CENTRAL ASIA
Afghanistan – mountains, history and resilience
At the heart of Central Asia, Afghanistan is a land where towering mountains and ancient crossroads meet. Kabul, the capital, blends bazaars, mosques and modern life, while echoes of empire linger in old citadels and caravan routes.
In the Hindu Kush, remote valleys hide traditional villages, and the Bamiyan cliffs recall the giant Buddhas that once watched over the Silk Road. To the west, Herat’s blue-tiled mosques and minarets stand as jewels of Persian influence, while rugged landscapes stretch endlessly beyond.
Afghanistan is a country of contrasts – harsh yet beautiful, scarred yet enduring – where history, culture and resilience remain deeply interwoven.
Tajikistan – roof of the world
High in Central Asia, Tajikistan is a land of soaring peaks, turquoise lakes and ancient crossroads of the Silk Road. Its greatest journey unfolds along the Pamir Highway – one of the world’s most dramatic roads – winding past snow-capped mountains, high plateaus and remote villages where hospitality is as enduring as the landscape.
In the Fann Mountains, jewel-like lakes mirror sheer cliffs and alpine meadows, while ancient fortresses and caravanserais recall centuries of trade and travel. Dushanbe, the capital, blends wide boulevards with lively bazaars, a gateway to both history and highlands.
Wild, remote and breathtaking, Tajikistan is adventure distilled – a place where every turn of the road opens a new horizon at the very roof of the world.
Kyrgyzstan – mountains, nomads and wide horizons
In the heart of Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan is a land where the Tian Shan mountains rise in endless ridges and alpine lakes shine like sapphires. Yurts dot green pastures where nomadic herders still live by ancient rhythms, their horses carrying them across valleys and high passes.
At Issyk-Kul, one of the world’s largest mountain lakes, beaches and snow-capped peaks meet in striking contrast. Song-Kul, remote and serene, reflects the stars at night and the silence of open steppe by day. In Bishkek and Osh, bustling bazaars overflow with colour, spice and the legacy of the Silk Road.
Kyrgyzstan is wild and welcoming, a country of raw beauty and living tradition – where mountains are not a backdrop, but a way of life.