Navoi

Why visit

Navoi region covers the Kyzylkum: the caravanserai ruins of Rabati Malik on the old Silk Road, Lake Aydarkul with its yurt camps, and Sarmishsay gorge, where thousands of Bronze Age petroglyphs are cut into the rock.

Tour Highlights

• ✦ Aydarkul Lake
• ✦ Yurt camps in Kyzylkum
• ✦ Sarmysh Gorge petroglyphs
• ✦ Nurata fortress & spring
• ✦ Gijduvan-style ceramics nearby

What you can do

Sleep in a yurt camp on the shore of Aydarkul, ride a camel across the dunes at sunset, look for petroglyphs in Sarmishsay and stop at the Rabati Malik portal and sardoba on the Bukhara road.

Where to stay

Yurt camps with shared facilities near Aydarkul and Dungalak; standard hotels in Navoi city and Zarafshan for business travellers.

Food

Camp dinners are cooked over fire, usually shurpa or plov with bread and salads, followed by tea around the fire with a dombra player. Vegetarian food is possible on request; vegan needs confirmation at booking.

How to get there

Navoi is on the Tashkent-Bukhara railway, about 4h30 from Tashkent. Aydarkul yurt camps are usually reached by car from Samarkand (about 3 hours) or Nurata.

When to visit

April to May and September to October. Aydarkul is warm enough for swimming from June to early September, though days are very hot.

Transport

Trains stop at Navoi on the Tashkent-Bukhara line. Aydarkul and Sarmishsay require a car; most travellers arrive with a driver from Samarkand or Nurata.

Practical information

Yurt camps have limited electricity and no reliable mobile signal. Nights in the desert are cold even after hot days, so bring a warm layer year-round.

Safety

Desert travel risks are heat, dehydration and getting lost off-track. Never walk far from camp alone and keep water in the vehicle.

Related experiences

Frequently asked questions