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AhPek Biker - Riding Adventures
Central Asia 2026
Day 4 : Samarkand to Tashkent
Central Asia 2026 Day 4: 18th May (Monday)
Medium-size Group (Non-cycling) Tour of Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan & Kazakhstan)
Day 4 - Samarkand to Tashkent:
Samarkand (Reikartz Hanzade)>Amir Temur Mausoleum>Registan Square>Konigil Tourist Village>Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis>Samarkand Railway Station>Sharq Express Train>Tashkent Railway Station>van>Reikartz Amirun Tashkent.
Samarkand (Reikartz Hanzade)>Amir Temur Mausoleum>Registan Square>Konigil Tourist Village>Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis>Samarkand Railway Station>Sharq Express Train>Tashkent Railway Station>van>Reikartz Amirun Tashkent.
This is page 4 of a 16-page blog. Click Here To Go To Title Page.
1. Traffic Directions!
Central Asian countries are left-hand drive and vehicles drive on the right side of the road. So do bear this in mind when crossing the road OR when sitting at the front passenger seat. I made this mistake several times and boarded the car at the driver's side with the driver giving me a surprised look 😂.
2. Getting to and from Central Asia.
Several airlines fly direct to Central Asia from their originating country. We were fortunate that AirAsia X flew direct from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) to Almaty, Kazakhstan, and Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
We flew return via AirAsia X, starting from KLIA Terminal 2 to Tashkent International Airport, and returning from Almaty International Airport to KLIA Terminal 2, buying tickets earlier to get cheaper fares. We also packed light (20kg checked-in luggage for two people plus an additional 7kg of cabin luggage), totalling 41kg of luggage.
We flew return via AirAsia X, starting from KLIA Terminal 2 to Tashkent International Airport, and returning from Almaty International Airport to KLIA Terminal 2, buying tickets earlier to get cheaper fares. We also packed light (20kg checked-in luggage for two people plus an additional 7kg of cabin luggage), totalling 41kg of luggage.
3. Getting around Central Asia.
We were on a private guided tour, and had 16-seater vans, with local guides taking us between the cities/towns.
Within Uzbekistan we took the Sharq Train from Tashkent to Bukhara, and from Samarkand to Tashkent.
Note: Traders in bazaars, markets, and small local shops only accept cash. The "sum" (ISO code: UZS) is the official currency of Uzbekistan. The "som" (ISO code: KGS) is the currency of Kyrgyzstan. The tenge (ten-gay, code: KZT) is the currency of Kazakhstan. It is divided into 100 tiyn.
Touch 'n Go e-Wallet can be used in Kazakhstan, just make sure the e-wallet is set to Kazakhstan.
4. Immigration & Customs Requirements
Malaysian passport holders do not need a visa to enter most Central Asian countries for short-term stays, and can visit Uzbekistan visa-free for up to 30 days. There is no need to fill in immigration forms.
Note: Malaysian passport holders can install the MyBorderPass app for fast immigration clearance to get in and out of Malaysia; use the app to generate a QR code just before passing through the 40 dedicated MyBorderPass gates (only at KLIA & KLIA2, 20 gates each), and getting through will be a breeze!
5. Places & Things of Interests
There were many scenic and interesting places of interest along the route, but one should not miss the following places in Samarkand (Note: click on the GPS coordinates below for a directional map to the respective places):
- Amir Temur Mausoleum (Gur-e-Amir) (Goʻri Amir) (GPS: 39.64854, 66.96924).
- Amir Temur Mausoleum (Gur-e-Amir) (Goʻri Amir) (GPS: 39.64854, 66.96924).
- Registan (Registon) (GPS: 39.65464, 66.97576).
- Konigil Tourist Village (Konigil sayyohlik qishlog'i) (GPS: 39.66483, 67.03553) and within it the Meros Paper Mill and Magic Pottery Workshop.
- Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis (Shohizinda) (GPS: 39.66213, 66.98793).
- Hazrat Khizr Mosque (Hazrati Xizr Masjidi) (GPS: 39.66343, 66.98325).
- Makhsum Baba Mausoleum (Maxsumbobo maqbarasi) (GPS: 39.66389, 66.98430).
