Category "central-asia"

Is the Pamir highway passable in early October?

A friend of mine is planning a trip through "the 'Stans" including the Pamir Highway but given its extreme altitude he is worried about whether it will be open

Overland route from the Caucasus to Mongolia without entering Russia?

I plan to base myself in the Replubic of Georgia for a while and I'm thinking of a trip from there to Mongolia but I have some restrictions: No flying (overlan

What is a safe overland route from Europe to India using public transport?

The traditional Hippie trail included Afghanistan and Pakistan which most people now consider unsafe to travel through. Even if one would decide to go through

Central Asia in 2012: Tajikistan or Kyrgyzstan?

The other day, Lonely Planet published an article on the Top 10 best value destinations for 2012. One of the destinations which lured my attention is Tajikistan

What type of tea is used in Central Asia, especially Uzbekistan?

When travelling throughout Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and to a lesser extent, Kazakhstan last year as a guest I was always offered tea, or chai. It was

Costs of tour in Kyrgyzstan [closed]

Though I have some experience with travelling/backpacking through Asia (India, Nepal, East-Asia) this year will be the first time I visit a co

Is it easier for a westerner to obtain a Chinese tourist visa in Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan?

The procedures, restrictions, prerequisites, etc of getting a visa for the same country can vary a lot depending on which embassy or consulate in which country

Buying a pre-paid SIM card in Kazakhstan (Almaty or Astana) with data

Where in Almaty or Astana can I buy a pre-paid SIM card with data? Will I have to show the seller my passport when I buy one? A place with English speakers, if

How can one visit the Door To Hell?

I have stumbled across this photo while surfing the net: Turkmenistan's Door To Hell in Wikipedia does not say much about the how to visit it, it only says t

What is the safest route for women to travel overland between Europe and India in 2016? [closed]

I am a mid 30's woman from the UK wanting to travel to India without flying. I have been given warnings from friends about traveling alone thr

Can I travel between Central Asian cities without flying? [closed]

I want to travel between capitals of a few countries in Central Asia. I have assumed, prior to some initial research, that rail would work for

Is there a village in the mountains of central Asia that isn't very hot in August from where daytrips can be made without long drives? [closed]

My wife, myself and our baby want to go somewhere in the mountains of central Asia (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan or similar) in August. We're lookin

Is it allowed to take Som out of Uzbekistan?

I always take some money home as a souvenir. Uzbekistan seems to have very strict laws regarding cash export. Am I allowed to take some of their local currency

Where can I get personalised designs on Turkmen carpets in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan?

If possible, I'd like to get my own designs incorporated in to a Turkmen carpet while I am visiting Ashgabat this summer. I'm not sure if it is a service direc

Is it possible to do Naryn - Song Kul - Kochkor route independently?

I'm planning a trip around Kyrgyzstan. Trying to fit Issyk-kul and Song-kul in my itinerary. I see the distance from Song-kul to Kochkor and to Naryn is pretty

Is it possible for a Hungarian national to obtain a Chinese visa in The 'Stans / Central Asia?

I have a well-travelled Hungarian friend currently in Kyrgyzstan in his travels around Central Asia. He says he can't go to Mongolia overland on this trip beca

Renting a car in central Asia as an inexperienced driver

I just got my driving licence last month, and am looking forward to exploring parts of the world that have seemed hard to access without a car. On the top of my