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Categories: Akkerman Fortress Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi
The accomplishments of the Turkmen rests in the "the city of love" also known as Ashgabat. Found between the Karakum Desert and the Kopet Dag mountain range, Ashgabat a young city founded in 1881 sprouted on the ruins of the Silk Road. Acro...
Categories: Ashgabat
This ancient town served as headquarters for Alexander the Great for two years after his invasion in 328 BC—inevitably, he renamed it Alexandria after himself. During a campaign to subdue the northern tribes threatening Balkh, Alexander married a loc...
Categories: Balkh
Though horribly vandalized by the Taliban, Bamian remains one of the most extraordinary sites in Afghanistan. It was once world famous as an ancient center of Buddhist learning, and in its heyday (from the fifth to eighth centuries AD), the valley bo...
Categories: Bamian
The barren Band-i-Amir region offers deep blue lakes set amid treeless desert and hills at an elevation of 9,800 ft/3,000 m. Up to two days could be spent exploring the area, probably in a sturdy four-wheel-drive vehicle. 125 mi/200 km west of Kabul.
Categories: Band-I-Amir
This out-of-the-way place was once known as Kapissa, capital of the Kushan (Indo-Greek) kings. Sights include the remains of a fort built by Alexander the Great. A number of other sites are waiting to be excavated. It's now home to the largest U.S. a...
Categories: Begram
This small seaside resort is on Tunisia's quieter, less-visited north coast. Bizerte offers nice beaches and great seafood. It also has an interesting Moorish Old Port, with narrow alleyways, arches and dimly lit shops. World War II buffs will be int...
Categories: Bizerte
Bulla Regia is one of the most interesting Roman sites in the country, built above and (to keep cool) below the ground. Visit the ruins of the Forum, the Memmian Baths, the Palace of Fishing (see the basement fountain) and the House of Amphitrite. Mo...
Categories: Bulla Regia
Categories: Callanish Stones
Categories: Carthage
Categories: Cill Rónáin
Categories: Darvaza
Some people believe this island off the coast of southern Tunisia was the Island of the Lotus Eaters referred to in Homer's Odyssey. Today, it is a very popular tourist destination: Its northeastern coast is the most densely developed tourist zone in...
Categories: Djerba
The best-preserved and most impressive Roman ruins in Tunisia are at Dougga. Highlights include the theater (classical dramas are performed there in July and August during the Dougga Festival) and a Punic mausoleum (one of only a few remaining exampl...
Categories: Dougga
Douz is located in central Tunisia. It is a common starting point for desert treks through the Sahara, often by camel or 4x4 vehicle. This gateway to the Sahara is also known as the “ultimate palm oasis,” due to the over 500,000 date palm...
Categories: Douz
Most people make a stop in El Jem to see the well-preserved Roman coliseum. Visitors are allowed to climb to the top rows of the coliseum as well as walk through underground passages where gladiators and animals were kept before they entered the aren...
Categories: El Jem
Gabes is home to two oases, one seaside and one by the desert. Visit the town market and choose from a variety of locally crafted baskets. The town is famous for its henna, used for temporary tattoos. There is a crocodile farm open to visitors at El ...
Categories: Gabes
Ghazni was one of the most powerful capitals in the world during the time of the Ghaznevid Empire, which stretched from the Tigris to the Ganges. Today Ghazni is not very large, but it does have a fabulous minaret shaped like a double star, as well a...
Categories: Ghazni
This sparsely populated Berber village is famous for its weaving. Attractions also include camels, the little Sidi Arfa Mosque and local architecture (houses crammed in between huge rocks). About 4 mi/6 km north is the well-preserved Ksar Haddada, no...
Categories: Ghomrassen
Hammamet is truly a Mediterranean diamond in the ruff. The Gulf of Hamammet shelters miles of fantastic beaches, modern hotels, seaside cafes, and hospitable residents. For the historically inclined visitor there are several ancie...
Categories: Hammamet
The country's third-largest city, Herat was once occupied by Alexander the Great. Enormous defensive walls and earthworks remain from ancient times. Destroyed in the early 13th century by Genghis Khan, it was later rebuilt. Although much of the old t...
Categories: Herat
This ancient walled town guards the western end of the Khyber Pass. A playground for the rich and famous of the ancient world, Jalalabad continued to serve as a resort for the wealthy during the winter—Afghanistan's reinstated king once had a palace ...
Categories: Jalalabad
Set atop a plateau nearly 6,000 ft/1,825 m high in the Hindu Kush mountain range, 3,000-year-old Kabul once rated at least a three-night stay. Today, the arid capital city is not much more than ruins. Thousands of missiles fell on the city during the...
Categories: Kabul
Kairouan was one of the first cities founded by Muslims in North Africa. Its most important monument, the ninth-century Great Mosque, is one of the oldest surviving mosques in the world. The square, three-tier minaret will be the first thing to catch...
Categories: Kairouan
Kandahar, the nation's second-largest city, is considered to be the birthplace of modern Afghanistan. Virtually all of this 200-year-old city was destroyed during the battles of the last 20 years. Muhammad's Sacred Mantle (a cloak believed to have be...
Categories: Kandahar
Once covered by the sea, Kara Kum (Gara Gum) makes up 80–90% of the Republic of Turkmenistan. The desert possesses large reserves of oil, natural gas and deposits of Sulphur wherein Kara Kum translates to “Black Sand.” An excavation...
Categories: Kara Kum Desert
The Khyber Pass is one of the world's most notorious highways. It winds 35 mi/55 km through the Himalaya to link Afghanistan and Pakistan. We recommend the trip with a caution or two: Even in more tranquil times, check locally about the safety of mak...