- Makhsum Baba Mausoleum (Maxsumbobo maqbarasi) (GPS: 39.66389, 66.98430).
- Siyob Bazaar (Siyob Bozori) (GPS: 39.66204, 66.97986).
6. Food
a. Breakfast
Inclusive Uzbek & Western Fare at the Reikartz Hanzade (GPS: 39.64416, 66.95635) in Samarkand.
b. Morning Tea
Ice-cream at Sogdiana Registan Cafe (GPS: 39.65412, 66.97685), within the garden grounds of the Registan.
b. Morning Tea
Ice-cream at Sogdiana Registan Cafe (GPS: 39.65412, 66.97685), within the garden grounds of the Registan.
c. Lunch
Beef and Lamb Plov with Shakarob Salad, at Samarqand Osh Markazi (Samarqand Osh Markazi) (GPS: 39.68140, 66.98494).
d. Dinner
d. Dinner
Take-away Uzbek pre-packed meals of Uzbek Bread (Obi Non), Salad, Potato Chips, Grilled Chicken, Bun & Rice & Water..
e. Note: Just in case we yearned for some spiciness, we brought along Uleg Sambal Terasi to add to our food. We bought online from Lazada at RM7:40 for ten sachets.
7. Accommodations and Tour Costs
This was a recce-guided tour that included all ground arrangements, food, entry tickets to parks, and accommodations, but excluded return airfare to and from Central Asia. We booked Air Asia flight tickets online through their website at a return fare of around RM2,000 per pax. Co-travellers who booked later paid more. Our two pax airfare included 20kg of checked-in luggage and an extra 7kg of cabin luggage, giving us a total of 41kg of luggage..
The ground arrangements included 16-seater van transportation between and around cities; Sharq Express Train fare from Tashkent to Bukhara, and from Samarkhand to Tashkent, and domestic Tez Jet airfare from Osh to Bishkek. The 4x4 Russian truck ride to and from Karakol to the Altyn-Arashan Valley was optional and cost USD40 per pax. So was the 4x4 van ride from Saty to Kaindy Lake and Kolsay Lakes National Park, which cost USD20 per pax.
Accommodations were in three-star hotels, homestays, and a yurt camp. For those interested in this tour, contact Eddie at +6012-6122600 for more details and ground arrangement costs.
First of two nights at the Reikartz Amirun Tashkent (GPS: 41.27066, 69.26475) in Tashkent.
First of two nights at the Reikartz Amirun Tashkent (GPS: 41.27066, 69.26475) in Tashkent.
8. Communicating with Each Other
When travelling in a group, it's important to be able to communicate with each other, especially if one gets lost from the rest.
I pre-purchased the Maxis 15-day Multi-Country Roaming Pass at MYR99 and had it activated on the first day of our tour. This pass included a complimentary Maxis Travel Care insurance for the pass validity period - i.e. MYR50,000 hospitalisation, and MYR2,000 lost baggage, T&C applies.
Alternatively, an almost similar GOGO physical sim card for 15-day 20gB can be bought on Lazada at (excluding delivery) for MYR120.
I pre-purchased the Maxis 15-day Multi-Country Roaming Pass at MYR99 and had it activated on the first day of our tour. This pass included a complimentary Maxis Travel Care insurance for the pass validity period - i.e. MYR50,000 hospitalisation, and MYR2,000 lost baggage, T&C applies.
Alternatively, an almost similar GOGO physical sim card for 15-day 20gB can be bought on Lazada at (excluding delivery) for MYR120.
9. Communicating with Locals
Our local guides spoke excellent English, and those in the travel industry or bazaar traders speak passable English. Other locals speak their local language (Uzbek, Kyrgyz, or Kazakh) or Russian (as they were former Soviet republics). Or one can use Google Translate on one's mobile.
10. Weather
June is the beginning of summer, and the weather in Uzbekistan is dry, sunny, and hot across the board. In Samarkand, daytime temperatures average 30°C. In Tashkent, daytime temperatures average 32°C, while nighttime averaged 20°C.
A useful weather forecast site for Samarkand and Tashkent is AccuWeather. For more detailed weather, including cloud cover and wind speed, use Weatherspark and Ventusky.
