Samarkand is a city of holy places, none more remarkable than the Hazrat Daud Cave. There are plenty of stories about how this cave came to be, all featuring David from the Bible and the miracles that make this cave sacred. Many pilgrims come to the cave with wishes they want to be granted, and they climb the 1303 steps to the cave and touch David’s handprints and footprints, so their wishes will definitely come true. At just 40 km (25 miles) from Samarkand, Hazrat Daud is a window into the spiritual world of Uzbekistan, and one of the best tours for an experience totally unique to Uzbekistan.

While so many of the best tours in Uzbekistan focus on the main cities, there’s plenty to explore in the villages and away from civilization. Get away from the bustle of cities with a stop in Nurata, a mid-sized village with a number of sights (also also close to a large collection of petroglyphs). You’ll get to spend the night in the broad desert, near Aydarkul Lake, ride a camel, and sleep as nomads have done for centuries. Spend the next day in the fresh air of a quaint village, getting to know the customs and traditions of Uzbek village life. The three days of this tour are a literal breath of fresh air – a change of pace from the demands of modern life and a chance to experience the Nurata Mountains and Aydarkul Lake for yourself.

Head out to the far edges of Uzbekistan with a tour to the Aral Sea. Travel along the cliffs of the Ustyurt Plateau, through the ship graveyards where the shoreline used to be, and out across the former sea floor to the remnants of the very salty sea. Learn about the past and the present of this region, with excursions to ecological and cultural sites. This two-day Aral Sea tour takes you from the broad desert and last waters of the Aral Sea to the Mizdakhan Necropolis and the Gyaur-Kala Fortress, telling the modern history of this region of Uzbekistan.

Samarkand is a city of holy places, none more remarkable than the Hazrat Daud Cave. There are plenty of stories about how this cave came to be, all featuring David from the Bible and the miracles that make this cave sacred. Many pilgrims come to the cave with wishes they want to be granted, and they climb the 1303 steps to the cave and touch David’s handprints and footprints, so their wishes will definitely come true. At just 40 km (25 miles) from Samarkand, Hazrat Daud is a window into the spiritual world of Uzbekistan, and one of the best tours for an experience totally unique to Uzbekistan.