Central Asia
Following the glory of The Silk Road through vast expanses and highland lakes
My Central Asia travel adventures left me with strong and positive impressions of all the countries I explored.
Central Asia includes 5 countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. It offers home to about 78 million people (2024) and it is colloquially referred to as the Stans, meaning “the land of”. Central Asia stretches from the Caspian Sea in the southwest and European Russia in the northwest, to Western China and Mongolia in the east. From Afghanistan and Iran in the south to Siberia in the north.
The countries are connected by The Silk Road, which has been historically acting as a crossroads for the movement of people, goods, and ideas between Europe and the Far East. The Silk Road has created prosperous trade cities along the route.
Between the mid-19th century and the 1990s, Central Asia experienced colonization by the Russians, becoming part of the Russian Empire and subsequently the Soviet Union. This period resulted in an influx of Russians and other Slavic populations into the region.
My Central Asia travel adventures
I traveled through all Central Asian countries in the early 2020s and combined the journey with neighboring destinations.
Although the Stan countries are frequently regarded as homogenous, there are actually quite important differences among them.
The key similarities are: the long-lasting presidents, close connection with nature and a widespread use of the Russian language.
Nevertheless, each Stan country has its own language, culture, and political system. Every state offers memorable things to do and fascinating places to visit. Learning Russian before travelling and being able to communicate smoothly with locals proved to be a significant advantage.
My highlights from Central Asia
Kazakhstan, the world’s largest landlocked country, is noted for being the most prosperous among the Stan countries. Although I was in Kazakhstan twice, I was mainly focused to the cities of Almaty and Astana. The highlight was the attendance to the Nomad Games in 2024 in Astana, where I watched a range of nomad sports events while interacting with Kazakh minority groups.
Kyrgyzstan is characterized by its beautiful high mountain lakes, with Issyk Kul Lake being the most famous. I especially enjoyed the capital Bishkek with splendid Soviet architecture and the horse trip to Altyn-Arashan mountains which was rewarded with beautiful views to alpine valleys.
Tajikistan, the smallest of the Stans encloses more and higher mountains than any other country in the region. Walking around Iskanderkul Lake, named after Alexander the Great, without seeing a single person was spectacular.
Turkmenistan has effectively isolated itself from the global community, earning the designation of the North Korea of Central Asia. In a country where an authoritarian regime exerts strict control over its people, daily life feels heavily oppressed. Ashgabat’s lifeless white-marble capital, along with the stunning Darvaza and Yangikala Canyon, especially captured my attention.
Uzbekistan inherited the most important centers along The Silk Road. The beautifully restored cities of Khiva, Samarkand, and Bukhara, with their world-famous landmarks, are the main reason Uzbekistan is the most visited country in the region. I was lucky enough to visit Uzbekistan right after the Covid-19 pandemic ended, when there were still very few visitors.
Countries visited in Central Asia – 5 of 5
