Kate Board

This trip is just bursting with contrast and variety! Legendary cities and remote, ancient archeological sites, huge deserts, bustling markets and the surreal white and gold splendour of Ashgabat all combine and bombard you with a multisensory tapestry of all that is Central Asia. The sight of a crescent moon over the walls and minarets of Khiva or a herd of camels wandering past the Darvaza crater in the early light of dawn are once in a lifetime experiences and will remain with me for a very long time. We were also lucky enough to undertake this journey with Jude Holliday as our tour leader. Jude's knowledge of the region meant that we were able to get 'off the beaten track' whenever it was possible and her people skills were second to none - both with us and with the locals!