4 days - Fergana Valley or South to Termez & Denau Region

[lesstravelled]

Hi to all!
I do remain a little concerned that the three big cities in central Uzbekistan seem a “tourist trail” nowadays so I’m trying to escape that as far as possible with some other active, outdoor adventures to see nature, traditional life etc

Am planning doing:
- Ex Tashkent -: Chimgan, Gulkam Canyon, Chorvoq
-Ex Khiva - Kyzyl Qala Ruins, Badai-Tugai NR
& - Nuratau Mntns, Sentyab, plus Kyzylkum Desert, Aydar Lake

Have booked a Rental Car & comfortable with driving there post research.
I have four nights at the end of the trip after visiting the big 3 cities:
I am considering either the Fergana Valley
OR to explore the remote mountain areas in the south - to Termez & Denau Region

I do like remote, quiet places like in the south, but also appreciate the great history of the Fergana Valley.
recommendations?
thanks!

[steven]

You can have both. Go to Ferghana Valley and after visiting some of the main sites there, visit the pilgrimage site at Shah Fasil Masaar in the extreme northeast of Uzbekistan above Namangan. Mountains, cultural interest and you are sure to be the only foreigner.

[lesstravelled]

You can have both. Go to Ferghana Valley and after visiting some of the main sites there, visit the pilgrimage site at Shah Fasil Masaar in the extreme northeast of Uzbekistan above Namangan. Mountains, cultural interest and you are sure to be the only foreigner.

Fantastic! - sincere thanks Steven

[Flori]

Hi there, also going tomorrow to the valley for some days. What exactly is Shah Fasil Masaar, and where is it? Somehow i'm too stupid to find it by googling

[bwv812]

I believe Masaar is an atypical transliteration of Mazar (it's called a Mazar at https://caravanistan.com/things-to-do/uzbekistan/), or mausoleum. So it's basically Shah Fasil mausoleum... but everywhere other than Caravanistan seems to locate it in Kyrgyzstan. So I think it might be the case that Steven might have been working off of a somewhat confused report.

http://www.ocamagazine.com/shah-who-the ... -mausoleum

[steven]

Oh, I see, need to double-check and correct that asap!

Update: I did a bit more research, and although it is really on the border between the 2 countries, I still believe it is located in Uzbekistan, not Kyrgyzstan. That's at least what my Odyssey Guide says, which I trust to be correct.

[maglechowicz]

Fergana Valley -

We stayed overnight in the mountains in Chodak. A local spot, where you sleep out on a tapchan.

The Margilan Silk Factory was a great stop, with a lovely English speaking guide called Nasiba.

Kokand - boasts a palace and some medrassas and mausoleums under renovation.

Namangan - has a new developement called the Valley of the Legends: a water park, theme park, outdoor shopping mall with fountains and modern restaurants.

I can also recommend a guide called Shuhrat from Namangan. He speaks English, Russian and Polish and has a car.

WhatsApp: +48 578 216 844
Phone / SMS: +998 939137616

He can also organise homestays with his family near Turakurgon, or in the wider Fergana region.