Uzbekistan is the pearl of Central Asia, with a diverse ancient culture and varied natural landscape. The sun and soil are particularly favorable here, as can be seen in the agriculture: nuts, fruits, and vegetables are especially tasty and are exported throughout Central Asia and to some EU countries. However, most of the natural landscape remains untouched. Uzbekistan is a very dry country and is characterized by mountains, steppes, oases, and a great deal of desert. Alexander the Great chose what is now Uzbekistan as his home and founded a city here to feed and shape his army. He had a fortress built, which still bears his mark today. It is the oasis city of Nurata, surrounded by beautiful nature. On your journey, you will have the unique opportunity to visit some of the fairytale cities on the ancient Silk Road, including Bukhara and the famous Samarkand, where the great Uzbek ruler Amir Temur (essentially the successor to Genghis Khan) is buried and which was the scientific metropolis of the world in the Middle Ages. The Koranic schools of Samarkand were leaders in the fields of medicine, mathematics, and astrology, while superstition and ignorance prevailed in Europe. Even then, the city was multicultural, partly due to its connection to the Silk Road.
In addition to the impressive cultural sites, you will experience the diversity of the landscape, from idyllic river valleys with mighty walnut trees to the golden steppe.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Tashkent and guided sightseeing tour through the capital, known for its parks, monuments, and fountains. In and around the historic market halls, nuts, fruits, and all kinds of food and household items are on offer. The colorful hustle and bustle is the perfect way to get in the mood for your trip to the Orient. After lunch, you will get an impression of the vibrant and ever-growing modern Tashkent. Numerous new neighborhoods are springing up, and the wide streets, bars, and restaurants are bustling with activity. Dinner at a restaurant and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 2: After breakfast, drive to Chimgan in the mountains east of Tashkent. The village of Kumushkan is about 80 km from Tashkent and can be reached after a 1.5-hour drive. Here you will meet horses and guides. You will begin the ride with an ascent to the Kumushkan Pass at approx. 2050 m above sea level. The route there leads along the Nurekata River with its breathtaking wilderness. After a well-deserved break and picnic on the pass, you will descend to the Aksakata mountain river at an altitude of approx. 1,800 m above sea level. At the end of the afternoon, you will stop to set up the tents. You will end the day around the campfire. Riding time today is between 4-5 hours.

Day 3: You continue riding and soon come across the Nurekata River again, which you follow on flat, good trails. Around noon, you will reach the confluence of two rivers and stop for a picnic on the riverbank. In the afternoon, you will continue along the riverbank on the wide trail and enjoy the silence and beautiful nature with walnut trees, juniper bushes, and wildflowers, while the mountain stream flows quietly or loudly beside you. You may also encounter shepherds with their flocks of sheep, horses, and donkeys. You will set up camp at a spring at approx. 1,400 m above sea level and spend the evening around the campfire. Approx. 5-6 hours in the saddle.

Day 4: You will leave the Nurekata River and climb up to the Koum Bel Pass at 2,000 m. The partly steep climb is rewarded with a magnificent view of the summit of Chimgan and the surrounding mountains. Picnic on the pass and continue downhill to a beautiful plateau where you pitch your tents near a spring. Today's route is not too long, but it is strenuous, so horses and riders can enjoy some rest at the campsite in the afternoon. 5-6 hours in the saddle.

Day 5: After breakfast, saddle up for another climb. A mountain trail leads up to Qong'ir Buqa at approx. 1,900m. Enjoy another picnic on the pass with a fantastic mountain panorama. In the afternoon, you descend into a gorge where you pitch your tents near a spring. Riding time approx. 4-5 hours.

Day 6: You ride along the river towards Mount Chuqqitov with a picnic en route. After approx. 4 hours in the saddle, you reach Oltin Olma, where you say goodbye to your horses and riding guides. Return to Tashkent for dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 7: Transfer to the train station and take the express train to Samarkand at 7:00 a.m. Arrival at 9:10 a.m. In the morning, visit the mausoleum of the great ruler Amir Temur and the majestic Registan Square. The visits are followed by a walk along Tashkent Street with the Siyob Market and the Bibi Khanoum Mosque. Lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, visit the Chakhi Zinda necropolis, a huge cemetery surrounding the tomb of Qussam ibn Abbas, nephew of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.v.). Then discover the ruins of the Ulugbek Observatory. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 8: After breakfast, drive to the village of Porasht, located a good 200 km from Samarkand. After about 2.5 hours, you will reach the village where you will meet the new horses for the second part of your horseback riding trip. You will ride towards the village of Asraf at approx. 700 m above sea level through the vast steppe, which is characterized by pastel-colored hills. Lunch break in Asraf with a local family who will serve you local dishes in their idyllic green garden. Continue riding through the barren mountains to Ukhum at approx. 950 m. Dinner and overnight stay in a small family-run guesthouse. The host family also owns your riding horses. Riding time approx. 6 hours.

