hiking
Hidden Wakhan: a trek through Afghanistan's Pamir MountainsNov 19, 2018 • 8 min read
Afghanistan. A place once firmly on the traveller trail rendered, by modern history, virtually unvisited. Much of Afghanistan remains off-limits to…
Central Asia Travel Stories
festivals and eventsUzbekistan's Stihia Festival: riding sound waves in the vanished Aral SeaSep 18, 2018 • 4 min read
It was probably the biggest thing to have happened in Moynaq since the waters of the Aral Sea started to recede in the 1960s. Hundreds of curious locals…
luxuryAstana exposed: eight reasons to visit Kazakhstan’s gleaming capitalJun 5, 2018 • 6 min read
Among Kazakhstan’s endless grasslands on the windswept northern steppes, the forward-looking modern city of Astana has sprouted. With a skyline punctuated…
artWhy now is the time to visit UzbekistanMay 31, 2018 • 5 min read
Uzbekistan's gems have long been known to adventurous explorers. The Silk Road cities of Bukhara, Samarkand and Khiva hold some of the world's most…
foodAll you need to no-mad: how to attend the World Nomad Games in KyrgyzstanApr 23, 2018 • 5 min read
'If Genghis Khan were alive, he would be here.' These words kicked off the 2016 World Nomad Games: Kyrgyzstan's celebration of traditional nomadic sports…
wildlife and naturePeaks and homestays: Tajikistan's majestic Fan Mountains in picturesMar 22, 2018 • 4 min read
Often overshadowed by the popular Pamir Highway, Tajikistan’s Fan Mountains are a wonderland full of rugged alpine landscapes and stunning glacial lakes…
foodLife among walnuts: the ancient forests of KyrgyzstanFeb 20, 2018 • 5 min read
A cool breeze rustles leaves overhead as families call out to one another through the woods, punctuated by the quiet sound of walnuts dropping to the…
wildlife and natureFive wilderness day trips from AlmatyJan 12, 2018 • 5 min read
A pleasant, leafy city that would seem more at home in central Europe than Central Asia, Almaty is stocked with museums, cafes and nightlife. But…
wildlife and natureLost at the centre of the world: Kyrgyzstan's wild Tien ShanJan 12, 2018 • 7 min read
The Tien Shan Mountains steal the breath from your lungs. It isn't just the height of this range shaped by the flow of melting glaciers, nor even the…
wildlife and natureExploring the Alay Valley: Central Asia’s trekking utopiaAug 1, 2017 • 6 min read
The Alay region of southern Kyrgyzstan is the kind of place mountain lovers dream about. Turquoise lakes fringed with yurts sit at the base of towering…
sportsGoat-carcass polo and sheep-bone marbles: Central Asia's traditional sportsFeb 22, 2017 • 5 min read
A crowd roars as a favourite local wrestler pins his opponent for the championship. A rumble of shock as a single horse-and-jockey fall to the back of a…
Bikepacker tales: how to see the world from a saddleSep 15, 2016 • 5 min read
How would you like to traverse a country, or even a continent, on two wheels? Inspired by our new book Epic Bike Rides of the World, we invited three…
festivals and eventsCelebrating Nowruz the Central Asian wayMar 17, 2016 • 4 min read
Framed by the snowy peaks of the Tian Shan mountains on the southern horizon, two teams of horsemen gather at centre field in Bishkek's Ak-Kula Hippodrome…
hikingIndependent traveller's guide to skiing in KyrgyzstanJan 14, 2016 • 5 min read
While Kyrgyzstan's Tien Shan mountains are steadily growing in renown among international tourists, most visitors aim for the warmer months of the year to…
health and wellnessHiking Kyrgyzstan: a trekker's guide to the Tien ShanNov 30, 2015 • 5 min read
Bishkek has many moments of beauty, but it's the Tien Shan mountains that are the real scenic draw of Kyrgyzstan.
road tripsTwo-week traveller: adventures across Central AsiaAug 3, 2015 • 5 min read
Once the realm of Silk Road merchants and Great Game spies, the Heavenly Mountains and Black Sand deserts of the 'Stans, as the five countries of Central…
artA tour of Astana's wacky and wonderful architectureJul 28, 2015 • 4 min read
Kazakhstan might be best known for its nomadic roots, but its new capital city, Astana, is making waves with a surrealist skyline. When the government…
A first-timer's guide to Central AsiaMar 23, 2012 • 3 min read
Ever imagined yourself riding horseback across the Eurasian steppe or haggling for carpets in an Uzbek bazaar? Silk Road romantics with a penchant for…