A week off, the Silk Road, and a country changing fast. In this episode of Become Nomad, I explore Uzbekistan and share why I think Central Asia deserves a place higher on your travel list.

The journey takes us from Tashkent's Soviet grandeur and modern energy to the extraordinary architecture of S… A week off, the Silk Road, and a country changing fast. In this episode of Become Nomad, I explore Uzbekistan and share why I think Central Asia deserves a place higher on your travel list.

The journey takes us from Tashkent's Soviet grandeur and modern energy to the extraordinary architecture of Samarkand's Registan Square, the old streets of Bukhara, and Khiva's walled inner city. I explain why Bukhara was my favorite, why Tashkent deserves time of its own, and how even spectacular Silk Road sights can start to feel repetitive.

There's also a detour into Tajikistan to explore the Seven Lakes: dramatic mountain scenery, bumpy cliffside roads, and a country that left me wanting to return for a longer stay. For those with more time, I discuss extending the adventure to Nukus, the Savitsky Museum, desert fortresses and the Aral Sea—with Turkmenistan as another possibility for the more adventurous.

Along the way, I share practical observations on Uzbekistan's surprisingly good fast trains, booking ahead, and why autumn worked so well for my visit. I also reflect on what stayed with me beyond the architecture: heartfelt hospitality of the Uzbek people and great food. more

Hello and welcome to our very first episode of The Travel Diaries: Unpacked, your weekend travel fix. 

Today I’m joined by the fabulous John O'Ceallaigh. John is a travel journalist and consultant to luxury hospitality brands, who previously served as the luxury travel editor for The Telegraph for … Hello and welcome to our very first episode of The Travel Diaries: Unpacked, your weekend travel fix. 

Today I’m joined by the fabulous John O'Ceallaigh. John is a travel journalist and consultant to luxury hospitality brands, who previously served as the luxury travel editor for The Telegraph for nearly a decade.

We'll be unpacking Nisha's bucket list destination, China; reflecting on my Hotel of the Week, Six Senses London; chatting about John's recent trip to Azerbaijan, and answering your listener question.

Destination Recap:

• China
• Beijing, China
• Shanghai, China
• Yunnan, China
• Shangri-La, Yunnan, China
• Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, Shangri-La, China
• Yellow Mountain, Anhui, China
• Chengdu, Sichuan, China
• St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City
• Six Senses London, Bayswater, London, England
• The Whiteley, Bayswater, London, England
• Notting Hill, London, England
• Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Baku, Azerbaijan
• Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan
• Fairmont Baku, Flame Towers, Baku, Azerbaijan
• Heydar Aliyev Centre, Baku, Azerbaijan
• Uzbekistan
• Khiva, Uzbekistan
• Samarkand, Uzbekistan
• Registan Square, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

All the destinations mentioned are included in the episode show notes and on thetraveldiariespodcast.com 

If you’d like to find out who’s joining me next Tuesday, come and follow me on Instagram and TikTok, I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. 

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Today we're heading to the heart of the Silk Road. Uzbekistan, full of ancient caravan cities, turquoise domes, and golden desert sands hold centuries of history that shaped the the world as we know it today.

Joining me are two guests who know this region intimately. Bekhruz Kurbanov is an archaeol… Today we're heading to the heart of the Silk Road. Uzbekistan, full of ancient caravan cities, turquoise domes, and golden desert sands hold centuries of history that shaped the the world as we know it today.

Joining me are two guests who know this region intimately. Bekhruz Kurbanov is an archaeologist and guide born and raised in Uzbekistan, Luca Lasser who has nearly 20 years of experience working in Central Asia and who runs Kalpak Travel with his wife, a native of Kyrgyzstan. 

We talk about everything from the conquerors who left their mark on this land, to the secrets hidden in thousand year old metalwork, to an evening spent making the national dish with locals in their homes. 

So pour yourself a cup of tea, and enjoy this fascinating episode of Luxury Travel Insider.

 

Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels

If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/

 

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Hear about travel to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and the annual Amateur Traveler trip as host Chris Christensen and guest Bill Abbott talk about a tour to 2 of the 5 'Stans in Central Asia.

This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help fr… Hear about travel to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and the annual Amateur Traveler trip as host Chris Christensen and guest Bill Abbott talk about a tour to 2 of the 5 'Stans in Central Asia.

This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Why should you go to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan?

Chris says, "In this area, you can stand in these beautiful cities that date back over two thousand years. This is a trip through some of the great crossroads of world history: Persian empires, Silk Road merchants, Turkic tribes, Mongol armies, Timurid architects, Russian generals, Soviet planners, and two very different modern countries. This is not the edge of the map as we tend to view it, but historically, it's the middle of the map."

In this episode of Amateur Traveler, we celebrate episode 1,000 with a trip through Central Asia to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. The episode follows a G Adventures trip, Best of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, with a small group of Amateur Traveler listeners.

...

