4.9
4.9
- Duration
- 8–9 hours
- Tour type
- Private
- Starts
- Samarkand
- Runs
- Daily, all year
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation 24 hours before
Overview
A private day from Samarkand over the Takhtakaracha Pass to Shakhrisabz, Amir Timur's birthplace, and on to Miraki, a mountain village in the Gissar foothills. Hotel pick-up, car and a local guide in Shakhrisabz included.
This private day tour joins the two sides of the Shakhrisabz road: the history of Amir Timur's home town and the mountains behind it. You cross the Takhtakaracha Pass, with a stop among the granite boulders of the Devil's Valley and at the viewpoint on the top, and drive down to Shakhrisabz, whose historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In Shakhrisabz a local guide walks with you through the old centre: the giant arch of Timur's Ak-Saray Palace, Dorus Saodat with the mausoleum of his eldest son Jahongir and the crypt Timur prepared for himself, and the Dorut Tilovat complex with the blue-domed Kok Gumbaz Mosque.
From Shakhrisabz the road climbs about 33 km into the foothills of the Gissar Range to Miraki, a village at about 1,000 m on the Aksu river, known for its clean mountain air and guest houses. Here you have lunch and time for a walk along the river before the drive back to Samarkand.
We pick you up at your hotel in Samarkand in the morning and bring you back in the evening. Entrance tickets and lunch are paid on the spot.
Highlights
- Cross the Takhtakaracha Pass with stops in the Devil's Valley and at the viewpoint
- See the giant arch of Ak-Saray, Amir Timur's White Palace
- Visit Dorus Saodat and the crypt Timur prepared for himself
- Drive into the Gissar foothills to the mountain village of Miraki
- Private car from your hotel, at your own pace
Itinerary
8–9 hours · Samarkand · Takhtakaracha Pass · Shakhrisabz · Miraki · Samarkand
Stop 1Samarkand - Takhtakaracha Pass - Shakhrisabz - Miraki - Samarkand
- 09:00 - Pick-up at your hotel in Samarkand.
- Drive towards the Takhtakaracha Pass, with a stop among the granite boulders of the Devil's Valley and a photo stop at the top of the pass.
- Drive on to Shakhrisabz (about 1 hour), where your guide joins you.
- Ak-Saray Palace (45 minutes)
- Dorus Saodat (45 minutes)
- Dorut Tilovat and Kok Gumbaz Mosque (30 minutes)
- Drive to Miraki in the Gissar foothills (40-50 minutes).
- Lunch at a local cafe in Miraki (about 1 hour, paid on the spot) and a short walk along the Aksu river.
- Drive back to Samarkand (about 2.5 hours), arriving in the early evening.
What's included
Included
- Private car with driver, round trip from your hotel in Samarkand
- Local English- or Russian-speaking guide in Shakhrisabz
- Bottled water
Not included
- Entrance tickets to the monuments (about $12-15 per person)
- Lunch (about $15 per person)
- Personal expenses
Practical information
Route
- Starts:
- Samarkand
- Ends:
- Samarkand
Important information
The road over the Takhtakaracha Pass and up to Miraki is a mountain road. In winter there can be snow and ice, so please ask us about the road conditions when you book, and bring warm clothes.
Comfortable shoes are useful for the walks in Shakhrisabz and Miraki.
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation 24 hours before
Free date change
Prices
$95 per person, based on 2 travellers
Price per person
| 1 person | $170 |
|---|---|
| 2 persons | $95 |
| 3 persons | $75 |
| 4–6 persons | $60 |
| 7–10 persons | $50 |
Private tour, per person: 1 person $170 · 2 persons $95 · 3 persons $75 · 4–6 persons $60 · 7–10 persons $50
Estimate. TravelBliss confirms the final price.
Questions about this journey
How long is the Shakhrisabz and Miraki day tour?
About 8-9 hours, round trip from your hotel in Samarkand, with pick-up at 09:00.
What is the difference from the Shakhrisabz day tour?
The Shakhrisabz day tour covers the pass and the historic centre and takes about 6-7 hours. This tour adds the Devil's Valley and a drive into the Gissar foothills to Miraki, with lunch there.
Where is Miraki?
Miraki is a mountain village in the Kitab district of Kashkadarya, about 33 km from Shakhrisabz at around 1,000 m, on the Aksu river at the foot of the Gissar Range.
Can we do this tour in winter?
Yes, the tour runs all year. In winter the pass and the mountain road to Miraki can have snow and ice, so ask us about the road conditions when you book. Bring warm clothes.
Is there a guide, and in which language?
A local English- or Russian-speaking guide joins you in Shakhrisabz. On the road and in Miraki you travel with your driver, who speaks Uzbek and Russian.
