My journey through four republics of the former Soviet Union begins in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. From there, I travel to Almaty, the former capital of Kazakhstan, followed by visits to the photogenic Charyn Canyon and the mountain lake Kolsai.

Osh, also known as the southern capital of Kyrgyzstan, is the starting point of an unforgettable adventure along the Pamir Highway, which winds its way from Osh to Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. This 10-day adventure was the reason I returned to Central Asia. The journey takes me through the magical Pamir Mountains, surrounded by peaks rising to six and seven thousand metres. Another highlight is the Wakhan Valley along the border with Afghanistan, which lies just across the river. A particularly memorable experience was the traditional Saturday Afghan bazaar in Ishkashim, where I encountered many smiling faces of Afghan people. After 10 days on the road, I arrive in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan.

To conclude my journey, I also visited Samarkand, one of the most beautiful cities along the historic Silk Road, and Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.