At the crossroads of the Persian, Arab, Turkish, Russian, and Chinese worlds, Central Asia finds its unity in the Silk Road, as evidenced by Samarkand and Bukhara in Uzbekistan. Beyond these legendary cities, from the Kazakh steppe to the Pamir Mountains and the Kyrgyz lakes, vast expanses await exploration on horseback, on foot, or by 4x4, with nights spent in yurts!
Comprehensive coverage of five countries: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
All the best experiences in these Central Asian countries: the Silk Road heritage, the lively bazaars, community tourism projects to travel close to the locals, the most beautiful hikes, immersion in nomadic culture in Kyrgyzstan...
Detailed pages highlighting the must-see sites of each country: Aa Archa National Park, Lake Song Köl, and the petroglyphs of Saimaluu Tash in Kyrgyzstan; the Pamir Highway (the second highest road in the world) and the 10th-century Khujand Citadel in Tajikistan; the magnificent Registan (a Timurid architectural gem) and the Kalon Minaret in Bukhara, Uzbekistan; the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the capital Astana and the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan; the ancient foundations of Merv, a famous archaeological site, the Darvaza gas craters (also known as the "Gates of Hell"), and the colorful Yangykala Canyon desert in Turkmenistan...
An inspiring and very practical selection of regional itineraries to discover the best of these five countries, in any season, whatever the time or budget available.
Suggestions for walks and themed itineraries throughout the chapters (on foot or by car): by car along Lake Issyk-Kul (Kyrgyzstan), an excursion in the Wakhan Valley (Tajikistan), in the footsteps of the Soviet past of the city of Tashkent (Uzbekistan), the Jewish quarter of Samarkand (Uzbekistan), through the bazaars of Bukhara (Uzbekistan), on foot in the new city of Astana and its original contemporary buildings (Kazakhstan)...
All the information on visas and residence permits, for each country and for moving from one country to another, as well as the different means of transport.
An essay dedicated to the Silk Road, and others devoted to the history of these different countries and the preservation of their environment
A focus on outdoor activities to enjoy on site: trekking, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, mountaineering, rafting, rock climbing, winter sports, 4x4 tours...
A "Language" chapter offering elements of communication in different languages (Russian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Turkmen, Uzbek).
