Yurt Camp and Aydarkul from Bukhara - Complete Guide

The Yurt Camp and Aydarkul trip from Bukhara takes you from the historic city into the open landscapes of the Kyzylkum Desert and on to Samarkand, so it replaces the usual train transfer with two days on the road. You see craft workshops in Gijduvan, the spring and fortress ruins of Nurata, a traditional yurt camp and Lake Aydarkul. This complete guide explains the route, what happens on each day and how to prepare.

Key facts

• Route: Bukhara – Gijduvan – Nurata – yurt camp – Lake Aydarkul – Samarkand (one way).
• Time needed: 2 days, 1 night in a yurt.
• Availability: the tour from Bukhara runs daily.
• Day 1: ceramics in Gijduvan, Nurata's Chashma spring and fortress ruins, lunch in a chaykhana, camel ride and campfire.
• Day 2: Lake Aydarkul, then the drive to Samarkand, arriving in the evening.
• Good for: travellers going from Bukhara to Samarkand who want a desert night instead of the train.
• Book with: see the Yurt Camp and Aydarkul from Bukhara tour page or contact us for current prices.

From Bukhara to the desert: the route

Most travellers cross Uzbekistan from Bukhara to Samarkand or the other way, and the fast train covers that in about 1.5 to 2 hours. This trip takes a wider arc to the north. Leaving Bukhara, the road passes through the oasis farmland to Gijduvan, then heads into the steppe towards Nurata, near the Nuratau mountains. Beyond Nurata the land opens into the Kyzylkum, where the yurt camp and Lake Aydarkul lie. On the second day you drive south-east to Samarkand.

Because the trip ends in Samarkand, your luggage travels with you in the car and you do not need a train ticket for this leg. If you are coming from Samarkand instead, our guide to the 2-day yurt camp and Aydarkul Lake trip from Samarkand describes the route in that direction.

Day 1: Bukhara – Gijduvan – Nurata – yurt camp

Gijduvan ceramics

The first stop is Gijduvan, a town known across Uzbekistan for its glazed pottery. You visit the Gijduvan Ceramic Museum and the Narzullaev ceramic workshop, where you can watch how the pieces are shaped and painted.

Nurata: spring and fortress

Next comes Nurata, an ancient oasis between Bukhara and Samarkand. The town is linked to Alexander the Great, whose army took it in the 4th century BC; you walk among the remains of the old walls. The name Nur Ata is usually explained as "Father of the Ray", and the town's spiritual centre is the Chashma spring with its mosque and other historic buildings. Lunch is at a local chaykhana (tea house).

Evening at the yurt camp

In the afternoon you reach the yurt camp in the Kyzylkum Desert. In the evening there is a short camel ride (about 10–15 minutes is part of the programme; longer rides can be arranged at the camp), the sunset over the dunes and folk music by the campfire under the stars. You sleep in a felt yurt. If you are curious about how these round tents are built and why they suit the desert, read why traditional yurts are still the perfect nomadic home.

Day 2: Lake Aydarkul – Samarkand

After breakfast you leave the camp for Lake Aydarkul. The lake lies in the middle of the desert and was formed in 1969, when flood water from the Syr Darya was released into a natural depression; today it belongs to the Aydar-Arnasay lake system, a protected wetland. Here you can swim, walk along the shore or simply rest by the water. Then the road leads on to Samarkand through the steppe, and you arrive in the evening, at your hotel or wherever you need to be.

Who this trip suits

The trip suits travellers who have already seen Bukhara's monuments and want open space and quiet before the next city. It works well for photographers (sunset, sunrise and the night sky), for families with children who enjoy camels and campfires, and for anyone who finds a third day of madrasas too much. It is not a hiking trip: most of the time is spent on short walks and on the road. If you want more time in nature, the Nuratau homestay tour from Bukhara adds mountain villages.

Practical tips

• Start early: the first day has several stops, so be ready for pick-up after breakfast.
• Keep a day bag: your suitcase stays in the car; take a small bag with a warm layer, a torch and toiletries into the yurt.
• Dress for the sites: cover shoulders and knees at the Chashma spring and mosque in Nurata.
• Bring swimwear: in warm weather, swimming in Lake Aydarkul is part of the morning.
• Sun protection: hat, sunglasses and sunscreen for the camel ride and the lake.
• Carry small notes: for tea, ceramics in Gijduvan or a longer camel ride.
• Book Samarkand: arrange your hotel in Samarkand for the second night.

Plan it with TravelBliss

We run this trip from your hotel in Bukhara to Samarkand: the car and driver, the visits on the way and the night at the yurt camp. See the Yurt Camp and Aydarkul from Bukhara page for the programme, or the 2-Day Yurt Camp and Aydarkul Lake Tour if you prefer to return to Bukhara. Prices depend on group size and season — see the tour page or contact us.