Age
0+
Group size
1-5
Transport
By car
Language
English
Duration
3 hours 30 minutes
About this experience
In my childhood, my grandmother often took me to the market, where we spent time in a truly Uzbek way. I will show you how it was. You can expect a mix of gastronomic tour, immersion in the daily life of Uzbeks, and a friendly walk in the real Samarkand. To start, we will buy fresh flatbreads, kaymak, and sweets. We will have breakfast with them in a teahouse, chat with the elders of the mahalla, and then go watch the everyday life of the Old City.
What to expect
- The day will start at the Siab market. We will get a hot flatbread, fresh kaymak (Uzbek sour cream), halva, and dried fruits. We will also learn the art of bargaining: I will explain how to skillfully negotiate the price and not fall for the sellers' tricks.
- With our purchases, we will go to a local teahouse where we will sit on a raised platform (topchan) and have breakfast. A true Uzbek breakfast is just like this: no benedicts, sausages, or omelets—only the freshest products from the stalls, and the flatbread straight from the tandyr! We may be joined by the elders of the local mahalla (community). In a heartfelt conversation with them, you will hear the latest news.
- After breakfast, we will stroll through the Samarkand mahallas. We will peek into the courtyards: see how the children live and what the older generation is up to. We will observe the leisurely games of checkers and backgammon—beloved pastimes of the Uzbeks. I will tell you about the typical Uzbek family life: how the household is organized, what holidays people celebrate, and what traditions they adhere to.
- We will visit the Yehudiyon—the former neighborhood of Bukharian Jews. I will show you the homes of affluent merchants, some of which are over 150 years old, and explain why their residents left. I will talk about the cultural heritage of the community that lived here, about the similarities and differences between the Bukharian Jews and the locals.
- We will visit the Hamam of David (Hammomi Dovudi)—unique Jewish baths, built on the principle of "room within a room": inside each room, there is a passage to the next one, where the temperature is noticeably higher than in the previous one. Next to the hammam is a synagogue—we can also visit it if desired.
- The highlight of our walk will be the district of local gypsy-luli. Do not worry, it is safe! The gypsies are harmless: they are mainly engaged in collecting scrap paper and recycling plastic. And they go about on their donkeys for their various errands. I will tell you more about the life of this people in Samarkand.
To conclude the tour, I can offer you a visit to 1-2 key attractions of the city from the list:
- Amir Timur Mausoleum
- Registan Square
- Bibi-Khanym Mosque
- Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis
- Ulugh Beg Observatory
- Saint Daniel's Mausoleum
- Paper Factory "Konigil Meros"
- Carpet Factory "Khudjum"
Organizational Details
- The tour is a walking and car excursion, conducted in a comfortable Kia Sportage X Line
- The price includes: transfer from your place of stay, guide services, breakfast
- Getting to know the district of local gypsy-luli is absolutely safe. But if desired, you can choose not to visit it and just drive by, observing from the car window.
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