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VIEW PHOTOS
VIEW PHOTOS

Host: Shodiyor & Barchinoy

Samarkand, Uzbekistan

USD
$62-$124 per person

Samarkand Cooking Class with Market Tour & Transfers

Host offerings
  • Rural farmhouse
  • Home cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food tour

Meet Shodiyor & Barchinoy

Shodiyor was born and brought up in Samarkand. He worked as a teacher for a few years before completing his masters. One day at university he saw a group of tourists with a guide, who was giving them information about the history of his homeland. That is when he found his calling and his goal was to become a guide. 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.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

Market visit: (1-20 guests) Authentic home cooking class in Samarkand, combining a local market visit, hands-on Uzbek cooking class, and an authentic home-cooked meal. Your experience begins with a hotel pickup in Samarkand by Shodiyor, who will drive you to a small neighborhood market near the Samarkand railway station. This local market is where residents shop for fresh, seasonal fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy products. The bright colors of the produce create a visual feast and offer the perfect introduction to Uzbek ingredients and everyday local life. Shodiyor will introduce you to his favorite vendors, where you will purchase a few ingredients for your Samarkand cooking class.

After the market visit, you will drive together to Shodiyor’s family home in the picturesque village of Eshim Oksok, located about 15 kilometers from Samarkand. At his simple and welcoming home, meet Barchinoy, his sister and your host for this home cooking experience in Samarkand. Barchinoy has been cooking traditional Uzbek dishes since childhood and is fluent in French and Russian. During this 1.5-hour Uzbek cooking class in Samarkand, you will learn how to prepare plov, the country’s iconic one-pot rice and lamb dish, along with a fresh salad. Alternatively, you may choose to bake traditional Uzbek bread in a tandir, a clay outdoor oven. Begin by chopping the meat and carrots for your plov or kneading the dough for your bread at the dining table, before joining Barchinoy in the outdoor kitchen to cook over a traditional wood-fired stove. After cooking, you will sit the traditional way, on the floor, and enjoy the meal you helped prepare, eating by hand as locals do, for a truly immersive cultural experience. A wonderful way to witness the way of life of the Uzbek people and experience their hospitality.

For your Samarkand cooking class, If you prefer not to cook plov or bread, you may choose from other traditional Uzbek dishes, including laghman (pulled noodles with meat and vegetables), kazan kebab (fried meat and potatoes), dolma (stuffed grape leaves), gilmindi (Uzbek pancakes), or manti (steamed dumplings). Please inform Shodiyor in advance if you would like to prepare any of these dishes instead of plov.

Notes:
1. Shodiyor can offer a vegan and vegetarian meal, on request. Please let him know if you have any dietary restrictions in advance when booking your Uzbek cooking class online.
2. The price includes the cost of return transportation from central Samarkand hotels and 1 glass of local wine or vodka per person.
3. As you will be cooking outdoors near the open fire, it can get a little hot.

Languages spoken: English, French, Russian

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Salad
  • Plov (one pot rice and lamb dish) or Non (bread)
  • Water and Tea
  • Vodka or Wine

