Samarkand

Arrival and hotel transfer(30 minutes)

Airport is 7km from center. Taxi 15,000-25,000 UZS (~$1.20-2). Or arrive by Afrosiyob train from Tashkent (2h 10min, 90,000-150,000 UZS)

Check-in at a Silk Road guesthouse(1 hour)

Budget guesthouses 150,000-300,000 UZS/night (~$12-24). Stay near the Registan for walkability. Hotels register you with OVIR — keep all registration slips

First glimpse of Registan Square at sunset(1 hour)

Walk to the Registan as the evening light hits. The three madrasas glow gold and turquoise. Free to view from outside. The 8PM light show (free from the square) is spectacular

Dinner at Old City Restaurant(1 hour)

Traditional Uzbek food on a rooftop terrace with Registan views. Plov, shashlik, and fresh non (bread). 30,000-60,000 UZS (~$2.40-4.80) per person

Registan Square — full exploration(2 hours)

40,000 UZS (~$3.20). Open 8AM-7PM summer. Three massive madrasas: Ulugh Beg (1420), Sher-Dor (1636), Tilya-Kori (1660). The interior of Tilya-Kori's gold-painted dome is breathtaking. Hire a guide (80,000-120,000 UZS) for the full historical context

Lunch at Samarkand Plov Center(1 hour)

A massive outdoor cauldron feeds hundreds daily. On Karimov Street. Open 11AM-2PM only (until the pot empties). 20,000-30,000 UZS (~$1.60-2.40). Samarkand plov is considered the best in Uzbekistan. Arrive before noon

Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis(1.5 hours)

25,000 UZS. Avenue of 14th-15th century mausoleums with the most exquisite tilework in Central Asia. Every surface is turquoise, cobalt, and gold. Count 40 steps going up and down for good luck. Early morning has the best light

Siab Bazaar(1 hour)

Adjacent to Bibi-Khanym. Famous for Samarkand non (bread, 3,000-5,000 UZS). Dried fruits, nuts, suzani embroidery. Haggle — start at 50% of asking

Sunset walk back through the old town(1 hour)

The mahalla (neighborhood) streets around the Registan have traditional courtyard houses, tea houses, and neighborhood mosques

Bibi-Khanym Mosque(45 minutes)

25,000 UZS. Once the largest mosque in the Islamic world (1404). The 35m entrance portal and blue dome are awe-inspiring. The marble Quran stand in the courtyard is said to grant fertility

Morning tea at a traditional chaikhona(30 minutes)

Tea houses near Bibi-Khanym serve green tea and halva. 3,000-5,000 UZS. The social ritual of tea drinking is central to Uzbek life

Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum(45 minutes)

25,000 UZS. Tamerlane's tomb. Ribbed azure dome, gold-painted muqarnas ceiling. The jade slab over his grave is the world's largest single piece. Legend: opening the tomb unleashes war — the Soviets opened it June 20, 1941

Lunch at Platan(1 hour)

Modern Uzbek near the center. Manti, somsa (baked pastries), and fresh salads. 25,000-50,000 UZS

Ulugh Beg Observatory(45 minutes)

25,000 UZS. 2km north of Registan. The underground sextant (11m radius) from this 15th-century observatory survives. Ulugh Beg calculated the length of a year to within 58 seconds accuracy

Afrosiyob Museum(45 minutes)

Near the observatory. Remains of the pre-Mongol city with remarkable 7th-century wall paintings. 25,000 UZS

Konigil Paper Mill(1.5 hours)

10km outside town. This workshop revives Samarkand's famous silk paper tradition (10th century). Watch mulberry bark pounded into paper on a waterwheel. Buy handmade paper souvenirs. 25,000 UZS entry. Taxi 15,000 UZS

Samarkand Bukhara Silk Carpet Workshop(1 hour)

Watch women weave suzani embroidery and silk carpets using traditional patterns. The craftsmanship takes years to master. Small pieces start from 100,000 UZS

Uzbek cooking class(3 hours)

Learn to make plov, somsa, and non in a family home. 100,000-200,000 UZS/person (~$8-16). Includes market shopping at Siab Bazaar for ingredients. You eat everything you cook

