Uzbekistan · KYZYLKUM DESERT YURT CAMPS

The 12 Best Yurt Camps in the Kyzylkum Desert

12 tours  ·  from $186

A night between Samarkand and Khiva turns a driving day into the best part of the trip. The 12 below compare camps near Aydarkul on what dinner and the camel ride include, and how far off the main road each one sits.

Yurt stay and Hiking in the Nurata Mountains tour - 2 days - The four-hour ride from Samarkand to Sayyod
2-Day Experiences, Hiking & Trekking, Kyzylkum Desert Yurt Camps, Samarkand Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Yurt stay and Hiking in the Nurata Mountains tour – 2 days

1.Yurt stay and Hiking in the Nurata Mountains tour – 2 days

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 35 reviews · from $229Our pick

Leave Samarkand at 9 a.m. for Sayyod Yurt Camp, hike with a local mountain guide, sleep in a traditional yurt, then continue to Bukhara via Lake Aydarkul and Nurata. The private tour includes transport, meals, camp amenities, and city entrance fees.

“Very rewarding and pleasant. Great driver, ikrom. Lovely kind and accommodating. We enjoyed the ride with the mountain guide. The meals are excellent. Nice frame. Only downside, in yurts there are many locusts.... We couldn't sleep because they were getting into the sheets or jumping on us.Auto-translated”

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Yurt Camp Tour with Night from Bukhara - Sarmish petroglyphs on a small hill
Bukhara Tours, Evening Experiences, Kyzylkum Desert Yurt Camps, Tour Reviews, Tours

Yurt Camp Tour with Night from Bukhara

2.Yurt Camp Tour with Night from Bukhara

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 35 reviews · 2 days · from $215

Travel privately from Bukhara to Aydarkul Lake in an air-conditioned vehicle, stopping at Navai, Sarmish, and Nurota. Swim by the lake, ride a camel, watch the sunset, eat dinner by a campfire, and sleep in a yurt before returning to Bukhara or continuing to Samarkand.

“Other than the transportation, it was not a good experience, to say the least. There was nothing to do there in that freezing cold dezert, the facilities were rather poor and the food was mediocre at best. There was actually no guidance at all, as soon as we got to our yurt we were left alone. The yurt was shabby and depressing. We were so happy and relieved when it all came to an end on the following day!”

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From Khiva To Aral Sea 2-Days One Night In Yurt Stay - The six-hour road from Khiva to Muynak
2-Day Experiences, Aral Sea and Ship Cemetery Tours, Evening Experiences, Khiva Tours, Kyzylkum Desert Yurt Camps, Tour Reviews

From Khiva To Aral Sea 2-Days One Night In Yurt Stay

3.From Khiva To Aral Sea 2-Days One Night In Yurt Stay

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 20 reviews · 1.5 days

Leave Khiva with driver Islam or Islom, cross Karakalpakstan to Muynak, then ride a 4x4 to the Aral Sea. See rusting ships, Ustyurt canyons, Kurgancha-Kala, Mizdakhan, and Giaur-Kala. Your yurt night includes dinner and breakfast for $45 per person, with drop-off in Khiva, Urgench, Nukus, or at the airport.

“The activity was great. Very interesting to see this part of the country and learn a little about it.”

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Desert Adventure from Samarkand: Yurt Camp & Aydarkul Escape - Chashma and Alexander’s garrison ruins
Kyzylkum Desert Yurt Camps, Samarkand Tours, Tour Reviews

Desert Adventure from Samarkand: Yurt Camp & Aydarkul Escape

4.Desert Adventure from Samarkand: Yurt Camp & Aydarkul Escape

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 16 reviews · 2 days · from $200

Travel from Samarkand or Bukhara to Nurata, Aydarkul Lake, and a desert yurt camp. You’ll visit Chashma, see Alexander the Great’s garrison ruins, ride a camel, swim in the lake, eat local meals, and hear Kazakh folk songs by the fire. Drivers such as Hassan and Khasan speak English.

“We loved the camel ride and the yurt camp itself. It was really beautiful and the sunset made it even better. The food at the camp was fine, veg options available. Our driver was really kind.”

