The Trip to the Country of Fires

Azerbaijan is a very remarkable country, boasting unique history and traditions. The numerous trade routes of the Great Silk Road used to intersect the country in the old times. Azerbaijan is often called ‘the country of fires’, as rich oil and gas deposits lying close to the surface throughout the country, when kindled, used to form gigantic burning columns growing right from the ground and to impress greatly the ancient fire-worshipping tribes inhabiting the territory. Those times were commemorated in numerous temples and rock paintings.

Night view of Baku city, Azerbaijan

‘The Trip to the Country of Fires’ includes all the Azerbaijan’s key attractions that any visitor must see: the Mountain Park, Old City, Heydar Aliyev Centre, Magomayev Philharmonic Hall, Maiden Tower, Palace of the Shirvanshahs, Gobustan National Park and many others.

http://www.centralasia-travel.com/en/countries/azerbaijan/tours/land_of_fire

Old City (inner city). Baku, Azerbaijan

The ruins of the gates of Albanian capital Gabala, Azerbaijan

Shabaka (Palace of Shaki Khans). Shaki, Azerbaijan

Yanar Dag mountain. The Burning Mountain in Azerbaijan

Gobustan National Park. Baku, Azerbaijan

Tour to The Fergana Valley. Delicate silk and unique ceramics of Uzbekistan.

Itinerary: Tashkent - Margilan - Kuva - Fergana - Rishtan - Kokand - Tashkent

http://www.centralasia-travel.com/en/countries/uzbekistan/tours/classic-fergana

The Fergana Valley is the land of hereditary artisans who have retained the ancient secrets of the manual production of silk and original ceramics until our days.

In the valley you can visit silk making shops and a factory in Margilan, where you can watch the making of the famous handmade khan atlas satin following ancient technologies, and see the village of Rishtan, Uzbekistan’s main ceramic pottery.

The blue glaze ceramics made in the village is truly unique and it is the ceramic souvenirs from Rishtan that are the most popular among tourists.

Late August is good time to enjoy sweet melons!

Join Uzbekistan group tours: Adventure Jeep Tour to the Aral Sea and Excursions to Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand

Group №2. 29.08 - 07.09.2017

Group №3. 23.09 - 02.10.2017

http://www.centralasia-travel.com/en/countries/uzbekistan/tours/classic-and-jeep-tour

Adventure jeep trip to the Aral Sea across the uninhabited and little-studied Ustyurt Plateau and a guided tour of the country with excursions to the legendary historical cities of Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand with grandiose architectural monuments await you!

Classic Group Tour to Uzbekistan: The Main Attractions in Ancient Cities.

✔ 5-days itinerary: Tashkent - Bukhara - Samarkand - Tashkent

✔ 8-days itinerary: Tashkent - Urgench - Khiva - Bukhara - Samarkand - Tashkent

Autumn Groups 2017:

Group №10 28.09 - 02.10, 25.09 - 02.10

Group №11 08.10 - 12.10, 05.10 - 12.10

Group №12 22.10 - 26.10, 19.10 - 26.10

Group №13 05.11 - 09.11, 02.11 - 09.11

The classical tour itinerary featuring the ancient cities is a trip to Uzbekistan principal and most famous historical monuments - the grandiose must-see objects, which are an inherent part of Uzbekistan’s image.

Medieval mosques, madrasahs and minarets, artisans’ workshops, bustling bazaars surrounded by quiet narrow ancient streets, the burning Asian sun and cool nights, the fantastically delicious Uzbek cuisine and contrast between deserts and oases will make you deeply feel the aura of the oriental culture during this travel to Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan's greatest cities provide an ideal base from which to explore the country's rich and diverse cultural and historical heritage.

Details of the tour read here: http://www.centralasia-travel.com/en/tours/classical/classic_uzbekistan

Tours to Tajikistan

Best Places to Visit in Tajikistan and the main tourist attractions:

• The Fann Mountains is one of the most beautiful regions of the Pamir-Alai: deep gorges, easy mountain passes, around 40 incredibly beautiful lakes bordered by pointed and rocky 5,000-metre peaks.

• The Pamir Highway (M41) ranks second in the list of the world's most beautiful roads. It traverses the uninhabited alpine areas of the Pamirs, on its way crossing several mountain passes over 4,000 m high.

• The Vakhan Corridor is a harsh alpine region lying in the Vakhan and Panj valleys.

• The alpine villages of the Pamirs, auls lost amidst highest mountains where, detached from the modern civilisation, people have retained their language and ancient traditions.

• The 7,000-metre peaks of the Pamir Mountains: ascents of the Communism (Ismail Samani - 7,495 m) and Korzhenevskaya (7,105 m) Peaks.

• Hissar Fortress and other historical monuments.

• Main cities: Dushanbe, Khujand, Khorog, Kulob, Kurganteppa.

Tajikistan is a picturesque mountainous country and a very important section of the Great Silk Road.

Tajikistan tourism is popular among trekkers and climbers, as well as other types of travellers, such as motorists interested in trying difficult high-altitude roads with their jeeps, amateur researchers into ancient structures scattered in large numbers across the region, seekers after non-trivial legends originating in remote mountain villages and those wishing to reach places untrodden by the foot of man.

The stern beauty of the alpine areas of the Pamirs, monuments of the pre-Islamic period, hidden corners of pristine nature, cohesion of cultures, high-altitude settlements and the original lifestyle of the local people Pamiris, most delicious food and curative mineral sources - these are what inspires tourists to opt for a travel to #Tajikistan.

View our tours to Tadjikistan: http://www.centralasia-travel.com/en/countries/tadjikistan/tours

Shurpa - Rich Uzbek soup

To cook shurpa you will need:

• 0.5 kg of mutton (ribs or fillet) or beef;

• 300 g of onion;

• 200 g of carrot;

• 200 g of sweet pepper;

• 200 g of tomatoes;

• 200 g of potatoes;

• spices (salt, zira, black pepper and others);

• herbs (dill, parsley, coriander or any other you like or are accustomed to);

• about 2 l of water; shurpa must not be too thin, it is a thick soup.

✔ Put large pieces of meat and bones into cold water and boil them for 1.5-2 hours. As the water starts to boil, turn down the fire.

✔ Then take the meat and bones out and separate the meat from the bones. Cut the meat into small even pieces and put them back into the broth.

✔ Now add vegetables cut into large pieces and boil the soup on small fire so that the vegetables can gradually become soft and give the soup all their taste. The sour tomatoes may prevent the potatoes from boiling up properly, which is why the tomatoes should be added at the end of the cooking process, together with herbs and spices.

✔ After being finished, the shurpa can be portioned out in traditional bowls (kosa), with a handful of fresh herbs put in each bowl. Shurpa can also be served separately, that is, broth in large bowls and meat and vegetables in a dish.