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Thomas Preinl has been to 190 countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. On this episode I have the pleasure to speak with Thomas Preinl who I met at the NomadMania meeting in Uzbekistan and spent time with him during a recent visit to Thailand. Thomas is one of those characters who has been C… Thomas Preinl has been to 190 countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. On this episode I have the pleasure to speak with Thomas Preinl who I met at the NomadMania meeting in Uzbekistan and spent time with him during a recent visit to Thailand. Thomas is one of those characters who has been Chasing 193 but only recently found the extreme travel community. Thomas has benefited with flight benefits due to his employment with Lufthansa for years. As Thomas will share, he is German by birth, but not by character, having a flexible and adaptable travel persona. You will get to meet him at the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok. I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons. You know them, you love them! Bisa "fully nomadic" Myles, Ted Nims, Adam "one-away" Hickman, Steph "Phuket" Rowe, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ed Hotchkiss, Barry Hoffner, Katelyn Jarvis, Philippe "BC" Izedian, Gin Liutkeviciute, Sunir Joshi, Carole Southam, Sonia Zimmermann, Justine, Per Flisberg, Jorge Serpa, Sam Williams, Scott Day, Dana Mahoutchian, Mihai Dascalu and Ryan Knott for supporting this podcast. You can support this podcast by going to Patreon.com/CountingCountries. My patrons will hear the entire conversation with Thomas. Please remember the next Extraordinary Travel Festival will be on October 22-25 in 2026. You can join the event and use code BANGKOK to save $110 for this incredibly packed event. Thor Pedersen will be hosting a screening of his travel documentary, The Impossible Journey, which will also include a Q&A. Consider joining our Instagram and Facebook groups and signing up for the ETF newsletter. Any questions, please let me know. We are also adding in a Travel Content Creation day at the ETF, where we will screen travel documentaries and host travel authors. Thomas and I recorded together in Bangkok. Please listen in and enjoy. Thank you to my Patrons - you rock!! … Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Adam Hickman, Steph Rowe, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ed Hotchkiss, Barry Hoffner, Katelyn Jarvis, Philippe Izedian, Gin Liutkeviciute, Sunir Joshi, Carole Southam, Sonia Zimmermann, Justine, Per Flisberg, Jorge Serpa, Sam Williams, Scott Day, Dana Mahoutchian, Mihai Dascalu, and Ryan Knott. Be the first on your block to sport official Counting Countries apparel! And now you can listen to Counting Countries on Spotify! And Alexa! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today! And write a review! The Impossible Journey (Amazon US Kindle (affiliate)): https://amzn.to/46pRuDi Other book options: Thor Pedersen | Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who've spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter's Dance, written, performed, and provided by Mundi. About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: Hit The Road: India, 7000 KM To Go, and Photos From Chernobyl. He is the producer of two travel documentaries: Hit The Road: India and Hit The Road: Cambodia. Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has traveled so far and keep up with his journey at GlobalGaz.com How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are 193 member states. The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are 226 countries and territories. The Traveler's Century Club states that there are 329 sovereign nations, territories, enclaves, and islands. The Nomad Mania divides the world into 1301 regions. The Most Traveled Person states that there are 1500 unique parts of the world. SISO says there are 3,978 places in the world. And the video that explains it all! Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. An analysis of these lists and who is the best traveled by Kolja Spori. Disclaimer: There are affiliates in this post. more

In this episode of the Bikepack Adventures Podcast, I connect with Ben Clark, an adventure cyclist who is 18,000 kilometers into his 35,000-kilometer journey around the world.

Ben shares the challenges and highlights of his route, which has taken him through countries such as Turkey, Georgia, Uzbek… In this episode of the Bikepack Adventures Podcast, I connect with Ben Clark, an adventure cyclist who is 18,000 kilometers into his 35,000-kilometer journey around the world.

Ben shares the challenges and highlights of his route, which has taken him through countries such as Turkey, Georgia, Uzbekistan, India, Nepal, and Vietnam. He offers insights into his experiences, from dealing with extreme weather and varied landscapes to navigating cultural norms and overcoming personal challenges like a serious bike crash in India.

Ben also discusses his gear choices, the importance of minimalism, and his strategy for supporting mental health charities like Andy’s Man Club. Tune in to hear about his future plans, including cycling through New Zealand, the US, and eventually reaching Boston, as part of his grand adventure from Wales around the world.

To support the Bike Tour Adventures podcast, follow the links below:

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Join our Join the RideWithGPS Bikepack Adventures Club



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Join me, Palle Bo, on an incredible journey through Central Asia as I explore the vibrant cultures and stunning landscapes of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. In this diary episode, I recount my adventures from the bustling streets of Istanbul to the ancient walls of Khiva. Discov… Join me, Palle Bo, on an incredible journey through Central Asia as I explore the vibrant cultures and stunning landscapes of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. In this diary episode, I recount my adventures from the bustling streets of Istanbul to the ancient walls of Khiva. Discover my experiences in Beirut and Syria, my eye-opening encounters, and the heartwarming connections I've made along the way. Stay tuned for an update on my upcoming travels and personal milestones, including my daughter's graduation and a much-needed eye surgery in Denmark. Don't miss out on the latest chapter of The Radio Vagabond!  more

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I’d always thought of Tamerlane as a sort of cut-rate Genghis Khan. It was only when researching a trip to Uzbekistan that I discovered he was one of the world’s greatest conquerors.

Justin Marozzi joined me to talk about Temur’s military genius, his architectural an… Donate to Personal Landscapes.

I’d always thought of Tamerlane as a sort of cut-rate Genghis Khan. It was only when researching a trip to Uzbekistan that I discovered he was one of the world’s greatest conquerors.

Justin Marozzi joined me to talk about Temur’s military genius, his architectural and cultural legacy, and how he’s remembered in Uzbekistan today.



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