Traveler reviews

5.0 (14)
A cooking class with Shodiyor and Barchinoy was one of the highlights of our trip to Samarkand. It was so much fun to go on a guided tour of a local market, the fruits and vegetables were incredibly vibrant, and having a local explain more about the produce, it was a wonderful way to experience everyday life in Samarkand. After shopping for ingredients, we went to their family home on the peaceful outskirts of Samarkand, where we cooked plov and non (traditional Uzbek bread). It was my first time cooking over an open wood fire. The cooking class was hands-on we chopped all the ingredients, prepared the dough, and cooked everything in the most traditional Uzbek way. We also had the chance to meet Shodiyor and Barchinoy’s warm and welcoming family, which added to the feeling of being a guest in someone’s home rather than a tourist. Easily one of the most unique things to do in Samarkand, would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a local experience in Samarkand beyond the typical sightseeing. I did this cooking class with my parents and they equally loved it!
- neha January 22, 2026
The cooking class was truly wonderful. We had a great afternoon at the market and then had a lot of fun preparing the plov and baking bread. Our hosts were incredibly friendly and we had a lot of fun. The class is highly recommended
- Silke October 01, 2025
Wonderful experience learning to cook plov and bread in a traditional tandoor! We first got to go to the local market to select the ingredients for our dishes. Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable, welcoming us into her home. Would recommend to anyone interested in learning to cook Uzbek cuisine and to learn more about the culture!
- Kristen September 22, 2025
We enjoyed a lot the local market visit to but the ingredients to cook the Plov. Sharing the whole experience in a local’s home and learning step by step how to cook the traditional meal was amazing. The whole experience lasted around 5.5 hours, so if you only have one day in Samarkand, we recommend you to use it to explore the city. But if you have 2-3 days, it’s worth to take this class!
- Vinny June 13, 2025
A unique experience to discover Uzbek life and cuisine. We visit the market to choose the products we then cook.
- Stephan May 30, 2025
The host was wonderful! Great sense of humor and very friendly. Everything was smooth and the food was delicious!
- Travis May 21, 2025
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.
- Maria_H June 16, 2024
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!
- Colton_E May 13, 2024
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!
- Colton_E May 13, 2024
This was a fabulous experience in Samarkand. Sunnat my guide was very friendly and did his best to make sure I had an enjoyable time.. He picked me up on time from my hotel and we went to the local market to buy ingredients. I met lots of friendly locals there who were happy to chat with me. We then went to the family’s home where I received a very warm welcome. We prepared the dough for the tandoor oven and the ingredients for the pilaf dish and then went outside to cook them which was great fun. The food was absolutely delicious. I was also treated to a song and a dance by the lovely little girl. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience and I would highly recommend this trip.
- Dawn_G April 29, 2024
This was a fabulous experience in Samarkand. Sunnat my guide was very friendly and did his best to make sure I had an enjoyable time.. He picked me up on time from my hotel and we went to the local market to buy ingredients. I met lots of friendly locals there who were happy to chat with me. We then went to the family’s home where I received a very warm welcome. We prepared the dough for the tandoor oven and the ingredients for the pilaf dish and then went outside to cook them which was great fun. The food was absolutely delicious. I was also treated to a song and a dance by the lovely little girl. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience and I would highly recommend this trip.
- Dawn_G April 29, 2024
Very memorable experience. First you go to the market at Samarkand train station and then you go to the home of the family and make both Plov and bread over open fire. Had a very good experience with guide Sunnat
- Trail275 March 30, 2024
Very memorable experience. First you go to the market at Samarkand train station and then you go to the home of the family and make both Plov and bread over open fire. Had a very good experience with guide Sunnat
- Trail275 March 28, 2024
Very memorable experience. First you go to the market at Samarkand train station and then you go to the home of the family and make both Plov and bread over open fire. Had a very good experience with guide Sunnat
- Trail275 March 28, 2024
Read More

Shodiyor & Barchinoy

$62-$124 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Credit card is not charged until the host confirms your booking
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $124 $62 $62
Alcohol
 $0 per person
Transportation
 $0 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $124 $62 $62
Alcohol
 $0 per person
Transportation
 $0 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 9:00am-1:00pm 3:00pm-7:00pm

Meet Shodiyor & Barchinoy

Shodiyor was born and brought up in Samarkand. He worked as a teacher for a few years before completing his masters. One day at university he saw a group of tourists with a guide, who was giving them information about the history of his homeland. That is when he found his calling and his goal was to become a guide. 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.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

Market visit: (1-20 guests) Authentic home cooking class in Samarkand, combining a local market visit, hands-on Uzbek cooking class, and an authentic home-cooked meal. Your experience begins with a hotel pickup in Samarkand by Shodiyor, who will drive you to a small neighborhood market near the Samarkand railway station. This local market is where residents shop for fresh, seasonal fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy products. The bright colors of the produce create a visual feast and offer the perfect introduction to Uzbek ingredients and everyday local life. Shodiyor will introduce you to his favorite vendors, where you will purchase a few ingredients for your Samarkand cooking class.

After the market visit, you will drive together to Shodiyor’s family home in the picturesque village of Eshim Oksok, located about 15 kilometers from Samarkand. At his simple and welcoming home, meet Barchinoy, his sister and your host for this home cooking experience in Samarkand. Barchinoy has been cooking traditional Uzbek dishes since childhood and is fluent in French and Russian. During this 1.5-hour Uzbek cooking class in Samarkand, you will learn how to prepare plov, the country’s iconic one-pot rice and lamb dish, along with a fresh salad. Alternatively, you may choose to bake traditional Uzbek bread in a tandir, a clay outdoor oven. Begin by chopping the meat and carrots for your plov or kneading the dough for your bread at the dining table, before joining Barchinoy in the outdoor kitchen to cook over a traditional wood-fired stove. After cooking, you will sit the traditional way, on the floor, and enjoy the meal you helped prepare, eating by hand as locals do, for a truly immersive cultural experience. A wonderful way to witness the way of life of the Uzbek people and experience their hospitality.

For your Samarkand cooking class, If you prefer not to cook plov or bread, you may choose from other traditional Uzbek dishes, including laghman (pulled noodles with meat and vegetables), kazan kebab (fried meat and potatoes), dolma (stuffed grape leaves), gilmindi (Uzbek pancakes), or manti (steamed dumplings). Please inform Shodiyor in advance if you would like to prepare any of these dishes instead of plov.

Notes:
1. Shodiyor can offer a vegan and vegetarian meal, on request. Please let him know if you have any dietary restrictions in advance when booking your Uzbek cooking class online.
2. The price includes the cost of return transportation from central Samarkand hotels and 1 glass of local wine or vodka per person.
3. As you will be cooking outdoors near the open fire, it can get a little hot.

