Samarkand and Bukhara Group Tour from Almaty is the perfect opportunity to see two of the most inspiring cities of the Great Silk Road. Leave the busy streets of Almaty, Kazakhstan behind as you hop on a plane and find yourself in legendary Samarkand, Uzbekistan in less than two hours’ time. Spend the next four days experiencing the sights, sounds and tastes of Samarkand and Bukhara, which are as unique from one another as they are ancient.
This small group tour is very well-paced, offering speedy transport on Uzbekistan’s famous bullet train and an award-winning local airline so as to maximize your time at each historical and cultural site. Each day you will enjoy a guided tour of the cities’ famous and lesser-known attractions, including Registan, Ulugbek Observatory, Siab Bazaar, Kalyan Minaret and more.
Tour itinerary:
Fly from Almaty to Samarkand on Uzbekistan Airline, departing at 12:30 and arriving at 13:25 (1hr, 35min).
13:25: Your guide and driver will meet you at the airport to take you to a local teahouse for a pilaf lunch to begin Samarkand and Bukhara Group Tour from Almaty.
Samarkand pilaf, which is famous for the way in which its ingredients are uniquely layered, remains a favorite with local and international tourists.
16:00: Begin your tour of Samarkand at Bibi Khanum Mosque, built in honor of the beloved wife of Amir Timur, Samarkand’s famous 14th-century ruler. Continue to the exquisite Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis, where a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad, Kusam Ibn Abbas, is buried in the main tomb.
End the day at Registan, the main historical site of Samarkand which consists of a square surrounded on 3 sides by majestic madrasahs whose portals face the plaza. Each of the three buildings has its own unique design.
After dinner, return to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Samarkand.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4 hours
13:25: Your guide and driver will meet you at the airport to take you to a local teahouse for a pilaf lunch to begin Samarkand and Bukhara Group Tour from Almaty.
Samarkand pilaf, which is famous for the way in which its ingredients are uniquely layered, remains a favorite with local and international tourists.
16:00: Begin your tour of Samarkand at Bibi Khanum Mosque, built in honor of the beloved wife of Amir Timur, Samarkand’s famous 14th-century ruler. Continue to the exquisite Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis, where a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad, Kusam Ibn Abbas, is buried in the main tomb.
End the day at Registan, the main historical site of Samarkand which consists of a square surrounded on 3 sides by majestic madrasahs whose portals face the plaza. Each of the three buildings has its own unique design.
After dinner, return to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Samarkand.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4 hours
After breakfast, check out of the hotel before your excursion in Samarkand. Today you will visit Siab Bazaar, where you can buy local sweets, fresh fruits and national souvenirs. Visit Ulugbek Observatory, built by a grandson of Amir Timur who was known as a great scientist and ruler of Samarkand in the Middle Ages. Proceed to Tomb of the Prophet Daniel before driving to the village of Konigil, where you can observe the ancient process of making Samarkand paper from mulberry trees.
Free time. At 20:00 head to the Samarkand railway station to take the Afrosiyob
fast train to Bukhara, departing at 21:000 and arriving at 22:35 (270km). Transfer to the hotel for overnight.
Free time. At 20:00 head to the Samarkand railway station to take the Afrosiyob
fast train to Bukhara, departing at 21:000 and arriving at 22:35 (270km). Transfer to the hotel for overnight.Enjoy a walking sightseeing tour with a guide in Old City. Visit Lyabi-Hauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, trade domes, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and Miri-Arab Madrasah, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasahs, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Start the day with a visit to Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa – summer residence of Bukhara’s last emir, unique site combining Oriental and Russian architecture. Continue to Bakhoutdin Naqshbandi Mausoleum and Chor-Bakr Necropolis. Transfer to the railway station at 14:40 to catch the Afrosiyob train to Samarkand, departing at 15:52 and arriving at 17:25. Your driver will meet you at the station for transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Samarkand.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
- Airport and train station transfers (1-2 people in sedan; 3-7 people in minivan; 8-13 people in a 30-seater bus; 14+ people in a 45-seater bus);
- Accommodation in a double/twin room with breakfast;
- Guided tours in Samarkand and/or Bukhara each day;
- Entrance fees to all sites listed in the program;
- Economy-class tickets for Samarkand-Bukhara-Samarkand trains (in rare cases when the high-speed train is unavailable, we will replace it with 1st-class seats on the regular train).
- Tour guide to accompany travelers for the full duration of the tour;
- Round-trip airline tickets from Almaty to Samarkand;
- Full board (lunches and dinners);
- Hotel charges for additional services;
- Gratuities;
- Travel insurance.
Accommodation:
| Bukhara - 1 night |
| Bibikhanum or similar |
| Samarkand - 2 nights |
| Platan or similar |
