Category: Travel

  • Thursday 01 June 2023Highlights: The amazing Darvaza Gas Crater (Gates of Hell) at Dawn, Hiking in the Karakum Desert, Exploring Ashgabat at night Waking up at 5 am I did a short walk from my yurt to the Darvaza Gas Crater for another look at the unique phenomenon.

  • Wednesday 31 May 2023Highlights: Exploring Kunya-Urgench, the amazing Darvaza Gas Crater (Gates of Hell) After a surprise hotel accidental wake call for everyone via an intercom announcement and an underwhelming breakfast, we were off on a 2 hour drive to UNCESO protected ancient abandoned city of Kunya-Urgench. This was the first chance to really see…

  • Tuesday 30 May 2023Highlights: Border crossing to Turkmenistan, Card game Today I said goodbye to 10 members of the tour group and our CEO Rustam while 6 of us (Kyle, Ingrid, Amy, Mike, Nancy and me), plus our new CEO Eziz, travelled to Turkmenistan for the fifth and last ‘Stan of the Five Stans. Khiva…

  • Monday 29 May 2023Highlights: Kalta Minor Minaret, Tash-Khovli Palace, Madrasah Qutlug Murad, Tash-Khauli Palace, Juma Mosque, Islom-Hoja Minaret (tallest in Uzbekistan), and Pahlavon Mahmud Mausoleum Today was a chance to explore this unique city-museum of Khiva in more detail. The city was established around 1500 years ago but there were inhabitants even earlier. In 1991…

  • Sunday 28 May 2023Highlights: Khoja Tabband Mosque, Exploring Khiva, Khiva at Night A long drive ahead of us meant we wanted to be on the road by 8 am. I woke up slightly unwell but hopefully nothing too serious for today’s 8 hour plus of driving. Before leaving Bukhara we had one final stop point…