A useful weather forecast site for Samarkand and Tashkent is AccuWeather. For more detailed weather, including cloud cover and wind speed, use Weatherspark and Ventusky.
11. Navigation
Geo-tagging of places of interest was via FaceBook, Google Maps or Yandex Maps and Yandex Navigator.
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PRELUDE
Yesterday morning we explored Bukhara a bit, then headed for Samarkand. Along the way visited the renowned Gijduvon Pottery Workshop. Today we will explore more of Samarkand before taking a late Sharq Express Train back to Tashkent.
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DAY 4: SAMAMARKAND TO TASHKENT
Most of the posts below are linked to my Facebook postings during the trip and are embedded here with some comments. (NOTE: Click on respective posts to link to the FB post to read more details. If you can't see the posts, please log out of your Facebook first.)
Uzbek/Western breakfast our hotel Reikartz Hanzade in Samarkand. A fairly good spread with very good salads, and pastries.
Some nice morning views at Samarkand.
Traffic was busy, but there was no jam.
Went along University Boulevard, a wide, shady boulevard. It's so named as there are several universities located here, including the Samarkand State University, the Samarkand Institute of Foreign Languages, etc.
Uzbek/Western breakfast our hotel Reikartz Hanzade in Samarkand. A fairly good spread with very good salads, and pastries.
Some nice morning views at Samarkand.
Traffic was busy, but there was no jam.
Went along University Boulevard, a wide, shady boulevard. It's so named as there are several universities located here, including the Samarkand State University, the Samarkand Institute of Foreign Languages, etc.
9:00am - At the Amir Temur Mausoleum, outside views, looking very grand with a large, rich blue dome sitting on red brick walls.
This is where Amir Timur (also known as Tamerlane), the renowned Turco-Mongol conqueror, is buried. He was one of the most powerful rulers in the Muslim world, defeating the Khans of the Golden Horde, the Mamluk Sultanate in Egypt and Syria, the emerging Ottoman Empire, as well as the Delhi Sultanate in the Indian subcontinent. He was the first ruler of the Timurid dynasty, and the founder of the Timurid Empire, which ruled over modern-day Afghanistan, Iran, and Central Asia.
Inside view of the Amir Temur Mausoleum, with the dome ceiling intricately finished and niche tiered with Muqarnas.
The souvenir shop selling colorfully decorated cups and pots. And plates painted with ladies veiled in colorful hijabs, with the shayla partly wrapped around their face, making them look mysterious but beautiful.
10:30am - Arrived at the Registan.
This is a historic public square famed for its ensemble of three madrasas: the Ulugh Beg Madrasa of the Timurid period, and the Sherdar Madrasa and Tilakari Madrasa, built later under the Janid dynasty.
Inside views of one of the madrasas, which includes a courtyard garden.
With local school children at the Registan, they had just finished performing a dance and happily requested to pose for photos with us.
Fine craftsmanship seen at the outside and inside of another of the madrasas at the Registan.
The elaborate Islamic architecture of the arches, and detailed Muqarnas dome ceilings is exquisite.
Taking a short break for coffee and ice cream at Sogdiana Registan Cafe, located at the large garden grounds of the Registan.
Lady trader at one of the souvenir stalls; several of these stalls line the large cubicles at the side of the entrance arch to the madrasas.
The Registan is a beautiful backdrop for event photos, like this couple taking wedding photos wearing traditional Uzbek costumes.
12:45pm - Lunch of beef and lamb Plov with Shakarob Salad at Samarqand Osh Markazi. My advice: Go for lamb! I found the local lamb tender and savory with a good aroma. Also, I am sort of addicted to the Shakarob Salad, a savory tomato-onion salad, which is hard to find outside Central Asia.
After lunch, it was a visit to the Konigil Tourist Village, which showcases several cottage industry. First was the Meros Paper Mill, with a local patiently showing us how the ancients made paper from Mulberry bark. It's a slow and laborious work.
I am a sucker for souvenir shops, just have to visit this one at the paper factory,
An older man showing the traditional way of making sesame oil. Sesame oil is used in making plov, halva, and salad dressing. The sesame oil used here is different from the thicker and stronger aroma ones used for Chinese cooking, which is made from roasted sesame seeds.
