Golden Road to Samarkand Tour
Tour Details
6 days
All year round
Season
from $620 / per person
Prices
Econ StanPrices are in $ per person and for larger groups are available upon request
Description
Samarkand, Uzbekistan has captured the imagination of traders, travelers and wanderers for centuries. Although the Great Silk Road and the empire of Tamerlane, the two elements that brought this city to world-renowned fame, have long vanished, Samarkand continues to beckon people the world over to its enduring charm and historical wonders.
On the Golden Road to Samarkand Tour, join countless travelers before you on the road to one of the greatest cities of all time. You’ll begin your journey in the capital city Tashkent, continue to Samarkand to explore both the well-known and lesser sights of the area, and end in Bukhara, another famed Silk Road city. With this private tour option, you’ll have the freedom to choose the tour structure and price range, allowing for a tour down this well-traveled path that’s uniquely you.
Program
Your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel to begin your Tashkent city tour. Your private tour will include:
- Excursion to the Old City, including the Khazret-Imam Architectural Complex. The complex includes the Madrasah of Barak-Khan (16th century), Tillya-Sheykh Mosque, Juma Mosque and Mausoleum of Saint Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi (15th century). Walking through the Islamic Civilization Center and Zarqaynar street;
- Visit to Chorsu Bazaar, Tashkent’s most well-established bazaar that includes a large selection of traditional Uzbek ceramics, jewelry, handbags, garments, and more;
- Ride on the Tashkent Metro, an immaculate subway system with each station decorated in colored mosaics and ceramics to depict a specific theme;
- Walk through Amir Timur Square, with a massive statue of none other than Tamerlane himself at the center;
- Independence Square, including the moving Mourning Mother Monument and the Eternal Flame, burning continuously in memory of more than half a million Uzbek soldiers who died during World War II;
- Drive to the Sacred Heart Cathedral, a 20th century Roman Catholic Church with beautiful stained-glass windows and Gothic-style architecture;
- Tour of the Applied Arts Museum, an informative collection of Uzbekistan’s finest handicrafts housed in an ornately decorated villa.
Tour duration: 4.5 - 5 hours
- Gur Emir, the imposing burial site of Tamerlane and Mirzo Ulugbek;
- Registan Square, the commercial center of Samarkand for centuries and Samarkand’s most famous site today. The square includes three madrasahs: Ulugbek Madrasah (15th century), Sher-Dor Madrasah (17th century) and Tilla-Kori Madrasah (17th century);
- A boulevard lined with workshops, souvenir stores and ice cream stands;
- Bibi Khanum Mosque, built by Tamerlane for his favorite wife;
- Siab Bazaar, a multi-level complex where you can shop for souvenirs and sample sweets, fruits and Samarkand’s famous bread;
- Shakhi-Zinda, a burial complex built between the 9th-14th centuries. Climb the blue-domed path and explore more than 20 small mausoleums that line the broad alleyway;
- Ulugbek Observatory, where you can see the remains of a 14th-15th century sextant and tour the Ulugbek Museum.
Tour duration: 6-7 hours
- Visit to the excavation site and museum of the ancient city Afrasiab;
- Tour of the mausoleum of Khodja Daniyar, believed to be the tomb of the prophet Daniel, whose remains were brought here by Tamerlane;
- Drive to Konigil Village to observe the traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry leaves; you’ll also have the chance to buy these unique souvenirs;
- Excursion to the Oriental Silk Carpet Factory to see firsthand how top-quality carpets are created. You can even learn basic skills from the masters and try carpet-weaving yourself!
Total duration: 4-5 hours
With your private local guide, enjoy a walking tour of the most impressive sights of Bukhara’s Old City:
- Lyabi-Hauz ensemble holding the largest artificial reservoir of medieval Bukhara (14th-17th centuries). This ensemble includes some of the largest madrasahs in the city: the Khanaka Madrasah, Kukeldash Madrasah and Nadir Divan Beghi Madrasah (all 16th century);
- Magoki-Attori Mosque, the oldest mosque in Bukhara (12th century);
- Four Trade Domes (15th-16th centuries), which still house local handicrafts for sale;
- Poi Kalyan Ensemble (12th-16th centuries), consisting of the Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque, Amir-Alimkhan Madrasah and Miri-Arab Madrasah;
- Ulugbek Madrasah (15th century) and Abdulazizkhan Madrasah (17th century), relatively untouched yet impressive religious schools;
- Ark Fortress (4th century), the ancient center of Bukharan statehood and currently home to a small museum;
- Bolo-Khauz Complex, consisting of an artfully decorated 18th century mosque, a minaret and reservoirs that once provided water for the entire city;
- Samanids Mausoleum (9th-10th centuries), believed to be the most ancient brick building in Central Asia, and the Chashma Ayub Mausoleum.
