Discovering the Ancient City of Samarkand + Authentic Pilaf Lunch

What to Expect

Must-See in Samarkand
Samarkand is a huge living organism and an open-air museum. You will witness this by visiting its key attractions:

• Gur-Emir Mausoleum - the royal tomb where the great Tamerlane and his sons and grandsons, the Timurids, are buried. You will hear the legend that connects this place with the start of a war.
• Registan Square - the heart of Samarkand with its main square and three madrasas from the 15th-17th centuries: Ulugh Beg, Tilya-Kori, Sher-Dor. We will explore all and discuss who studied here and when.
• Bibi-Khanym Mosque, allegedly built in honor of Tamerlane's favorite wife. You will learn why the chief architect of the mosque was hesitant to finish his work on it.
• Khazratiy Imam Mosque - one of the oldest surviving mosques in Central Asia.
• Shah-i-Zinda Mausoleum: a complex of sepulchers of the ancient nobility of Samarkand, consisting of 11 beautiful mausoleums. Some of them are open for visits.
• Khoja Daniyar Mausoleum, the tomb of the biblical prophet Daniel. We will delve into why Tamerlane decided to bring some of the saint's remains to Samarkand.
• Ulugh Beg Observatory: surprisingly, the 15th-century building itself is a well-crafted instrument for observing celestial bodies. You will learn about the originality and uniqueness of this structure.

Mid-day, we will stop for lunch at a restaurant and taste authentic Samarkand pilaf, which differs from traditional Tashkent pilaf - and we will definitely discuss the distinctions.

• I will be your guide for the tour, or another guide from our team.
• Bring comfortable shoes and clothing for walking, headgear, sunglasses, and money for personal expenses.

What's Included and What's Not

• The price includes transfers by car throughout the route and lunch.
• Entrance tickets are paid separately: the total cost will be approximately $17 per person.