Cheap Flights from Samarkand with Jazeera Airways.

Discover Samarkand

Samarkand is tucked away in the south-eastern corner of Uzbekistan and is a real hidden gem. This is a destination for adventurous travellers with a taste for the unusual and history lovers who want to explore an ancient city and its culture. Book a holiday to Samarkand with Jazeera Airways and you’re heading to a destination that holds endless surprises around every corner. It’s a city that straddles the Silk Route, making it a hugely important merchant’s trading post down the ages. For centuries, the sheer amount of trade that flowed through its gates made Samarkand one of the largest cities in Central Asia.

Today, it’s a bustling city of around half a million people, where modern malls and boutique stores sit side by side with ancient buildings and archaeological remains dating back to the 8th century BCE. However, this location has seen human habitation dating long before the dawn of written history, with evidence that people have called Samarkand home for over 40,000 years. If you want to find out more about these pre-history inhabitants, take a stroll down to Syob and Midtown to see where the city’s ancestors once lived. Because of its cultural and historic importance, the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There is so much history on display here it’s hard to know where to start. A great introduction to the medieval period of the city’s history can be found at the memorial complex of Shah-i Zinda. Or tour some of the great academic centres such as Ulugbek’s madrasa. At the end of a busy day, restaurants offer a welcome respite from sightseeing, with hearty traditional food and a friendly welcome.

Registan Ensemble

This collection of historically important buildings focused around a central square is at the top of every visitor’s list. Here, you’ll find the three medresses of Ulugbek, Shirdor and Tilla Kari. Look for the magnificent decorations of tigers on Shirdor (shir means ‘tiger’), and the superb mosaics and exquisite carvings on Ulugbek. This was once one of the greatest centres for mathematics and science in Asia. An additional detour well worth making is to Ulugbek’s Observatory, a truly remarkable building in its day. Today, parts of the huge marble sextant that helped Ulugbek make his calculations can still be seen in the centre of the observatory’s remains.

Afrosiab, Tashkent kochasi

This is the site of the original Samarkand and is located in the northern part of the modern city (if that term can ever apply to this incredibly ancient place). To find out more about the history of the different influences that have shaped Samarkand, a museum in the centre of the remains is well worth a visit.

The Khodja Akhrar Mausoleum

Samarkand is famous for its elaborate mausoleums, and this is one of the finest on show. The grave of a famous benefactor and state official from the 1400s, it’s covered in white marble tiles and stunningly beautiful decorations. A large mosque provides a chance for visitors to contemplate and relax in peace, and the gardens that surround the mausoleum are tranquil and soothing, offering visitors a chance to pause a while and take in both the natural and manmade beauty of the site.

Shopping

Samarkand has always been a major trading centre, so it’s no surprise that you’ll find plenty of markets, boutiques, stores and malls to browse. Goods still come from all over Asia to be sold in Samarkand’s markets, and you’ll still find spice traders selling the city’s famous ‘Zeera’ or black cumin, as well as saffron and pistachio nuts.

Other typically Uzbekistani goods to look out for as a reminder of your time here include rugs brought in from the cities of Kashgar and beyond. Bear in mind that some smaller boutiques and market traders will only take cash. Fortunately, there are ATMs in the city centre that accept major credit cards. You will, however, be charged a processing fee of around 1.5% per transaction.

Food And Drink

Uzbekistani food is rich, spicy and full of flavour. Because of the city’s location between the cultures of Europe and Asia, influences are many and varied, creating a cuisine that ranges from samosas and falafel to noodles and dumpling dishes. The national dish is Plov, a delicious pilaf rice dish complete with lamb or beef and a sweet and spicy mix of vegetables, garlic, raisins and apricots.

For a taste of the city’s Far Eastern influences, try Manti, moist dumplings filled with succulent lamb or beef and served with a yoghurt dip. And no culinary experience is complete without trying the different types of bread sold throughout the city known as ‘Samarkand Non’.