Lonely planet central asia 5th edition download

East of the desert and steppe settlements rise the snow-capped Pamir and Tian Shan ranges of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, home to traditional herding communities and some truly epic mountain scenery. Here community-based tourism projects can bring you face to face with nomadic Kyrgyz herders, meeting them in their yurts and on their terms. Ride out to remote lakes on horseback, hike from one village homestay to another, or take a 4WD out to remote archaeological sites. The scope for adventure and exploration here is almost limitless.

For decades — centuries even — much of the world has regarded Central Asia as an opaque, unknowable area, synonymous with the middle of nowhere, rather than the heartland of Asia. For a certain type of wanderer, this is all part of the attraction of a land that has been largely off-limits to travelers for the last years.

Head even a little bit off the beaten track and you'll likely have the place to yourself. The region's little-visited locations, namely Turkmenistan and most of Kazakhstan, are even further removed from the modern world and offer an addictive interest all of their own.

Whether you want to explore the architectural gems of Bukhara or take a horse trek across the high Pamirs, everywhere in Central Asia you'll be greeted with instinctive local hospitality and offered a shared meal, a helping hand or a place to stay.

Beyond Uzbekistan's Silk Road cities, mass tourism has yet to make any inroads in Central Asia, lending a sense of discovery to each trip. Add to this the intrinsic fascination of a forgotten region slowly emerging as a geopolitical pivot point and you have one of Asia's most absorbing hidden corners. Jump to: Table of contents. These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Central Asia.

This ensemble of majestic, tilting medressas — a near-overload of majolica, azure mosaics and vast, well-proportioned spaces — is the centrepiece of the city, and arguably the most awesome single sight in Central Asia. The beautiful portal and trademark fluted azure dome of the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum marks the final resting place of Timur Tamerlane , along with two sons and two grandsons including Ulugbek.

The best trekking possibilities are in the northeastern Greater Chimgan Mountain area, part of the Ugam Chatkal National Park in the western foothills of the Tian Shan, about km to the northeast of Tashkent. Some great canyons and gorges here, like the Koksu, Gulkam and Paltau river gorges, the Pskem, Beldersay and Chirchik river valleys and the Urungach mountain lakes. The area includes several majestic ridges such as Chimgan, Karjantau, Ugam and Chatkal. Other options are hiking in the Zaamin National Park on the slopes of the Turkestan Range along the border with Tajikistan, or into the Amankutan gorge, part of the Zerafshan range not far from the city of Samarkand.

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