Ecological Tourism

Ecological Tourism

Tourism is the most dynamic industry that instantly reacts to the innovations of technological progress. Augmented reality and even tours into space are already available as tour operators' products.

One thing that distinguishes the travel industry from other advanced fields is its development "in both directions." If a "return to the past" is impossible in the world of software and mobile technology, the opposite is true in tourism: the more automated life becomes, the more people strive to "go back to the roots every year.

This explains the growing interest in eco-tourism. Unity with nature, a break from the eternal rush and bustle of city life, awakening memories of childhood, or sympathy for the ingenuous way of life of past generations... Anything that provides a respite from stress will be in demand.

Eco-tourism in Uzbekistan

Ecotourism in Uzbekistan is not an artificial way to attract travelers. It is an organic way of life for the Uzbek people for centuries. Once you leave the tourist towns of Tashkent, Samarkand, or Bukhara, it doesn't take more than an hour for the landscape to change beyond recognition.

If we are not talking about an ordinary village, called "kishlak" in Uzbek, but about mountain settlements, the impression of contrast is multiplied by two. People living at one with the sky have always distinguished themselves from their neighbors from the plains. The inhabitants of the mountains are anxious to preserve the original habits, which is why you should go here for authenticity and the search for new territories for exploration, where time has no power.

Nurata Mountains

If the Chimgan Mountains, located not far from the capital city of Uzbekistan, are quite well known and the settlements there have already been modernized, the Nurata (or Nuratau) Mountains are terra incognita.

Being located between the Kyzylkum Desert and the steppe, Nurata Mountains are the natural attractions of Uzbekistan which demonstrate the inconceivable contrast of climatic zones of the country! When following the tourist route, the nearest town is Dzhizak located between Tashkent and Samarkand. The yurt camps around Lake Aidarkul are much closer.

The Nurata Mountains and their surroundings are under protection. Here you can find the villages of Asraf, Ukhum, and Hayat, separated by a ridge, and the villages of Farish and Sentob. The residents of these settlements are ready to open the doors of their homes to visitors!

Mountain dwellers of Nurata, who are they?

History has it that in the area from Samarkand to Nurata District, the ethnic Tajiks are neighboring the Uzbeks. Therefore, local souvenirs show both folk decorative distinctions and examples of synthesis and reinterpretation.

Recommended tour duration

Short-term downtime is recommended for at least two days. Villages are located near each other and you can greet each dawn in a new kishlak! While communicating with hospitable people and nature, immersing yourself in the everyday life of mountain people, and learning new skills time will fly by like an instant!

Recreation in Nurata, when to go?

Guest houses are open during all 4 seasons. But to enjoy the benefits in full, plan an eco-tour in Uzbekistan in the spring and autumn. During this period, nature reveals its colors brightly, and the generous earth and the sun offer fragrant fruits. The rivers are full of meltwater, ringing down the green foothills from snow-white peaks. In the warm weather, it is nice to spend a day in the air, under the canopy of mulberry trees, and watch the process of silk being born.

Amenities

It all depends on your wishes - overnight stays in the garden on an open-air trestle bed or even in a hayloft are available. But if you are not ready to give up the usual urban comforts in favor of rural life, you do not have to do this.

Guest houses in Nurata are led by enthusiastic hosts who work hard to improve the quality of service and accommodation. They can host up to 40 people at a time, and accommodation is 3-4 people per room. The houses are equipped with the necessary utilities and electricity, toilets, and showers. To get an idea of the level of comfort, look at the equipment of hotels in Uzbekistan, the level 2-3* star - they are identical.

In the warm season do not refuse the pleasure of eating outdoors. In bad weather, delicious breakfasts, lunches, and dinners will be served in the indoor dining room.

Moving to Nurata settlements, travelers and their luggage will be delivered directly to the guest house - forget about kilometer-long rides over the roads under the weight of suitcases.

