Tour from Samarkand to Termez.
Day 1: Samarkand—Shakhrisabz—Langar—Darband
Pick up at 8:00 am from Samarkand hotel. Transfer to the Darband.
Visit Shakhrisabz city:
Ak Saray Palace (“a white palace” in Uzbek) built in 1380-1404. Amir Temur gathered its craftsmen to his hometown to build his greatest palace, similar in structure to Samarkand’s Bibi Khanum Mosque. The name Ak-Serai (White Palace) symbolizes his noble descent, not the dominant colour, for blue, green and gold patterned the vast mosaics.
Statue of Amir Temur— there are three huge statues of Temur: one is in Samarkand, one is in Tashkent and the third is in his hometown Shakhrisabz in standing position. The bronze statue weighs 20 tons and 9 meters high built after the Independence (1991).
Complex of Dor-us Siyadat (“place of sadness” in Uzbek) from XIV century. It arose on the death of his eldest and favorite son Jahangir, killed in 1375 (aged only 22). When another son, Umar Sheikh, joined Jahangir in 1394, Temur even built himself a crypt.
Dor-ut Tilavat (“place of praying” In Uzbek) from XIV-XV centuries, contains the Kok Gumbaz Mosque (1435) built by grandson of Temur Mirzo Ulugbek, the mausoleum constructed by Amir Temur in 1373 1374 for Sheikh Shamseddin Kulyal, a Sufic leader and spiritual advisor of Temur’s father, Taraghay. After the tour drive to Samarkand.
Visit Langar ota village:
Langar is a popular name for a village in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Iran and other countries. And among all, the small village of Langar in the vicinity of Shakhrisabz, which is famous for the mausoleum of Muhammad Sodik, one of the great Sufis, especially stands out.
A long time ago, in the 15th century, there lived Sheikh Muhammad Sodiq, who was a student of the famous Sufi Ishqiya Baba, the founder of the Ishqiya Sufi order. One winter morning, Muhammad Sodiq overslept and did not have time to heat up the water for ablution for his teacher, but in order to somehow warm it up and make amends, he pressed the jug to his chest. When he handed the jug to Ishqiya Baba, it turned out that the water had boiled. Then the teacher told the student that he had comprehended all the stages of enlightenment, and the two of them had nothing to do in one place, and then ordered him to sit on the camel and ride until the camel could not stand up, and there the young Sufi would have to “throw anchor.” So Muhammad Sodiq left his mentor and reached places in the vicinity of Shakhrisazb, and where the camel could no longer walk, the village of Langar appeared.
Transfer to Darband village and overnight in guest house
Day 2: Darband
Derbent (also known as Darband) is a picturesque village (kishlak) situated in the Baysun district of the Surkhandarya region in southern Uzbekistan. Its name, derived from Persian, translates as “closed gates,” reflecting its longstanding role as a point of control and defense. According to historical accounts, it was at this very site that local inhabitants successfully resisted the advance of Alexander the Great’s forces for a considerable period. Derbent is also renowned for the “Iron Gates,” where, during the Middle Ages, customs duties were imposed on caravans traversing the Silk Road. To this day, the village is recognized as the gateway to the Surkhandarya region.
Visit main sites around Darband
Day 3: Darband—Termez
Termez is a historic city located in the southern part of Uzbekistan, near the border with Afghanistan, along the banks of the Amu Darya River. It is one of the oldest cities in Central Asia, with roots dating back over 2,500 years. Termez was a major center of Buddhism during the Kushan Empire and later became an important Islamic cultural and trading hub. Today, it is known for its archaeological sites, including ancient Buddhist monasteries, Islamic mausoleums, and remnants of fortresses. Termez also serves as a key administrative and economic center in the Surkhandarya region.
Visiting places:
Sultan Saodat Ensemble— developed between the 10th and 17th centuries, the complex serves as a necropolis for the prominent Sayyid dynasty of Termez, who claimed descent from the Prophet Muhammad—beginning notably with Sayyid Hasan al-Amir in the 9th–10th century.
Fayaz-Tepe—dates back to the 1st to 3rd centuries AD, during the time of the Kushan Empire, when Buddhism flourished in the region. It was part of a broader network of Buddhist centers in the area, connected to the famous Silk Road.The site likely served as a monastery complex, offering spiritual education and a place for meditation for monks and pilgrims.
Termez Archaeological Museum on April 2, 2002, marked the city’s 2500-year celebration. Unlike its broader-focused counterpart, the History Museum, this institution specializes in archaeological artifacts, making it a singular destination in Central Asia.
Day 4: Termez
Take overnight train to Tashkent (17:40-08:15)
Or take the transfer by car to Samarkand.
