Uzbekistan attracts many tourists who prefer ecotourism. What do travel companies offer most often when organizing ecotours?
For example, these could be desert safari tours, glacier hikes, tours of unique mountain areas, trips to nature reserves and national parks.
National Parks and Reserves
The country’s tourist opportunities are very diverse and rich: this includes the Ugam-Chatkal National Park and the tugai forests in the Amu Darya River delta. The Kitab Reserve, recently opened to tourists, testifies to the emergence of life on our planet.
This is the region of the “ecological catastrophe” near the Aral Sea, the steppe areas and the Kyzylkum desert, the Nurata Mountains, Lake Aydarkul, and many other natural wonders.
Agritourism
Agritourism in Uzbekistan is an exciting adventure that involves a temporary stay of tourists in rural areas and a visit to farms in the agricultural sector. The territory of Uzbekistan has beautiful nature, untouched mountain juniper forests, spacious meadows and clear lakes.
The ideal climate, abundance of sun and fertile soil have allowed the country to establish production of agricultural products that are of high quality, environmentally friendly and natural.
The basis of Uzbek agrotourism is attracting guests to local farms producing: wine, beer, vegetables, fruits, honey, sunflower oil, medicinal plants, cotton products, livestock farms. Any tourist can join in the creation of products that are produced only in a certain region.
For example, in the Fergana region you can visit: the Mekhrigiyo company, which specializes in the production of medicinal teas and herbs, a complex for breeding the Karabair horse breed, an ostrich farm, the Oragboy Ota fish farm, and the Fergana pomegranate agrofarm.
In the Samarkand region, such agricultural tourist facilities as the Azam Azamat Agro farm, which specializes in growing fruits, the Konigil paper factory, the Amir Timur Bogibaland Garden, and the Bogizogon winery are available.
In the Bukhara region there are centers of honey and clay oven production called “tandoors”. In the Jizzakh region there are farms growing the famous Bakhmal apples and Mirzachul melons.
In the Surkhandarya and Syrdarya regions – pomegranate production. In the Khorezm region – fish farms. In the Tashkent region – the Geo Eco Start complex for breeding thoroughbred horses, the Chinobod Khaitboyev Saidulla ostrich farm.
A tour of agricultural facilities will allow guests to see the production process first-hand, take part in product tasting, it will be interesting and educational not only for adults, but also for children.
Rural tourism
Each village has its own cultural code, conveying all the uniqueness and way of life of the Uzbek people.
In this country, mountain and foothill villages have been preserved, which have managed to preserve their original traditional appearance. As a rule, these are remote corners, which modern technologies have not yet reached, and the age of such villages can be several millennia.
There may be no telephone reception or Internet, but there is a piece of ancient history, a vacation closely intertwined with pristine and wild nature.
If you want to get to know the life of the Uzbek people better, find unique flora and fauna, try organic products, then a trip to rural areas will be an excellent opportunity to discover a new, unknown world.
A tourist in such places will become an honored guest, you will be surprised by the trust and disposition of fellow villagers, their hospitality and openness. You can stay in the village in a guest house, which is designed specifically for receiving guests.
Most national dishes are cooked in cauldrons over an open fire. And believe me, you have never tasted anything more delicious in your life, since dishes cooked in the fresh mountain air with oriental spices are doubly delicious.
In addition, you will be shown the process of preparing national dishes and, if you wish, you can take part yourself.
You will enjoy interesting hikes and excursions to local attractions; as a rule, the most interesting places to visit are located near tourist villages.
In the Navoi region there is a tourist village called Sentob, located near the Sarmyshsay gorge. There you can see hundreds of rock paintings.
In the Kashkadarya region there are villages in the spurs of the Gissar Range, in some of which you can even meet ancient Arabs.
In the Andijan region there is the village of Imam-ota, with ancient shrines and camping sites. In the Tashkent region there is the tourist village of Kumushkan, on the territory of which there is a mountain spring with healing water and numerous recreation areas.
In addition to excursions, tourists can enjoy safaris, horse and camel rides, visits to eco-farms and national craft centers. Guests will be shown the process of making ceramics, silk fabrics, and national souvenirs using ancient technologies.
A trip through the countryside will appeal to both adults and children. For children, it is an extraordinary rural expanse, and for adults, it is a romantic walk among the mountains and pastures.