Depending on your flight connection, you'll arrive in Tashkent in the late evening (Uzbekistan Airways) or early morning of the following day (Turkish Airlines). We'll meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Then it's time to sleep in at our tour hotel in the city center.

Today, Tashkent, with its numerous sights and vibrant bazaar, awaits our discovery. Our German-speaking city guide from Tashkent will take us on a tour of discovery: we will see, among other things, the Kukeldash and Barak Khan Madrasas, the Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum, and wander through the bustling Chor-Su market (artisans' bazaar). We will conclude the first day with a group dinner.

We'll travel approximately 350 km by tour bus to the foothills of the Nuratau Mountains. A comfortable yurt camp awaits us, nestled in nature. We'll have plenty of space to set up and adjust our bikes. In the afternoon, we can explore the surroundings on a walk or relax by the pool and soak up the idyllic natural setting. Your guide will assist you with assembling your bikes, providing expert help and the right tools. We will store any excess luggage and panniers at our office in Tashkent before departure and collect them there at the end of the trip.

Our tour begins with a descent on a gravel track to Bogdon, about 10 km from the yurt camp. We then continue west for approximately 40 km on the main road between the Nuratau Mountains and Aydar-Kul Lake. In the afternoon, we turn onto a 10 km climb to Uchum in the Nurata Mountains. There, we spend the night in an idyllic guesthouse located near the nature park. There will be time for exploration, visiting petroglyphs, a trail excursion, or relaxing in the garden.

After breakfast at the guesthouse, we set off to cross the 1,690-meter-high Sob Pass. First, we descend a gravel track into the valley, then continue 15 km west on the main road into the Sob Valley. The ascent leads through the village of Sob, past walnut trees and flower meadows. Beyond the village, the trail becomes steeper until we reach a seven-kilometer section where we have to push our bikes. Although it's a tough climb, we take our time and enjoy the view of Aydar-Kul Lake from the pass. After lunch, we follow the ridge to the idyllic Fazilman Lake, where we set up camp and spend the night in our tents.

Today's route offers almost twice as much descent as ascent, passing through numerous villages, the Urganchy River valley, and culminating in a final climb on the newly paved road up to the village of Chuya. Upon reaching our destination, Chuya, we're already in the next mountain range, the Aktau Mountains. We'll set up camp a few kilometers above the village.

Today's mountain bike stage is short but spectacular. In the morning, we climb nearly 500 meters in altitude via the well-paved switchbacks of the sparsely trafficked mountain pass road to Langar. Shortly before the pass, we turn onto gravel tracks and singletrack trails through a breathtakingly beautiful landscape of rocks and sandstone formations. Shaped by the elements over millennia, caves, figures, and sculptures can be discovered in the stones. At the end of the stage, we ride through Larksai Canyon, a gorge of rugged rock and home to numerous bearded vultures. We set up camp near the village of Maidan.

Our kitchen team has once again prepared a delicious breakfast for us today, giving us plenty of energy for the final leg through the Aktau Mountains. Today's stage is a dream in terms of scenery, cycling, and culture! It offers stunning views of the Aktau Mountains, a 10-kilometer descent through the Sarmish River, and at the end, the enormous open-air museum Sarmishsay with over 10,000 petroglyphs dating back up to 9,000 years. At the end of the stage, we'll load the bikes into the tour vehicle and cover the last few kilometers to the hotel in Navoi.

Today we're taking a rest and transfer day. We have approximately 280 kilometers and a five-hour drive ahead of us on the main road to Samarkand. On the Silk Road, where caravans once traveled from the Far East to Europe and back, trade now flows at a modern, rapid pace by road and rail. In the afternoon, we'll reach Shahrisabz, the "green city" and birthplace of Timur, the future ruler of Transoxiana. We'll have time for a city walk to the White Palace, the old city walls, the mausoleum, and the Dorut Tilavat complex.

The second part of our mountain biking trip takes us to the majestic Hissor Mountains with their peaks reaching up to 5,000 meters. More challenging stages await us here. After a short transfer, we start at the Hisorak Reservoir and follow the Aksu River through a narrow gorge up to Gelon, the highest inhabited village in Uzbekistan. This charming mountain village captivates visitors with its unique architecture and unspoiled atmosphere. In the afternoon, we can enjoy the idyllic green surroundings or explore the village before a hearty dinner awaits us.

This unique leg of our journey takes us today to the border region with Tajikistan and to the country's highest peaks. Until a few years ago, this region was virtually inaccessible and off-limits. Tourists rarely venture here. Only the access to Hazrat Sulton (4,643 m), Uzbekistan's highest mountain, draws a few mountaineers. This morning, we'll tackle the pass to Kul. The steep climb is well worth it for the spectacular descent and breathtaking views. We'll then drive the final kilometers through a narrow gorge to the remote mountain village of Shut. Here, we'll be staying in the private home of the village teacher, Hakim. This afternoon, we'll have time to experience life in one of Uzbekistan's most remote villages. Note: The guesthouse is very small and only has two bedrooms. It is possible to stay in a tent in Hakim's lovely garden. Sleeping arrangements will be decided on-site by arrangement.

Our final cycling stage takes us "back to civilization." In the morning, we climb the last pass of the trip at 2,450 meters and are rewarded with a unique view of the Hissor Mountains. From here, we cycle for about 10 kilometers up and down along the mountain range and then down into the valley, where our permits are checked again. The descent leads us through numerous mountain villages and, after 50 kilometers, to the outskirts of Shahrisabz. We end our mountain bike tour at the home of a beekeeper. The family awaits us with a delicious meal, and we toast to the completion of the tour. We then take the bus to Samarkand, which we reach in the early evening.

The 2,700-year-old city was considered one of the most beautiful and important cities in the world during the Middle Ages, earning it the nickname "the planet's most glorious face." On our full-day city tour, we'll visit the city's most significant buildings and sites and learn more about its history as a trading center on the Silk Road. The central Registan Square, with its three richly decorated madrasas—Ulugbek, Tilla-Kori, and Sher-Dor—arranged at right angles, is undoubtedly one of the cultural highlights of our trip. After an impressive city tour, we'll conclude this unique journey with a farewell dinner before heading home the following morning.

Transfer to the airport and return flight.