Aydar Yurt Camp (Yangigazgan)
Aydar yurta lageri
A Kazakh yurt camp in the Kyzylkum Desert, with camel rides, bonfire nights, and a sky full of stars. It is the classic desert overnight stop on the Uzbekistan route.
Several yurt camps are scattered in the desert near Yangigazgan village, the best known being Aydar Camp. Guests stay in traditional Kazakh yurts, often sharing with several people and using shared bathroom facilities. In the evening you can ride a camel among the dunes for about an hour, and after dinner you can sit around a bonfire listening to Kazakh folk songs accompanied by the dombra. Far from light pollution, the Milky Way is clearly visible at night. The next morning you usually drive to Aydarkul Lake for a swim. Camps mostly sell packages that include dinner, breakfast, and a camel ride, and advance booking is needed in peak season. From Bukhara it takes about 4 to 5 hours by car, and from Samarkand about 4 hours. It is usually combined with the ancient town of Nurata as a day trip. Desert temperatures vary greatly between day and night, so bring a warm coat for spring and autumn nights.
Opening hours
Seasonal (approx. late March–early November)