Aksu Rock Kingdom — Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan — 15 Days

When a two-kilometer wall of granite appears around the bend of the valley, conversation in the group usually stops on its own — the Aksu Peak area has earned its nickname as Asia’s Patagonia. This trip is for travelers who want more than a standard mountain walk: seven days of self-contained trekking beneath walls that climbers travel from around the world to attempt, followed by a soft landing into the pottery workshops and turquoise domes of Uzbekistan.

Route

Osh → Uzgarysh village → the Layli-Mazar valley → the Uryam valley → the Uryam pass (3,760 m) → the base of Aksu Peak (5,355 m) → Uzgarysh → Osh → Rishtan → Kokand → Tashkent → Samarkand → Gijduvan → Bukhara.

Why this tour

• One of the few routes anywhere offering views of Aksu’s north face without multi-day technical climbing.
• A contrast you won’t find on our other tours: a rugged trek followed immediately by the relaxed classics of Uzbekistan.
• Horses carry your gear — you walk light, which makes this accessible even without prior technical mountain experience.
• Finishing in Bukhara, with its domes and cool inner courtyards, is the best possible reset after seven days in the mountains.

Day by day

1. Arrival in Osh, drive to Uzgarysh village, the last outpost before the mountains.
2. Trek along the Layli-Mazar valley to its confluence with the Uryam river, the first night under open sky.
3. Climb up the Uryam valley to high pastures grazed by yaks.
4. A side trip up the head of the Uryam valley to a glacier-fed waterfall.
5. Cross the Uryam pass (3,760 m), camp with views of Aksu Peak’s north face.
6. A side trip to the Aksu cirque (5,355 m) — the highlight of the trek and the best photographs of the trip.
7. Descend via the Ak-Mechet valley to Uzgarysh, a celebratory dinner marking the end of the trek.
8. Drive to Osh, hotel check-in, a hot shower after a week in a tent.
9. Cross the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border, Rishtan — the blue pottery workshop, drive to Kokand.
10. Kokand: Khudoyar Khan’s palace. Drive to Tashkent over the Kamchik pass.
11. Tashkent: the Khast-Imam complex, Chorsu Bazaar. Drive to Samarkand.
12. Samarkand: Registan Square, the Gur-Emir mausoleum, the Bibi-Khanym mosque, the Shah-i-Zinda ensemble.
13. Drive to Gijduvan — a masterclass with the ceramicists. On to Bukhara in the evening.
14. Bukhara: the Samanid mausoleum, the Ark fortress, the Poi-Kalyan ensemble, Lyab-i Hauz.
15. Transfer to Bukhara airport, departure.

Included (placeholder — confirm before publishing)

• Guesthouse accommodation in Uzgarysh and tented camping, full board during the trek
• A mountain guide, pack horses, national park permit
• Personal trekking gear provided free of charge
• Comfortable transport in both countries, a guide in Uzbekistan’s cities

Not included

• International flights, insurance
• Advanced personal gear (climbing systems for those planning an ascent beyond base camp)

The confirmed gear list, guaranteed departure dates and the final price are arranged with your travel consultant at booking.