Blog 25 30th July – 2nd August Ken Sai Border Post (Uzbekistan) to Khujand (Tajikistan) Distance: 402km Total Distance: 8203km Surrounded by high mountains (such as those I just crossed in Kyrgyzstan), the Fergana Valley is an extremely fertile, densely populated enclave divided between Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Silk Road travellers from east and west converged […]
waterislife
There’s always a way through/around
Blog 24 22nd – 29th July Naryn to the Ken Sai Border Post (Kyrgyzstan/Uzbekistan) Distance: 525km Total Distance: 7801km Day 121: Naryn to Camp (Ak-Tal + 17km) – 127km We had been enjoying some cooler temperatures in the altitude of the Tien Shan, but leaving Naryn, at around 2000m altitude, it had warmed to 34C. […]
Crossing the remote high Pamirs to Lake Zorkul (and on to Langar)
Blog 21 6th – 9th July Murghab to Langar Distance: 318km Total Distance: 6859km Murghab town, the main centre in the eastern Pamir (population 6000), on first appearances is a desolate place where temperatures can drop to -50C in winter and reach 30C+ in summer. At 3650m, it is considered a high altitude desert regularly […]
Battling the beautiful Bartang Valley and the Pamir Highway
Blog 20 29th June – 4th July Rushan to Murghab Distance: 529km Total Distance: 6541km Following the Amu Darya from the Aral Sea to it’s source(s) is a complicated journey. So far I have followed the Amu Darya, its key tributary, the Zerafshan River, then back to the Amu Darya to where it turned into the […]
Moynaq to Nukus: Starting from the end (Amu Darya rivermouth)
Blog 11 4th – 7th May Moynaq to Nukus Distance: 256km Total Distance: 2855km In Moynaq I arranged for a guide to be with us for the remainder of the way to Nukus. Khurmet, whom we had met at the Yurt Camp beside the Aral Sea, was the perfect choice because he has local roots […]
