What to do in Uzbekistan beyond the 3 museum cities? (page 2 of 3)

Okay, thanks Christian. "My" landscapes are in Kazakhstan. Too complicated given the time I have (and I still don’t get why Uzbek agencies feature them on their sites). C.

Hey, Like others have already mentioned, Nukus with its museum and the desert villages, Moynak on the former shores of the Aral Sea—I’d add Shakhrisabz and the Ferghana Valley.

The photo you shared was taken in the Mangystau Desert, in southern Kazakhstan.

https://youtu.be/S7VynFpxhG8?si=gaU17DCG-HE_H8wg

I can recommend spending a day in Tajikistan from Samarkand—it’s very doable in a day to visit the Seven Lakes Valley from Penjikent. The landscapes are stunning, mountainous, and very different from Uzbekistan. I was there last week. The border crossing is easy in both directions, with no special formalities, and the visa is free.

The border is 1 hour from Samarkand, easily reachable by taxi, shared taxi, or minibus. I hired a Tajik guide-driver who picked us up at the border for the day and dropped us back in the late afternoon. One of the best days of our trip.

I highly recommend our guide—he has an excellent car, a comfortable 4x4, speaks great English, and charges much less than what you’d find on booking platforms.

His name is Rohim, and you can contact him on WhatsApp at +992 93 195 0008

A great itinerary offered by this agency: https://www.besqala.com/tourDetails/9

I think we crossed paths with two of this agency’s vehicles on the tracks by the Aral Sea. On board, there was 1 guide + 2 drivers + tourists.

Other visits are possible with this agency from Nukus, including the castles mentioned by Perju. https://www.besqala.com/

If you're heading to Tajikistan to visit the Seven Lakes Valley (great suggestion from Philovoyage), you can extend your trip to the Iskandarkul Lake valley. This lake is stunning.

No no, no worries, all info is good to take, even if I admit I struggle to tell sarcasm from real great tips! 😅😅😅

So, I'm kinda torn between getting off the Uzbek highways or heading to Tajikistan to stretch my legs!

Awesome, thanks for the info—I’ll check it out closely! So, I’m thinking of extending my exploration with 2 or 4 days in Tajikistan.

Quick question: Since I’m not used to relying on a guide, does it seem doable to do these 3 days independently?

Thanks in advance

Thanks Lecs, I’m definitely noting this extension—it really interests me. Did you do it solo?

We have our own converted off-road travel vehicle. We went without a guide. In these two valleys, you’ll find accommodations like guest houses or campgrounds or...

Hey, The Seven Lakes are well worth the detour. I went there about a dozen years ago—there were guesthouses back then. I pitched my tent next to the highest lake; it was amazing. One tip: if you're hiking in the mountains, don’t get too close to the herds—the sheepdogs are nothing like poodles.

Does 3 days seem doable to visit the desert fortresses and the Aral Sea (Moynaq and the west side) from Urgench? The two options would be hitchhiking or renting a car at Urgench Airport. The only problem is, when I check rental platforms, I can’t find any and don’t even know if it’s possible... Thanks in advance

If traveling independently (hitchhiking), would 3 days be enough to visit the Seven Lakes and the Iskandarkul Lake valley from Samarkand? Thanks in advance

The desert fortresses are close to Urgench—if you can rent a vehicle, it's easy to hit the 3 classics in the area in a day. Then, getting to Moynaq is possible with your own vehicle (or by hitchhiking, I guess), but heading to the shores of the Aral Sea requires knowing the tracks and having a 4x4 to avoid struggling. From Moynaq, you can definitely find a "guide" who can take you to the western part—it's doable in a day if you start from that town. After that, combining the Aral Sea and the fortresses in 3 days is feasible, as long as you don’t waste time on rentals, travel, or finding a guide.

Thanks Perju for this feedback! So according to you, is it possible to rent a vehicle when arriving at Urgench Airport?

And honestly, I’ve only seen very few photos of the western shore of the Aral Sea. Is it really worth the visit?

I didn’t say it was easy or even possible to rent a vehicle in this city... I said that *IF* you manage to rent one, it’s easy to do a circuit to the desert fortresses. Check out this short video—it gives you an idea of the west coast of the sea.

https://youtu.be/GTC55Rx6N6c?si=D4Q7XZ4wIiLyxuNJ

My photo of the hotel in a previous post matches your shot at 8:05 in your video. Five years ago, there was a refreshment stand, and now there’s a hotel with AC... etc.... The guard kicked me out because I dared to take photos outside their fenced enclosure. I hadn’t realized it was a "zoo"...... The yurt camp on the upper level is much more discreet, with a lovely sea view. For your info, this time we didn’t leave any ruts—I stopped the engine 500 meters before the critical point.

Traveling independently (hitchhiking), could 3 days be enough, starting from Samarkand, to visit the Seven Lakes and the Iskanderkul Lake valley? Thanks in advance

If you plan well, it’s possible to visit both sites in 3 days. We met several travelers who did a round trip to the Seven Lakes in a day from Samarkand.

And honestly, I’ve only seen very few photos of the western coast of the Aral Sea. Is it really worth seeing?

You’ll witness a rare geological phenomenon. The sea’s retreat removed the pressure that the water exerted on the cliffs. The lack of pressure causes the cliffs to collapse in multi-hectare slabs. The cliffs are multicolored. Sunrise is a real treat.

https://youtu.be/GTC55Rx6N6c?si=D4Q7XZ4wIiLyxuNJ

What, a 4x4 off the beaten track!!!!! 😉