Getting there
| Option | Cost (approx.) | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Private day trip with guide | from $80 per person in a group of 4 | 7–9 h total |
| Private transfer, one way | $45–65 per car | 1.5–2 h |
| Shared taxi from near the Registan | $6–10 per person | 1.5–2.5 h |
| Public bus via Kamashi/Guzar | $2–3 | 2.5–3.5 h |
The road crosses the Takhtakaracha Pass (about 1,790 m). For a private driver, agree the round-trip price and waiting time before you leave Samarkand. With a shared taxi, build slack into the return. Prices are indicative and change.
What to see
- Ak-Saray Palace (built from 1380): the surviving gate pylons are about 38 m tall, covered in blue, turquoise and gold tile. 30,000 som. Allow 30–40 minutes.
- Dorut Tilovat: a 14th-century ensemble with the tomb of Timur's spiritual teacher Shamseddin Kulal. 20,000 som, about 20 minutes.
- Kok Gumbaz Mosque (1435, Ulugbek): an active mosque, free; cover shoulders and knees. About 15 minutes.
- Dorut Saodat: a Timurid family mausoleum with a crypt. 25,000 som, 20–30 minutes.
Altogether the monuments cost roughly $8–12 and take 3–4 hours, plus lunch and the bazaar.
Make this plan yours
UzGidAI builds a day plan around your start time, pace and food wishes, and replans tomorrow from what you managed to see.
Plan my dayTips
- Best months: April–June and September–October. In July–August the valley reaches 38–40 °C, so leave Samarkand by 7:00.
- A train from Tashkent to Shahrisabz is reported to run only a few days a week and does not serve Samarkand; check the timetable.
- Carry cash in som: ticket counters may not take cards.
- Back in Samarkand? See Samarkand in one day.