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Desert yurt camp and Mountain tour - 3 days - Day one: pottery, Nurata, and the Kyzyl-Kum desert
3-Day Experiences, Bukhara Tours, Kyzylkum Desert Yurt Camps, Tour Reviews, Tours

Desert yurt camp and Mountain tour – 3 days

5.Desert yurt camp and Mountain tour – 3 days

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 15 reviews · from $325

Leave Bukhara by sedan for Gijduvan ceramics, Nurata, and a Kyzyl-Kum desert yurt camp. Ride a camel, visit Lake Aydar, sleep in a Sentob homestay, and reach Samarkand on day three. Meals, water, transfers, and a mountain escort are included.

“This was a very interesting tour into the desert and mountains of Uzbekistan. I'd definitely make sure you have your adventure pants on for this one! My friend and I (two, 30yo women) had a great time snapping pictures and exploring thRead more”

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2 Days of Tour in Yurt Camp and Aydarkul - A family lunch in Chashma
2-Day Experiences, Kyzylkum Desert Yurt Camps, Samarkand Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

2 Days of Tour in Yurt Camp and Aydarkul

6.2 Days of Tour in Yurt Camp and Aydarkul

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · from $190

Travel from Samarkand or Bukhara with driver Hassan to Nurata, Aydarkul Lake, and a desert yurt camp. You’ll visit Chashma, see Alexander the Great’s fortress ruins, eat at a local home, ride camels, hear an akyn, and finish near Bukhara or Samarkand.

“Belle expérience même si le côté local est trop peu présent. Hassan le conducteur est super bien (même si encore mieux que le conducteur parle anglais parfaitement) La musique le soir autour du feu dure à peine 20-30min donc la soirRead more”

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Desert Yurt Camp tour - 2 days (shared) - The Kyzylkum Desert and your yurt camp
2-Day Experiences, Bukhara Tours, Kyzylkum Desert Yurt Camps, Tour Reviews, Tours

Desert Yurt Camp tour – 2 days (shared)

7.Desert Yurt Camp tour – 2 days (shared)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 13 reviews · from $206

Travel from Bukhara or Samarkand through Nurata and the Kyzylkum Desert, staying one night in a yurt camp. Expect local meals, a 20-minute camel ride, Aydarkul birdwatching, folk music by the fire, and a long drive. English guide service is not included, so confirm communication needs before booking.

“Worst experience EVER!! It has been a terrible experience this tour . The guide did not speak English at all, it was imposible to communicate with him. Then the music show , please you need to be serious, it was a guy that didn’t even Read more”

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Adventure to Desert Kyzyl Kum and Yurt Camp - Yanghi-Gazgan and your night in a yurt
Kyzylkum Desert Yurt Camps, Samarkand Tours, Tour Reviews

Adventure to Desert Kyzyl Kum and Yurt Camp

8.Adventure to Desert Kyzyl Kum and Yurt Camp

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 10 reviews · 2 days · from $230

Travel privately from Samarkand or Bukhara to Nurata, the Kyzyl Kum Desert, and Lake Aydarkul. Visit Alexander the Great’s fortress ruins, sleep in a yurt at Yanghi-Gazgan, take a short camel ride, and swim or hike beside the lake. English-speaking guide service is not guaranteed.

“il nostro autista, Xamza, è stato bravissimo e molto professionale. il tour è molto suggestivo ed è sicuramente un'esperienza da fare.”

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Kyzylkum Desert tour from Samarkand (1Night 2 Days) - Chashma, Alexander the Great, and a local lunch
2-Day Experiences, Kyzylkum Desert Yurt Camps, Samarkand Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Kyzylkum Desert tour from Samarkand (1Night 2 Days)

9.Kyzylkum Desert tour from Samarkand (1Night 2 Days)

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 7 reviews · 2 days · from $186Best value

Travel privately from Samarkand to Nurata, the Kyzylkum Desert, and Aydarkul Lake before sleeping in a simple yurt camp. You’ll have lunch in a local home, ride a camel, hear Kazakh folk music, and continue to Bukhara. English service depends on the driver, so confirm it before booking.

