Urgut Bazaar & Konigil
Urgut and Konigil, Samarkand Region, Uzbekistan
1 Day (about 6 hours)
Max 10 People
Easy
Tour Guide
Description
A day in the countryside around Samarkand, among the crafts and markets that keep old traditions alive. In the village of Konigil you watch paper being made by hand from mulberry bark, the way Samarkand paper was made for centuries. Then it is on to Urgut, a town at the foot of the mountains whose bazaar is one of the liveliest in the region.
The day ends in the shade of Chor-Chinor, a spring-fed grove of giant plane trees, some said to be around a thousand years old. The bazaar is open most days and is at its busiest on Sunday mornings, so it is worth planning the trip for then if you can.
Not included: entrance to the paper workshop, lunch and anything you buy at the bazaar. For groups of more than 10 people, please contact us.
Itinerary
Your guide and driver meet you at your hotel in the morning.
A short drive out of the city, a water-powered mill on a stream turns mulberry bark into smooth, glossy paper. See each step, from stripping the bark to polishing the sheets, and browse the notebooks, dolls and crafts made from it.
About 40 km south-east of Samarkand, Urgut's market spreads over whole streets: carpets and suzani embroidery, skullcaps, spices, dried fruit, fresh bread and everyday life far from the tourist trail.
A peaceful shrine and garden around a spring, shaded by huge old plane trees. A favourite place for a slow walk and a cup of tea.
Back at your hotel in the afternoon.
What's Included
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Private car with driver
- English-speaking guide
- Bottled water
Tour Map
- 1Samarkand
- 2Meros paper workshop, Konigil
- 3Urgut bazaar
- 4Chor-Chinor
- 5Return to Samarkand
Reviews
No reviews yet. Have you taken this tour? Be the first to share how it went.
You can also review us on Tripadvisor, where we are listed as Jahongir Premium Tours.