The vast territory of the farms does not limit the choice of places for walks and picnics surrounded by thousands of years old trees.

What to do? Folklore

An original folklore show based on folk traditions is organized for groups of 15 people and more. In Uzbekistan, the wedding season is year-round, and the chances to attend a genuine celebration increase.

Like centuries ago, family celebrations are significant events in the life of the people and, usually, they are impressive festivities. One of them is the ancient game called "Kup-Kary" meaning "common cause." It is the Central Asian type of equestrian sport. And if you think that the game "for real men" is hokey, you should know that the local mountaineers have a different opinion :). The game of Kup-Kary is played on horseback. The goal is to grab the body of a goat and be the first to reach the finish line. To be eligible to participate, the rider undergoes serious training, demonstrating the skill of an experienced rider because every little detail is worth attention in Kup-Kary. The winners receive expensive prizes in the nomadic spirit - horses and other livestock. However, the 21st century takes its toll, and quite often the triumphant winner steps off the victorious horse and gets behind the wheel of a trophy car.

Gastronomic master classes

You are welcome to learn to cook Uzbek dishes under the skillful guidance of mentors who will tell you about regional specifics and culinary tricks that give dishes a unique aftertaste. Incredible impressions of the 100% ecological treats are worth mentioning separately. Everything is cooked on fire from special fruit trees wood, and the vegetables used are gathered from the garden in front of your eyes. The purest spring water feeding the springs and the desert lake of Aidarkul, as well as minerals, which enriched the mountain soil, is a special additive.

If baking is not less interesting to you than cooking main dishes in a kazan (large cooking pot), get acquainted with a local stove called "tandyr." It is a clay oven widespread among the peoples of Central Asia fueled with wood. Similar technology was used for heating the house and even for the work of potters and ceramists. Tandyr is essential for making Uzbek flatbread and Samsa, while meat and vegetables cooked there gain brighter natural flavor and retain useful properties.

Agricultural Experience

The benefits of communicating with animals for mental health have long been proven. At Uzbek agricultural farms, you can feed and take care of livestock. Or you can immerse into the charming romance of rural life, learning and joining in the life of the locals:

- Milking cows and goats for organic steam milk.

- Pick vegetables, fruits, and berries from fields, orchards, and gardens.

- Help farmers gather or prepare their crops for the new harvest season.

- Learn both ancient and modern agricultural techniques.

Handicrafts

Nurata School of Crafts is famous for its achievements in several areas of handicrafts, distinguishing itself from other regional centers for its decorative approach and, in some cases, for its technology. Local masters, who adopted and continue the life of ancestors' traditions, will tell you about the secrets of handicraft making, demonstrate the process, and give you a chance to try your hand at this art.

- Suzane. Once upon a time, every Uzbek girl could weave and embroider a panel. Nurata is one of the few regions where the culture of suzane creation has not only survived but is still developing. Its distinctive style is in light colors, continuity of edging, and minimalism in the images that do not detract from the symbolic purpose. In ancient times, the embroidery was used not only to decorate the clothes of the owner but also to demonstrate the diligence of a girl. It was believed that special patterns would attract a favorably chosen one to an unmarried beauty and protect from evil forces. When preparing a design of a panel both the patterns that fill the space and the areas left untouched, symbolizing the continuity of life, were of equal importance. Nurata suzanes were more valuable and expensive than Samarqand and Shakhrisabz ones.

- Carpet weaving. Carpet weaving is another kind of household handicraft the need for which was driven due to the necessities of life. Carpets were considered a valuable part of a bride's dowry. The distinction of the Nurata school of carpet weaving is in a variety of production technologies. Felting (kygyz) weaving with long piles and lint-free carpets are both used here. Wool and cotton yarn is used as raw material (olacha). Multicolored patterns are also full of symbolism - "lock and key" are popular as a symbol of hospitality, openness to kind hearts, and protection from ill-wishers.