“L’attività si è svolta come da programma, con l’aggiunta di due soste al ritorno per vedere un antico caravanserraglio e cisterna e un laboratorio di ceramica. Molto suggestiva l’esperienza in yurta e i paesaggi del lago Aydar e del deserto del Kyzulkum. Il campo è molto semplice, ma come ce lo aspettavamo e con tutti i servizi. Abbiamo anche avuto la yurta tutta per noi. Unica pecca, il nostro autista, se pur molto gentile, non parlava inglese e comunicare anche solo per capire tempistiche e orari è stato un po’ complesso.”

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3-Day Experiences, Bukhara Tours, Hiking & Trekking, Kyzylkum Desert Yurt Camps, Tour Reviews

From Bukhara: 3-Day Yurt Stay, Hiking & Lake Aydarkul

10.3-Day Yurt Stay, Hiking & Lake Aydarkul

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 3 hours - 3 days · from $348

Travel from Bukhara to Samarkand through Nurata, Lake Aydarkul, and Sayyod. You’ll sleep in a private group yurt, hike with a mountain guide, eat three daily meals, and enjoy a pool and campfire. Guides such as Sardor and Sherali lead the mountain walks.

“Ausgesprochen wunderschöner Ort, in dem das Camp sich befindet. Natürlich, gepflegt. So freundliche Leute vor Ort, unaufdringlich, aber für jedes noch so kleine Anliegen da. Feinstes essen. Die Aktivitäten vor Ort sind top. Wir haben die Möglichkeit des wandern genutzt, fast unberührte Natur entdeckt, viele natürliche Begegnungen mit Mensch und Tier. Ikrom, der freundlichste Reiseleiter der Welt :), hat uns sowohl in Bukara als auch im Camp so wunderbar und unaufdringlich begleitet. Alles in allem - hervorragende Option!”

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Khorezm Fortress and KyzylKum Desert Private Tour - Toprak Kala, a palace city in the desert
Khiva Tours, Kyzylkum Desert Yurt Camps, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours

Khorezm Fortress and KyzylKum Desert Private Tour

11.Khorezm Fortress and KyzylKum Desert Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews

Leave Khiva with an English-speaking driver for a private 5 to 6 hour trip across ancient Khorezm. See three desert fortresses, visit a yurt camp, pause at Akcha Lake, and try camel milk. Pickup, drop-off, bottled water, and an air-conditioned vehicle are included.

“Nous avons passé une super journée avec Sukhrab. En plus des forteresses il nous a emmené manger du Plov dans un restaurant spécialisé apparement apprécié par les locaux et est resté avec nous autant de temps qu'il nous fallait. Encore merci à lui !!”

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A Night In The Kyzylkum Desert [2] From Khiva - Nukus and the Savitsky Museum
Evening Experiences, Khiva Tours, Kyzylkum Desert Yurt Camps, Tour Reviews

A Night In The Kyzylkum Desert [2] From Khiva

12.A Night In The Kyzylkum Desert [2] From Khiva

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews

Travel privately from Khiva or Nukus to Chilpiq, Nukus, Muynak, and seven ancient Khorezm fortresses. Your driver provides transport and an audio guide, while a yurt night near Ayaz-Kala adds desert stars, camels, dinner, and breakfast.

“This experience is such an adventure. I always wanted to see the Aral Sea, which is a modern tragedy but also reminder of our action, and also the Yurt’s lifestyle of the real nomadic people of Central Asia. This tour had given me both and so Read more”

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Uzbekistan, by the day out

Pick a city, a monument or a kitchen.

The four cities

TashkentSamarkandBukharaKhivaShakhrisabz

Out of town

Chimgan & AmirsoyCharvak LakeSeven LakesYurt CampsThe Aral Sea

At the table

Plov ClassesCooking ClassesFood ToursFood ExperiencesCraft Workshops

How you travel

Day TripsTwo-Day TripsBy Fast TrainPrivate ToursPrivate Drivers