Afghanistan
SILK ROAD DISCOVERY
Mediterranean Life
Colonial Architecture
Stunning Landscapes
The Sahara and its People
Archeological Sites
Islamic Culture
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Capital
Kabul
Main Cities
Kandahar, Herat
Currency
Afghan afghani
Official Language(s)
Dari, Pashto
Main Ethnic Groups
Pashtum, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek
Voltage
230v
Plugs
2-Pin Round
Country Calling Code:
+93
Driving Side
Right
Time Zone
UTC+4.30
BEST TIME TO GO
The best time to visit Afghanistan is in April-May and September-October avoiding the summer’s high temperatures which can make sightseeing unbearable, the winter snows which cut off more remote regions as well as the rainiest period which runs from December to April.
RECOMMENDED READING
The Outsider (Albert Camus)
The Plague (Albert Camus)
What the Day Owes the Night (Yasmina Khadra)
Fantasia (Assia Djebar)
The Wretched of the Earth (Frantz Fanon)
Nedjma (Katek Yacine)
Algeria: Anger of the Dispossessed (Martin Evans and John Phillips)
China
Mediterranean Life
Colonial Architecture
Stunning Landscapes
The Sahara and its People
Archeological Sites
Islamic Culture
Practical Information
Capital
Beijing
Main Cities
Shanghai, Chongqing, Tianjin, Guangzhou
Currency
Renminbi
Official Language(s)
Mandarin
Main Ethnic Groups
Han, Zhuang, Hui, Manchu, Uyghur
Voltage
230v
Plugs
Type C, Type F
Country Calling Code:
+86 Mainland
Driving Side
Right, Left in Hong Kong and Macau
Time Zone
UTC+8
BEST TIME TO GO
The best time to visit China is during spring or autumn when the weather tends to be warm and dry, in contrast with the bitterly cold winters and hot, humid summers experienced in much of the country.
RECOMMENDED READING
The Outsider (Albert Camus)
The Plague (Albert Camus)
What the Day Owes the Night (Yasmina Khadra)
Fantasia (Assia Djebar)
The Wretched of the Earth (Frantz Fanon)
Nedjma (Katek Yacine)
Algeria: Anger of the Dispossessed (Martin Evans and John Phillips)
Iran
Mediterranean Life
Colonial Architecture
Stunning Landscapes
The Sahara and its People
Archeological Sites
Islamic Culture
Practical Information
Capital
Tehran
Main Cities
Mashhad, Isfahan, Karaj
Currency
Iranian Rial
Official Language(s)
Persian
Main Ethnic Groups
Persian, Azerbaijani, Kurd
Voltage
230v
Plugs
Type C, Type F
Country Calling Code
+98
Driving Side
Right
Time Zone
UTC+3.30
BEST TIME TO GO
Spring and autumn are undoubtedly the best time to go to Iran, avoiding a very hot summer and an icy winter.
RECOMMENDED READING
The Outsider (Albert Camus)
The Plague (Albert Camus)
What the Day Owes the Night (Yasmina Khadra)
Fantasia (Assia Djebar)
The Wretched of the Earth (Frantz Fanon)
Nedjma (Katek Yacine)
Algeria: Anger of the Dispossessed (Martin Evans and John Phillips)
Kazakhstan
Mediterranean Life
Colonial Architecture
Stunning Landscapes
The Sahara and its People
Archeological Sites
Islamic Culture
Practical Information
Capital
Nur-Sultan
Main Cities
Almaty, Shymkent, Karagandy
Currency
Kazakhstani Tenge
Official Language(s)
Kazakh, Russian
Main Ethnic Groups
Kazakh, Ethnic Russian
Voltage
230v
Plugs
Type C, Type F
Country Calling Code:
+7-6xx, +7-7xx
Driving Side
Right
Time Zone
UTC+5 / +6 (West/East)
BEST TIME TO GO
The best time to go to Kazakhstan is in Apr-May or Sep-Oct, between scorching heat and heavy snow.
