Central Asia

The romance of riding horseback across a desert, haggling for carpets in a bazaar, and dining Central Asia is made up of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Here you can travel in the footsteps of Marco Polo as you make your way along the Silk Road, once the connection between Asia and Europe. This Mysterious land was home to emperors, Sufi saints and Conquering armies.

In this region you will find the world’s greatest collection of Islamic architecture. There are medieval fortresses and colorful intricate tiled mosques with towering minarets rising above the cities. The area is teeming with historic landmarks, museums, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In Samarkand and Bukhara, two of the historic Silk Road caravan stops you can shop in a medieval bazaar check and out the silk carpets, sit down for tea in a nomad’s yurt or stargaze to your heart’s content from a distant desert oasis.

Visitors must show their respect by dressing modestly and covering arms and legs while touring religious sites.

There are many natural wonders to be found in Central Asia. In Son Kul, is an Alpine lake in Kyrgyzstan. There is a gas crater also known as the Gate of Hell in Turkmenistan. The second largest mountain lake in the world is in Kyrgyzstan.

You can find world class hiking in the Fann Mountains of Tajikistan and Emel National Park and the Tian Shan Moutains in Kazakhstan.

Here are a couple of place worth seeing:

Bukhara, Uzbekistan
This is an ancient trading town. The city skyline is lined with mosques, madrasahs and minarets. The winding streets, filled with the sights and smells of a market place are sure to intrigue your senses. The fortress of the former Emir and the tall minaret that impressed Genghis Khan eight centuries ago can be found here.

Khiva, Uzbekistan
One of the great caravan cities. Located deep in the desert, this ancient walled city was home to the slave trade. Surrounded by the ruins of dozens of medieval fortresses.