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KZN destination photo
SKD destination photo

KZNSKD

Our Recommendation
8.4

Right Side of the Plane

The right side offers a superior vantage point for witnessing the dramatic environmental transformation of the Aral Sea basin and the rugged cliffs of the Ustyurt Plateau.

Right Side Highlights
8.4
🚜

Tatarstan Farmland

Geometric patterns of colorful agricultural fields in the fertile Volga region.

🧱

Ustyurt Plateau

Dramatic limestone cliffs and sun-scorched canyons that define the border of the desert.

🛰️

Aral Sea Remnants

The stark, haunting white salt pans and ship graveyards of the receding Aral Sea basin.

🐍

Amu Darya River

The ancient Oxus river snaking through the desert landscape, providing a narrow ribbon of green life.

⛰️

Zarafshan Range

Rugged, jagged mountain ridges that rise sharply as the flight descends into the Samarkand basin.

The right side is the 'geology side' of this route. For the best photos of the Aral Sea's white salt crusts, a mid-day flight provides the highest contrast. During the descent into Samarkand, the right side often gets a sweeping view of the city's blue-domed Timurid architecture if the flight path approaches from the west.

Left Side Highlights
7.2
🏙️

Kazan Cityscape

Aerial views of the Kazan Kremlin and the city's historic center immediately after takeoff.

🌊

Kama River Confluence

Watch the massive Kama River merge with the Volga, creating a sprawling network of blue waterways.

🌾

Kazakh Steppe

Thousands of miles of uninhabited golden grasslands stretching toward the eastern horizon.

🏜️

Kyzylkum Dunes

Intricate patterns of red sand dunes as the aircraft enters Central Asian airspace.

🏔️

Tian Shan Foothills

On clear days, the distant snow-capped peaks of the high mountains are visible to the far east.

Choose the left side for morning flights to enjoy the sunrise over the Russian steppes. It is also the better side for capturing the distant, hazy silhouettes of the Kyrgyz mountain ranges during the final hour of flight. Keep your window shade down during the middle of the flight to avoid the intense desert glare.

Top Activities in Samarkand
Route Information

Distance: 2,197 km (1,365 miles)

Approximate Flight Time: 2 hrs 56 min

Departure: KZN (55.606201171875, 49.278701782227)

Arrival: SKD (39.70050048828125, 66.98380279541016)

Route Type: International

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