You’re going to cross quite a number of countries during your adventure through Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan; there are many types of currencies and denominations to keep in mind. To bring you up to speed on the currencies of Central Asia, here is a crash course on general exchange rates, banknotes and […]
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Apps for Off-Roading Through Central Asia
It doesn’t matter what type of trip we’re talking about; it’s best to arrive prepared for anything and everything. Your smart phone could help you out in more ways than one, so here are the apps for off-roading through Central Asia. Happy adventuring! Photo Credit: Georgie Pauwels Maps.me Sometimes, it’ll happen that you have […]
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A New Cycle Begins – The Festival of Navruz
While big parts of the western world get ready to celebrate Easter, the people of Central Asia have already welcomed spring and the return of life last weekend, celebrating Navruz. This ancient festival has its roots more than 5000 years ago in today’s Iran. Being a combination of the two old Persian words “now’, […]
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The Secrets of the Kyzylkum Desert
Amazing fairytale cities, rare species of animals, huge fresh oasis and large gold mines: despite all this richness and beauty, the Kyzylkum Desert in Central Asia has managed to stay away from the spotlight for a long time, which allows it to remain wild and pure. Few tourists venture here, but that might be a […]
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10 Things You Didn’t Know About Kazakhstan
How much do you know about Kazakhstan? And, no, having seen Borat does not count, as the movie did really small favor to the image of the country outside. This land of warriors and horses has many interesting curiosities, so to throw a little bit of light over the matter, here are ten funny/witty/interesting […]
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Kalmykia – Europe’s Only Buddhist Province
In the western side of the huge Russian lands, close to the frontier with Kazakhstan, lies the Republic of Kalmykia. This federal subject of Russia is known because of a peculiar characteristic: it is the only place in the whole of Europe in which Buddhism is practiced by the majority of the population. Photo: […]
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King of the Mountains -The Snow Leopard in Central Asia
The Central Asia Rally will take you through the realm of the snow leopard, one of the most majestic predators of Central Asia. And if you are lucky enough, you might even catch a glimpse of the shy king himself. Photo by Tambako The Jaguar With white to yellowish, thick fur and dark […]
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Tamerlane – Conqueror of the World
Timur was patron of arts, literature and architecture, he loved intellectual debates and made his capital Samarkand the most important center of arts and Islamic scholarship of his time. Even though he was illiterate, he spoke 3 languages, among them Turkic and Persian. He was a military genius, an extraordinary tactician, exceptionally smart – […]
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An Epic Saga – The Kazakh Khanate on TV
Brace yourselves, our favorite TV-show about power, war, hate and of course love, Game of Thrones, is about to face some serious competition from Kazakhstan. Yes, you read that right, from Kazakhstan, where a new saga about the emergence of the Kazakh nation will shortly be broadcasted. Riders are speeding through the endless Kazakh […]
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Emerging from a Fairytale – The Cities of Uzbekistan
Driving across Uzbekistan along the ancient Silk Road, following the tracks of caravans and merchants of old times, we will tackle several cities full of history, architecture, mystery and adventure. Join us on an epic trip through the centuries into another era to the cities of Uzbekistan! Photo by Robert Wilson Samarkand Short History […]
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Keep it Movin’ – The Traditional Dances of Central Asia
There are several doors to the heart of a nation’s culture and history. Next to food and language the most important ones are with certainty its music and the according dances. Traditional dances are a reflection of people’s daily life and a nation’s character. On the fun side, they also offer a great possibility to interact […]
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The Hassle of a SIM Card in Tajikistan
Do you feel naked without your phone? Forget Facebook during the rally, all right. But even when on the wildest adventures of the Central Asia Rally you’ll want the lifeline of an available mobile phone. But is it available? Can you use your SIM card in Tajikistan or Kyrgyzstan, for example? The answer is […]
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