Within the paper mill grounds, enjoy a walk along a shady trail running alongside the Sieb Aryk stream/aqueduct. Further inside is the Magic Pottery Workshop, with potter master Sherzod and his assistant Begzod showing off their skills.
Plov rice cooking demo at the paper mill park.
From the Konigil Tourist Village it's a short fifteen minutes drive to the Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis.
The missus and me didn't walk up, and stayed at the foot of the slope to wait for the others who went. The Shah-i-Zinda Ensemble includes mausoleums, and other ritual buildings of 11th – 15th and 19th centuries.
Later, the van then dropped us at the Makhsum Baba Mausoleum, next to it is the Hazrat Khizr Mosque. Short of time we did not visit these two attractions, as we will be visiting another place up the hill.
Vehicular traffic not allowed, so we walked up to the Bibi-Khanym Mosque. There must be another way up as the bazaar is next to it. I am a bit embarrassed to say that I rushed my visit here as I was eager to go to bazaar next door!
Still I did spend a serene half-an-hour there, sitting at the garden grounds, admiring the mosque while contemplating about life and the universe 😊.
At the Siyob Bazaar, just next to the mosque. It's housed in a fairly new building, nicely shaded and with many stalls. From these stalls good bargains one can get good bargains for dried fruits and nuts, colourful local traditional clothing, nice pottery, etc.
6:00pm - Arrived at the Samarkand Railway Station, from where we will be taking the 7:23pm Sharq Express Train to Tashkent.
There is ample sitting to wait it out; but with time to spare, we walked around the station to explore a bit. Many shops lined both sides of the station, some were cafes/restaurant, others sold souvenirs, fruits & nuts, etc. The restrooms are at a lower level.
At on end of the station is the Qo'noq Capsule Hotel. It's convenient for those taking an early morning train, and costs about RM224 per night for two pax cubicle (at time of this blog) which comes with free Wifi, TV and very clean beds. Shared bathrooms and toilets are at one corner. Walk-in rates are shown in one of the photos.
At the rail platform, eager to board the 7:23pm Sharq Express Train from Samarkand to Tashkent. Some say that this building's design is based on Brutalistic architecture, but some Soviet-era buildings look good, eg the Seven Sisters. AND HERE COMES THE TRAIN!
Settled and comfortably in the coaches; a lighted sigh indicated "TOSHKENT". No worries, we are heading for the right place, that's local for Tashkent.
11:10pm - Arrived at Tashkent Railway Station, and heading to the hotel after a long and busy day.
Slightly passed midnight, checked into Reikartz Amirun Tashkent, our stay in Tashkent for the next two nights.
(For more photos of Day 4, Click Here)
(On mobile, for more photos of the day: Go to AhPek Biker Page>Photos and click on the respective album)
At on end of the station is the Qo'noq Capsule Hotel. It's convenient for those taking an early morning train, and costs about RM224 per night for two pax cubicle (at time of this blog) which comes with free Wifi, TV and very clean beds. Shared bathrooms and toilets are at one corner. Walk-in rates are shown in one of the photos.
At the rail platform, eager to board the 7:23pm Sharq Express Train from Samarkand to Tashkent. Some say that this building's design is based on Brutalistic architecture, but some Soviet-era buildings look good, eg the Seven Sisters. AND HERE COMES THE TRAIN!
Settled and comfortably in the coaches; a lighted sigh indicated "TOSHKENT". No worries, we are heading for the right place, that's local for Tashkent.
So that we would have more time to explore Samarkand, the guides had packed take-away meals for our dinner on board the train: Uzbek Bread (Obi Non), Salad, Potato Chips, Grilled Chicken, Bun & Rice & Water. Simple but it will suffice.
It's going to be a 3-1/2 hour train ride, so might as well relax and nap.
Slightly passed midnight, checked into Reikartz Amirun Tashkent, our stay in Tashkent for the next two nights.
Esnamoq..... Xayrli tun!
(For more photos of Day 4, Click Here)
(On mobile, for more photos of the day: Go to AhPek Biker Page>Photos and click on the respective album)
This is page 4 of a 16-page blog. Click Here To Go To Title Page.
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