Product Description

Fringed by the two great rivers of Central Asia, the Oxus and the Jaxartes, Tajikistan can boast not only of breathtaking mountain scenery, but also of 3,000 years of history. The land where Alexander the Great fought desperately against the Scythian nomads, his most formidable adversaries, Tajikistan is an ancient cradle of Persian culture. Originally, it was the home of the Sogdians, the famous trading peoples of the Silk Road; eventually this country was at the heart of the 19th century "Great Game", a place of contention for the adventurers and spies of Britain and Imperial Russia. Now recovering from the misfortunes of the 20th century—the travails of Soviet rule and several years of civil war—it is able to offer visitors not only its legacies of cultural and ethnic diversity, but also unparalleled opportunities for adventure.

• Vital insight into a crucially positioned nation
• Dushanbe, Central Asia's friendliest capital city
• Mountaineering and trekking on the roof of the world
• Historical insights into explorers and travelers of the ancient Silk Road
• Culture, music and ethnic traditions
• Essays on wildlife, botany, geology and archeology including a contribution by Dr George Schaller
• Published to appeal to the armchair traveler as well as the intrepid visitor
• Comprehensive introduction to "one of the world's best-kept secrets"
• Exceptional cartography
• 209 color photos, 17 maps & drawings

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #85342 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-23
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 750 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9789622177734
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

About the Author
Dr. Robert Middleton worked for the Aga Khan Foundation as Legal Adviser and Co-ordinator of Tajikistan programs from 1985 until his retirement in 2003. He currently assists local and international non-profit organizations to promote tourism in the region. He lives in Switzerland. Huw Thomas became Program Director of the Aga Khan Health Service, Tajikistan from 1999 to 2003 after he retired as Chief Executive of Gwynedd Health Authority in North Wales. He has returned frequently to Tajikistan from his home in Anglesey, Wales.

Customer Reviews

Who Needs a Tajik Lonely Planet When This Guide Fills the Bill?
Not just a travel guide book, but a popular history, a flora and fauna gazetteer, and a detailed look at the "Great Game" and the exploration of the Pamir Mountains, the Odyssey Guide to Tajikistan provides both the essentials for any tourist to the country and a relatively in-depth background of the entire region. Shaped by its geography (93% mountainous) and its experience with conquerors (from Alexander the Great to the Soviets), Tajikistan is a practically untouristed part of the globe. And as the Odyssey Guide makes plain, Tajikistan's tourist infrastructure is hardly worth so grand a name for that very reason. But for the hardy and the adventuresome, this book will get you where you need to be, with useful practical tips on travel, touring, and bureaucratic maneuvering.

Wonderfully illustrated and cleverly written by a variety of authors, it is a joy to read, even if you don't plan on traveling to Tajikistan, but it appears to be a wonderful reference for once you're there. I can't wait to take it in-country and give its suggestions a spin.

very complete guide book
Very thorough guide book, full of useful information and details.
just one remark...a bit too heavy to be carried in the backpack!

Excellent and authoritative text
This product is more than a travel guide. It lies somewhere between a guide and in-depth view of Tajikistan's history, culture, geography and customs. It borrows heavily from authoritative guest writers and provides the reader with an expansive and detailed window on a rarely explored world.

A great book.