Just 70 Km from Samarkand, and you have a chance to visit Penjikent, town in Tajikistan, where you may visit Ancient Penjikent - ruins of old Sogdian town founded in 5th century and abandoned in the 8th century by Arabs. Foundations of houses, a citadel with a couple of Zoroastrian fire temples and city bazaar are visible in the excavated ruins and Sarazm ruins - one of the ancient settlement in Central Asia with 5500 year civilization. In 2010 Sarazm was added to the list of Human heritage by UNESCO.