Nuratau and Aktau Biking Tour in Uzbekistan
Accommodation, guides, transport included.
Nuratau and Aktau Biking Tour in Uzbekistan Highlights
This 6-day mountain biking tour takes you off the beaten track through the Nuratau Mountains and the little-visited Aktau range in the heart of Uzbekistan, on the way from Tashkent to Bukhara. You cycle 35–71 km a day on sealed roads, dirt and sandy tracks and rocky paths, past traditional stone villages, walnut groves and mountain lakes, while a 4x4 support vehicle carries the luggage and the camping gear.
After a transfer from Tashkent to Tuzkan Lake, part of the Aydar-Arnasay lake system, you ride across the Pistalitau ridge to the Ortacheku rocks, which glow fiery orange at sunset. Along the Nuratau ridge you reach the small village of Hayot, once a safe stop on the Silk Road, for a night in a local homestay. A rocky climb below Gaukum peak and a long descent lead to Fazilman Lake (1,640 m) and the foothills at Aktash.
The second half of the tour crosses pastures dotted with huge weathered boulders and follows the Urganchy River to Chuya village, before climbing to the Lyangar pass in the Aktau range and descending to a riverside camp near Maidan village. On the last day you ride via Chinar to Chashtepa, where the cycling ends and a minibus takes you to Bukhara. Four nights are spent camping in tents and one night with a host family in Hayot.
Difficulty: Challenging Six cycling days of 35–71 km (about 300 km in total) with daily climbs of 450–1,440 m on sealed roads, dirt and sandy tracks and rocky mountain paths; good fitness and mountain-bike experience needed. Four nights camping in tents and one night in a village homestay.
Tour Itinerary
After breakfast, transfer by vehicle from Tashkent to Tuzkan Lake, part of the Aydar-Arnasay lake system. After lunch on the lakeshore, start pedalling across the Pistalitau ridge to the Ortacheku rocks. In the evening you can walk up to the peak to enjoy the mountain views. If the weather is fine, you will witness a spectacular sight from the campsite as the Ortacheku rocks glow fiery orange in the sunset. Cycling: 35 km, ascent 530 m, descent 171 m.
Aydar-Arnasay System of Lakes
- Tashkent → Tuzkan Lake
- Tuzkan Lake → Hayot
Overnight: Tent camping
- Shower: No
- Toilet: Outdoor (pit / drop toilet)
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Today you cycle along the Nuratau ridge through picturesque countryside and mountain villages with traditional stone houses. The day begins with a climb of more than 5 km around the Ortacheku rocks, followed by a descent to Yangikishlak village. From here a series of climbs over the next 20 km leads to the lunch stop. In the afternoon you cycle 46 km on a sealed road to Hayot, a small hamlet; the last 16 km are uphill and the final stretch to the village is on a dirt road. The Nurata mountains were considered a safe route along the ancient Silk Road, so small communities settled in the valleys and foothills. Hayot means “life”, and legends tell of the village as a source of water in times of drought. Near the village stands the centuries-old fortress of Shakhi-Kurgan. You are welcomed into the village for a homestay, sleeping on traditional mattresses and enjoying fresh local food prepared by your hosts. Cycling: 71.4 km, ascent 706 m, descent 429 m.
Nuratau Mountains
Overnight: Hayot (Homestay)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today you set off from the village cycling downhill for the first 12 km along the Nuratau ridge, with a beautiful ride on the dirt road through the Sentyabsay valley to the Sob gorge. After a flat 12 km stretch, a climb on a rocky path leads to the pass in the shadow of towering Gaukum peak, followed by a long descent through the Nuratau Mountains with views of mountain villages and, far in the distance, Aydarkul Lake. Shady walnut trees and pastures of wild grasses and flowers line the way, and you pass farmers bringing fodder or firewood down from the mountains on donkeys. Lunch is at the beautiful Fazilman mountain lake (1,640 m); in the summer months locals move their yurts to the lake to grow vegetables on the fertile plateau around it. In the afternoon you continue downhill to Aktash village in the foothills. The area enjoys a mild climate and lush vegetation, with low dome-shaped trees resembling a primeval forest. In the centre of the village are the ruins of an ancient city; Aktash, meaning “white city”, was once mined for its characteristic white rock. Tonight you camp near Aktash village. Cycling: 64.8 km, ascent 1,436 m, descent 1,350 m.
