Day trip to Urgut and paper factory Konigil village

Tour program daytrip to Urgut

This day tour offers the unique experience to explore the local art and craft by visiting the Samarkand Silk Carpet factory, Silk Paper factory in small village Konigil and the town Urgut.

Urgut is a small town in Uzbekistan around 40 km from Samarkand at the footsteps of Zeravshan mountain range. It is well known among the locals as one of the biggest wholesale “bazaars” markets in Samarkand region. It is also of the great interest to visitors as there is the 8th generation pottery workshop where one can practice the pottery skills. Another sight is the “Chor Chinor” complex – the thousand year old plane trees alley, uniquely preserved grove that survived till our days.

Konigil – is a small village near Samarkand. It is a home for a family of the local craftsmen who produces the silk paper using only the traditional technology like water mills and most of the work done by hand. The history of the silk paper is dated back to 105 A.D. and was invented by Chinese. Thanks to the Silk Road the process of making paper was brought to Samarkand in 7th century.

In this trip you will participate in paper making process and have an excursion around the paper factory. The factory is located in the very peaceful and charming part of the village on the banks of the Siab river.

DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION

Samarkand - Urgut - Samarkand

DEPARTURE TIME

After breakfast depart to Shahrisabz at 8:30

INCLUDED

Transport (air conditioned sedan): Samarkand- Urgut - Samarkand

NOT INCLUDED

Entrance fees

Driver gratuity

Tour details with the prices:

num of people	Price per person
1	80$
2	45$
3	30$

Tour details :

Please note that above trip suggestion can be tailored to your individual needs.

Day tour to Urgut Market, silk carpet, paper factory

08:30 AM

Samarkand – Samarkand Silk Carpet Factory

The family owned workshop unique in Central Asia offers you to experience the handmade carpet weaving process from the start to the end. The short excursion will explain the whole process of carpet making starting from the silk production techniques till fully ready carpets. Also you will reveal to yourself the handmade silk carpet buying secrets from the experts.

09:45 AM

Samarkand - Konigil

Participate in Silk Paper Making process and have a walk around the craftsmen’s workshop. Observe the water mills and water wheels at work and see the appearance of the silk paper and even try yourself to produce the paper in the ancient traditional way.

12:10 AM

Konigil – Urgut bazaar

Visit to Urgut bazaar – famous for its wholesale market and also among the foreign visitors the Suzani market. Suzani is the handmade cloth to hang on the walls, can be used as bedcovers, table cloth, etc. Observe the market day of the local people where you can practice your negotiating skill and even improve it. Because the traders of Urgut are considered to be one the best in the region which goes back to days of the Great Silk Road where the ancestors of these people were learning the art of trading.

01:10 PM

Urgut bazaar – Chor Chinor plane tree grove

Chor chinor is the grove located in the upper side of Urgut town near the Zeravshan ridge. The thousand-year plane trees are the main landmarks in this grove. The branches of the trees grew into unbelievable shapes with impressing gigantic sizes which makes then unique in this region.

02:10 PM

Chor Chinor plane tree grove - Numon Kulol Pottery Workshop

After lunch visit the Numon Kulol’s workshop and his house where you can try yourself in pottery skills. The excursion in workshop and the short introduction to ceramic production is provided.