Central Asia is surprisingly safe. Of all the places in the world the Travel Scientists organize events, Central Asia is the greatest unknown for participants. The feeling of mystery and adventure is part of what makes the region so exciting. However, first-time visitors may naturally be concerned that Central Asia is safe to travel. The answer is yes, but — like […]
Continue ReadingCategory: Travel
Uzbekistan: One of Asia’s Finest Places
We always loved Uzbekistan. Our stay in Uzbekistan is always one of the highlights on the Central Asia Rally. It’s a hub of Silk Road history, but there’s far more to the country than that. We’ve loved Uzbekistan for years, and it’s nice to hear that others agree: Lonely Planet have named the country the second […]
Continue Reading
Countries on the Central Asia Rally
Have you heard of all these countries? The Central Asia Rally is an epic driving adventure, where you will journey to the heart of one of the world’s most remote and beautiful regions. In the course of two weeks we pass through six countries, each with their own unique highlights. These are the countries on the […]
Continue Reading
Central Asia: More Fun with Friends
It’s easy to have a good time on the Central Asia Rally. Participants on the Central Asia Rally tend to be adventurous, independent-minded, and capable. So, you might ask, why bother joining up with us, when they could make the journey themselves? Well, it turns out that there are plenty very good reasons, actually!
Continue Reading
Almaty: After the Event
Almaty is a worthwhile next stop after the Central Asia Rally. Photo by Irene2005 The Central Asia Rally will test your patience, endurance, and your skills at the wheel. Driving 6500km in two weeks, visiting six countries ,and traversing countless roads of terrible quality, maybe you need to be a little bit crazy to do […]
Continue Reading
Kyzylkum: The Desert of Red Sand
We drive through the Kyzylkum Desert on the Central Asia Rally. Much of the Central Asia Rally is spent discovering the unexpected: glorious medieval cities, tranquil lakes, and incredible mountain passes. However, we also traverse less surprising Central Asian terrain: desert. The Kyzylkum, which in local Turkic languages means “red sand”, is one of the largest deserts […]
Continue Reading
The Wakhan Corridor
The Wakhan Corridor could hardly be more remote Photo via Flickr The Central Asia Rally specialises in the discovery of remote places, and each year teams on our event see places that most travellers would never even dream of. Even for us, though, the Wakhan Corridor, a thin slice of Afghanistan than separates Tajikistan […]
Continue Reading
The Volga: Ending Where Central Asia Begins
The Volga ends where the Central Asia Rally begins. The Volga Delta, the point (or rather, points) where Europe’s largest river system drains into the Caspian Sea, is a fitting start point for the Central Asia Rally. It is here that Europe ends, and where we begin our journey from the Russian city of Astrakhan, first […]
Continue Reading
Why the Caspian Sea is a Lake
Is the Caspian Sea a Lake? The Central Asia Rally begins in Astrakhan, Russia. This is where the Volga delta drains into the Caspian Sea, and we cross the northern shore as we pass through Kazakhstan on our way to the heart of Central Asia. We can see its waves, and if we took […]
Continue Reading
Soviet Relics of Central Asia
Soviet memories can be found all over Central Asia. Photo via Creative Commons On the Central Asia Rally, we travel all across the region, from Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan, Tajikistan to Kyrgyzstan. Everywhere we go we see reminders of history, and not just silk road cities: there are also noticeably traces of decades of Soviet […]
Continue Reading
The Largest Cities of Central Asia
The biggest cities of the Central Asian Region. In Central Asia, sites of spectacular nature vastly outnumber urban centers, but that doesn’t mean there are no cities of note. In fact, we visit several of the largest cities in Central Asia on the Central Asia Rally. Here are the major cities of Central Asia:
Continue Reading
Ala Archa National Park, Kyrgyzstan
A taste of why you should visit Kyrgyzstan’s Ala Archa National Park. Photo via Flickr As you relax in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, after completing the Central Asia Rally, you may feel like you’ve experienced enough adventure to last a lifetime. However, if you would like to add to the catalog of […]
Continue Reading