Languages spoken: English, French, Russian

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Salad
  • Plov (one pot rice and lamb dish) or Non (bread)
  • Water and Tea
  • Vodka or Wine

Traveler reviews

5.0 (14)
A cooking class with Shodiyor and Barchinoy was one of the highlights of our trip to Samarkand. It was so much fun to go on a guided tour of a local market, the fruits and vegetables were incredibly vibrant, and having a local explain more about the produce, it was a wonderful way to experience everyday life in Samarkand. After shopping for ingredients, we went to their family home on the peaceful outskirts of Samarkand, where we cooked plov and non (traditional Uzbek bread). It was my first time cooking over an open wood fire. The cooking class was hands-on we chopped all the ingredients, prepared the dough, and cooked everything in the most traditional Uzbek way. We also had the chance to meet Shodiyor and Barchinoy’s warm and welcoming family, which added to the feeling of being a guest in someone’s home rather than a tourist. Easily one of the most unique things to do in Samarkand, would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a local experience in Samarkand beyond the typical sightseeing. I did this cooking class with my parents and they equally loved it!
- neha January 22, 2026
The cooking class was truly wonderful. We had a great afternoon at the market and then had a lot of fun preparing the plov and baking bread. Our hosts were incredibly friendly and we had a lot of fun. The class is highly recommended
- Silke October 01, 2025
Wonderful experience learning to cook plov and bread in a traditional tandoor! We first got to go to the local market to select the ingredients for our dishes. Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable, welcoming us into her home. Would recommend to anyone interested in learning to cook Uzbek cuisine and to learn more about the culture!
- Kristen September 22, 2025
We enjoyed a lot the local market visit to but the ingredients to cook the Plov. Sharing the whole experience in a local’s home and learning step by step how to cook the traditional meal was amazing. The whole experience lasted around 5.5 hours, so if you only have one day in Samarkand, we recommend you to use it to explore the city. But if you have 2-3 days, it’s worth to take this class!
- Vinny June 13, 2025
A unique experience to discover Uzbek life and cuisine. We visit the market to choose the products we then cook.
- Stephan May 30, 2025
The host was wonderful! Great sense of humor and very friendly. Everything was smooth and the food was delicious!
- Travis May 21, 2025
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.
- Maria_H June 16, 2024
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!
- Colton_E May 13, 2024
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!
- Colton_E May 13, 2024
This was a fabulous experience in Samarkand. Sunnat my guide was very friendly and did his best to make sure I had an enjoyable time.. He picked me up on time from my hotel and we went to the local market to buy ingredients. I met lots of friendly locals there who were happy to chat with me. We then went to the family’s home where I received a very warm welcome. We prepared the dough for the tandoor oven and the ingredients for the pilaf dish and then went outside to cook them which was great fun. The food was absolutely delicious. I was also treated to a song and a dance by the lovely little girl. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience and I would highly recommend this trip.
- Dawn_G April 29, 2024
This was a fabulous experience in Samarkand. Sunnat my guide was very friendly and did his best to make sure I had an enjoyable time.. He picked me up on time from my hotel and we went to the local market to buy ingredients. I met lots of friendly locals there who were happy to chat with me. We then went to the family’s home where I received a very warm welcome. We prepared the dough for the tandoor oven and the ingredients for the pilaf dish and then went outside to cook them which was great fun. The food was absolutely delicious. I was also treated to a song and a dance by the lovely little girl. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience and I would highly recommend this trip.
- Dawn_G April 29, 2024
Very memorable experience. First you go to the market at Samarkand train station and then you go to the home of the family and make both Plov and bread over open fire. Had a very good experience with guide Sunnat
- Trail275 March 30, 2024
Very memorable experience. First you go to the market at Samarkand train station and then you go to the home of the family and make both Plov and bread over open fire. Had a very good experience with guide Sunnat
- Trail275 March 28, 2024
Very memorable experience. First you go to the market at Samarkand train station and then you go to the home of the family and make both Plov and bread over open fire. Had a very good experience with guide Sunnat
- Trail275 March 28, 2024
Read More
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $124 $62 $62
Alcohol
 $0 per person
Transportation
 $0 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $124 $62 $62
Alcohol
 $0 per person
Transportation
 $0 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 9:00am-1:00pm 3:00pm-7:00pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 4% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.

    If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 48 hours or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can't make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host's profile doesn't work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

    Your card will not be charged until your host accepts your booking. Typically hosts respond to bookings within 72 hours. In the event your host is unavailable on your selected date and your host rejects your booking your credit card will not be charged.

    Your host's detailed contact information, including their phone number, address, and direction notes, will all be provided immediately upon successful confirmation of your experience (after your hosts accepts your booking and your credit card is successfully processed). This information will be emailed to you to the email address you used to sign up, and will also be visible on your Traveling Spoon profile.

    All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transportation is typically charged on a per car basis. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.

    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host's family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.

    Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

    Most of our Traveling Spoon experiences are incredibly family friendly and can accommodate infants and children. If a host is unable to accommodate children that will be noted in the "Notes" section of their profile. Our child pricing policy is children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free.