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Secrets Of Central Asia: The Top 20 Sights To See

Central Asia is one of the oldest inhabited parts of the world, a witness to ancient empires with rich cultures and traditions that still live on. Emerging from the dust of the USSR, the region is slowly opening itself up to tourism, revealing some of the most stunning landscapes and unique attractions of anywhere on earth. We gather 20 of the most unmissable sights.

By Elle Hardy

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Secrets Of Central Asia: The Top 20 Sights To See.

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Kazakhstan’s Glittering Capital – When a small town on the steppe was named as Kazakhstan’s new capital Astana in 1997, few could have imagined how it would look today. A glittering spectacular of futuristic buildings designed from the ruins of the Soviet Union by architects including British maestro Norman Foster and President Nursultan Nazarbayev himself, the isolated city has fast become a photographer’s paradise. [Photo: Elle Hardy]

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Secrets Of Central Asia: The Top 20 Sights To See.

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Kazakhstan’s Largest City – The cosmopolitan city of Almaty (meaning “father of apples”) was Kazakhstan’s capital until Astana took over, but remains the cultural and business heart of Central Asia. Almaty feels like Moscow without the traffic, while its backdrop of snow-capped mountains provide an endlessly explorable playground for weekends. Its centrepiece is the Ascension Cathedral, the second tallest wooden building in the world.

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Secrets Of Central Asia: The Top 20 Sights To See.

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Tajikistan’s Vegetarian Delight –
Central Asian cuisine is a carnivore’s delight, so stumbling on qurutob, the national dish of Tajikistan, is a delicious change of
pace. Perfect after a long day of sightseeing, the heavenly mixture of bread, salad, yogurt and herbs is considered “peasant food”, and most Tajiks will think it funny that you want to eat it, but you’ll never look back. [Photo: Ibrahim Rustamov/Wikimedia Commons]

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Secrets Of Central Asia: The Top 20 Sights To See.

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Tajikistan’s Pamir Mountains – Better known as the “roof of the world”. Jump in a four-wheeler for days of driving where you’ll see shepherds herding their yaks on snow-capped peaks, and perhaps glimpse a fortress dating back to the 3rd century that feels like it hasn’t been touched since – all before settling into a village homestay for a warm meal and too much vodka. [Photo: Kalpal Travel/Flickr]

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Secrets Of Central Asia: The Top 20 Sights To See.

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Tajikistan’s Picnic Culture – Named after Alexander the Great, the turquoise Lake Iskanderkul lies some 130 kilometres from Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe in the Fann Mountains, and is over 2,000 metres above sea level. The lake is home to an incredible array of bird life, both indigenous and migratory. World champion picnickers, locals love going there for a day trip with enough bread and melon to last a lifetime. [Photo: Oleg Brovko/Wikimedia Commons]

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Secrets Of Central Asia: The Top 20 Sights To See.

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Kyrgyzstan’s Hunting Traditions – The Kyrgyz are a traditionally nomadic people, and have hunted with eagles since the Mongol conquest of their lands in the 12th century. See some of the last remaining practitioners of the art between October and February in the mountains surrounding Issyk Kul, the world’s second largest alpine lake, or visit in the summer to swim and meet children eager for pictures with their impressive birds. [Photo: Peretz Partensky/Wikimedia Commons]

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Secrets Of Central Asia: The Top 20 Sights To See.

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Kyrgyzstan’s Budget City Break – The crumbling capital of Bishkek is often overlooked for its more glamorous counterparts, but its Tsarist design, Soviet façades, pumping nightlife and low cost of living make it a worthy travel destination. Hit up some roadside stalls selling kymyz (fermented mare’s milk) and shoro (a kind of wheat and animal fat beer) before hopping in a marshrutka (minibus) for a ride around the city. [Photo: Wikimedia Commons]

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Secrets Of Central Asia: The Top 20 Sights To See.

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Kyrgyzstan’s Mountain Magnificence – The spectacular Tian Shan mountain range separates Kyrgyzstan from China. Virtually uninhabited, the mountains are still revered by people on both sides, and remain a premier destination for serious trekkers with peaks of over 7,000 metres. An easier way to see them is flying between Kyrgyzstan’s two major cities of Bishkek and Osh, which travels directly over the range. [Photo: Chen Zhao/Wikimedia Commons]

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Secrets Of Central Asia: The Top 20 Sights To See.

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The Kyrgyz-Uzbek Border – After 12 years of restrictions, the 2017 reopening of the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border around the bustling town of Osh was long overdue, reuniting many families who had been separated for years. The political situation may be improving, but the dusty border remains a museum to Soviet-era bureaucracy, the lengthy and bizarre crossing process an experience in itself. [Photo: Elle Hardy]

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Secrets Of Central Asia: The Top 20 Sights To See.

