Samarkand in one day: Gur-Emir, Registan & Shah-i-Zinda

The guide meets you at your hotel entrance and walks you through the day's programme and the features of each site. Comfortable walking shoes are strongly recommended — expect 5–7 km on foot.

• Comfortable closed-toe shoes are essential
• Water and a hat are especially important in summer
• In mosques: shoulders and knees must be covered (wraps are provided at the entrance)

Gur-Emir ("Tomb of the Ruler") is the mausoleum of Timur and his descendants. Its ribbed dome, clad in blue glaze, rises 34 m high with 66 ribs. Inside: Tamerlane's jade tombstone (1.8 m), golden ornaments and majolica.

• The jade tombstone is one of the largest in the world
• The astronomer Ulugh Beg is also buried here
• Legend: opening the tomb in 1941 "predicted" the war

The three madrasas were built over 250 years yet form an ensemble of astonishing harmony. In the morning there are fewer tourists and the light is perfect for photographs.

• Ulugh Beg Madrasa (1420) — the oldest, on the left
• Sher-Dor Madrasa (1636) — tigers on the arch, on the right
• Tilla-Kari Madrasa (1660) — "the gilded one", in the centre
• All courtyards are open: step inside and explore the student cells

Built after Tamerlane's Indian campaign. A 41-m dome and a 35-m portal made it one of the largest mosques of its era. Partly restored today. In the courtyard stands a giant marble Quran lectern.

• Built in 5 years, it began to collapse just 100 years after completion
• The marble lectern: 2 m tall, an open Quran for everyone
• Headscarves are offered to women at the entrance

The market at the walls of Bibi-Khanym has been open for centuries. Try Samarkand "obi-non" bread from the tandoor, spices, nishallo, dried fruit, nuts and fresh produce at local prices.

• Nishallo — a light, spiced egg-white confection
• Samarkand bread is baked on-site in a tandoor oven
• Spices and dried fruit are cheaper here than in tourist shops

Your guide will recommend the best nearby spots. Samarkand plov is cooked differently from Tashkent: the rice is layered on top rather than mixed in — a must-try.

• Samarkand plov — "rice over meat", a distinctive recipe
• Lamb shashlik with flatbread — a classic
• Lunch: ~30,000–60,000 UZS (approx. $3–6)

One of the most sacred necropolises in Islam. "Shah-i-Zinda" means "Living King" — according to tradition, a companion of the Prophet is buried here. The finest examples of Central Asian tilework from the 14th–15th centuries.

• 36 steps — tradition says to count them on the way up and down
• The earliest mausoleums are at the top, from the 11th century
• Blue tiles with floral ornament — the pinnacle of Timurid style
• Best light for photos: in the afternoon

The mill has revived ancient Samarkand paper-making from mulberry bark. No chemicals, entirely by hand — just as it was done in the 11th century. Samarkand paper does not yellow and lasts 1,000+ years.

• The full cycle: from tree bark to finished sheet
• A hands-on demonstration — you can touch every stage of the process
• On-site shop: books, calligraphy sets and souvenirs
• A personalised calligraphy sheet makes a great gift

The guide accompanies you back to your hotel or the nearest convenient point. On a walking tour, the guide will walk you back or arrange a taxi.