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Central Asia

Moynaq, once a fishing port on the Aral Sea, is now a ghost town in the Aralkum Desert, drawing ‘disaster tourists’ to see stranded boats and devastation.

Ghost cities and stranded ships: Inside a country that doesn’t exist

Karakalpakstan has its own language, culture and history, but you won’t find it on any map.

  • Joel Day
Narayanhiti Palace… doors open.

The site of a shocking royal massacre is now a tourist attraction

Inside these walls, built to keep common eyes away, we can all finally seen how Nepal’s most lavish family lived. And how it died.

  • Andrew Bain
Educated young Nepalese are returning home to Kathmandu.

A new, youthful spirit is putting this city back on travellers’ radars

A new wave of creatives is helping to preserve local cultures, environments and communities, while lifting the visitor experiences of one of Asia’s most intriguing cities.

  • Nina Karnikowski
A trekker sitting on top of Kyanjo Ri view point and enjoying landscape of Langtang valley. Himalaya mountains range in Nepal, Asia Cover: Nepal: trekking a decade on from the earthquake text by Andrew Bain

After devastation, I returned to one of the world’s most amazing countries

In 2015, I was in Nepal just days before the earthquake. I’m back to continue my trekking love affair with the country.

  • Andrew Bain
Aerial view down towards the famous Kalyan Poi Kalon Complex and Poi Kalon Minaret, Poi Kalan or Po-i-Kalyan and Mir Arab Madrasah (right side) in the center of the old town of Bukhara - Buxoro - Бухорo on a sunny day. Aerial Drone Point view at Sunset. Itchan Kala, Bukhara, Khorezm Region, Uzbekistan, Central Asia.

Visiting this formerly daunting part of the world is now easier than ever

We follow the paths carved by some of the greatest and most terrible conquerors, everyone from Alexander the Great to Genghis Khan to Timur.

  • Ute Junker
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Sardinia’s postcard shoreline.

Asia v Europe: Which destination is better for a holiday? The verdict

Which region delivers the most for holidaying Australians when it comes to food, transport, service and spectacular sights? Read on to find out.

  • Ute Junker
Samarkand is home to some of the finest ­examples of 14th to 20th century Central Asian architecture.

Discover this incredible country before it turns into the next Dubai

This once-mysterious Central Asian nation now grants visa-free travel to 90 countries, part of a plan that may change its character forever.

  • James Draven
Astana features some of the world’s most amazing architecture.

The futuristic Asian city few Australians visit (or know about)

Who knew Astana features some of the world’s most amazing architecture? I didn’t, until I went there.

  • Ben Groundwater
The Trans-Siberian stretches 10,000km from Moscow all the way to Vladivostok.

The Trans-Siberian and Trans-Mongolian train journeys: Experts' tips on doing the epic rail trips

The Trans-Siberian and the Trans-Mongolian are names that are instantly recognisable to many travellers.

  • Ben Groundwater
Uzbekistan's national dish and daily ritual, a hefty rice pilaf cooked with meat, onions, carrots, garlic, dried fruit, and a fair glug of oil.

What is plov? Uzbekistan's national rice dish is far tastier than it has any right to be

Uzbekistan can boast all sorts of achievements, from ancient astronomy to mathematics to empire-building to the perfection of plov.

  • Ben Groundwater

Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/topic/central-asia-lgh