Nuratau Mountains
- Hayot → Chuya
Overnight: Tent camping
- Shower: No
- Toilet: Outdoor (pit / drop toilet)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today you cycle on a dirt road through a landscape of huge boulders, shaped by the elements into prehistoric-looking sculptures resting in green mountain pastures. Picturesque local dwellings lie discreetly hidden behind these natural monuments. After lunch you cycle along the Urganchy River as far as Saykechar village. From here you ride on a sandy road across the valley towards the Aktau ridge and on to Chuya village, with a final short stretch on a surfaced road. Cycling: 49.5 km, ascent 447 m, descent 692 m.
Overnight: Chuya (Tent camping)
- Shower: No
- Toilet: Outdoor (pit / drop toilet)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today you climb to the Lyangar pass, gaining 300 m over 5.5 km. Pause at Lyangar village to enjoy wonderful views of the mountains and the valley. Back on the bikes, you continue along the upper part of the Aktau range, passing a disused marble mine. From here you descend through the valley to Maidan village, riding alongside a tributary of the Maydansay River and enjoying the cool breeze. Tonight you stay in a riverside camp. Cycling: 37.5 km, ascent 1,201 m, descent 1,268 m.
- Chuya → Langar (Aktau)
- Langar (Aktau) → Maidan
Overnight: Maidan (Tent camping)
- Shower: No
- Toilet: Outdoor (pit / drop toilet)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today you cycle a 40 km stretch of bike trail (4–5 hours). The ride begins along the southern slopes of the Aktau ridge, and the trail climbs through small settlements up to the plateau. A steep descent leads to the picturesque mountain village of Aktepa, set in thick green forest. From here you follow a mountain river with shallow fords to Chinar village and cycle down to the Chashtepa settlement, where the cycling ends. A minibus then takes you to Bukhara, where the tour ends. Cycling: 40 km, ascent 744 m, descent 985 m.
Bukhara
- Maidan → Chinar
- Chinar → Chashtepa
- Chashtepa → Bukhara
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Share this tour privately
Travelling alone or as a couple? Join other travellers who want to take this tour privately, or post your own request. The private price per person drops as the group grows.
No open requests for this tour yet. Post the first one and we'll show it here and on the group requests page.
What's included
Included
- Transfers from Tashkent to the start of the cycling and from the end of the cycling to Bukhara in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle
- English-speaking bike guide
- Luggage transport in a 4x4 support vehicle
- Accommodation as listed in the itinerary: 4 nights camping (one 2-person tent per traveler) and 1 night in a homestay in Hayot village (rooms for 3–4 people)
- Tent, mat and sleeping bag for camping
- Meals as listed in the itinerary
- Cooking and kitchen equipment for the meals during the cycling
- Water supply during the cycling
- Daily snacks and juice
Not included
- International flights
- Bike rental (150 USD per person for the whole tour)
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
- Additional meals, alcoholic drinks etc.
- Medical insurance
- Photo and video fees at sights
- Lost, stolen or damaged luggage
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Visa fee
- Single supplement
- Cancellation charges
Nargiza is the office manager of Central Asia Guide and mostly responsible for multi country "Stan" tours.
Uzbekistan travel information
Practical essentials for travelling in Uzbekistan. Open a topic to read more.
Visa policy
Find your country from the list and check possible visa requirements for Uzbekistan before booking.
The local currency is the Uzbek sum. Uzbekistan is still mostly a cash economy, but money is easy to exchange and ATMs are common in the larger cities.
