8-day itinerary advise (incl. Aral sea tour?)

[michals]

Hello,

I am in Uzbekistan for 8 full days in the end of October and I wanted to ask for some advise on two itinerary options. We are a family with two kids, who like to travel, we like a mix of cities and nature and of course we wanted to visit Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand, but also Aral sea (potentially overnight in a yurt camp)
We have two itineraries outlines, I'd say the trade off is better Aral sea experience, incl. night at yurt, but less time in the main cities and requires to drive more (as trains don't fit). But is Aral Sea tour really so awsome?

I'd be curious on the experiences of other travellers.

Option 1 (more packed, incl. 2 day aral sea tour, but requires more driving as the train schedule doesnt fit.
1. Day in Tashkent and evening flight to Nukus
2. Aral sea tour from Nukus, overnight in yurt camp (I think kids would enjoy this a lot)
3. Aral sea tour and drive back to Khiva
4. Khiva
5. Morning train to Bukhara (or car, if better option?)
6. Bukhara
7. Morning drive to Samarkand (no morning trains available), visit Samarkand
8. Samarkand and evening drive to Taskent (to catch a morning flight).

Option 2 (1 day at Aral sea)
1. Day in Tashkent and evening flight to Nukus
2. Day trip to Aral sea and drive back to Khiva
3. Khiva
4. Train to Bukhara (or car, if better option?)
5. Bukhara
6. Bukhara + afternoon train to Samarkand
7. Samarkand
8. Samarkand + evening drive to Tashkent.

Thank you for any advise!
M.