Evening free at the Registan(1.5 hours)

Return for the evening light show. The Registan at night, lit with gold and blue, is mesmerizing. Free from outside

Drive to Shakhrisabz(1.5 hours)

90km south via a mountain pass. Shared taxi 30,000-50,000 UZS per seat, or hire car 150,000-200,000 UZS round trip. The mountain scenery is beautiful

Ak-Saray Palace ruins(1 hour)

Tamerlane's summer palace (1380). Only two massive pylons remain — they were 70m tall. The scale of the surviving fragments suggests a building that dwarfed everything in Samarkand. 25,000 UZS

Dorut Tilovat Complex(45 minutes)

Religious complex with Tamerlane's original intended burial place — he was ultimately interred in Samarkand. Free entry

Lunch in Shakhrisabz(1 hour)

Local restaurants serve excellent plov and tandir kabob (meat cooked in a clay oven). 20,000-40,000 UZS

Sleep in and hotel breakfast(2 hours)

Most guesthouses include breakfast — fresh non, jam, tea, eggs, and fruit

Hovrenko Wine Factory visit(1.5 hours)

Samarkand has a surprising wine tradition. The factory (1868) offers tastings of Uzbek wines and spirits. 30,000-50,000 UZS for a tasting flight. The dessert wines are better than the reds

Lunch at Karimbek(1 hour)

In the old town. Handmade lagman, manty, and fresh bread. 20,000-40,000 UZS. Charming courtyard setting

Mahalla walk — neighborhood exploration(1.5 hours)

Wander the residential streets near Shah-i-Zinda. Traditional courtyard houses, neighborhood mosques, children playing. The real Samarkand beyond the monuments

Final Registan sunset(1 hour)

One last visit. The light at sunset makes the tiles glow in ways that photographs can never capture

Farewell dinner at Bibi Khanum teahouse(1.5 hours)

Rooftop seating with views of the mosque and bazaar. Plov, kabob, and fresh pomegranate juice. 30,000-60,000 UZS

Last morning walk to Siab Bazaar(1 hour)

Buy Samarkand non (the bread travels well for 2-3 days), dried fruits, and suzani textiles as gifts

Checkout and registration slip check(30 minutes)

Collect ALL hotel registration slips. Officials may check them at the airport

Train to Tashkent or Bukhara(2-3 hours)

Afrosiyob to Tashkent (2h 10min, 90,000-150,000 UZS) or Bukhara (1.5h, 70,000-120,000 UZS). Or fly from SKD airport

Onward journey(varies)

The classic Silk Road route continues: Samarkand → Bukhara → Khiva. Or fly out from Tashkent (TAS) to international destinations

Arrival and transfer(30 minutes)

SKD airport 7km from center. Afrosiyob from Tashkent 2h 10min, 90,000-150,000 UZS

Check-in at Silk Road guesthouse(1 hour)

150,000-300,000 UZS/night. Hotels auto-register with OVIR — keep slips

Sunset at Registan Square(1 hour)

First glimpse. Free from outside. 8PM light show

Dinner at Old City Restaurant(1 hour)

Rooftop with Registan views. Plov and non. 30,000-60,000 UZS

Registan Square(2 hours)

40,000 UZS. Three madrasas. Guide 80,000-120,000 UZS. Tilya-Kori gold dome interior is breathtaking

Lunch at Plov Center(1 hour)

Karimov Street. Open 11AM-2PM. 20,000-30,000 UZS. Arrive before noon

Shah-i-Zinda(1.5 hours)

25,000 UZS. Avenue of mausoleums. Best tilework in Central Asia. Count 40 steps up and down

Siab Bazaar(1 hour)

Samarkand non 3,000-5,000 UZS. Dried fruits, suzani. Haggle from 50%

Bibi-Khanym Mosque(45 minutes)

25,000 UZS. Once the world's largest mosque. 35m portal, blue dome

Tea at a chaikhona(30 minutes)

Green tea and halva. 3,000-5,000 UZS

Gur-e-Amir(45 minutes)

25,000 UZS. Tamerlane's tomb. Jade slab, gold ceiling. The 1941 tomb-opening legend