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Uzbekistan’s Verdant Valley – On the Uzbek side of the the border lies the Fergana Valley, once a key stop on the Silk Road. Today it is both the breadbasket and most densely populated part of Central Asia, its lush green plains home to a traditional and religious culture. Recent years have seen ethnic and civil unrest, meaning the beautiful valley is often overlooked by tourists. [Photo: Ljuba Brank/Wikimedia Commons]

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Secrets Of Central Asia: The Top 20 Sights To See.

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Uzbekistan’s Beautiful Cemetery – The stunning Shah-i-Zinda necropolis in Samarkand is a jewel of not only the region, but the Muslim world. Its avenues of mausoleums are adorned with some of the finest tilework in Asia, making it an open-air work of art. Observe the pilgrims paying homage to over seven centuries of history in the cool, quiet rooms before wandering through the city cemetery. [Photo: Aleksandr Zykov/Flickr]

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Secrets Of Central Asia: The Top 20 Sights To See.

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Uzbekistan’s Ancient City – Humans have inhabited Bukhara for over 5,000 years. Ethnically Tajik but lying in modern Uzbekistan, Bukhara is famous for its silk and carpets, in addition to its architecture. In a maze of living ruins, the focal point remains the 5th century Ark of Bukhara, a fortress offering a perfect view of the city. [Photo: Fulvio Spada/Wikimedia Commons]

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Secrets Of Central Asia: The Top 20 Sights To See.

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Turkmenistan’s Blazing Crater – Better known as the Gates of Hell, the Darvaza Gas Crater has been burning in Turkmenistan’s Karakum desert for decades. Thought to be a Soviet-era gas pipeline accident, the burning fire pit is 69 metres wide, 30 metres deep and rages at over 1,000 degrees celsius. The crater is best seen by camping overnight with a well-charged camera. [Photo: Elle Hardy]

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Secrets Of Central Asia: The Top 20 Sights To See.

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Turkmenistan’s Presidential Photoshopping – The natural history museum in the northern Turkmenistan city of Mary may be home to some centuries-old artefacts, but the focal point is undoubtedly the bizarre exhibition of badly photoshopped pictures of President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov. Inspecting camels, picking cotton, teaching taekwondo – it appears there’s nothing he can’t do. [Photo: Elle Hardy]

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Secrets Of Central Asia: The Top 20 Sights To See.

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Turkmenistan’s Slightly Absurd Capital – In a part of the world famed for its eccentricity, nowhere is crazier than Turkmenistan’s capital Ashgabat. The desert oasis boasts some 5 million square metres of white marble and a collection of statues that look like a superhero army. While police don’t like people photographing the glistening government buildings, a deft hand can capture their absurd beauty. [Photo: Martha de Jong-Lantink/Flickr]

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Secrets Of Central Asia: The Top 20 Sights To See.

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Turkmenistan’s Silk Road Oasis – In the 12th century, Merv was the most populous city in the world. Once one of the major cities of the Islamic world along with Baghdad and Cairo, it is also the oldest and best-preserved of the Silk Road’s ancient oasis-cities. While Merv never fully recovered from Genghis Khan’s invasion, the fascinating history is still on display today, with visitors able to pick through shards of pottery dating back to its heyday. [Photo: Elle Hardy]

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Secrets Of Central Asia: The Top 20 Sights To See.

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Turkmenistan’s Natural Wonder – One of the hidden treasures of Central Asia, the photogenic Yangykala Canyon is millions of years of limestone means “fiery fortress” in its native Turkmen. Sheer drops, mesmerising patterns and layered colours give clues to the ancient sea that once lapped at the canyon’s edge. Like most things of natural beauty, it is best viewed at sunrise and sunset. [Photo: Laila ac/Flickr]

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Secrets Of Central Asia: The Top 20 Sights To See.

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The Aral Sea’s Ship Graveyard – Sitting between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the Aral Sea was the world’s fourth largest lake and a prime fishing port before a disastrous river diversion scheme in the 1960s shrunk the water level by 22 metres. Today it is a cemetery for rotting ships, although recent efforts to rehabilitate the Aral have been a success, and fishing is beginning to return to its shores. [Photo: Arian Zwegers/Flickr]

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Secrets Of Central Asia: The Top 20 Sights To See.

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Central Asia’s Iconic Homes – The use of yurts in the region was recorded as long as 3,000 years ago; the portable circular tents have long provided shelter to cultures that were largely nomadic until a century ago. Most people have moved into stable homes these days, but yurts remain integral to celebrations and as holiday destinations outside of the cities. [Photo: Thomas Depenbusch/Flickr]

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Secrets Of Central Asia: The Top 20 Sights To See.

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Central Asia’s Unique Markets – No trip to Central Asia is complete without a visit to a bazaar. The vibrant marketplaces are still hubs for produce, carpets, hanging out with friends and experiencing the local culture. Among the many delights found at the bazaars of Tashkent and other cities are korut (horse or sheep’s milk balls) and plov, the irresistible rice and sheep’s meat dish. [Photo: Elle Hardy]