Nukus and Khiva Area
Ashgabat and Mary Cities and Area
Two main cities, from Samarkand to Dushanbe
Aydarkul Lake, Uzbekistan
From Tashkent to Taraz (Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan)
From Khujand to Jalalabad
Wakhan Corridor and Badakhshan National Park Area
Bukhara City and Tudakul Lake
History and Culture
Central Asia has been inhabited by hunter-gatherers and pastoralists for more than 25,000 years, but it was in the early 2nd millennium BC that first people settled here. The population of the Bactria–Margiana Archaeological Complex (BMAC), more popularly known as the Oxus Civilisation, lived along the Amu Darya and Marghab Rivers. With a readily available water supply they irrigated the land, planted barley and wheat, and raised their livestock. The earliest trade routes followed the rivers and threaded these ancient communities together.
By the time that Alexander the Great conquered Central Asia in the 4th century BC, there were already large cities in lush oases, supplied with water from canals. This sought-after territory was controlled in turn by the Achaemenid, Macedonian, Seleuclid, and Kushan Empires, further strengthening the cities’ international connections and driving the development of the Silk Road. Settlements at major crossroads grew rich and powerful, their rulers leveraging their strategic locations to gain influence far beyond their walls.
The arrival of Genghis Khan in the 13th century shattered existing power structures; the Mongols devastated cities and farmland and massacred millions. Communities such as Mary would never fully recover. But by 1400, a regional renaissance had begun under Amir Timur, whose empire stretched from Ankara to Delhi and had its capital in Samarkand. The Timurids built some of the finest monuments on the Silk Road, and Timur’s descendants would rule from a variety of Eurasian thrones until as late as 1857.
What to See and Do
Plan a trip across Central Asia which incorporates both natural and manmade wonders. It is the diversity of this region which makes it such a thrilling place to travel.
The Pamir Mountains appear to touch the sky; that’s why they’re known as the Roof of the World. Adventure seekers can drive or bike along the Pamir Highway from Tajikistan to Kyrgyzstan, but you don’t need to go to extreme altitudes to hike, camp, and admire the scenery. In fact, some of the most photogenic spots are in the more easily accessible Fann Mountains and the Western Tian Shan.
Ancient history lovers will be awed by Central Asia’s archaeological sites, particularly the Desert Fortresses of Ancient Khorezm and the Buddhist ruins at Ajina-Teppa. Sightseeing in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Bukhara, Samarkand, and Khiva is unparalleled, and the newly inscribed Silk Road: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor includes more than 30 smaller monuments across Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.
Take time to appreciate the region’s intangible cultural heritage, too. Recipes for plov and laghman, applied arts, and rich traditions of textiles, dance, music, and storytelling have all been shaped by the Silk Road.
