Private Tour

Uzbek Cooking Class in Samarkand with Return Hotel Transfers

Overview

Available languages

Russian

English

French

4 hours

Mobile ticket

Shodiyor was born and brought up in Samarkand. He worked as a teacher for a few years before completing his masters. Shodiyor has been working as a guide for over 7 years sharing his knowledge with travelers who are curious to learn about the history, culture, art and food of Uzbekistan.

- Guided tour of a local, neighborhood market

- Private Uzbek cooking class in Samarkand with locals

- Learn to make two dishes from scratch - plov or a traditional bread and salad

- Learn about the history, culture, art and food of Uzbekistan

- Unmissable cooking classes in Samarkand to learn traditional Uzbek cuisine

- Wine or Vodka and return hotel transfers is included

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Public transportation options are available nearby

Menu may vary depending on the season

If any travelers in your party have any allergies, dietary restrictions or cooking preferences please advise at time of booking

Vegan and Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required

Private, personalized experience

The price includes the cost of return transportation from central Samarkand hotels, please include your hotel name and address in your booking

The price includes 1 glass of local wine or vodka per person

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

All taxes, fees and handling charges

Local alcohol

Gratuities

Private Uzbek cooking class with your host Shiyodor

Central Samarkand hotel pick up and drop off

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Samarkand Family Guest House

Abdurasulova 39 Samarkand Uzbekistan

Your host will pick you up from the concierge desk of your central Samarkand hotel and drop you back to your hotel after the experience is over. Please include your hotel name and address in your reservation.

What To Expect

This is a unique opportunity to visit the home of a local and explore traditional culture and cuisine. Shodiyor will pick you up from your central hotel in Samarkand and drive you to his village of Eshim Oksok, 15 kilometers away from Samarkand. The experience takes place in Shodiyor's home, where you will get to cook and eat together. Begin your experience with a short tour of the local market, where locals shop for their fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables. Back home, in your 1.5 hour Uzbek cooking class learn to make plov or traditional bread and a salad. Either learn to bake and observe the process of making non (Uzbek bread) in a tandir (traditional outdoor oven). Or then learn to cook plov, the famous one pot rice and lamb dish. After you cook, sit down and eat the meal you helped prepare. In case you don't wish to cook plov or non, here are a few other dishes you can choose from: laghman (a dish of meat, vegetables and pulled noodles) or kazan kebab (fried meat and potatoes) or dolma (stuffed grape leaves) or gilmindi (Uzbek pancakes) or manti (dumplings) - please let Shodiyor know in advance if you'd like to cook any of these dishes instead of plov.

Sample Menu

starter

Salad

main

Plov (one pot rice and lamb dish) or Non (bread)

dessert

Water and Tea

dessert

Vodka or Wine

Options

Market+Cook+Dinner w/ Shodiyor

Pickup included

Market+Cook+Lunch w/ Shodiyor

Pickup included

Reviews

4.91

11 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Very welcoming host
Stephane S,
May 30, 2025
- Viator
5.00
Unique experience to discover Uzbek life and cuisine. We go to the market to choose the products that we then cook.
Great hostess!
Travis L,
May 21, 2025
- Viator
5.00
The hostess was wonderful! Great sense of humor and very friendly. Everything was smooth and the food was delicious!
Come for the food, stay for the company
Maria H,
Jun 16, 2024
- Viator
5.00
Absolutely loved this experience. Easily my favorite trip experience, and paired perfectly well with a separate day tour of the city. The family opened their home and were so warm and welcoming. There was no pretention, just a hands-on activity. Come with an open mind and empty stomach. Don't make of the mistake like I did and overeat on the bread before the palov was ready. It was difficult because the bread was so good! The fresh tandoor taste is just so special. Even if you do, you won't regret it.
My BEST time in Samarkand!
Yuting K,
Jun 14, 2024
- Viator
5.00
It's our favourite experience in Uzbekistan. Highly recommended. Shodiyor is a elegant French teacher. We went to market together, bought all the ingredients for plov, cut carrots with lovely family members in this beautifully decorated house, and cooked with traditional wood fire stove. The whole experience was authentic. I'm grateful to have this opportunity to visit this family and had wonderful time with them.
My favorite part of my trip to Samarkand.
Colton E,
May 13, 2024
- Viator
5.00
This was my favorite thing that I did while in Samarkand. The best part was getting to know our guide, and our host, who taught us to cook the plov. They showed us true hospitality, and made us feel like a member of their family. The process of cooking the plov was very interesting, as we cooked the plov in a big pot over an open fire, which is the traditional way to cook plov. And of course, the final product was delicious!