Uzbekistan
When one speaks of the Silk Road, one often has images of the oasis cities of Khiva, Bukhara or Samarkand in mind. The Central Asian interior is embedded in almost 2/3 of the Kyzylkum desert. Fertile plains can be found in the Fergana Valley, in the far east of the country. The two largest rivers in the country are the Amur Darya and the Syr Darya. The environmental catastrophe at the Aral Sea can be traced back to the massive diversion of water from the two rivers to manage oases. Uzbekistan is a country for culture enthusiasts. Nowhere in Central Asia are there so many monumental structures and blue domes as in Uzbekistan. A very well developed tourist infrastructure makes traveling through the country very pleasant. The world famous Registan of Samarkand is the symbol of the country. Tashkent, the capital,
Climate:
Uzbekistan has a strictly continental climate. The summers are extremely hot but dry, which makes peaks above 50 degrees bearable. Winters are dry and very cold.
Rain only falls in the spring and autumn months.
Best travel time:
The classic cultural tours usually take place between April and early June and between mid / late August and late October. Then it is not too hot for a tour of the historic old towns. Overland trips through the desert are then also not too strenuous. Nevertheless, you can also travel to the country in the winter months. On the other hand, the warmer and dry summer months of July and August are suitable for hikes and excursions in the rather unknown Uzbek mountains.
Turkmenistan
According to Countryaah, Turkmenistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia and was a Soviet Socialist Republic until independence in 1991. About 95% of the country’s area is taken up by the Karakum Desert. Little is known about the country itself to this day. News and information almost never get outside. The capital Ashgabat is an oasis in the truest sense of the word. All of the country’s ministries and important banks are located here. This city is bursting with splendor. The country shows its enormous wealth here.
Climate:
In Turkmenistan there is a continental climate everywhere with extremely hot summers and very cold winters. Due to the low humidity, temperatures above 55 degrees can still be tolerated. There are significant temperature differences between day and night and from season to season.
Best travel time:
In Turkmenistan, the spring months of April and May and autumn between September and mid-November are recommended for tours. The hot summer and very cold winter months are unfavorable for traveling overland. The blooming desert makes spring especially attractive as a travel period.
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan is located in the high mountains of the Tienshan, the highest peaks of which reach over 7000 m. The border with China also runs across the 7,439 m high Pik Pobedy, the highest mountain in the country and the second highest peak in the former USSR. In the south of Kyrgyzstan rise the Alai and Transalai mountains and the foothills of the Pamir. Overall, more than 50 percent of the state’s area is higher than 2500 m. After all, glaciers and permanent snow cover three percent of the country’s area. Issyk Kul is the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan. The population is mainly concentrated in the Tschüi valley in the north and the Fergana valley in the south as well as around the large lake Issyk Kul. The southern end of the country is formed by the Alai mountain range with Pik Tandykul (5544 m) as the highest peak. The Naryn, Tschüi and Talas are among the most important rivers in the country. Up to an altitude of 1500 m, the land consists of steppe, which, however, has been made arable through extensive irrigation systems. From 1500 m, alpine meadows and pastures dominate, which reach up to the snow fields and glaciers. The forests are located at altitudes of 1500 to 4000 m above sea level. NN and are home to about 120 tree and shrub species. With only four percent forest area, Kyrgyzstan is one of the least forested countries in Asia. The capital of Kyrgyzstan is Bishkek with a population of 976,734.
Climate:
The climate of Kyrgyzstan is characterized by dry and continental hot summers and cold winters. The daily temperature fluctuations are significant. In the south of the country, temperatures of 45 ° C are measured in summer, while temperatures can drop to minus 18 ° C in winter. The sunny weather is typical (247 sunny days per year!). The amount of precipitation varies between 100 ml and 1000 ml. Heavy snowfalls occur especially in January, but February is already milder again.
Best travel time:
Kyrgyzstan has a continental dry climate with very cold winters and dry, hot summers. Spring and autumn are best for visiting the lower elevations of Kyrgyzstan. The months of April and May ensure a blooming season across the country. In September and October, however, is harvest time, during which the markets are filled with fresh fruit and vegetables and the forests are colored in autumn. At both times the temperatures are pleasant in contrast to the hot summers and cold winters. In turn, the months of July and August are best suited for hiking and trekking tours in the high mountains. The average temperatures are then around 20 to 25 ° C and even above 3,000 m, mostly up to 15 ° C. In winter, snowfalls make many mountain regions inaccessible. In the lowlands it is bitterly cold. However, if you want to go to Kyrgyzstan for skiing, you should come during the long and snowy ski season from December to April.
Tajikistan
Tajikistan is a high mountain country in Central Asia. More than half of the country’s area is at an altitude of 3000 m or higher. Tajikistan has borders with Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, China and Afghanistan. The mighty Pamir with peaks over 7000 meters dominates the east of the country. The land is rich in water, but due to the relief, only a few areas can be used for agriculture. Tajikistan is becoming more and more the focus of trekkers, mountaineers and adventurers. Highlights are undoubtedly the Fan Mountains in the east as well as the Pamir and Pamir Highway.
Climate:
The climate is extremely continental (cold winters and hot summers). Tajikistan is also characterized by large differences in altitude, which in turn causes different climatic zones. The mountain valleys in the Pamirs are more or less cut off from the rest of the country in the winter months. In the lower parts of the country it can get very hot in summer. 45 degrees or more are not uncommon in July and August.
Best travel time:
The cities of Dushanbe, Khudjand and Pendschikent can be easily visited from April. Tours there are also possible from October to mid-November. Generally in summer too, but then it’s incredibly hot. You can drive on the Pamir Highway from May, but you always have to expect extreme weather conditions. There can still be a lot of snow on the passes. The autumn storms set in in the Pamir highlands as early as October and it can get uncomfortable. Mountain tours in the high mountains can only be carried out from mid-June to mid-September. Good equipment and clothing are essential for any trip to Tajikistan.