Lunch at Platan(1 hour)

Manti, somsa, salads. 25,000-50,000 UZS

Ulugh Beg Observatory(45 minutes)

25,000 UZS. Underground sextant. 15th-century astronomical accuracy

Afrosiyob Museum(45 minutes)

25,000 UZS. 7th-century wall paintings from the pre-Mongol city

Konigil Paper Mill(1.5 hours)

10km out. Mulberry bark silk paper. 25,000 UZS entry

Silk carpet workshop(1 hour)

Watch suzani embroidery. Small pieces from 100,000 UZS

Uzbek cooking class(3 hours)

100,000-200,000 UZS. Plov, somsa, non. Market shopping included

Evening Registan(1 hour)

Light show and evening atmosphere

Drive to Shakhrisabz(1.5 hours)

90km south. Car 150,000-200,000 UZS round trip

Ak-Saray Palace ruins(1 hour)

25,000 UZS. Surviving 70m pylons hint at lost grandeur

Dorut Tilovat Complex(45 minutes)

Tamerlane's original burial intention. Free

Lunch in Shakhrisabz(1 hour)

Tandir kabob — meat from a clay oven. 20,000-40,000 UZS

Hovrenko Wine Factory(1.5 hours)

Tasting flight 30,000-50,000 UZS. Dessert wines are the highlight

Lunch at Karimbek(1 hour)

Handmade lagman in courtyard setting. 20,000-40,000 UZS

Mahalla neighborhood walk(1.5 hours)

Courtyard houses, mosques, daily life near Shah-i-Zinda

Morning at Siab Bazaar(1 hour)

Last Samarkand non and dried fruits

Afrosiyob train to Bukhara(1.5 hours)

70,000-120,000 UZS. Modern, clean, punctual. Book 2-3 days ahead

Check-in at a Bukhara guesthouse(1 hour)

Stay in or near the old city. Similar pricing to Samarkand

Lyabi-Hauz evening walk(1.5 hours)

Bukhara's most charming spot — a 17th-century pool plaza flanked by madrasas and mulberry trees. Cafes serve tea and plov. Free to stroll

Dinner at Lyabi-Hauz restaurant(1 hour)

Poolside dining. Bukhara plov, shashlik. 25,000-50,000 UZS

Ark Fortress(1 hour)

25,000 UZS. 5th-century royal citadel. The throne room and museum tell 1,500 years of history. The last emir was expelled by the Red Army in 1920

Kalyan Minaret and Mosque(1 hour)

The 47m minaret (1127) is Bukhara's symbol — Genghis Khan spared it because he had to tilt his head back to see the top. The mosque courtyard holds 10,000 worshippers. 25,000 UZS combined

Trading domes walk(1.5 hours)

Three 16th-century covered bazaars (Taki-Zargaron, Taki-Sarrafon, Taki-Telpak Furushon) still functioning as markets. Buy silk scarves, ceramics, and miniature paintings. Free to enter

Lunch at Minzifa(1 hour)

Rooftop restaurant with old city views. 25,000-50,000 UZS

Ismail Samani Mausoleum(30 minutes)

10th-century masterpiece — the oldest Islamic monument in Central Asia. 15,000 UZS. The brickwork creates shifting patterns in different light angles

Chor Minor(30 minutes)

Four-minaret gatehouse — Bukhara's quirkiest monument. Free from outside, 5,000 UZS to climb

Gold embroidery workshop(1.5 hours)

Bukhara is famous for zarduzi (gold thread embroidery). Watch artisans create suzani and chapan (traditional coats). The craft was nearly lost in Soviet times

Miniature painting studio(1 hour)

Watch artists paint intricate scenes on silk paper using techniques unchanged for centuries. Small pieces from 50,000 UZS

Lunch at a chaikhona(1 hour)

Tea house near Lyabi-Hauz. Bukhara somsa and green tea. 15,000-30,000 UZS

Bozori Kord Hammam(1.5 hours)

16th-century bathhouse restored for visitors. Full hammam experience: steam, scrub, massage. 100,000-150,000 UZS. Separate sessions for men and women. A Silk Road tradition

Evening at Lyabi-Hauz(1.5 hours)

