Have you heard of all these countries? The Central Asia Rally is an epic driving adventure, where you will journey to the heart of one of the world’s most remote and beautiful regions. In the course of two weeks we pass through six countries, each with their own unique highlights. These are the countries on the […]
Continue ReadingTag: Kazakhstan
Central Asia: More Fun with Friends
It’s easy to have a good time on the Central Asia Rally. Participants on the Central Asia Rally tend to be adventurous, independent-minded, and capable. So, you might ask, why bother joining up with us, when they could make the journey themselves? Well, it turns out that there are plenty very good reasons, actually!
Continue ReadingAlmaty: After the Event
Almaty is a worthwhile next stop after the Central Asia Rally. Photo by Irene2005 The Central Asia Rally will test your patience, endurance, and your skills at the wheel. Driving 6500km in two weeks, visiting six countries ,and traversing countless roads of terrible quality, maybe you need to be a little bit crazy to do […]
Continue ReadingPlov: The Centerpiece of Central Asian Cuisine
Plov is central to Central Asian cuisine. Photo by I. Ibrahimjon Let’s be honest, food probably isn’t the reason you visit Central Asia. Participants on the Central Asia Rally are more likely to be excited about visiting Silk Road cities or driving the Pamir Highway. However, if there’s one meal that you can be sure to enjoy on […]
Continue ReadingKyzylkum: The Desert of Red Sand
We drive through the Kyzylkum Desert on the Central Asia Rally. Much of the Central Asia Rally is spent discovering the unexpected: glorious medieval cities, tranquil lakes, and incredible mountain passes. However, we also traverse less surprising Central Asian terrain: desert. The Kyzylkum, which in local Turkic languages means “red sand”, is one of the largest deserts […]
Continue ReadingWhy the Caspian Sea is a Lake
Is the Caspian Sea a Lake? The Central Asia Rally begins in Astrakhan, Russia. This is where the Volga delta drains into the Caspian Sea, and we cross the northern shore as we pass through Kazakhstan on our way to the heart of Central Asia. We can see its waves, and if we took […]
Continue ReadingSoviet Relics of Central Asia
Soviet memories can be found all over Central Asia. Photo via Creative Commons On the Central Asia Rally, we travel all across the region, from Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan, Tajikistan to Kyrgyzstan. Everywhere we go we see reminders of history, and not just silk road cities: there are also noticeably traces of decades of Soviet […]
Continue ReadingThe Largest Cities of Central Asia
The biggest cities of the Central Asian Region. In Central Asia, sites of spectacular nature vastly outnumber urban centers, but that doesn’t mean there are no cities of note. In fact, we visit several of the largest cities in Central Asia on the Central Asia Rally. Here are the major cities of Central Asia:
Continue ReadingWhat Counts as Central Asia?
It’s Central, and its Asia, but what exactly does that mean? Asia is a vast continent, and so identifying whats counts as its “center” is not as easy as it might seem. For the Central Asia Rally, we stick with the consensus (whereby Central Asia more or less is exactly equal to the “Stans”), but […]
Continue ReadingCentral Asia Rally 2017: The Best Photographs
Our favourite photos from the Central Asia Rally. The Central Asia Rally 2017 is now long gone, but we thought we’d take one final look back at the best photographs from the event. If you were are a participant and you think you took better, you are welcome to send the best photographs of […]
Continue ReadingThe Central Asia Rally So Far!
The Central Asia Rally is almost over, so here’s our first batch of highlights from another incredible event. The Central Asia Rally 2017 set off on June 1st, from Astrakhan in Russia. Teams then passed through Kazakhstan, before exploring the many amazing sights of Uzbekistan. Through the wonders of (very slow) internet, we can now share some […]
Continue ReadingWhy We Love Markets in Central Asia
Be prepared to bargain hard at markets in Central Asia. On the Central Asia Rally, you will travel in the footsteps on the ancient Silk Road. You’ll drive on the route’s scenic mountain passes, and stay in historic cities which grew rich from trade. The most authentic Silk Road memory, though, are the markets and bazaars, […]
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