ADVENTURE TRAVEL AND ACTIVITY HOLIDAYS IN CENTRAL ASIA: KYRGYZSTAN, TAJIKISTAN, KAZAKHSTAN, UZBEKISTAN AND TURKMENISTAN.

Sandwiched between Europe, Russia, and China, Central Asia has for centuries been an area of immense strategic importance and in modern times, become an ideal destination for activity holidays. There are five countries that are considered to make up the area of "Central Asia": Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmanistan and Uzbekistan and with a climate that is hot and arid in the summer and icy and cold in winter life here can be extremely tough.

The countries of Central Asia became part of the Soviet Union in the 1920s and this last is up until 1991 when they gained their independence. The process of building their own independent countries and democratic political systems is has proved challenging but it is an opportunity that has been grasped energetically by the populations of these formerly independent countries.

From 1991 through to 1997 civil war raged in Tajikistan with a loss of damage done to the existing infrastructure of the country. Much of the old Soviet built industrial and city infrastructure was crumbling anyway and great efforts are being made to rebuild and replace it

As a particularly mountainous country, Tajikistan offers wonderful trekking holidays and landscapes for the adventurous. A more prosperous time in Tajikistan's history as an important part of the ancient Silk Road (the trading route between China and Europe) can sometimes be glimpsed in the mosques and other buildings that survive from this time. This route across Central Asia took its name from the silk carried along it which was the commodity most in demand in the West during Roman times.

The Silk Road was often used as more than just a trading route- invading and retreating armies frequently used this route and left their mark on the key Silk Road cities as they passed through: Genghis Khan destroyed most of the city's on the Silk Road (later to be rebuilt) when he passed through in 1220.

Uzbekistan has for centuries also benefited from the riches flowing from its strategic position on the Silk Road. Two of its most important cities, Samarkand and Bukhara, still retain some of the most wonderful madrassars and mosques in Asia. Although some of them were destroyed by the Mongols in the 13th century these have been repaired and added to by subsequent dynasties and the turquoise domes, minarets and beautiful Islamic tile work are breathtaking.

The ancient walled city of Khiva remains and other big draw for visitors to this part of the world with its beautiful architecture and fascinating history it is becoming an increasingly popular destination. Uzbekistan attracts a growing number of people looking for activity holidays as it offers a good range of hiking, cycling, skiing and mountaineering activities.