Mulberry tree shade, tea, and a Bukhara sunset

Sitorai Mohi Khosa (Summer Palace)(1.5 hours)

5km from center. 25,000 UZS. The last Emir's residence mixing Uzbek and Russian Imperial architecture. Peacocks roam the gardens. The harem quarters are elaborately decorated

Chor Bakr necropolis(45 minutes)

6km west. 15,000 UZS. A quiet, atmospheric burial complex away from tourist crowds

Lunch and train to Samarkand(3 hours)

Grab lunch near the station and take the Afrosiyob back. 70,000-120,000 UZS

Evening walk in Samarkand(1.5 hours)

Return with fresh eyes. The comparison between Samarkand's grandeur and Bukhara's intimacy enriches both

Drive to Urgut(45 minutes)

40km southeast. Shared taxi 10,000-15,000 UZS. The market is largest on Sundays and Thursdays

Urgut Bazaar(3 hours)

Massive outdoor market selling everything — suzani, spices, livestock, dried fruits, ceramics, and traditional clothing. Far less touristy than Siab. This is where locals shop. Bargaining is expected and aggressive — start at 30% of asking price

Lunch at the bazaar(45 minutes)

Street food stalls serving plov, shashlik, and fresh non. 10,000-20,000 UZS. The food quality is excellent

Dinner at Bibi Khanum teahouse(1.5 hours)

Rooftop farewell with mosque views

Sunrise at Shah-i-Zinda(1.5 hours)

Arrive at opening. The morning light on the tilework is extraordinary — golden hour transforms the blues and greens

Hazrat Hizr Mosque(45 minutes)

On a hill above Shah-i-Zinda with panoramic city views. Free entry. Less visited but beautifully decorated. The terrace overlooks the whole old city

Hodja Abdi Darun complex(30 minutes)

12th-century complex away from tourist routes. Local worshippers, peaceful courtyard. Free entry

Lunch at a neighborhood eatery(45 minutes)

Find a random neighborhood restaurant away from the tourist strip. Point at what looks good. 15,000-25,000 UZS

Registan golden hour photography(1.5 hours)

Return for the perfect light. Late afternoon to sunset creates the most dramatic shadows on the tilework

Sleep in and guesthouse breakfast(2 hours)

Fresh non, homemade preserves, eggs, and endless tea

Traditional hammam(1.5 hours)

Several restored bathhouses in the old city. Steam, scrub, and relax. 80,000-120,000 UZS

Final bazaar shopping(1.5 hours)

Last chance for suzani, silk paper, spices, and dried fruits at Siab Bazaar

Afternoon tea at a chaikhona(1 hour)

Sit in a tea house and reflect on two weeks on the Silk Road. Green tea, halva, and naan

Farewell dinner — family home experience(2.5 hours)

Some guesthouses arrange home-cooked farewell dinners. Plov cooked in a massive pot, fresh salads, somsa, and toasts with vodka. 100,000-200,000 UZS. The hospitality is the real treasure of Uzbekistan

Last walk to the Registan(30 minutes)

One final visit. Early morning — the square is empty and the madrasas catch the first light

Checkout and registration check(30 minutes)

Collect ALL registration slips. Officials check at departure

Train to Tashkent or Bukhara(2-3 hours)

Afrosiyob to Tashkent for international flights. Or continue to Bukhara/Khiva for deeper Silk Road exploration

Onward journey(varies)

International flights from Tashkent (TAS) to Istanbul, Dubai, Moscow, Seoul, and more

Arrival and transfer(30 minutes)

SKD airport 7km. Taxi 15,000-25,000 UZS. Or Afrosiyob from Tashkent 2h 10min

Check-in at guesthouse(1 hour)

150,000-300,000 UZS/night. Stay near the Registan. Keep OVIR registration slips

Sunset at Registan(1 hour)

Free from outside. 8PM light show

Dinner at Old City Restaurant(1 hour)

Rooftop with Registan views. 30,000-60,000 UZS

Registan Square(2 hours)

40,000 UZS. Three madrasas. Guide 80,000-120,000 UZS

Plov Center lunch(1 hour)

