Samarkand is an incredible ancient city located in Central Asia with a fascinating blend of cultures, and one of the world's oldest inhabited cities. Its location on the Silk Road - the trade route between Europe and China - has helped it prosper. When travelling to a destination like Samarkand, Khiva or Bukhara it is essential that you book with a trustworthy local operator. We are locally based and know everything there is to know about Samarkand, and have personally recommended a range of comfortable, safe and good value Samarkand Hotels!
Samarkand, with its unique architecture and friendly people, makes it the perfect off-the-beaten-track destination to visit on your next holiday!
Notwithstanding fire, devastation and bloody battles many times over, Samarkand has always bounced back and maintained its place as an important Central Asian state. Samarkand, with a 2500 year old history, is as old as the city of Rome and Babylon, and ideal for taking a Samarkand tour. It is the second largest city of Uzbekistan, which is situated in the valley of river Zarafshan. The culture of Samarkand is influenced by a mix of different cultures - Indian, Mongolian, Iranian, Eastern and Western. In the past, Samarkand experienced numerous conquests during the period of Tamerlane, Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and the Arabic conquest.
Historians and poets call it by different names - "The beauty of sublunary countries, Rome of the East and The Pearl of the Eastern Muslim World." Samarkand is counted among the top cities of Central Asia because of its position in the Zarafshan valley and numerous ancient sights to explore.
Samarkand has an amazing array of ancient monuments and there is a lot to see and do in Samarkand. The central area of Samarkand is the Registan Square, which was built on a dry sandy river bed in the beginning of the early 15th century. The word "Registan" translates to "sandy place". The Registan Square is considered an architectural gem that represents classic Islamic art. Samarkand is a well known centre for Islamic education. The Bibi Khanum Mosque is among the city's well known landmarks. Because of its culture and historical sights, Samarkand has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as "Samarkand - Crossroads of Cultures" in 2001. Ensure you book your accommodation in Samarkand from our range of Samarkand hotels!
The Ulug Bek Madrassa, which is the oldest surviving madrassa in Samarkand and all other parts of Central Asia, is definitely worth a visit. Another interesting place is an old monumental building called Gur-Amir, commissioned by Timur, which is used as his mausoleum. The dome is covered with blue tiles with a striking ribbed design. The tombs of Timur and his descendants are located inside the mausoleum. If you are looking for a place to stay in Uzbekistan look no further then our Samarkand hotels!
The Khodja Akrar mosque has a beautiful mosaic depicting a lion chasing a deer. It is very interesting and unusual because living creatures are seldom illustrated in Islamic art. The mosque is decorated with Arabic scripts and geometrical patterns. Sher dor Madrassa has several unique drawings of suns with Mongol faces and a few tiger sketches too. These drawings are unusual because the representation of living beings is forbidden in the Quran which believes that creation is the preserve of God.
There are numerous charming and hospitable Samarkand hotels, perfect for relaxing in after a fascinating sightseeing tour in Samarkand. The hotels in Samarkand provide a relaxing and comfortable stay and most are run by warm and welcoming locals. You can even use our interactive Samarkand map to choose your hotel in Samarkand based on its location.
Samarkand, the cultural centre of the Islamic East since the 9th and 10th century, was the first capital of the Samanids. Ruins of the carved panels belonging to the Samanid palace were found in the western region of Afrasiab. During the 11th and 13th century Samarkand was the capital of the newly walled western Qarakhanid state. A palace for the Qarakhanids was built inside this walled fortress. A mausoleum built for Kusam ibn Abbas made the place an important religious site.
After being in Samarkand which has so much on offer, a lot of visitors feel a bit let-down when they step in Bukhara because of the mud-coloured buildings. This should not deter you from visiting this city which is considered one of Uzbekistan's treasures due to the centuries-old buildings and history that makes it such an exotic cultural place to discover. The origin of the name Bukhara comes from the Sanskrit word ‘vihara' meaning 'monastery'.
Bukhara is located on what is described to be a sacred hill to the west of Samarkand. It is believed that this is where the fire-worshippers used to make sacrifices during the spring season and also it was once renowned in the Islamic world as the religious learning centre. In addition, this city is where Sheikh Bahautdin Nakshbandi lived and he was known for his spiritual approach to Islam, religion and philosophy. Bukhara has at least 100 religious colleges and more than 350 mosques, hence why it is also referred to as 'The Holy City' or 'The Religion City'.
While you are in this neck of the woods, why not venture to Khiva which is the best preserved stop of the silk trading route and amongst the most ancient cities of Asia, for this reason, it was added to the World Heritage List. Khiva was not only known as the resting place for the merchants on the Silk Road but it was also the Central Asian hub for the trading of slaves. There are numerous legends about the origin of the name Khiva and one of those is that the merchants who came to stop in the city for a drink would always say ‘Key vakh' meaning ‘what a pleasure' after their drink.
Khiva is located to the south of the Khorezm region which borders the Kara Kum desert; approximately about 450 km from Bukhara and 40 km from the Amudarya River. After visiting Samarkand and Bukhara which are two historical cities, a tour of Khiva will charm you due to the beauty and well preserved state of its architectural monuments which are still in its original condition.
The streets in Uzbekistan are clean and the Uzbeckis are well dressed, affluent and happy. UNESCO, UN and WTO have recognized the importance of Samarkand in the history and culture of mankind and are helping promote tourism in Samarkand. Come visit this wonderful city and explore it on an exciting Samarakand tour. Check out our wide range of tours in Samarkand and choose from our list of Samarkand hotels and let us help you plan you ideal Samarkand, Khiva and Bukhara holiday!
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Meet your local connection in Samarkand, Shoista Saydaminova and the team of 
