THE STANS
UZBEKISTAN A former lynchpin along the ancient trade route of the Silk Road, Uzbekistan is home to a mesmerising array of ancient tombs, bustling markets and stunning architecture.
Explore the outposts of the Silk Road Uzbekistan’s historic markets were once trading posts along the iconic Silk Road, traversed by centuries of merchants — not to mention explorers such as Ibn Battuta or Marco Polo. Many of these still exist and operate as crucial trading hubs. Travel past the thick, crenelated walls of the ancient city of Khiva to explore its preserved casbah, which remains absent of artificial light snf modern signs. Explore the domed market hall of Bukhara, a crucial seat of early Islamic education ransacked by the Mongols in the 13th century. HOW: Wild Frontiers’ 10-day ‘Land of Silk Road Treasures’ tour includes accommodation, transport, meals and entrance fees. From £1,795 per person.
wildfrontierstravel.com
Walk the Aral Sea ship graveyard The site of the former Aral Sea is home to one of the world’s worst environmental catastrophes. The seeds of the disaster were sown in the 1920s, when the USSR changed the region’s agricultural output, planting non-native crops ill-suited to the harsh terrain. The sea’s levels fell lower and lower over the course of the century, segmenting into separate seas and failing to carry ships between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Eventually, in the 2010s, it disappeared altogether. Today, the 26,000sq miles of barren seabed is home to the beached, abandoned ships that once plied the waters, eerie reminders of what used to be the fourth largest lake on Earth. HOW: Take a two-day tour of the Aral Sea with Caravanistan. The tour includes visits to the Sudochie Lakes and the Ustyurt Plateau. From $190 (£155) per person.
caravanistan.com
Clockwise from top: Ships stranded on the dried out Aral Sea in Uzbekistan; Shah I Zinda mausoleum in Samarkand, Uzbekistan; dried fruit at Chorsu Bazaar in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Discover Samarkand’s ornate tombs The city of Samarkand sits alongside Athens, Rome and Baghdad as one of the earliest centres of civilisation, with its beauty extolled by the likes of Alexander the Great and Marco Polo. As such, some of Central Asia’s most significant figures are buried in intricately decorated tombs within the city. Visit Gur-e-Amir, the cursed mausoleum of Tamerlane, believed to bestow a terrible fate on any archaeologist who attempts to open it. On the outskirts of the city, there’s another complex of sapphire-tiled mausoleums, thought to be the resting place of Qutham ibn al-’Abbās, cousin of the Prophet Muhammad. HOW: Tours to Uzbekistan offer day-trips to Gur-e-Amir mausoleum and Shahi-i-Zinda Necropolis, amongst other attractions. From $210 (£172) per person.
tourstouzbekistan.com
TAJIKISTAN Blending traditions of Central Asia with the rich heritage of Afghanistan and Iran, this mountainous country’s culture reflects the values of its deeply religious and hospitable people.
Traverse the treacherous mountain passes of the Pamir Highway The Pamir Highway began construction in secret at the end of the 19th century as part of the Russian Empire’s bid to halt British inroads into Soviet Central Asia. Over time, it’s gone from being a site of geopolitical rivalry to a stopping point for flower- power youths on the ‘hippie trail’ in the 1960s to an off-roading route through spectacularly wild terrain. Hop into a 4x4 or, if you’re feeling daring, bring your bicycle up to Pamir to tackle a stretch of the Osh-Dushanbe thoroughfare. The altitudes are extreme, the cliff-side roads are more loose rock than fortified highway and the signs of life few and far between. HOW: For thrill-seekers less willing to forego comfort, Remote Lands covers some of the highway’s most spectacular stretches on its 13- day Pamir Highway Road Trip. Price available on request.
remotelands.com
Explore the Afghan border in the Wukhan Valley The Wukhan Valley straddles the borders of Tajikistan and Afghanistan, and is the last patch of secure country before the mountains rise into Taliban territory. Driving along the panoramic cliff-top roads of the Tajik side offers more than just sweeping views over gorges and mirrored lakes — travellers can see straight into Afghanistan. Meet villages who share their unique culture with their Afghan neighbours, examine the evidence of Persian influence inside their traditional houses and learn about the region’s history first hand. HOW: Women-owned and operated Orom Travel can take travellers to Wukhan Valley. Price available on request.
oromtravel.tj
Tackle extreme altitudes in the Fann Mountains Hikers with high altitude experience, a good set of shoes and a thirst for rarely visited regions should set off on the trails that crisscross the Fann Mountains in Tajikistan’s Sughd Province, traversing 16,400ft peaks, turquoise lakes and verdant valleys. Camping on the banks of alpine lakes or sitting down for tea in a traditional Tajik village, a multi-day hike will expose travellers to the reality of remote life in this corner of Central Asia. It’s possible to access some of the range’s best trails from the capital, Dushanbe. HOW: Book with Trek Tajikistan to tackle hikes lasting from three to 15 days. Bespoke packages available.
trektajikistan.com
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER – EXPERIENCES COLLECTION 27
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