive, answering multiple small queries, always on the same day. He put together a fantastic & varied itinerary for us (details of which I have included below), taking in the major Silk Road cities, but also including a few days in the countryside in & around Nurata. The 2 nights spent in the Nurata Mountains (Hayot Village) were the particular highlight of our trip. The homestay we stayed in was a geuinely special place, set in a beautiful wild flower garden beside a small stream & the family who run the homestay were very friendly and welcoming. A fantastic local guide (arranged by Sherzod) took us for a day's hiking in the mountains - not only was he extremely knowledgeable, but his connections in the area got us an invite to lunch with a local family celebrating a national holiday! We were also extremely well looked after by our driver Mr Bahtiyor, who not only spoke flawless English, but was also an extremely nice guy, very professional. & a great source of restaurant recommendations. We felt like we really lucked out in getting him!! ********************************************** Itinerary: Day 1 - Tashkent Day 2 - Tashkent Day 3 - Overnight Train from Tashkent – Khiva Day 4 - Khiva Day 5 - Khiva Day 6 - Khiva – Bukhara Day 7 - Bukhara Day 8 - Around Bukhara (06.05) Day 9 - Bukhara-Nurata-Yurt Camp (07.05) Day 10 - Yurt Camp - Lake Aydarkul - Nuratau Mountains (08.05) Day 11- Nuratau Mountains Day 12 - Nuratau Mountains – Samarkand Day 13 - Samarkand Day 14 - Samarkand – Tashkent Day 15 - Tashkent
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CATW351770
5/21/2023
					Fantastic experience I did the 4-days hiking tour Sentob in March 2023. It was a fantastic experience! The driving to and from Sentob was smooth. A warm welcome in Rahima's guesthouse in Sentob, and in the guesthouse in Uhum, with very good food. The hikes were great, with beautiful scenery, and my guide Sherali was very nice, informative, and would adapt to my pace. Because of the season we had to adapt the schedule and do a different hike than foreseen in the program the second day and it all went very smoothly. As a solo female traveler, I also felt very safe the whole time. It was a great way to discover the nature and countryside in Uzbekistan, and to have a break between visiting cities. I highly recommend booking a trip with this agency.
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Tiphaine M
4/11/2023
					Amazing time We did a 4 days hiking tour in Sentob and Morjam and it was really perfect. The guesthouses were great, the guide explained a lot of things about nature and culture. Landscapes were awesome and the food delicious. Do not hesitate !
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Aubertin N
10/19/2022
					6 days hiking in Nuratau, 3 days trekking in Chimgan We spend 6 days hiking in Nuratau Mountains (hiking tour to Hayat, Uhum and Asraf villages, yurt stay and Lake Aydarkul) and did a 3 days trekking tour in Chimgan Mountains in september 2022. Both trips were great and very well organized. As well as very different, we saw a lot of typical scenery and had a good impression of the life in the mountains. Always really good food, great quality and traditional dishes. Thanks a lot to our guides Nuriddin and Barlan and of course to our donkeys in Chimgan Mountains. All of them did a great job in difficult conditions! The price was really reasonable for this quality of individual trekking tour! We warmly recommand Responsible Travel for his trekking and hinking tours in the Mountains of Uzbekistan.
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Didier P
9/25/2022
					Wonderful Hiking tour 3 days Asraf I and my husband Enzo took the "Hiking tour 3 days Asraf" from 18 to 20th of August.2019. It were a very very fantastic experience. The drivers from Bukhara to Asraf and from Asraf to Samarcanda, were very very professional. .Our hiking through the Nuratau Mountain was wonderfull thanks to our guide Ali. The people of village Asrf are very friendly and nice.Thanks a lot
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Rosanna T
9/29/2019
					Local embedded company with great service! Excellent way to explore Uzbekistan Responsible travel organised our 3 day trip to the Nuratau mountains. We stayed in a yurt camp for one night and in a family guesthouse for the other 2 nights. Responsible travel organised everything from taxi to hiking guide to accomodation. We are very happy with our trip and enjoyed every bit of it!
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LittleBerrie
8/08/2019
					Nuratau Trekking Experience In mid May 2019, we went for a trip to Nuratau Mountains to 3 different villages: Hayat, Uhum and Asraf. It was an amazing experience. We got to meet the families living in the mountains, see how they manage daily arrangements: work, school, watering the crops, cooking. The families mostly speak Uzbek or Tajik. Children and teenagers learn English at school and older family members speak some Russian. Our guide, Sherali, spoke very good English, we were very lucky to spend time with him. He told us a lot about the Uzbek culture and landscape and made sure our trip is diverse. I appreciate that, apart from the fixed attractions in the itinerary, we could pick from different options, for example change the additional hiking for spending time with the local family. On top of that, we could take some rest from the Internet and mobile networks. Only UzMobile would work in few spots. The families had stationary satelite phones to communicate within the country. Overall, it was a precious experience, we met very kind and welcoming people who will stay in our memories for long. If we ever get a chance to come back to Uzbekistan, we would definitely get in touch with the company and Sherali for another trip. Thank you for your kindness! 🙂
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Magda Ż
6/23/2019