RECOMMENDED READING
The Outsider (Albert Camus)
The Plague (Albert Camus)
What the Day Owes the Night (Yasmina Khadra)
Fantasia (Assia Djebar)
The Wretched of the Earth (Frantz Fanon)
Nedjma (Katek Yacine)
Algeria: Anger of the Dispossessed (Martin Evans and John Phillips)
Kyrgyzstan
Mediterranean Life
Colonial Architecture
Stunning Landscapes
The Sahara and its People
Archeological Sites
Islamic Culture
Practical Information
Capital
Bishkek
Main Cities
Bishkek, Osh, Jalal-Abad
Currency
Kyrgyzstani Som
Official Language(s)
Kyrgyz, Russian
Main Ethnic Groups
Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Russian
Voltage
230v
Plugs
Type C, Type F
Country Calling Code:
+996
Driving Side
Right
Time Zone
UTC+6
BEST TIME TO GO
The best time to visit Kyrgyzstan is during the summer months as although the heat can be uncomfortable, this is when the country’s bazaars are at their most lively. It’s also the ideal season to explore the country’s mountainous areas and hiking trails that are out of bounds at other times of the year.
RECOMMENDED READING
The Outsider (Albert Camus)
The Plague (Albert Camus)
What the Day Owes the Night (Yasmina Khadra)
Fantasia (Assia Djebar)
The Wretched of the Earth (Frantz Fanon)
Nedjma (Katek Yacine)
Algeria: Anger of the Dispossessed (Martin Evans and John Phillips)
Mongolia
Mediterranean Life
Colonial Architecture
Stunning Landscapes
The Sahara and its People
Archeological Sites
Islamic Culture
Practical Information
Capital
Ulaanbaatar
Main Cities
Erdenet, Darkhan, Choibalsan
Currency
Mongolian Tögrög
Official Language(s)
Mongolian
Main Ethnic Groups
Mongol, Kazakh
Voltage
230v
Plugs
Type C, Type F
Country Calling Code:
+976
Driving Side
Right
Time Zone
UTC+7/+8
BEST TIME TO GO
The best time to visit Mongolia is during the summer season which is characterised by sunny days and a little rain to keep the scenery lush and green. Only the southern Gobi is really hot at this time. July is also the time of Ulaanbaatar’s Nadaam Festival. September to October is best to venture into the Gobi Desert. The Altai Golden Eagle Festival takes place in the first week of October. Note that it is possible to travel to Mongolia on the Trans-Siberian Railway at any time of year.
RECOMMENDED READING
The Outsider (Albert Camus)
The Plague (Albert Camus)
What the Day Owes the Night (Yasmina Khadra)
Fantasia (Assia Djebar)
The Wretched of the Earth (Frantz Fanon)
Nedjma (Katek Yacine)
Algeria: Anger of the Dispossessed (Martin Evans and John Phillips)
Russia
Mediterranean Life
Colonial Architecture
Stunning Landscapes
The Sahara and its People
Archeological Sites
Islamic Culture
Practical Information
Capital
Moscow
Main Cities
St-Petersburg, Novosibirk, Yekaterinburg
Currency
Russian Ruble
Official Language(s)
Russian + 35 others
Main Ethnic Groups
Russian, Tatar
Voltage
230v
Plugs
Type C, Type F
Country Calling Code:
+7
Driving Side
Right
Time Zone
UTC+2 to +12
BEST TIME TO GO
The best time to visit Algeria for a Saharan safari is March-April or Oct-Nov when the heat of the day is bearable and the nights are less cold than in the middle of winter. Both periods will also allow you to incorporate in your itinerary cities and sites of the Mediterranean coastline – then dry and relatively warm – while October sees the start of the annual date harvest. An added benefit of travelling to Algeria during spring or autumn is far fewer crowds around key cultural attractions and beach resorts.
RECOMMENDED READING
The Outsider (Albert Camus)
The Plague (Albert Camus)
What the Day Owes the Night (Yasmina Khadra)
Fantasia (Assia Djebar)
The Wretched of the Earth (Frantz Fanon)
Nedjma (Katek Yacine)
Algeria: Anger of the Dispossessed (Martin Evans and John Phillips)
Tajikistan
Mediterranean Life
Colonial Architecture
Stunning Landscapes
The Sahara and its People
Archeological Sites
Islamic Culture
Practical Information
Capital
Dushanbe
Main Cities
Khujand, Bokhtar, Kulob
Currency
Tajikistani Somoni
Official Language(s)
Tajik
Main Ethnic Groups
Tajik, Uzbek
Voltage
230v
Plugs
Type C, Type F
Country Calling Code:
+992
Driving Side
Right
Time Zone
UTC+5
BEST TIME TO GO
The best time to visit Algeria for a Saharan safari is March-April or Oct-Nov when the heat of the day is bearable and the nights are less cold than in the middle of winter. Both periods will also allow you to incorporate in your itinerary cities and sites of the Mediterranean coastline – then dry and relatively warm – while October sees the start of the annual date harvest. An added benefit of travelling to Algeria during spring or autumn is far fewer crowds around key cultural attractions and beach resorts.
