The Stans of Central Asia

The Stans of Central Asia - for thousands of years, these lands were sought after and conquered by some of the world's greatest leaders from Alexander, Attila, Genghis Khan, Tamerlane, Babur, Cyrus and Darius of ancient Persia. Today it is the world's greatest adventure seekers who are drawn to these exotic lands of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan - lands filled with harsh deserts, towering snow-capped peaks, ancient cities and fortresses with exotic cultures.

Explore the oldest nature reserve in Kazakhstan. In Kyrgyzstan explore Lake Issyk-Kul and hike in the stunning mountains - an extension of the Tien Shan Range surrounding Bishkek. Explore Bishkek, the capital city and visit the site of ancient stone gods, which still remain a mystery.

Visit the historic cities of Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, which evoke images of caravans traveling across deserts and over mountains, linking the worlds of east and west. These open-air museums are beautifully preserved Silk Road wonders, filled with mosques, tombs and monuments.

In Tajikistan, visit Khojand to visit the local Museum of Antiquities and explore the local market.

Crossing the border into Turkmenistan we explore an area with hundreds of dinosaur prints dating back 150 million years. We explore Margush (5,000 BC) and Merv, consisting of 4 ancient cities, which moved over the centuries as the river moved. Our journey leads us to Ashgabat, the splendid capital built predominantly of white marble.