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Samarkand, Tbilisi, the Pamir Highway — the most underrated travel region in the world.
Central Asia and the Caucasus sit at the crossroads of every civilisation that has ever mattered. Samarkand's Registan is as architecturally overwhelming as the Taj Mahal with a fraction of the visitors. Georgia's food and wine culture is among the best in Europe. Kyrgyzstan's Tian Shan mountains offer trekking that rivals Nepal at a fraction of the cost and crowds. These are the destinations serious travellers go to when they've run out of obvious places — and they are usually the ones people talk about most on the way home.
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The three blue-tiled madrasahs of the Registan — more overwhelming than any photograph.
8,000 years of winemaking in qvevri — the oldest wine culture on earth, 2 hours from Tbilisi.
The mountain drive north, the clifftop church and the Greater Caucasus ridge.
One of the great road trips — the Wakhan Corridor and the roof of the world.
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Georgia and the Caucasus: May–June and September–October are ideal. Winter is ski season (Gudauri, December–March). Uzbekistan and Central Asia: April–June and September–October — summer heat in the desert cities reaches 42°C. Kyrgyzstan: June–September for mountain trekking — snow blocks the high passes until late May.
Georgia requires no visa for most Western nationalities — you get 365 days on arrival. One of the world's most generous entry policies.
Download offline maps for Central Asia before arriving — connectivity is patchy outside major cities, especially in Kyrgyzstan.
US dollars in small denominations are the preferred foreign currency across Central Asia. Carry plenty of small bills.
Kyrgyzstan's CBT (Community-Based Tourism) network offers yurt stays organised through local communities — highly recommended.
Georgia's amber wine (skin-contact white fermented in clay qvevri underground) is extraordinary — try it before you leave Tbilisi.
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