RECOMMENDED READING
The Outsider (Albert Camus)
The Plague (Albert Camus)
What the Day Owes the Night (Yasmina Khadra)
Fantasia (Assia Djebar)
The Wretched of the Earth (Frantz Fanon)
Nedjma (Katek Yacine)
Algeria: Anger of the Dispossessed (Martin Evans and John Phillips)
Turkey
Mediterranean Life
Colonial Architecture
Stunning Landscapes
The Sahara and its People
Archeological Sites
Islamic Culture
Practical Information
Capital
Ankara
Main Cities
Istanbul, Izmir, Bursa
Currency
Turkish Lira
Official Language(s)
Turkish
Main Ethnic Groups
Turk, Kurd
Voltage
230v
Plugs
Type C, Type F
Country Calling Code:
+90
Driving Side
Right
Time Zone
UTC+3
BEST TIME TO GO
The best time to visit Algeria for a Saharan safari is March-April or Oct-Nov when the heat of the day is bearable and the nights are less cold than in the middle of winter. Both periods will also allow you to incorporate in your itinerary cities and sites of the Mediterranean coastline – then dry and relatively warm – while October sees the start of the annual date harvest. An added benefit of travelling to Algeria during spring or autumn is far fewer crowds around key cultural attractions and beach resorts.
RECOMMENDED READING
The Outsider (Albert Camus)
The Plague (Albert Camus)
What the Day Owes the Night (Yasmina Khadra)
Fantasia (Assia Djebar)
The Wretched of the Earth (Frantz Fanon)
Nedjma (Katek Yacine)
Algeria: Anger of the Dispossessed (Martin Evans and John Phillips)
Turkmenistan
Mediterranean Life
Colonial Architecture
Stunning Landscapes
The Sahara and its People
Archeological Sites
Islamic Culture
Practical Information
Capital
Ashgabat
Main Cities
Türkmenabat, Daşoguz
Currency
Turkmenistan Manat
Official Language(s)
Turkmen
Widely Spoken
Russian
Main Ethnic Groups
Turkmen, Uzbek, Russian
Voltage
230v
Plugs
Type C, Type F
Country Calling Code:
+993
Driving Side
Right
Time Zone
UTC+5
BEST TIME TO GO
The best time to visit Algeria for a Saharan safari is March-April or Oct-Nov when the heat of the day is bearable and the nights are less cold than in the middle of winter. Both periods will also allow you to incorporate in your itinerary cities and sites of the Mediterranean coastline – then dry and relatively warm – while October sees the start of the annual date harvest. An added benefit of travelling to Algeria during spring or autumn is far fewer crowds around key cultural attractions and beach resorts.
RECOMMENDED READING
The Outsider (Albert Camus)
The Plague (Albert Camus)
What the Day Owes the Night (Yasmina Khadra)
Fantasia (Assia Djebar)
The Wretched of the Earth (Frantz Fanon)
Nedjma (Katek Yacine)
Algeria: Anger of the Dispossessed (Martin Evans and John Phillips)
Uzbekistan
Mediterranean Life
Colonial Architecture
Stunning Landscapes
The Sahara and its People
Archeological Sites
Islamic Culture
Practical Information
Capital
Tashkent
Main Cities
Samarqand, Fergana, Namangan
Currency
Uzbekistani Soʻm
Official Language(s)
Uzbek, Karakalpak
Widely Spoken
Russian
Main Ethnic Groups
Uzbek, Tajik
Voltage
230v
Plugs
Type C, Type F
Country Calling Code:
+998
Driving Side
Right
Time Zone
UTC+5
BEST TIME TO GO
The best time to visit Algeria for a Saharan safari is March-April or Oct-Nov when the heat of the day is bearable and the nights are less cold than in the middle of winter. Both periods will also allow you to incorporate in your itinerary cities and sites of the Mediterranean coastline – then dry and relatively warm – while October sees the start of the annual date harvest. An added benefit of travelling to Algeria during spring or autumn is far fewer crowds around key cultural attractions and beach resorts.
RECOMMENDED READING
The Outsider (Albert Camus)
The Plague (Albert Camus)
What the Day Owes the Night (Yasmina Khadra)
Fantasia (Assia Djebar)
The Wretched of the Earth (Frantz Fanon)
Nedjma (Katek Yacine)
Algeria: Anger of the Dispossessed (Martin Evans and John Phillips)