Tour duration: 6-7 hours
- Chor Minor ("Four Minarets"), an unusual madrasah built by Niyazkul in the 18th century, whose four minarets are said to reflect the four major world religions of that period;
- Emir's Summer Residence, Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa (19th century), a unique site boasting of a blend of Oriental and Russian architecture;
- Bakhautdin Naqsbandi Mausoleum, an ensemble dedicated to the founder of the Sufi Order "Naqshbandia"; the site includes a mausoleum, mosque, pond, and museum;
- Chor-Bakr Necropolis, (City of the Dead, 10th century), ancient burial grounds which were developed into a memorial complex in the 1500s.
Tour duration: approximately 4 hours
- Accommodation based on double/twin room at hotel (5 nights, with breakfast);
- Transfers including airport and train station pick-ups and drop-offs;
- Economy class tickets for trains Tashkent – Samarkand, Samarkand – Bukhara and Bukhara - Tashkent;
- Tashkent city tour (local guide and transport);
- Samarkand city tour 2 days (local guide and transport);
- Bukhara walking tour (local guide);
- Bukhara city tour (local guide and transport).
- Tour leader to accompany the travellers for the whole period of the tour;
- Consular fees for Uzbekistan tourist visa and Letter of invitation;
- International flight tickets before and after the tour;
- Tips are not included (driver, guide, porter);
- Hotel charges for additional services;
- Full board (lunches and dinners);
- Travel insurance;
- Entry tickets to attractions;
- All other charges and services not mentioned under “Inclusion”.
Accommodation:
| Tashkent (2 nights) | Standard - Inspira-S, ATECA, Elements, Wyndham Garden or similar Economy - Uzbekistan, Florence, Alpha Plaza, Human or similar |
| Samarkand (2 nights) | Standard - Shohjahon Palace, Wellfort, Aliz Boulevard, City or similar Economy - Shahristan Art, Siab, Registon Saroy, Dali or similar |
| Bukhara (1 night) | Standard - Makon Art, Labi Rud, Caravansaray Rashid, Minzifa or similar Economy - Grand Nodirbek, Dera, B-House, Imran or similar |
Prices
| Persons | Economy | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| 2 persons | $980 | $1,060 |
| 4 persons | $780 | $860 |
| 6 persons | $680 | $760 |
| 8 persons | $620 | $700 |
per person
Single supplement: Economy $145 | Standard $180
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It was a very nice day, and our guide was great! Thank you very much.
Tour: Chimgan and Charvak Day Tour →We did indeed arrive home safely from this wonderful adventure. It was a truly beautiful trip! Everything was so special: the culture and nature. You realize how little you know about that rich history. The trip went smoothly. The arrangements were kept. In Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the tour operator (the day before) promptly sent me an app telling me what time we would be picked up or dropped off. Everything was accurate. Credit card payments aren't accepted on the train ride through Kazakhstan.
Tour: Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan 8-Day Tour →Guide: Khiva - Shoxrux, Bukhara - Dilnoza, Samarkand - Otabek, Tashkent- Dilya.
Accommodation: Khiva - Malika Kheivak, Bukhara – Minzifa, Samarkand - Shohjahon Palace, Tashkent – ATECA.
28-5-2025 (WED) Day 1: Urgench – Khiva
29-5-2025 (THU) Day 2: Khiva
30-5-2025 (FRI) Day 3: Khiva – Bukhara
31-5-2025 (SAT) Day 4: Bukhara
01-6-2025 (SUN) Day 5: Bukhara - Samarkand
02-6-2025 (MON) Day 6: Samarkand
03-6-2025 (TUE) Day 7: Samarkand
04-6-2025 (WED) Day 8: Samarkand – Tashkent
05-06-2025 (THU) Day 9: Tashkent
06-06-2025 (FRI) Day 10: Tashkent