From our adventurer travellers!
Our travel blog often features testimonials from adventurers who have travelled through Uzbekistan with Samarkand Running Tours. For this first testimonial, we spoke to Camille, a Frenchwoman who pedalled along the roads of Uzbekistan in October 2024. Thanks for sharing your experience with us Camille!
Can you introduce yourself? Tell us about your favourite sporting adventure.
Hello, I’ll answer on behalf of the small group of 4 friends travelling, since we are really united by our passion for climbing and mountain activities. We’re used to hiking and climbing summits in the Alps. Our plans involve camping, nature, planning routes and dedication. My partner and I also regularly enjoy touring holidays together.
Where did you first hear about Uzbekistan and how did you come to know Samarkand Running Tours?
I read ‘The Horsemen’ by Joseph Kessel, which provides an amazing description of this part of the world. It prompted an urge to put pictures to these words and a desire to take the time to enjoy the experience by cycling. Unable to find rental companies, we searched for agencies offering bike tours. That’s how we got in touch with Sherali, who perfectly understood our project for an independent biking holiday and tailored his offer to our expectations. Thanks to video calls and Sherali’s perfect French, things went really smoothly!
Tell us about your cycling itinerary in Uzbekistan?
We decided to explore the Boysun District in south-eastern Uzbekistan. This is a mountainous region in the Surkhandarya province and one of the oldest inhabited areas in Central Asia. This region, somewhat removed from tourist routes, has a wealth of canyons, some of them desert-like, some of them entrenched. We cycled through otherworldly colourful valleys towards Yukori-Machay, a village that lies along the banks of the Machaidarya River, within the Derbent Canyon. Every village was a chance for us to meet new people. Every welcome was exceptional, with people eager to guide us, encourage us in our efforts, help us find food, a place to sleep… Cycling facilitates close proximity to the landscape and direct contact with the people who live there.
Can you share something amusing that you’ll remember from your cycling experience in this country?
We pitched our tents one evening after seeking permission from the shepherd on site. Suddenly, a horse rider appeared out of nowhere and started questioning us. Cyclists must be rare in these parts! Translations using Google were tricky, and we thought we understood the words ‘illegal travellers. So, we decided to call Sherali, who reassured the man, who turned out to be a forestry officer. We promised not to light any fires and the matter was settled. Afterwards, the officer examined our camping equipment and was astonished that we’d brought folding chairs from France…
Do you have any advice for future cycling adventurers interested in cycling in Uzbekistan?
While maps provide a pretty good overview of the roads and tracks, it’s not unusual to be surprised by the nature of these roads! Having a solid bike is a must. Never be afraid to approach people you come across, chat with them and ask them questions about their region – they’ll know exactly where to point you to.
