Tian Shan & Uzbekistan — Trekking to Lake Sary-Chelek — 14 Days

Sary-Chelek is a biosphere reserve you simply can’t reach without decent fitness and several days on foot: four passes above 2,400 meters, four mountain lakes each a different shade, and nights in a tent under open sky. After a week in the mountains, a soft landing into the architecture of Samarkand and Bukhara.

Route

Osh → Aflatun village → Lake Sary-Chelek → Lake Kara-Suu → Lake Kyla-Kol → Osh → Kokand → Tashkent → Samarkand → Gijduvan → Bukhara.

Why this tour

• Unlike “Treasures of the Silk Road” (also Kyrgyzstan + Uzbekistan, but with a cultural program around Issyk-Kul), this is a real multi-day trek with tent camping.
• Four mountain passes and four differently colored lakes, from Sary-Chelek to Kyla-Kol — a concentration of natural scenery you won’t find on our other tours.
• Pack horses carry your gear — you walk light.
• Finishing with classic Uzbekistan completes the arc: from wild mountains to Silk Road cities.

Day by day

1. Arrival in Osh, drive to the Aflatun river valley, camp at the river confluence.
2. Trek along the South Aflatun valley to the Uyalma tract.
3. Cross the Kuldambes (2,946 m) and Ashuu (2,551 m) passes, descend to Lake Sary-Chelek.
4. Cross the Makmal pass (2,654 m) to the Kara-Suu river.
5. An easy descent to Lake Kara-Suu, horseback riding, meeting local nomads.
6. Cross the Kuturma pass (2,446 m) to lakes Tuyuk-Kol and Kyla-Kol.
7. Descend through apple orchards, drive to Osh, check in at a hotel.
8. Cross the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border, drive to Kokand — Khudoyar Khan’s palace.
9. Drive to Tashkent over the Kamchik pass.
10. Tashkent: the Khast-Imam complex, Chorsu Bazaar. Drive to Samarkand.
11. Samarkand: Registan Square, the Gur-Emir mausoleum, the Bibi-Khanym mosque, the Shah-i-Zinda ensemble.
12. Drive to Gijduvan — a masterclass with the ceramicists. On to Bukhara in the evening.
13. Bukhara: the Samanid mausoleum, the Ark fortress, the Poi-Kalyan ensemble, Lyab-i Hauz.
14. Transfer to Bukhara airport, departure.

Included (placeholder — confirm before publishing)

• Full board and tent camp during the trek, mountain guide, pack horses for luggage
• Permit for the Sary-Chelek biosphere reserve
• Personal trekking gear (sleeping bag, mat, poles) provided free of charge
• Comfortable transport in both countries, guide in Uzbekistan’s cities

Not included

• International flights, insurance
• Advanced personal gear

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