The Golden City of Samarkand

Samarkand, with its azure domes and ancient silhouette, stands as a living monument to centuries of conquest, culture, and commerce. On this historical walking tour, you'll explore the Golden City's most magnificent landmarks, from the sacred necropolis of Shah-I-Zinda to the majestic Registan complex. Along the way, you'll uncover stories of brutal warlords and brilliant scholars who shaped this Silk Road metropolis into what UNESCO calls the crossroads of cultures.

The tour begins at the entrance to Shah-I-Zinda, the Tomb of the Living King. You'll wander through an avenue of mausoleums dating back to the 9th century, admiring the dazzling majolica and terracotta tilework that adorns these sacred structures. You'll discover the legend of Kusam Ibn Abbas, the Prophet Mohammed's cousin who supposedly escaped beheading by tucking his head under his arm and disappearing into a well. After crossing the highway, you'll explore the vibrant Siob Bazaar, where everyday Samarkand life unfolds among stalls of spices, melons, and traditional bread.

Your journey continues to the magnificent Bibi Khanym Mosque, commissioned by Timur with treasures plundered from India. You'll hear the folklore of the architect who stole a kiss from Timur's Chinese wife, supposedly leading to the decree that women should wear veils. The tour concludes at the breathtaking Registan, a triad of madrassas whose name means Sandy Place—a reference to the sand that once soaked up the blood from countless executions. Here you'll marvel at the Ulugbek, Tilya-Kari, and Sher Dor madrassas, with their striking geometric patterns and, unusually, depictions of tigers that defy Islamic prohibition on portraying living beings.

On this 60 -minute tour, you'll have a chance to:'

• Explore Shah-I-Zinda, the stunning necropolis where Uzbekistan's former president Islam Karimov is buried alongside ancient nobility
• Experience the bustling Siob Bazaar, where traditional lepyoshka bread and modern goods are sold side by side
• Visit the Bibi Khanym Mosque, once the largest Islamic structure in Central Asia, built on Timur's impossible specifications
• Discover the Jewish Quarter, once home to 50,000 Jews and thirty synagogues, now reduced to a small but resilient community
• Learn how mathematician Al-Khorezm, whose name morphed into algorithm, and Ibn Sina, whose medical textbooks were used for centuries, emerged from this intellectual hub
• Witness the magnificent Registan complex, with its intricate mosaics and hidden quirks like the tiger motifs that defy Islamic tradition

Take this journey through Samarkand, where hospitality reigns supreme and the past lives alongside the present in one of Central Asia's most captivating destinations. Immerse yourself in a city Alexander the Great once declared more beautiful than I ever imagined.

This tour does require paid entrance to 3 sites.
The Shah-I-Zinda - $1.50
The Bibi Khanym Mosque - $.150
The Registan - $3.50