Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Countries
at a
Kazakhstan
Uzbekistan
Scenery
Steppe
Surreal
Architecture
Culture
Hitory
Glance
Scenery
Kazakhstan has an
impressive range of
scenery: for moun-
tains, hike the Tian
Shan valleys around
Almaty; for valleys,
try the ecotourism
project at Aksu-
Zhabagyly Nature
Reserve; and for
remote splendour,
visit the Altay.
Architecture
Uzbekistan boasts
some of the Islamic
world's greatest ar-
chitecture. Samar-
kand, Bukhara and
Khiva are the un-
missable stand-
outs, all offering
epic ensembles and
backstreet gems.
Kazakhstan is one of the last great
blanks on the travel map, with
interesting and quirky sites sepa-
rated by vast amounts of nothing.
Tops for cultural travellers is
Uzbekistan, home to historic Silk
Road cities, epic architecture and
the region's most stylish private
guesthouses. Don't miss it.
Further south the vowel-
challenged mountain republic
of Kyrgyzstan is the place for
outdoorsy types to ind a grass-
roots adventure on the cheap. Plus
it'll give you a gazillion points at
Scrabble.
Tajikistan ofers the region's
most outlandish high-altitude
scenery and its most stunning
road trips. Fabulous trekking and
the region's most humbling hospi-
tality make this the cutting edge of
adventure travel.
Turkmenistan is the 'North
Korea of Central Asia' - hard to get
into and a real curiosity once you
are there.
Chaikhana
Uzbekistan is the
shashlyk-scented
heartland of Central
Asia. After a visit to
photogenic bazaars
in Andijon and Sa-
markand, join white-
bearded
aksakals
(revered elders) for
a pot of tea at the
region's most atmos-
pheric teahouses.
Steppe
The centre and
north are the Kazakh
heartland where
Eurasian steppe
meets Russian sub-
Siberia. Labour
camps, nature re-
serves, ecotourism
and literary icons
are the attractions.
Surreal
For moments of
weird, nothing
beats Kazakhstan;
our favourites are
the Aral Sea at Ar-
alsk and the under-
ground mosques in
the deserts of Man-
gistau. For cutting-
edge architecture
in the middle of
nowhere Astana is
unrivalled.
Empires
The centre of the
Silk Road is the
heartland of Timur,
from his birthplace
in Shakhrisabsz
to his mausoleum
in Samarkand; a
land of despotic
emirs, desert castles
and the footprints
of Alexander the
Great and Chinggis
(Genghis) Khan.
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