Central Asia, country by country

Five countries along the Silk Road, and the cities that made it. Each guide is written by people who live on the road between them — what to see, when to come, and which tours pass through.

Uzbekistan

4 cities

The heart of the Silk Road, in turquoise and dust

Explore Uzbekistan

Kazakhstan

2 cities

Steppe, canyons and the space between things

Explore Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

2 cities

Mountains, lake water and a country that camps for the summer

Explore Kyrgyzstan

Tajikistan

2 cities

The Pamir Highway, and the mountains it was built for

Explore Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

2 cities

A gas crater, a marble capital, and a desert almost nobody crosses

Explore Turkmenistan