Khiva, along with Bukhara and Samarkand, is one of Uzbekistan’s three main tourist cities. But unlike its counterparts, you won’t have to travel far to see its historic attractions – they’re all densely
Of Uzbekistan’s three major tourism hubs, Bukhara has what’s arguably the largest intact and authentic-feeling Old Town in the country. While it may lack a single attraction that can rival Samarkand’s Registan Square,
Termez, a dusty border city at the southern end of Uzbekistan, feels a world away from the colorful domes of Samarkand and Bukhara. Yet this remote outpost along the Amu Darya River –
Northern Afghanistan’s main hub, Mazar-i-Sharif, is home to the stunning Blue Mosque, one of the country’s most beautiful and spiritually significant landmarks. But for centuries, the main city here was Balkh. Once among Central
Upon his visit in the early 16th century, Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire, declared Herat the ‘world’s finest city.’ It was founded back in 330 BC by none other than Alexander
Afghanistan could be said to have two capitals: Kabul, the country’s largest city and where most administrative offices are located, and Kandahar, the spiritual heart of the country, where the Taliban’s supreme leader
Situated at the heart of a strategic crossroads, Ghazni was once the center of a mighty empire that stretched from Iran to India. But due to waves of invasions, little remains of its
Bamyan is one of Afghanistan’s most visually stunning and historically interesting provinces. From ancient Buddha niches carved into sandstone cliffs to ruined fortresses with mythical backstories, there’s no shortage of things to do
Today, the name Bamyan is most associated with the infamous destruction of the Buddhas of Bamyan at the hands of the Taliban in 2001. While we will be discussing that incident below, we
Kabul is a bustling city of around 5 million people with millennia of history. Most people around the world, however, only associate the city’s name with war and terror. But, at the time
Peshawar, the largest city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province with a population of nearly 2 million, sits at the edge of the Khyber Pass – the historic mountainous route connecting Pakistan with Afghanistan. The
Nestled in the heart of Gilgit-Baltistan at around 2,500 meters above sea level, Skardu is one of the world’s most breathtaking places. The city is surrounded by towering mountains of the Karakoram range,
Islamabad is Pakistan’s capital, though it ranks only tenth in population with just over a million residents. Unlike most South Asian cities, it’s a planned city built from scratch in the 1960s. Foreign
Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city, is home to the largest concentration of Mughal architecture in the country. Long the most prominent city of the Punjab region, it’s also regarded as Pakistan’s cultural capital. Nevertheless,
The stunning Golden Temple, the spiritual heart of Sikhism, is typically what draws visitors to Amritsar, a city of 1.1 million people situated at the edge of the country. But there are a
Chandigarh isn’t quite like anywhere in India – a country equally known for its chaotic traffic and its fascinating historical sites. Chandigarh, India’s first planned city, has little of either. While it may
It’s the location of the huge battle at the climax of one of India’s great epics, the Mahabharata. And it’s the setting of the Bhagavad Gita, one of India’s most important sacred texts.
Most travelers know Agra for one main reason: the Taj Mahal. And for those with limited time, it’s common to check out the Taj and then quickly move on. Admittedly, that’s exactly what
Jaipur, also known as the ‘Pink City,’ is Rajasthan’s largest and easily one of India’s most touristic. And for good reason. Its imposing forts, refined palaces, and scenic natural surroundings offer visitors with
Knowing that it was a bit off the tourist trail, I arrived in Bikaner expecting a relatively laidback and sleepy town. But Bikaner, it turns out, is actually Rajasthan’s fourth-largest city. Be that
Jaisalmer, situated at the western end of Rajasthan by the edge of the Thar Desert, has long been touted as one of India’s top hidden gems. Today, however, the secret is very much
With a population of around 1.6 million, Jodhpur may be Rajasthan’s second-largest city, but it’s also one of the state’s most charming. Known as the ‘Blue City’ thanks to its vibrant blue houses,
Centered around a picturesque sacred lake, Rajasthan’s Pushkar holds the distinction of being the only place where Brahma – the Creator of the Universe himself – is actively worshipped in India. Accordingly, the
Founded in 1559 after the sacking of Chittorgarh by Mughal Emperor Akbar, Udaipur is one of Rajasthan’s – and India’s – most scenic cities. Centered around five artificial lakes, it’s become a major tourist
Bundi, while not totally obscure, is still somewhat of a hidden gem in Rajasthan. It has everything that draws tourists to the state – a hilltop fortress, an ornately decorated palace, ancient cenotaphs,
Despite being the third-largest city in one of India’s most touristic states, Kota is almost entirely void of foreign tourists. But there’s more to it than first meets the eye. Given its status
Some of India’s most scenic traditional towns remain well off the backpacker trail, largely ignored by social media hype. Madhya Pradesh’s Maheshwar is one such town. And you can even think of it
There’s nowhere else in India quite like Mandu. Having been to over a dozen Indian states, I can safely say that Mandu is my favorite town in the country. Largely developed from the
While Varanasi often steals the spotlight as India’s spiritual heart, the country is home to a plethora of holy cities that most outside of India have never heard of. Among them is Ujjain
Not many foreign travelers have Indore on their radars. But the city of 3.5 million – the largest in Madhya Pradesh – is the starting point for noteworthy towns like Ujjain, Maheshwar and
