Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are still considered an insider tip among travellers. Together with Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, these three countries form the Central Asia region, bordered by China to the west, Afghanistan and Iran to the south, the Caspian Sea to the east, and Russia to the northeast and east. In this article travel bloggers from around the world reveal their tips for Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
Nurata – an Oasis Town in the Kyzylkum Desert in Uzbekistan
Nurata, an oasis town in the Kysylkum desert in Uzbekistan, is located at the Silk Road, one of the most important historical trade routes between Europe and Asia. The town is known for the remains of the Alexander the Great Fortress, the holy Chashma source, the Chashma complex, also known as Nurata Shrine, and for its Suzani silk and wool embroideries.
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If you received an email so far when I published a new blog article and if you want to be informed about new blog articles via email in the future you should definitely continue reading. On Friday, the 25th May 2018, thus in a few hours, the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will be … Read more
The Harbin Ice and Snow Festival: frozen sculptures in China’s Northeast
Ice sculptures as high as houses which are illuminated at night and partially change their colours. Enormous snow sculptures with delicate details. Icy temperatures of up to minus 35 degrees Celsius – all that is the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, the capital of Chinas northernmost province Heilongjiang in Manchuria in the Northeast of the Middle Kingdom. The scenery appears to be a dream, almost like a fairytale landscape but it is real.
Travel Blogger Review 2017: A year like no other
It is probably super ridiculous to write a travel blogger review 2017 in mid-February 2018 and this is probably the latest travel blogger review someone has ever published. But I didn’t have time to write it before and 2017 was an incredibly exciting and eventful year for me with many ups and a few downs, definitely a year like no other. It would be a shame not to write a travel blogger review 2017 especially since I had published one every year for 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Travelling through Bhutan with G Adventures
(This post contains affiliate links* and advertising) – When I started thinking about heading to Bhutan a few years ago I soon found out that travelling there individually is not possible unless you have a passport from India, the Maldives or Bangladesh. So when I decided that my next trip would be to this Himalayan Kingdom I knew that there were only two options: going on a (small) group tour or hiring my own local guide through a Bhutanese agency. For a while I considered hiring a private Bhutanese guide but since it would have been more expensive I chose to travel through Bhutan with G Adventures.* It is a Canadian adventure travel company which offers small group tours. I had done a few trips with them before to remote and off the beaten path destinations like Tibet, Borneo, the Chinese part of the Silk Road, to Jordan and Uzbekistan.
#RBRUHR Travel Blogger Meeting in Essen – European Green Capital 2017
Until recently I have never been to Essen although I was born near Düsseldorf and grew up in the Cologne region. Thus I was all the more delighted when Janett from Teilzeitreisender and Anja from Travel on Toast invited to the travel blogger meeting in Essen #RBRUHR. Since 2013 they organize four travel blogger meetings per year in various locations in Germany. This time the meeting took place at the ATLANTIC Congress Hotel Essen which is located between Grugapark and Messe Essen.
The Jewels of Samarkand
When dreaming of Samarkand most people automatically think of the Registan, in particular those who haven’t been there. The landmark of the city with its three medressas and minarets, the elaborate decorations and their beautiful courtyards is truly majestic. But Samarkand has a lot more to offer. The Gur-E-Amir Mausoleum with its azure dome, the two minarets and its beautifully designed golden interior space. The lively Uzbek Siyob Bazaar where you can buy fresh fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, spices and the typical Uzbek nan bread. The Bibi Khanym Mosque which was once the most splendid mosque of the Islamic world. The Bibi Khanym Mausoleum where Bibi Khanym and four of her relatives are said to buried. The magnificent Avenue of Mausoleums, Shah-i-Zinda, with its many domes and mausoleums. These are some of the jewels of Samarkand and they turn the city into a magical place. They are the reason why the historic centre of Samarkand as the “Crossroad of Cultures” became part of the UNESCO World Heritage.
Travel bloggers tips for Bhutan
I am beyond excited to share that I will be heading to Bhutan. Ever since I travelled through Tibet overland from Lhasa to Kathmandu in August 2010 I wanted to see more of the Himalayan countries. I was fascinated, overwhelmed and blown away by the stunning temples and monasteries, by the breathtaking landscape, by the Buddhist … Read more
Yuánxiāo Jié 元宵节 – the Lantern Festival
Xīn Nián Kuài Lè 新年快乐 – Happy New Year – or Gōng xǐ fā cái 恭禧發財 – Happy Lunar New Year – everyone although it is probably way to late for New Year’s greetings because Chinese New Year was already on the 28th January 2017. Today on the 15th day of the first month of … Read more
