Nur-Sultan (Astana)
A block south of the western part of Nurzhol bulvar stands the beautiful four-minaret Nur Astana mosque, opened in 2005. Its prayer hall (for men only –…
Must-see attractions in Central Asia
Fergana Valley
Fergana’s most appealing attraction is the modern bazaar, filled with good-natured Uzbek traders, leavened with Korean and Russian vendors selling…
Uzbekistan
Guldursun Qala was built as early as the 1st century, but reached a high point in the 12th century under the Khorezmshahs. Walk through the main eastern…
Kazakhstan
A day-long trip from Kaskasu village and a 10km to 15km hike or horse ride is a good way to explore the ancient burial mounds and the beautiful Lake…
Mausoleum of Sheikh Massal ad-Din
Tajikistan
The final resting place of Sheikh Massal ad-Din, a 12th-century poet and ruler of Khojand, forms the central feature of the surrounding assembly of…
Kazakhstan
One of the most interesting necropolises in Mangistau, Koshkar Ata is a skyline of miniature domes and towers that resembles some fairy-tale city. Just…
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
Duman is a modern leisure centre most worth visiting for its oceanarium, which has over 3000 creatures from the world’s oceans and a 70m shark tunnel…
Tashkent
The magnificent collection of 1930s to 1950s Soviet locomotives at the open-air Railway Museum will thrill train buffs, though it's worth visiting even if…
Mausoleum of Abu Bakr Kaffal Shoshi
Tashkent
This little 16th-century mausoleum of Abu Bakr Kaffal Shoshi, an Islamic scholar and poet of the Shaybanid period, is located northwest of Khast Imom…
Museum of Archaeology & Fortifications
Tajikistan
The reconstructed eastern gate houses the Museum of Archaeology & Fortifications, which has some interesting 19th-century photos and plans of the original…
Uzbekistan
Behind the Fortress of Alexander the Great a path leads 4km to the Zukarnay Petroglyphs, which date to the Bronze Age. If it's too hot to walk, there are…
Fergana Valley
Entering the Narbutabey graveyard’s north gate from the street, proceed straight and you'll see the 1830s Dakhma-i-Shokhon (the tomb of Umar Khan and…
Khiva
From inside the Juma Mosque, you can sometimes climb the 82 very dark steps up to the pigeon-poop-splattered gallery of this 47m minaret, for fine views…
Dushanbe
Close to Dushanbe, this 30m-high, single-drop waterfall is one of the most striking in the Varzob Valley. A walking route (8km, two to three hours) leads…
Tajikistan
The vast and colourful central bazaar is a town unto itself. A three-storey, triple arched building indicates the main hub but stalls selling everything…
Samarkand
Across the street from Ishratkhana Mausoleum is the blue-domed Hoja Abdi Darun Mausoleum, which shares a tranquil, shady courtyard with a mosque and a…
Kazakhstan
Mt Bolektau is a short, easy ascent that takes around half an hour and still gives you good views of both Lake Burabay and Lake Bolshoe Chebachie to its…
Tajikistan
Tucked behind the site of a giant new mosque, the 1910 Hauz-i-Sangin Mosque has fine ceiling paintings and a dry octagonal hauz (pool) flanked by…
Kazakhstan
This heroic-looking statue of Yury Gagarin, first man in space, was erected in 2014 on what would have been Gagarin's 80th birthday to commemorate his…
Shymkent
Of several new markets around the city fringes, Bazar Samal, next to Samal bus station, is the biggest and most interesting, with a particularly colourful…
Almaty
This smooth, gleaming cable car runs from beside the Palace of the Republic up to Kök-Töbe hill on the southeast edge of Almaty, taking six minutes to…
Kazakhstan
This high-mountain lake empties at the end of June when the ice blocking its outlet melts, and does not fill again until the winter freeze; horse trips…
Kyrgyzstan
Following the Besh-Tash River for 30km, the highlight of this 32,000 sq km national park is a large turquoise lake at the end of the valley. Keep your…
Tashkent
North of Mustaqillik maydoni is the Crying Mother Monument. Fronted by an eternal flame, it was constructed in 1999 to honour the 400,000 Uzbek soldiers…
Kazakhstan
The occupant of the three-domed Abdul-Aziz Baba Mausoleum is believed to have been a leader of the Arabic forces that brought Islam to the Sayram area in…
Kazakhstan
The reconstructed Dauitbek Mausoleum, built for a 13th-century Mongol viceroy, is said to have been built lopsided in revenge for the man’s infamous…
Jewish Community Centre & Synagogue
Bukhara
Bukhara's main synagogue is in the old town. It holds regular services and also sponsors a functioning Jewish school just around the corner. Look for the…
Bukhara
This private gallery in the former Olimjon Caravanserai contains mesmerising photos of Bukhara Jews, gypsies and city life shot by Bukharan photographer…
Khiva
The tall Allakuli Khan Medressa is one of several buildings in the eastern section of the Ichan Qala built by Allakuli Khan in the 1830s and '40s. It…
Almaty
The pedestrianised stretch of this street in the lower, northern, part of the centre is Almaty’s (sort of) version of Moscow’s Arbat. It's dotted with…
Kazakhstan
In the western part of Altyn-Emel National Park, these clusters of petroglyphs depict ibex, Siberian deer (now extinct in these parts), curly-horned…
Kazakhstan
This striking war memorial consists of an eternal flame, surrounded by five enormous white panels that make an enormous open yurt, with each panel…
Tashkent
The House of Photography hosts rotating exhibits of Uzbekistan’s top contemporary photographers as well as shows by international names in the field. It's…
Samarkand
Behind the ugly wall surrounding Gur-e-Amir is this unexpected 15th-century mausoleum, with some stunningly restored blue and gold decoration under the…
Bishkek
This bazaar built primarily of repurposed shipping has shrunk somewhat since Kyrgyzstan joined the Eurasian Customs Union, but is still an atmospheric…
Bukhara
The Cap Makers Bazaar is a typically domed bazaar straddling one of Bukhara's main street junctions. It contains several souvenir stalls that still sell…
Bukhara
Not far from the Ismail Samani Tomb is the Talipach Gate and one of the city's few remaining eroded sections of Shaybanid-era town walls. Only 2km out of…
Karakalpak State Museum of Regional Studies
Nukus
Though not yet open at the time of writing, this museum is designed to house the region's main ethnographic and jewellery displays, and focus on the…
Kyrgyzstan
As the highway towards Baetov and Kazarman tops a small pass to the west of the city, look for a dirt road turnoff that leads to a viewpoint of the city…
Samarkand
This glowering statue of Timur seated on his throne marks the boundary between the old Uzbek town and the Russian-designed new town. It's a major landmark…
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