Central Asia is unquestionably one of the world’s greatest regions for extraordinary road trips! Whether you do it by 4×4 vehicle, bus, train, shared taxi, cycling, or even by camel, this part of the world will not disappoint you.
Known for its deserts, yurts, nomads, ancient Silk Road cities, staggering mountain ranges, and very large herds of sheep, Central Asia has something for everybody.
The area is vast and diverse. While Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are the smallest land areas, they are blessed with the highest and most rugged mountains and high-altitude glacial lakes.
Kyrgyzstan is known for its nomadic life in yurts along large freshwater lakes surrounded by wild horses grazing on vast rolling green pastures. To the far east, the Tien-Shan Mountains surge to 7,439 metres on the Kyrgyzstan–China border, while to the southwest the Pamir-Alay Mountains rise to 5,621 metres.
Tajikistan’s landscape is dominated by the mighty Pamir and Alay Mountains, as well as fertile valleys such as the Fergana, Kofarnihon and the Vakhsh. Along the famous Pamir Highway, turn off into small dirt roads to reach some of the most remote tiny villages known for their tough residents enduring isolation and extreme weather.
Tajikistan’s southern border with Afghanistan follows the contours of the Afghan Wakhan Corridor at the foot of the majestic Hindu Kush Mountain range. Spectacular scenery abounds with ancient fortresses and cosy villages.
The largest country in the region, Kazakhstan with its almost 3 million square kilometres of land, is the 9th largest country in the world.
For the most interesting deserts (the Kyzylkum and Aralkum deserts), desolate plateaus (Usturt), ancient architecture dating to the Middle Ages, authentic markets and friendly people, head to the land of the Uzbeks!
Uzbekistan lies on an ancient trade route, the so-called Great Silk Road, between China and the Mediterranean. For hundreds of years, cities such as Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva were important outposts on this route where traders brought in much-needed goods and money to the locals and beyond. The area flourished as the many old buildings can attest.
“Uzbekistan is the most fascinating country you’ve never been to”.
—– Travel Writer, The Telegraph
A famous travel writer for the British newspaper, The Telegraph, proclaims that Uzbekistan is the most fascinating country that you have never been to! Most travellers will agree that Uzbekistan is purely Central Asian, yet it is very different from its neighbours.
While around 1,000 Brits visit Uzbekistan every year (compared with almost 9 million visitors to Spain), Uzbekistan remains an off-the-beaten-track destination.
☛ Read more: 10 Great experiences in Uzbekistan
This is a land where you can linger for a long time to explore and decipher the symbolic patterns on ancient mosques, mausoleums, madrassa, cathedrals, fortresses, palaces, and minarets. In addition to the rich history of the Silk Road cities of Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, Uzbekistan has much to offer including the receding Aral Sea and remote mud-brick fortresses in the Kyzylkum desert.
Best of all, Uzbekistan Railways with its network of over 4,600 km is an exciting way to get around the country.
Join us as we explore Uzbekistan
- Tashkent – the Uzbek Capital
- The walled city of Khiva
- Bukhara, Uzbekistan’s Ark city
- Samarkand, the Uzbek scholarly city
- 10 Great experiences in Uzbekistan
Also check the full-length feature article of Central Asia, including Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Kyrgyzstan in GlobeRovers Magazine July 2014.
Blog post and photos by Peter who has been travelling almost full-time since 2005 and has been to over 122 countries. He visited several countries, such as Japan, more than 20 times. Peter is Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of GlobeRovers Magazine, an independent travel magazine focused on intrepid destinations.