Itinerary
- Day 1
Tashkent to Hayat
You'll start at Lyabi Haus Pool and transfer out to Hayat village in the Nuratau Mountains, which takes about 4.5 hours. By lunchtime you'll be settled at your homestay. After eating, head over to see the breeding enclosure for endangered Severtsov's wild sheep, then hike up to the ruins of Shaxi Korgon fortress. Spend the rest of the afternoon wandering through Hayat valley on foot, and later relax in the garden before joining your host family for dinner.
- Start point
- Бухара, Bukhoro, Uzbekistan (east of Lyabi-Hauz Pool at Hoja Nasruddin statue, 08:00 - 08:30)
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch with the family), Dinner (Dinner with the host family)
Included Activities
- Visit breeding enclosure of Severtsov's wild sheep
- Hike to ruins of Shaxi Korgon fortress
- Hiking excursion through Hayat valley
- Lunch with host family
- Dinner with host family
Landmarks/POIs Lyabi Haus Pool Severtsov's wild sheep breeding enclosure Shaxi Korgon fortress ruins Nuratau Mountains - Day 2
Hayat to Upper Ukhum
After breakfast, you'll start a 12km hike from Hayat to Upper Ukhum village that takes around 6 hours total. The route goes through Guzar and Sari Bedak passes, and donkeys will carry your luggage so you can focus on the walking. During the hike you'll see local women baking bread in tandir ovens and working on traditional crafts. You'll also pass ancient irrigation channels and a petroglyph site. A picnic lunch happens somewhere along the route, then after arriving at your homestay you'll have dinner with the family.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch en route), Dinner (Dinner with the family)
Included Activities
- Guided hike through Guzar and Sari Bedak passes
- View of peak Karaul and Hayat village from pass
- Observe local women baking bread in tandir oven and traditional household activities
- Visit ancient irrigation channels
- Visit petroglyph site
- Picnic lunch en route
- Dinner with host family
Landmarks/POIs Guzar Pass Sari Bedak Pass Peak Karaul Ukhum valley petroglyph site Ancient irrigation channels 
- Day 3
Upper Ukhum to Asraf
This morning you'll hike 11km from Upper Ukhum to Asraf village over about 4.5 hours. On the way you'll check out an old community watermill that's still working today, featuring a traditional hydro pump system, and see the medieval Mongol fortress ruins called Qorgoni Honkeldi. You'll reach your homestay in time for lunch, then spend the afternoon relaxing under walnut trees. If you're interested, there's an option to help prepare traditional Plov with your host family before dinner.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch with the family), Dinner (Dinner with the family)
Included Activities
- Hike through Ukhum valley to Asraf village
- Visit old community watermill and hydro pump demonstration
- See ruins of Mongol fortress Qorgoni Honkeldi
- Lunch with host family
- Dinner with host family
Optional Activities
- Help prepare traditional Plov dish with family
Landmarks/POIs Old community watermill Qorgoni Honkeldi fortress ruins Mushibirion valley - Day 4
Asraf to Samarkand
You'll do a half-day hike that's 11km round trip along the Nuratau Nature Reserve buffer zone heading to Eski Forish village. The hike takes about 5 hours and gives you views of Lake Aydar and the Kyzylkum steppe plains spreading out below. You'll see ancient petroglyphs and ruins of a medieval look-out point too. After returning to Asraf, you'll have lunch with your host family, say goodbye to them, and then drive to Samarkand, arriving around 5:30pm.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch with the family)
Included Activities
- Half-day hike through Nuratau Nature Reserve buffer zone
- View of Lake Aydar and Kyzylkum steppe
- View ancient petroglyphs
- Visit medieval look-out point ruins in Eski Forish
- Lunch with host family
Landmarks/POIs Lake Aydar Kyzylkum steppe Eski Forish Medieval look-out point ruins
