Central Asia. The 5 -Stans. A region of wild mountains, hospitable nomads, and endless bumpy marthrutka rides. It’s one of the best hiking regions in Asia, or even the world for that matter, but don’t expect much in the way of infrastructure or signage – prepare to be self-reliant and sort out all the logistics yourself.
Pick up most recent Lonely Planet: Central Asia guidebook to start planning your trip.
Uzbekistan: Dara Valley Loop Ўзбекистон: Долина Дара The Dara Valley Loop is a popular picnic destination for locals from Samarkand and Bukhara looking to escape the desert heat for the cool of the mountains, but is only slowly becoming known amongst international tourists as an option for trekking in Uzbekistan […]
Kazakhstan: Furmanov Peak Trail Казахстан: Пик Фурманова The trail to Furmanov Peak, named after the Russian writer and soldier Dmitri Furmanov, is one of the many beautiful routes you can do in the Trans Ile Alatau mountains, a region for great hiking in Almaty. The trail takes you through fragrant […]
Tajikistan: Pindar Valley Loop Таджикистан: Долина Пиндар The Pindar Valley Loop trek is a great day trip option from the village of Margib, the main jumping-off point for the Yagnob Valley. The trek combines lush green summer pastures where locals go to graze their livestock with excellent views from […]
Uzbekistan: Kadvan Valley Ruins Ўзбекистон: Долина Кадван The Kadvan Valley Ruins walk offers an easy half-day walk in Uzbekistan from the popular tourism village of Sentob in Uzbekistan’s Nuratau mountains. The ruins of old Sentob, combined with a few other historical buildings and pleasant natural setting along the Kadvan river, […]
Tajikistan: Artuch Alplager to Chukurak Pass Таджикистан: Альплагер Артуча до перевала Чукурак This short dayhike from the popular tourist base at the Artuch Alplager climbs to the Chukurak Lakes and Chukurak Pass, from where there are excellent views of the Kulikalon Lakes below. Although it can easily combined with the […]
Kyrgyzstan: Boz Uchuk Lakes Trek Кыргызстан: Озера Боз Учук The Boz Uchuk Lakes trek starts in one of trekking in Kyrgyzstan‘s most picturesque hubs at Jyrgalan village, takes in three delightful open valleys and two relatively easy passes, and finishes with a campsite near a pair of pristine alpine lakes […]