Exchanging money
Banks exchange US dollars, euros, British pounds and Japanese yen. There are exchange offices in major cities such as Bukhara and Khiva and at Tashkent airport; elsewhere you need a bank, which often gives a better rate anyway. Your notes must be in pristine condition. Sum is hard to exchange outside Uzbekistan, but you can change it back to US dollars at a local bank.
Cards and ATMs
Cards are accepted in upscale hotels and restaurants in Tashkent and the main tourist cities, with Visa more widely recognised than Mastercard and a standard 3% commission. ATMs dispense sum and are easy to find in the larger cities; many also offer US dollars.
Uzbekistan is generally a safe destination, with little religious extremism and few crimes against foreigners.
Documents
Always carry your passport: it is a legal requirement, and police carry out routine checks.
Getting around
- Use licensed taxis. Local taxi apps are the easiest way to get a ride at local prices, and Yandex works very well in Tashkent and Samarkand. If you take a taxi on the street or at the airport, agree the price first.
- Many roads outside Tashkent, especially in the Tian Shan and Fan mountains, are in poor condition. Driving standards are generally low, and rural roads are often unlit, so night driving is riskier.
- On night trains, keep valuables safe, do not leave belongings unattended and lock the compartment door from the inside.
- Watch your belongings as you would anywhere, and avoid demonstrations and large gatherings.
Laws and customs
- Possessing narcotics is strictly illegal.
- Same-sex relationships are illegal and still socially condemned. Avoid public displays of affection.
- Drones are in practice banned. Permits can be applied for but are very rarely granted.
Photography
Be discreet near government buildings such as the Palace of Forums in Tashkent, and sometimes at local markets that see few tourists. Restrictions have eased, but check before photographing near airports, border checkpoints, military sites, bridges and police stations.
Earthquakes
Uzbekistan is prone to earthquakes, mostly tremors, though stronger ones occasionally occur.
Entering Uzbekistan is straightforward when your documents are in order. Citizens of many countries can visit visa-free, and for many others a visa is easy to get without an invitation.
Registration
Registration rules are stricter than elsewhere in Central Asia: by law you must be registered within 3 days of arrival. Hotels usually do this for you, but register yourself if you stay longer than 3 days in, for example, a rented apartment. Border officers check the registrations when you leave and may ask for the paper slips, so keep them until you exit the country.
Customs
Exporting handcrafted items older than 50 years is prohibited. At land borders, customs officers may check your phone and photos for explicit or confidential material, though this has become very rare.
The best times to visit Uzbekistan are spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), between the summer heat and the winter cold.
Summer
At the height of summer the land dries out, especially in the countryside, and temperatures rise well above 30°C, often up to 40°C.
Winter
From November to March it can get cold, sometimes below zero, but the skies are mostly clear and bright. Snow is occasional and usually melts within a day or two.
Medical services in Uzbekistan have improved in recent years but are still limited, so good travel insurance that includes evacuation is essential.
Food and water
To avoid traveller's diarrhoea, drink only bottled, filtered or boiled water, and do not use tap water for brushing your teeth or for ice. Choose meat and fish that are thoroughly cooked and served hot.
Medical care
Uzbekistan has a state healthcare system and a small private sector. Larger clinics serve the cities and regional hospitals the countryside. Hospitals usually ask for payment in cash up front, even if you are insured, and serious cases may need evacuation home. Contact your insurer straight away if you need urgent care, and check before you leave what your insurance covers in Uzbekistan.
Medicines
Pharmacies are private, and the range of medicines can be limited. Prescriptions generally require a doctor's consultation. If you travel with medication, check the rules with the embassy, a consulate or Uzbekistan's Ministry of Health.
Similar tours
More tours in Uzbekistan.
Five Stans of Central Asia Tour
Start on an extraordinary adventure across the heart of Central Asia with our Five Stan Tour, exploring the unique…
The Best of the Five Stan Tour
Embark on a 22-day journey through all five countries of Central Asia, beginning in Bishkek and ending in Ashgabat. In…
Four Stan Tour through Central Asia
Discover the legendary Silk Road on this 18-day small-group tour through Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and…
Tour updated