About this experience
The Mirror of the World, the Pearl of the East, the Garden of the Soul - these are all names of ancient Samarkand! We invite you to conveniently and quickly get here from Tashkent and spend a day exploring the main landmarks of the ancient capital. You will visit the mausoleum of Tamerlane and the beautiful Shahi Zinda complex, see ancient mosques and a 15th-century observatory. And in the evening, you will comfortably return to Tashkent.
What to expect
Speed, comfort, and convenience
We will travel to Samarkand and back on the high-speed Afrosiyob train (tickets included in the price). In the city, a professional guide will meet us and accompany us throughout the route by car.
Must-see in Samarkand
Samarkand is a huge living organism and an open-air museum. You will see this by visiting its key attractions:
- Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum - the royal burial vault where the great Tamerlane and his sons and grandsons, the Timurids, are buried. You will hear the legend that connects this place to the beginning of the war.
- Registan - the heart of Samarkand and its main square with three madrasas from the 15th-17th centuries: Ulugh Beg, Tilya-Kori, Sher-Dor. We will see them all and talk about who studied here and when.
- Bibi-Khanym Mosque, allegedly built in honor of Tamerlane's beloved wife. You will learn why the chief architect of the mosque was reluctant to finish his work on it.
- Khazret-Khyzr Mosque - one of the oldest surviving mosques in Central Asia.
- Shahi Zinda Mausoleum: a complex of tombs of ancient Samarkand nobility, consisting of 11 beautiful mausoleums. Some of them are open to visitors.
- Khoja Daniyar Mausoleum, the tomb of the Biblical prophet Daniel. We will explore why Tamerlane decided to send some of the saint's remains to Samarkand.
- Ulugh Beg Observatory: surprisingly, the 15th-century building is already a well-calibrated instrument for observing celestial bodies. You will learn about the originality and uniqueness of this structure.
Midday, we will stop for lunch at a restaurant and try the authentic Samarkand pilaf, which is different from the traditional Tashkent pilaf - and we will definitely discuss what sets it apart.
Organizational Details
Please note: tickets for the high-speed Afrosiyob train are sometimes sold out very quickly. It is better to buy them a month before the trip. If there are no tickets, you can cancel the tour or take the Sharq high-speed train (which takes 1.5 hours longer).
How the tour goes
- Meeting at the Northern Railway Station, then on the high-speed Afrosiyob train at 07:28 we travel to Samarkand (arrival at 09:42) where a guide will meet us
- At 5 p.m., we will have a return transfer to the station and return to Tashkent on the high-speed train at 19:16
- The tour will be conducted by me or another guide from our team
- Bring comfortable shoes and clothing for walks, headgear, sunglasses, as well as money for personal expenses
What's included in the price and what is not
- The price includes standard class tickets for the high-speed train, as well as car transfer throughout the route and lunch
- To reserve tickets, a prepayment and your passport details are required. Check the cost with the guide. If you cancel the trip within 7 calendar days, 50% of the ticket price will be refunded, more than 7 days - 70%.
- Entrance tickets are paid separately: the total cost is approximately $17 per person