Bhopal may be a bustling city of nearly 3 million people and the state capital of Madhya Pradesh, but the few foreign tourists seem to visit. But not only is Bhopal the base
Aurangabad is mainly known for being the base from which to visit both the Ellora Caves and the Ajanta Caves. But with a population of over 1 million and a rich history, consider
Nashik may be a city of 1.5 million inhabitants that’s just a few hours from Mumbai, but it’s well off the tourist trail – at least for foreigners. The city largely attracts religious
Mumbai may lack the old forts, palaces, and tombs of cities like Delhi or Jaipur. But the bustling port city is home to some of the country’s most unique buildings. Many of these
Stillwater, an easy day trip from Minneapolis, is considered one of Minnesota’s most charming towns, while it’s also one of the state’s oldest. You can simply show up and explore the town center
Deadwood is widely regarded as one of the best-preserved Old West towns in America. In addition to its historical architecture and beautiful surroundings, many come to learn about its infamous former residents, such
With a population of just 65,000, Cheyenne is the capital of the country’s least-populated state. And given its position at the opposite end of Wyoming from Yellowstone, one would be forgiven for thinking
Founded in the late 19th century, the scenic and charming town of Manitou Springs has a bit to offer everyone. Whether you’re looking for historical architecture, cave tours, or thrilling hiking trails, the
For those making a road trip across Nebraska, North Platte makes for the perfect stopover between Omaha and either Denver or Scotts Bluff National Monument. But this small city also happens to be
Omaha is located in the geographic heart of the US and has long been known as the ‘Gateway to the West’ (a nickname it shares with St. Louis). But though it may be
The island of Roatán may be Honduras’ main tourism hub, but it’s also somewhat off-the-beaten-path as far as Caribbean islands go. For travelers looking for a tourist-friendly destination that’s not quite as overdeveloped
For most foreign travelers visiting Honduras, La Ceiba is mainly known for being where you get on the boat for Roatán or Utila. But wanting to explore Honduras beyond its main tourism hubs,
Located 50 km northeast of San Salvador, Suchitoto is arguably the country’s most endearing small town, featuring an even mix of charming colonial architecture and scenic views. Not only can the beautiful Lago
In the following guide, we’ll be covering the top things to do in San Salvador – a city that, frankly, has never really been known as a tourist destination. But the city –
Though Santa Ana, El Salvador may be the country’s second-largest city, it has an altogether different look and feel from the capital. It’s more similar to one of the country’s smaller colonial towns,
The Ruta de las Flores is often hyped up as one of the top day trips from Santa Ana, if not El Salvador as a whole. The region is home to about five
Guatemala is the largest economy in Central America and its bustling capital reflects that. But today, most travelers avoid Guatemala City altogether, as it’s generally seen as a hectic and dangerous place with
Xela may be Guatemala’s second-largest city, but it’s far off the tourist trail. But is it worth visiting? It depends. And this guide to the top things to do in Xela will hopefully help
Often touted as one of the world’s most beautiful lakes, Guatemala’s Lake Atitlán is home to nearly a dozen villages, largely inhabited by indigenous Maya. And with so many towns and outdoor activities to
Antigua is easily the most iconic colonial town of Guatemala, and arguably of Central America as a whole. And that’s because from 1543 to 1773, it was the capital of the Captaincy General
A small town of under 4,000 residents in the southern part of the Baja Peninsula, Mulegé is about as remote as it gets in Mexico. But while experiencing the town can be challenging in
For such a small town, Baja California Sur’s Loreto has a lot going for it: historical buildings, beaches, mountain views and an abundance of wildlife. In the following Loreto guide, we’ll be covering
La Paz, a city of 250,000 residents, is the capital and largest city of Baja California Sur, one of Mexico’s most sparsely populated states. While long overshadowed by the nearby resort city of
Sinaloa’s Mazatlán is among Mexico’s most scenic coastal cities – both in terms of its natural surroundings and its colorful architecture. And among Mexico’s many beach towns, it arguably has the widest variety of
The Nayarit state capital of Tepic is far from being one of Mexico’s most talked-about cities. Frankly speaking, the main thing it has going for it is its location. Situated between the tourism
Colima, situated between Jalisco and Michoacán, is one of Mexico’s smallest states. Nevertheless, it has quite a variety of things to do while remaining largely undiscovered by tourists. In the following Colima guide,
Jalisco and its capital Guadalajara are where many of the things so commonly associated with Mexico – like sombreros, tequila and mariachi – were born. And with its metropolitan area consisting of 5,250,000 people,
The state of Guanajuato, home to San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato city, is one of Mexico’s premier tourism destinations. But despite its capital León being one of Mexico’s largest cities, few tourists visit. In
Aguascalientes, located in the state of the same name, is one of the lesser-visited cities of Mexico’s Bajío region. And frankly speaking, few would consider it the country’s prettiest big city. But among Mexicans,
As with nearby Guanajuato and San Luis Potosí, the city of Zacatecas grew immensely wealthy as a mining town, with much of that wealth being reinvested into beautiful buildings. As we’ll cover in