A list of some of the best one day and multi-day trips from Samarkand, Uzbekistan!
A visit to Samarkand is a highlight of a trip to Uzbekistan. Samarkand is one of Central Asia’s most captivating cities with history dating back to the 7th Century BC. The city is filled with colourful Islamic architecture and remnants from its Silk Road past. There is more than enough to keep you busy for a few days.
If you’re looking to escape the city, there are some fantastic day trips from Samarkand to explore the history, nature and unique culture of the region. Samarkand serves as an excellent base for exploring the surrounding region, offering loads of interesting day trip options. Here are some of the best day trips from Samarkand.
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The best day trips from Samarkand for history lovers
Samarkand, Uzbekistan and the entire region of Central Asia are a history lovers dream. As a major stop along the Silk Road, Samarkand stood at a crossroads of some of the world’s greatest empires. Here are some of the best day trips to explore this unique history and some of its key figures.
The Ancient City of Shakhrisabz
Shakhrisabz is the birthplace of Tamerlane, or Amir Timur as he is known in Uzbekistan.
Amir Timur is one of the most legendary conquerers in history. At one point his empire stretched from China in the east and as far as Turkiye in the west. Although a controversial figure globally, he is revered in Uzbekistan as a sort of founding father. There are statues and monuments to Amir Timur throughout the country. His mausoleum is one of the most visited tourist sites in Samarkand.
Visiting Shakhrisabz is a must if you want to learn more about this legendary figure.
It is one place that I would recommend hiring a guide. There are guides available at both entrances and the prices are reasonable. We paid around $25 USD. Some of the sites have an additional entry fee so make sure you bring along some small notes.
Taking a day trip from Samarkand to Shakhrisabz is easy and enjoyable. This day tour includes return transport and the price is the total for the car, not per person.
Chor Chinor Garden
The perfect way to escape the city is to take a day trip to the magical garden of Chor Chinor in Urgut. About 50km from Samarkand, Chor Chinor has a really special feel about it. When you enter the garden there is an immediate sense of calm. All you can hear is the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves. The temperature even drops several degrees from outside thanks to the canopy of trees.
The main reason to visit Chor Chinor is to see the four ancient sycamore trees, the oldest being 1100 years old. There is a mosque, a small pond and a stream in the garden, but the most impressive is the subterranean room under the oldest sycamore tree. It is large enough to fit ten people and has been used as a classroom in the past.
The easiest way to take a day trip to Chor Chinor is to organise a private driver from your hotel. We were able to add a trip to Chor Chinor on the end of our day trip to Shakhrisabz. We paid $60 USD for the car to visit both locations, which we could split between the passengers.
The best cultural day trip from Samarkand
Spend the night in a yurt in the desert
Sleeping in a yurt is a must-have experience when travelling in Central Asia. If you need a break from the city, why not visit a yurt camp for the night.
Nurata is a popular short trip from Samarkand. There are a few popular yurt camps around Aydarkul lake that cater to tourists. This tour includes accommodation, all meals and transport to and from the yurt camp.
For those travelling on to Bukhara, this tour option includes transport from Samarkand, one night in the yurt camp and onward travel to Bukhara the next day. You will catch a lot of trains in Uzbekistan so why not do something different to travel between Samarkand and Bukhara.
The best day trip from Samarkand for nature lovers
Seven Lakes tour from Samarkand to Tajikistan
One of the most interesting day trips from Samarkand is to the Seven Lakes in neighbouring Tajikistan. The Seven Lakes are located in the Fann mountains which sit on the border of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Thousands of years ago, glaciers sculpted large mountain basins that eventually filled with water to form this series of lakes.
As you wind through the gorge you will notice the unique colours of each of the lakes. The Seven Lakes are famous for each lake being a different shade of blue. Their colours are said to change at different times of the day and when viewed from different angles. Taking a Seven Lakes tour is definitely one of the best day trips from Samarkand!
Many nationalities don’t need a visa for Tajikistan which makes this a really hop across the border and back. If you’re from the UK, you will need an evisa to do this tour.
Other cities you can visit on a day trip from Samarkand
Visit the capital city of Uzbekistan: Tashkent
For a taste of the modern Uzbekistan, consider visiting Tashkent. Thanks to the high speed Afrosiyob train, visiting Tashkent on a day trip from Samarkand is entirely possible.
Tashkent lacks the Silk Road beauty of other cities in Uzbekistan like Samarkand and Khiva, but has a charm all of its own. I really enjoyed visiting Tashkent as it showed a bit of a different side of Uzbekistan.
The bustling Chorsu Bazaar is the largest food market in Uzbekistan and feels like the beating heart of the city. You can learn so much about Uzbek food culture by exploring the bazaars meandering alleyways.
Tashkent has interesting museums, a stunning metro system, great restaurants and impressive Soviet-era monuments like the Hotel Uzbekistan. It’s modern and faster paced but is definitely worth a visit if you have the time.
The high speed train from Samarkand to Tashkent takes just over 2 hours. It is recommended to purchase tickets in advance on the Uzbek Railways website. It is a popular route and tickets can sell out.
Visit the Silk Road city of Bukhara
If possible, I would recommend spending a few days in Bukhara. However if you are short on time, you can take a day trip from Samarkand to Bukhara to get a quick feel for this beautiful city.
Bukhara has all of the Silk Road charm of Samarkand, but is smaller, more walkable and has some great restaurants. For many people, Bukhara is their favourite city in Uzbekistan so if you can fit in a visit, do it!
The Afrosiyob fast train will have you in Bukhara in under 2 hours, leaving you plenty of time to explore the city. Again, it is better to book this train in advance as the high speed option can sell out.
Best hotels and guesthouses in Samarkand
Samarkand has a range of places to stay to suit all budgets. Here are some of the best options.
Budget – Sitora Star Samarkand – We stayed for our 10 days and I can’t say enough good things about this place. It’s in a great location, spotlessly clean, has a kitchen you can use, air-conditioning in the rooms and the owner is amazing. If you’re on a budget, I would definitely recommend this place!
Mid-Range – Darvozai Samarkand Boutique Hotel is centrally-located, has friendly staff and the rooms are beautifully decorated with local suzani silks.
High-end – If you’re after luxury, check out Silk Road Empire Hotel. Spacious rooms, a great breakfast and super hospitable staff are just some of the reasons this hotel has a near perfect review score. It also has nice little features like free bike rental that set it apart from the rest.
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Looking for more inspiration for travelling in Central Asia?
Check out these posts:
The ultimate Uzbekistan travel itinerary
Uzbek cuisine: The best Uzbek foods to try!
Getting the train from Khiva to Bukhara
How to spend 3 days in Tashkent
Visiting the Aral Sea Ship Graveyard, Uzbekistan
