Things to do in Samarkand: join a Silk Road caravan
Founded in the 7th century BC, today
Samarkand is a beautiful city packed with ornate domed buildings
and cultural wonders. There’s certainly plenty to see and do here.
It also makes a great starting point to
follow the old Silk Road caravan routes that once spanned much
of the old world. Experience the true magic of the orient in the Kyzylkum
Desert and see a different side of Uzbekistan.
The Kyzylkum Desert
The desert is a vast expanse of red
sands that is both awe-inspiring and humbling. On one side is Uzbekistan, on
the other Kazakhstan. Locals on both sides shepherd their flocks here, as they
have done for centuries.
Although you won’t find five-star hotels
here, there are facilities. Yurts are the traditional homes here, and the
ones designed for travellers have electricity and shower
facilities. This makes an ideal base for any tour of the desert to experience
this harsh landscape. The camps are close to the Uzbek side of the desert, not
far from Yangikazgan and Dongalik.
Climate conditions make spring and autumn
the best time for this adventure. Winters are icy cold here, summer
relentlessly hot and tourist facilities are generally closed. March to May
and September and October are the only real times to come and visit
the desert. Many come in the Spring when the colors are more vibrant, and you
are more likely to spot a Central Asian tortoise.
Other attractions in this area include the
petroglyphs at Sarmysh and the desert towns of Nurata and Navoi.
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| Samarkand's desert |
Camel Trekking in Kyzylkum Desert
Camel trekking is popular, and it is
not hard to see why. Led by a local camel farmer, you follow various routes
that Silk Road traders would have traveled generations ago.
Often your trek will take to Lake Aidarkul and the villages of Yangikazgan and
Dongalik.
You can take a desert tour for up to four
days. This is arguably the best experience as you’ll stay with local
Kazakh semi-nomads and eat local food such as homemade bread, camel
milk, horse milk, horse meat, camel meat, and sheep meat. On- day treks are
also available.
When you arrive at Aidakul Lake,
you’re actually looking at the result of a failed Soviet dam. The water that
was destined to irrigate farmland flooded 200 km of salt plains. The rest, as
they say, is history, and you can expect to see a great variety of migrating
birds including cormorants, pelicans, gulls, terns and herons who use the
region for mating. Or if bird-watching isn’t your thing, you can just take a
dip.
Bajura
When you’re done with the desert, a
visit to Bajura should be high on your list. Arguably Central
Asia’s holiest city, head to the old town and lose yourself in the magnificent
buildings. Highlights include:
•
The Ark - This incredible building was built in the 5th century and
used until the Red Army bombed it in 1920. Around 80% of it was destroyed but
what’s left gives you a fascinating glimpse of what it must have looked like in
its glory years.
•
Silk Road Spices - Harking back to days of the Silk Road, this teahouse has
been open for over 600 years. It is a family-owned business and offers
different types of spiced tea. It’s easy to imagine merchants of the past
calling in for a cup of the finest tea.
•
Char Minar – Built in 1807, this amazing building was once a former
gatehouse.
The madrassa it was attached to is long gone but the building is
well worth seeing in its own right.
Visit the Kyzylkum Desert and Bajura
at your earliest opportunity.