It is said that if you rolled Kyrgyzstan out flat, it would have a greater land area than China. This tiny, mountainous Central Asian republic shot to (relative) fame as the host country of the Worldwide Nomad Games, but its appeal extends well beyond its nomadic culture. With dramati

Uzbekistan is the heart of the Silk Road. From camels to caravanserais, mosques to mausoleums, this is where you’ll find every Silk Road cliché. History comes alive in the UNESCO World Heritage cities and in desert oases, and you often feel like you’re experiencing places from the pag

For several years now, the countries of Central Asia have been topping lists of the world’s best emerging destinations. Well deserved media coverage has flooded in for the Silk Road cities, but there are still plenty of off the beaten track locations to pique the interest of imaginary

Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel sets the agenda for tourism in the year ahead: it is the mother of all travel trend lists. And for 2020, Lonely Planet has selected the Central Asian Silk Road — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan — as the #1 reg

“Storytelling in wood is like writing poetry. You have to think like a poet. The pictures then come from inside you, directly from the world of thought.” Mirhalim Yahyoev and his brother work in their shared workshop in a simple, low-rise wooden house, across the road from the m

“I call them wild mountains,” announced Vadim, our mountain guide who served as special forces in the Russian military with subtle pride. Our group of 6 nodded, distracted from taking photos of the mountains. That statement was stuck in my head the entire seven days of trekking the Fa

Tajikistan is an adventure-seeker’s dream, a wild country of mountains, glaciers, and rivers where you can be hours away from the nearest person. Snowfall makes much of the country inaccessible in winter, but when it melts it’s the ideal destination for a multi-activity holiday. Feel

In September 2016, we visited Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. We were lucky enough to get into contact with Alovaddin for our time in Tajikistan. While planning our trip, Alovaddin was extremely helpful. We decided to book a 5 day tour in the Fann Mountains and we can honestly say it was t

Crossing the Pamirs has always been a physical challenge due to the geography, but in the Golden Age of the Silk Road, pilgrims, merchants, armies, and curious travellers made their way in significant numbers across the passes and plateaus of the Pamirs. In their wake they left a mate

Tasting the culinary specialties of Tajikistan is a highlight of any visit to the country. Not only are delicious fresh ingredients produced locally, but the location on the Silk Road meant that for centuries the cosmopolitan national cuisine has been shaped by influences from China,