Day 9: Taking advantage of the morning freshness, you ride towards the village of Mojurum (12 km). On the way, you will visit a huge, gnarled cedar tree that is around 2,500 years old and is said to have been planted by none other than Alexander the Great! Longer lunch break with locals. Later, you will arrive in Mojorum. Stroll through the village and visit the village mosque and the beautiful landscapes along the river. The villages, with their earth-colored houses, blend perfectly into the steppe-like, barren landscape. The gardens form small green oases, and streams with lush green banks flow down from the mountains into the hills. Dinner and overnight stay with a local family. 5-6 hours in the saddle.

Day 10: Last day of riding! You leave your luggage behind and take a final ride to the historic village of Sentob, where you have lunch with the locals. You visit the ruins of Sentob Fortress before returning to Mojorum. 5-6 hours in the saddle.

Day 11: Farewell to the horses and the family and drive towards Bukhara. Your route takes you through the town of Nurata. You will visit the historical monuments of Nurata: the picturesque mosques of Tchilustun and Panjvakta and the sacred spring with fish. You will also visit the ruins of the defensive walls and the fortress of Alexander the Great. Lunch at a local restaurant. Arrival in the fairytale old town of Bukhara at the end of the day and check-in at the hotel. Dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 12: You will visit the mausoleums of Ismail Samani and Chachma Ayoub, the Ark Citadel, whose oldest traces date back to the 5th century BC, and the Bolo-Khaouz Mosque from the early 17th century. In the afternoon, you will visit the madrasas of Ulugh Beg and Abdul-Aziz Khan, the Po-i-Kalyan complex, which consists of three monuments: the Kalyan Minaret, the Mir-Arab Madrasa, and the Great Mosque. Lunch at a local restaurant. The sightseeing tour continues with the Koukeldach Madrasah, the Nadir Divanbegi Madrasah, the Magoki Attari Mosque, and the medieval markets. Here and in the many small art shops, you can find excellent souvenirs, from spices, silver, and cloth to ornate miniatures. Take a break to enjoy tea or other refreshments at a chai khana, a local tea house on the edge of the city pond. Dinner at a local restaurant. Transfer to the airport and flight to Tashkent, scheduled to arrive at 9:40 p.m. Arrival in Tashkent at 10:40 p.m. Transfer to the hotel.

Day 13: Breakfast and departure.Optional Khiva extension:
Extend your stay in Uzbekistan and travel on to the desert city of Khiva late in the evening on day 12. You take the night train and reach the desert city at around 7 am. The 13th and 14th day are dedicated entirely to visiting Khiva with its mosques, palaces and mausoleums. Khiva is an ancient fortress with an imposing entrance gate and picturesque historical buildings. After dinner on day 14, you will take the 20:00 flight to Tashkent, where you will spend another night in a hotel. Return flight on day 15 after breakfast.

Easter ride on the Silk Road

Flight to Urganch instead of Tashkent. You start with a visit to the historic desert city of Khiva and then travel on to Bukhara. to rear On day 5, you will travel to saddle and to ride for 3 days through the steppe, from village to village. This is followed by a visit to Samarkand and Tashkent. The ride through the Chimgan Mountains awaits you at the end of the second week. The program is a reversal of the regular offer with the Khiva extension at the beginning of the trip.

Subject to change at any time!

Accomodation
In Tashkent, Bukhara and Samarkand you will spend the night in good middle-class hotels close to the city center. In the mountains in the first part of the ride, you will spend the night in normal tents. Meals are then prepared over a campfire. During the second short round trip, you will spend the night in small guesthouses in villages. The families here will spoil you with typical fare. Meat is traditionally eaten, but also lots of fruit and vegetables as well as nuts, for which the countryside is famous. In the towns, you will have lunch and dinner in traditional restaurants. Accommodation is in a Double/twin occupancy/tent or single occupancy/single tent (at an extra charge).

Saddle & Tack: Local saddles and tack.

Experience: You have many years of riding experience, including trail-riding and light seat. The pace is steady in the mountains, but in the plains (2nd riding part) you will also gallop if possible. The terrain is particularly demanding in the first part and the ride is therefore only recommended for experienced trail riders! The ride is not suitable for people with a fear of heights. She to ride on stallions, which always requires some attention and horse experience. Rider weight maximum 80kg. Daily riding time up to approx. 6 hours.

Horses: Local breeds: The farmers' horses are quite small, up to approx. 1.50 m stature. Only stallions are ridden, all strictly trained and easy to handle.