2-Day Samarkand Backstreet Alleys Tour with Local Cooking Experience

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Explore Samarkand's authentic local life and traditions
• 02 Discover the historical treasures of the ancient city
• 03 Hands-on cooking experience of traditional meals
• 04 Visit the Jewish neighborhood and functioning synagogue
• 05 See stunning architecture at Registan Square
• 06 Immerse yourself in the bustling atmosphere of Siyab Bazaar

Explore Samarkand's historical treasures and authentic local life on this 2-day tour through the city's backstreet alleys and iconic monuments. Visit the Mausoleum of Amir Temur, Registan Square, Siyab Bazaar, Bibi Khanum Mosque, and Shakhi Zinda Necropolis, while also stepping into a traditional Mahalla to experience everyday neighborhood culture. Continue with Ulughbek's Observatory, Saint Daniel's Mausoleum, the Afrasiyab Museum, and the historic Jewish neighborhood. Along the way, enjoy local lunches, including a traditional cooking experience in a local home.

Explore Samarkand's historical treasures and authentic local life on this 2-day tour through the city's backstreet alleys and iconic monuments.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 2 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

City Samarkand

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Historical Heritage of Samarkand

• Start of the city tour:
  • Mausoleum of Amir Temur - The conqueror, emperor, and founder of the Temurid dynasty, Amir Temur, built this mausoleum for his favorite grandson, Muhammad Sultan, who was supposed to take the throne after his grandfather. However, the future ruler passed away before him, so Amir Temur built the mausoleum for Muhammad Sultan in the 15th century.
  • Mahalla - Visit a local neighborhood to see the true life of local people. It is a community of craftsmen who used to live there and run their small family businesses. The way the Mahallas were designed is very unique and reflects a special way of life that helped residents survive during periods of extreme heat.
  • Registan Square - The most important and truly unique complex in Samarkand, consisting of three madrasas from the 15th to 17th centuries. It is not only a tourist attraction; there is always a crowd of local visitors who come from different parts of Uzbekistan. The first madrasa was built by Amir Temur's grandson, Ulughbek, and is named after him. The Sher Dor and Tilla Kori madrasas were constructed by Yalangtush Bahadur, the ruler of Samarkand in the 17th century.
• Lunch break - Visit a local house and cook a traditional meal.
  • Siyab Bazaar - A blend of smells, spices, and silk, this bazaar represents the actual life of local people in Samarkand. Quite a long time ago, before the invention of the internet and newspapers, people would learn the latest gossip by visiting bazaars. Even now, large numbers of customers shop in bazaars, making this a brilliant place to experience local culture.
  • Bibi Khanum Mosque - Amir Temur's victorious campaign to northern India played a major role in the construction of one of the largest mosques in Central Asia, which could accommodate 15,000 Muslims at one time.
  • Shakhi Zinda Necropolis - The elite of 14th-century Samarkand were buried close to Qusam ibn Abbas, the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad, who was the first Muslim to be buried in Central Asia. This is the main reason why so many people wanted to build mausoleums and be buried near him. As a result, there are a number of special mausoleums built in the 14th century by recognized architects of that period.

2

Day 02

Archaeological and Cultural Sights of the City

• Start of the city tour:
  • Observatory of Ulughbek - Mirzo Ulughbek was a great man of science and education, and the Observatory of Ulughbek was his special project. He built it in the 15th century to explore the sky with the naked eye, as telescopes and optical instruments had not yet been invented. Ulughbek discovered the duration of a year and identified 1,018 stars, naming all of them.
  • Saint Daniel's Mausoleum - According to local legend, Saint Daniel was buried in Samarkand by the order of Temur in the 14th century. This very modest and quiet place attracts representatives of three major religions: Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.
• Lunch break - Visit a local Chaikhana, a tea house where tourists do not normally go.
  • Museum of Archeology Afrasiyab - This museum covers the medieval period of Samarkand's history. Genghis Khan destroyed Samarkand completely and wiped from the earth everything that once existed there. On the ruins of ancient Samarkand, a museum of archaeology was built during the Soviet period. It contains artifacts found during archaeological excavations, displayed in glass cabinets.
  • Visit the Jewish neighborhood - Jews migrated to Samarkand a couple of centuries ago and built their own Mahalla, synagogue, and hamman bath. The synagogue is still operating and hosts believers during Shabbat.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Qualified English-speaking guide

Transport services

Entry tickets

Parking fees

0.5 L water per person

Lunches (Day 1 master class included)

What's Not Included

Camera fees

Coffee breaks

Tips for the driver and guide

Know before you go

• Dress code is highly appreciated - trousers, headscarves, and no bare shoulders, as we will visit functioning mosques.
• Wear comfortable shoes - there is some walking on this tour.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Gur-Emir-Mausoleum, Oqsaroy 1, улица Бустонсарай, Самарканд, Узбекистан

Tour start

Самарканд, Самаркандская область, Узбекистан

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.