Categories: Khyber Pass
Categories: Ksar Ghilane
In Tunisia, you'll find an interesting Berber structure called a ksar (plural, ksour). These fortified complexes of granaries (the individual storage areas are called ghorfas) can be found in many areas of the country, but the highest concentration o...
Categories: Ksars
This town was known for having one of the most fascinating bazaars in the country before hostilities broke out. The nature of the bazaar has changed, but Kunduz's beautiful setting in the mountainous Badakhshan region is a permanent attraction. Kundu...
Categories: Kunduz
This capital of the ancient state of Khorezm is well worth a day trip, but getting there can be a bit difficult. The nearest town is Dashoguz, about 60 mi/100 km to the southeast. Trips can also sometimes be arranged from towns in western Uzbekistan ...
Categories: Kunya Urgench
One of the most important ports in Tunis, La Goulette is also perfectly located to explore some great sightseeing destinations in Tunisia.
Categories: La Goulette
Another town seriously damaged in Afghanistan's armed conflicts, Bost is the site of the ancient buildings, ramparts, arches and towers of what was once a capital of the Ghaznevid Empire. The Qalai Bost (arch) still has a human skeleton lying at its ...
Categories: Lashkar Gah
Categories: Lunga
You can hardly imagine that the cute seaside town of Mahdia was once the capital of Tunisia. Mahdia was long the center of a power struggle between the Caliph of Cairo and local sovereigns. The Mahdia of today is that of the fisherman mending his net...
Categories: Mahdia
Once called Mactaris, this town sits in the foothills of the Dorsale mountains south of Tunis and could be visited for scenery alone. Its museum has a good collection of Punic and Roman bronze and marble statues. You'll also find the remains of Numid...
Categories: Makthar
Mary (pop. 95,000) is an oasis and cotton-growing center on the Murghab River. According to tradition, the region around Mary was the original Paradise, though it hardly resembles paradise today. The main (and perhaps only) reason to go to Mary is to...
Categories: Mary
The main reason to visit this town—and lots of tourists do—is to see the underground houses. They look like meteor craters from the surface, but down in the holes (30-40 ft/10-13 m below) you'll find windows, doors and ladders—some even have camel-dr...
Categories: Matmata
Mazar-i-Sharif is not that interesting in itself, but its airport is the closest to Balkh. Mazar-i-Sharif is worth a stop to visit the magnificent Tomb of Ali (a mosque said to be the resting place of Muhammad's adopted son, Ali) and to shop for the ...
Categories: Mazar-I-Sharif
This medieval town has been developed into a popular resort, complete with gold-sand beaches. At the center of town is the impressive eighth-century red-stone ribat (a fortified monastery), which now houses a small museum of Islamic arts. Tunisia's f...
Categories: Monastir
Generally seen as a day trip from Tunis and Hammamet, this seaside city has good beaches (which can be crowded during the summer) and interesting local handicrafts (ceramics, pottery and embroidery). Nabeul's market is held on Friday—prices are very ...
Categories: Nabeul
Nefta offers the opportunity to observe desert culture (nomadic people) and oasis life (it has a beautiful, green date-palm garden). It's also the center of Sufism in Tunisia. It has a nice hotel, too (Hotel Sahara Palace). Although we enjoyed our th...
Categories: Nefta
Nuristan is one of the country's most unusual and inaccessible regions. Set in striking mountains near the territory of Kashmir (whose ownership is a matter of hot dispute), this dramatic, forested area is dotted with wooden hillside homes. The Greek...
Categories: Nouristan
Tunisia's second-largest city is not packaged for tourism the way other coastal cities are, but we think Sfax makes an interesting overnight stop when traveling between the north and south of the country. The old walls and arched gates are a nice int...
Categories: Sfax
Sidi Bou Said is located in Tunisian territory, situated in the northwestern peak of the country. The village is small with many homes and businesses painted white with blue accents. It is a quaint little place with many hills that offer the perfect ...
Categories: Sidi Bou Said
Categories: Simos Bay
The lovely "Pearl of the Sahel" noted for its beaches and hotels, Sousse is famous for its wealth of archeological treasures which are housed in Islamic and Punic/Roman Museums. The Punic/Roman museums hold the largest collection of antiquities after...
Categories: Sousse
This Buddhist cave site just southwest of the town of Kholm dates from the fifth century. The caves once housed a monastery. 175 mi/280 km northwest of Kabul.
Categories: Takht-I-Rostem
Categories: Tashauz (Dashoguz)
For a remote oasis town, Tozeur is bustling with activity. Most of the buildings in town are constructed of brick arranged in intricate patterns. The old quarter, called Ouled el-Hadef, is an interesting place for a stroll. The Dar Charait Museum has...
Categories: Tozeur
The coastal area of Tunisia's capital, Tunis, at the western end of Lake Tunis, includes the ruins of ancient Carthage and the picturesque suburb Sidi Bou Said. The main focus of its ville nouvelle (new city) is the wide, tree-lined Avenue Habib ...
Categories: Tunis
There's not much to see or do in this industrial city (pop. 166,000), formerly called Chardzhou. However, it's the only large city anywhere near the Repetek Biosphere Reserve. The reserve is an open-air desert laboratory, set up to study the flora an...
Categories: Turkmenabat
This port on the Caspian Sea was formerly called Krasnovodsk, but it was renamed for President Niyazov, who also goes by the name Turkmenbashi—leader of the Turkmen. Although it's hot and dusty and ringed by ugly concrete buildings, Turkmenbashi is a...
Categories: Turkmenbashi
Known as Utica in ancient times, Utique is worth at least a half-day visit to see its museum (containing funerary objects and jewels), Roman villas and Punic sarcophagi. 25 mi/40 km northwest of Tunis.
Categories: Utique