Central Asia

Uzbekistan – Along the Great Silk Road

February 20, 2019

Uzbekistan lies on an ancient trade route, the so-called Great Silk Road, between China and the Mediterranean. For hundreds of years, cities such as Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva were important outposts on this route where traders brought in much-needed goods and money to the locals and beyond. The area flourished as the many old buildings can [MORE...]

10 Great Experiences in Uzbekistan

March 6, 2018

Uzbekistan lies on an ancient trade route, the so-called “Great Silk Road”, connecting China with the Mediterranean. Located in Central Asia, over hundreds of years cities such as Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva were important outposts on this vital route where traders brought in much-needed goods and money to the locals and beyond. The area flourished as the many old medieval blue-domed buildings and bazaars can attest. Explore the ancient mosques, mausoleums, madrassa, cathedrals, fortresses, and palaces, then head out for remote yurtstays. Here's our list of Top Great Experiences in Uzbekistan. [MORE...]

China’s Xinjiang Province: Land of the Uyghur People (Photo Essay)

September 23, 2016

Xinjiang-China-Uyghurs--Globerovers Magazine

Part of Central Asia but controlled by China, these are the Uyghur people living in the far western China province of Xinjiang. Spend time in the city of Kashgar, known for its colourful markets so reminiscent of Central Asia. We go out of town to the Sunday Livestock market to see the farmers bartering their sheep, goats, cattle, yaks, horses, donkeys, and camels. It is a rugged area with some fascinating scenery of desert, mountains, and moonscapes! [MORE...]

Fabio Buonsanti reports from Central Asia

September 25, 2015

Fabio Buonsanti in Central Asia - Globerovers Magazine Interview

Oslo based Fabio Buonsanti, from Matera in the Basilicata region of southern Italy, talks about his recent trip through Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. While at times he had a nerve wrecking time, our Italian friend survived the ordeal and in the process became a true travel idol of Globerovers Magazine. Watch this space as we follow this incredible man in his travels around the world! [MORE...]

#26 – Ancient Khiva City, UZBEKISTAN

January 12, 2015

The city of Khiva is arguably the most impressive city along the Great Silk Road of Central Asia. Khiva is an ancient and well preserved city which is still inhabited today. As far back as the 10th century, Khiva was a major trading centre on the Great Silk Road where caravans of camels stopped here on their way from China and back. From dawn to dusk when these large gates were open, a stream of camels with baggage passed through. What a sight it would have been! [MORE...]

Afghanistan – turning back the clock 100 years!

December 27, 2014

Shughnan is a village and a district in Badakhshan Province in the mountainous northeast of Afghanistan and also a district in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province in Tajikistan. The administrative centre of the Shighnan District of Afghanistan is called Qaleh Barpanjeh (قلعه برپنجه). The administrative centre of the Shughnon District of Tajikistan is called Khorogh. In ancient times the area was known for its ruby mines, which are mentioned in the writings of Marco Polo In modern times Shughnan and its vassal Roshan were states whose native rulers, the mirs of Shighnan, claimed [MORE...]

Tajikistan – rugged mountains and more

December 13, 2014

Capital City, Dushanbe Getting to Dushanbe is still one the challenges in this part of the world. Few airlines, even from neighbouring countries, fly into the capital of Tajikistan. An interesting entry by land is from Samarkand in Uzbekistan. A long 10.5-hour train ride goes through mostly desert landscapes and some mountainous regions and also stops at a few small villages. When the train eventually comes to a standstill in the small Uzbek town of Denau, to the southwest of the Tajik capital, take a 30-minute taxi ride to the Uzbek / Tajik border. This is another border crossing in [MORE...]

#31 – Bulunkul Village, TAJIKISTAN

December 12, 2014

Bulunkul, Tajikistan is a very remote village located at the Bulunkul freshwater lake in the upper Gunt Valley of Tajikistan’s Pamir Mountains. Located not too far from the lonely Pamir Highway, the village consists of just a few basic homes, including a few yurts. Winters are long and bitterly cold at which time some Russian vodka comes in quite handy. Have a nice meal with the locals and find about life in this part of the world. [MORE...]

Uzbekistan – a brief overview

November 29, 2014

Capital City Tashkent With a population of over 2 million people, capital Tashkent has a strong and rich history, and with some luck on its side, it should have a strong and rich future. Dating back to between the 5th and the 3rd centuries B.C., this area was settled by the peoples of ancient Persia (now Iran), the Chinese, the Turks, and many others. In early times it was known as the principality of Chach and then went through an Islamic period in the mid-seventh century under the Persian Zoroastrian Samanid dynasty (819–999). In 1219 Genghis Khan, founder and Great Khan (emperor) of the [MORE...]

Kazakhstan – larger than all of Western Europe!

November 8, 2014

Almaty Kazakhstan is is big. Very big! In fact, it is the world’s largest landlocked country by land area and the ninth largest country in the world. It is even larger than all of Western Europe. A country this big should be approached one step at a time. Start off with Kazakhstan’s former capital, and largest city, Almaty. Before the nation’s capital was moved in 1997 from Almaty in the south to Astana in the north, this is where the nation’s political power was concentrated. Nowadays Almaty is the commercial and cultural capital of Kazakhstan and is also the city with by far [MORE...]

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