Silk Road Samarkand: Where History Meets Luxury
Uzbekistan is a jewel of a country that may be off the radar for many foreigners, but Samarkand had long retained a certain type of allure in my mind. Whenever I crossed paths with Uzbeks on my travels, I always told them it was at the top of my bucket list. They’d often blink and ask, “Why?”
My answer was simple: Samarkand is the city I was most excited to see in Uzbekistan. Even if you simply Google “Uzbekistan travel,” a glowing image of Registan Square is usually what pops up.
Now, I know that there’s a long-standing debate among Uzbek locals about whether Bukhara or Samarkand is better—I will not insert myself into that argument. But safe to say, my 3-day trip to Samarkand did not disappoint in the slightest.
We stayed at the Silk Road Samarkand resort, located about 20 minutes from the historic center of Samarkand. Before arriving, I believed it was simply a hotel—albeit a very nice one—but I quickly realized that Silk Road Samarkand is more than just a place to sleep: it’s an immersive experience itself. A relatively-new development, the Silk Road Samarkand complex comprises of 8 hotels, an ecovillage, expo center, and “Eternal City” (more on that later).
On my second day, returning after a sweltering walk through Shah-i-Zinda, I discovered that my hotel had a Salt Room (something I had never even heard of before). A Salt Room is a glowing pink chamber filled with fine white salt layered upon the floor, where you sit in soft bean bag chairs and do absolutely nothing while gentle ocean sounds play in the background—it was exactly what I needed.
Later, we took a quick walk to explore the Eternal City, right next to the hotel, which was newly built to resemble the architectural styles of old Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva. It felt almost like Disney, with rides like a ferris wheel, but for Uzbek culture. There, you can indulge your inner child with cotton candy, browse shops selling traditional clothing and jewelry, catch a free performance every night in a glowing amphitheater that resembles the Roman Colosseum, and enjoy a delicious, affordable riverside dinner followed by a peaceful boat ride. In the evening, the entire place comes alive with families, couples, and groups of friends.
Silk Road Samarkand is a place where you can pretend you’re living in the past, but with all the creature comforts of the present. And that’s what I loved most about the city of Samarkand—that it balances both so effortlessly.