11AM-2PM only. 20,000-30,000 UZS. Best plov in Uzbekistan

Shah-i-Zinda(1.5 hours)

25,000 UZS. Avenue of mausoleums. Exquisite tilework

Siab Bazaar(1 hour)

Non bread, dried fruits, suzani

Bibi-Khanym Mosque(45 minutes)

25,000 UZS. 35m portal, blue dome

Gur-e-Amir(45 minutes)

25,000 UZS. Jade slab, gold ceiling

Lunch at Platan(1 hour)

25,000-50,000 UZS

Ulugh Beg Observatory(45 minutes)

25,000 UZS. Underground sextant

Afrosiyob Museum(45 minutes)

25,000 UZS. 7th-century wall paintings

Konigil Paper Mill(1.5 hours)

10km out. Silk paper workshop. 25,000 UZS

Uzbek cooking class(3 hours)

100,000-200,000 UZS. Plov, somsa, non. Market shopping included

Drive to Shakhrisabz(1.5 hours)

90km. Car 150,000-200,000 UZS round trip

Ak-Saray Palace(1 hour)

25,000 UZS. Surviving 70m pylons

Dorut Tilovat Complex(45 minutes)

Free

Lunch — tandir kabob(1 hour)

20,000-40,000 UZS

Hovrenko Wine Factory(1.5 hours)

30,000-50,000 UZS tasting. Dessert wines are best

Lunch at Karimbek(1 hour)

Courtyard lagman. 20,000-40,000 UZS

Mahalla walk(1.5 hours)

Residential streets near Shah-i-Zinda

Afrosiyob to Bukhara(1.5 hours)

70,000-120,000 UZS

Lyabi-Hauz evening(1.5 hours)

17th-century pool plaza. Tea and plov

Poolside dinner(1 hour)

25,000-50,000 UZS

Ark Fortress(1 hour)

25,000 UZS. 5th-century citadel

Kalyan Minaret and Mosque(1 hour)

25,000 UZS. Genghis Khan spared the 47m minaret

Trading domes walk(1.5 hours)

Three 16th-century covered bazaars

Lunch at Minzifa(1 hour)

Rooftop. 25,000-50,000 UZS

Ismail Samani Mausoleum(30 minutes)

15,000 UZS. Oldest Islamic monument in Central Asia

Lunch at chaikhona(1 hour)

15,000-30,000 UZS

Bozori Kord Hammam(1.5 hours)

100,000-150,000 UZS. Steam, scrub, massage

Sitorai Mohi Khosa(1.5 hours)

25,000 UZS. Uzbek-Russian architecture. Peacock gardens

Chor Bakr necropolis(45 minutes)

15,000 UZS

Free afternoon(3 hours)

Rest, read, or wander Bukhara's quiet streets at your own pace

Morning train to Urgench(5 hours)

Shared taxi from Urgench to Khiva 30 minutes. 20,000-30,000 UZS. Or fly Bukhara to Urgench (1 hour)

Check-in inside the walled city(1 hour)

Guesthouses inside Itchan Kala (inner city) for 150,000-300,000 UZS/night

Evening walk through Itchan Kala(1.5 hours)

Khiva's walled inner city is a complete medieval Islamic city. The sunset from the city walls is legendary. Free to walk the streets; entry to monuments 120,000 UZS combined ticket

Dinner inside the walls(1 hour)

Terraza restaurant on the city wall. Plov and shashlik with rampart views. 30,000-60,000 UZS

Kalta Minor Minaret(30 minutes)

The unfinished turquoise minaret (intended to be the tallest in Central Asia). Khiva's most photographed monument. Included in combined ticket

Islam Khodja Minaret climb(45 minutes)

Khiva's tallest minaret (57m). Steep, narrow stairs to panoramic views over the entire walled city and surrounding desert

Juma Mosque(30 minutes)

218 wooden columns, each unique, supporting the roof. Some date to the 10th century. The forest of columns is atmospheric

Lunch at Khiva Moon(1 hour)

Inside the walls. Dimlama (layered meat and vegetable stew). 25,000-40,000 UZS

Tash Hauli Palace(1 hour)

The Khan's harem palace with stunning courtyards and tilework. Included in combined ticket