Outdoor Activities in Nurata

It is a fascinating hike amid amazing mountain scenery and untrodden tracks with a wonderful history. Walking kilometers through the wilderness, where you rarely meet a traveler, is a worthwhile breathtaking activity. The trekking route in the Nurata Mountains is not complicated, and even beginners can manage it. The culmination point of the hike is to reach the mountain plateau, which offers a view of all four villages of Asraf, Ukhum, Forish, and Sentob.

In summer, swimming in the mountain springs with icy water is popular as it is pleasantly tonic, although it is not recommended for tourists unprepared for extreme temperature changes. Guest houses of Nurata organized a pleasant surprise for those who plan an eco-tour to Uzbekistan in 2022 - there will be swimming pools available.

The trip to Nurata Natural Reserve can become a comprehensive ornithological tour - 196 species of birds are found there! Watching wild animals is inseparable from eco-tourism, especially since a rare species of Severtsov sheep lives here, as well as wolves, steppe foxes, brown bears, gazelles, and hares.

Retreat

Begin to enjoy country life. Farm food will restore your strength and fill your body with energy. After eating mundane meals, it is time to find spiritual food. The mountain gorges of Nurata are places of power where spiritual balance and cheerfulness are achieved naturally.

Take bright pictures and keep details of the magical moments of the trip in your memory. Contemplate and meditate - the natural sights of Uzbekistan allow taking such vivid pictures that, in terms of impressions, only personal memories can be compared to them.

Change the city stuffiness for mountain coolness, enjoy the soothing atmosphere of simple country life, and wake up to birdsong instead of the alarm clock. A morning that begins with a harmonious multi-voiced chorus of birds will be good! Sunsets and sunrises in the mountains are better to enjoy. There are no words to describe the magic of the performance played by the Sun with shimmering lights and colors.

Recover health. The purest mountain air, saturated with the aroma of herbs, with high humidity of waters of healing streams scattered generously across the territory of Nurata, will restore a healthy complexion and strengthen sleep.

Historical heritage and interesting sites

Are there many massifs of serpentine mountains endowed with monuments of the past? The first settlements here appeared before the Common Era, so the history of the ancient land is full of legends associated with world-famous characters:

1 Biblical Noah. The peak of the Nurata chain falls on a mountain with the name "Hayat-Bashi," meaning "The Beginning of Life." The name is explained by a legend according to which Noah's Ark sailed here after a 40-day flood.

2 Tamerlane, or Amir Timur. The Senzar River has been forcing its way through the indestructible Rocky Mountains of Nurata for centuries, and its patience has been rewarded. Proof of the truth of history is resulting in the 40-meter gorge, which bears the name of the equally patient and tenacious commander Tamerlane, and one of the cliffs has the names of his famous descendants of Mirzo-Ulugbek and Abdullah-Khan carven on a rock.

3 Sarmyshsai - a mountain gorge is included in the list of mystical places of Uzbekistan. The petroglyphs found here attract historians. These petroglyphs are 6000 years old, and the images attract mystery seekers and those who are not indifferent to UFOs. They are said to predict the future of our world. Who knows if the only accurate interpretation will ever be found, but discovering your own is no less fascinating. An experienced guide will lead your way through these sights.

What to bring with you

1 Comfortable clothes and shoes. In the evening, the temperature in the mountains drops, so take a jacket as it will also be useful in case of rain with wind. Otherwise, clothes should not constrain movements. For hiking, give preference to closed shoes with a ribbed sole. For a holiday in the countryside in the warmer months do not forget flip-flops because it is common to sit without shoes on a trestle bed.

2 Personal first aid kit. If you are sensitive to the change of climate zones and water, we advise you to take medicines for your stomach and anti-allergic in addition to regular ones.

3 As early as the end of April, temperatures warm up to 30 degrees, and the sun's radiation becomes intense. To avoid getting burned, wear clothing that covers your chest, shoulders, and knees when hiking. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat will help to get more positive emotions from the hike.