Two days in Khiva is the perfect amount of time to explore what is often described as a museum city. This is my account of how I spent two wonderful days in this charmingly preserved Silk Road City. Travelling to Khiva In the desolate far western deserts of Uzbekistan stands the third and final Silk Road city
Buildings the colour of pale sand are clustered in the centre. The occasional facade covered in detailed and dramatic tile work of azure, cobalt and turquoise add a striking contrast. The afternoon light is golden. This is Bukhara and it is full of magic. The great caravan city of Bukhara was once the capital of
Samarkand is perhaps the ultimate Silk Road city. A city that once sat at the crossroads of multiple trades routes leading to exotic locations such as China, India and Perisa. A city whose name is full of magic, wonder and romance. A city where brilliant aqua domes push towards clear skies. A city with some
Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, is not known as a tourist destination and most people usually spend only a day or two visiting the museums and/or market. So when I started planning what to see in Uzbekistan I’d originally thought I might miss Tashkent all together. It was therefore quite ironic that I ended up
I think most travellers would agree that overland border crossing days always make them slightly nervous. For me crossing into Uzbekistan was no exception and I have to admit I was more nervous than normal as Uzbekistan has a reputation for being quite bureaucratic with border requirements that are quite particular with respect to a
With my Kyrgyzstan Destination Guide I hope to show you a glimpse of all the incredible adventures that can be found in this small, mountainous Central Asian country. From mid August 2014 I spent just over three weeks travelling around my first ‘stan, Kyrgyzstan solo. Those three weeks were full of unique experiences. So here’s
One of the most common ways of travelling in Kyrgyzstan is to travel by shared taxi. A shared taxi is a taxi, or sometimes a private car, which charges a set rate for each of the four seats. The taxi/car won’t leave for it’s destination until the car is full. The impressive mountains of Kyrgyzstan
High in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan is the beautiful Lake Song-Kol. At 3,016m it should have been no surprise the weather can be changeable. From Cholpon Ata I travelled by taxi to the small town of Kochkor. Famous for its shyrdak handicrafts (felt carpets) it’s also a great base to organise a trip to Lake Song-Kol.
Homestays were one of my favourite experiences while traveling in Kyrgyzstan. Not only did homestays offer a unique glimpse into the lives and homes of local people they were also a fantastic opportunity to try some delicious home-cooking. My first homestay was in the small town of Karakol near Lake Issky-Kol. Lake Issky-Kol is the
As my guide and porter prepared lunch I sat and watched the sunlight dance and sparkle across the surface of the brilliant turquoise that is Lake Ala-Kol. It made me think of an extraordinary turquoise gem. The colour was stunning and the lake itself was huge with massive mountains surrounding it. At the far end