Sunset from the city walls(1 hour)

Walk the ramparts as the desert sun sets. The mud-brick city glows amber

Wood carving workshop(1 hour)

Khiva is famous for wooden doors and columns. Watch master carvers at work. Small carved items from 30,000 UZS

Silk ikat weaving(1 hour)

Watch the complex tie-dye-before-weaving technique that produces stunning silk fabrics

Drive to desert edge(45 minutes)

The Karakum desert begins just outside Khiva. Drive to see the vast sand expanse and experience the silence. Some operators offer camel rides (30,000-50,000 UZS)

Morning in Khiva(1 hour)

Last walk through the walled city at sunrise

Taxi to Urgench and flight to Samarkand(2.5 hours)

Or train via Bukhara (all-day journey). Flight is faster — Urgench to Tashkent or Samarkand

Evening walk and dinner(2 hours)

Returning to Samarkand after Bukhara and Khiva gives deep appreciation for its grandeur

Drive to Urgut(45 minutes)

Shared taxi 10,000-15,000 UZS. Biggest on Sundays

Urgut Bazaar(3 hours)

Massive, authentic — suzani, spices, livestock, ceramics. Start at 30% of asking price

Bazaar lunch(45 minutes)

Street food — plov, shashlik, non. 10,000-20,000 UZS

Sunrise at Shah-i-Zinda(1.5 hours)

Morning light transforms the tilework

Hazrat Hizr Mosque(45 minutes)

Hilltop panoramic views. Free. Less visited

Hodja Abdi Darun(30 minutes)

12th-century complex. Local worshippers. Free

Neighborhood lunch(45 minutes)

Random local eatery. 15,000-25,000 UZS

Drive to Penjikent border(1.5 hours)

70km west. Car 200,000-300,000 UZS round trip. Check visa requirements for Tajikistan — some nationalities need a visa

Ancient Penjikent ruins(1.5 hours)

5th-8th century Sogdian city excavation. The wall paintings (now in St Petersburg) were extraordinary, but the ruins themselves reveal the scale of pre-Islamic civilization. 30 TJS (~$3)

Penjikent Rudaki Museum(45 minutes)

Copies of the Sogdian wall paintings and artifacts. Essential for understanding what the ruins looked like

Lunch in Penjikent(1 hour)

Tajik plov and quruti (dried yogurt soup). 25-40 TJS

Traditional hammam(1.5 hours)

80,000-120,000 UZS. Steam, scrub, massage

Free afternoon(3 hours)

Read about Tamerlane and the Silk Road while sitting in the shadow of the Registan. Ruy Gonzalez de Clavijo's 1406 account of visiting Samarkand is remarkable

Ceramics workshop(2 hours)

Samarkand has a distinct blue-and-white ceramic tradition. Watch potters work and try your hand at painting. Small bowls from 20,000 UZS. Workshops near the Registan

Silk-dyeing demonstration(1 hour)

Natural dye processes using pomegranate, walnut, and indigo. The ikat dyeing technique is complex and mesmerizing

Evening at a local concert or cultural show(1.5 hours)

Check for performances at the Registan or local cultural centers. Traditional music and dance events happen regularly

Morning Registan visit(1 hour)

One final time. You'll notice details you missed on day 2

Final Siab Bazaar shopping(1.5 hours)

Non, dried fruits, suzani, spices, silk paper

Last plov lunch(1 hour)

Return to the Plov Center. You know the routine

Afternoon tea and reflection(1.5 hours)

Sit at a chaikhona. Three weeks on the Silk Road changes your sense of time and history

Farewell dinner — family feast(2.5 hours)

Guesthouse farewell. Home-cooked plov, somsa, salads, vodka toasts. 100,000-200,000 UZS. Uzbek hospitality at its finest

Last morning walk(30 minutes)

Empty Registan at dawn. The madrasas in first light

Checkout with registration slips(30 minutes)

Collect ALL slips. Officials check at departure

Train to Tashkent(2 hours)

Afrosiyob. 90,000-150,000 UZS. Or direct flight from SKD

International departure from Tashkent(varies)

TAS to Istanbul, Dubai, Seoul, Moscow, and beyond