The five Central Asian states (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan) taken together occupy 2% of total global lands. Formerly part of the USSR, these five countries have become independent in August 1991 after collapse of the Soviet Union.

For centuries, Central Asia had been playing a role of cradle for many ancient civilizations such as the great states of Bactria, Khorezm, Sogd (Sogdiana) and Parthia. Since 2nd century BC till 16th century AD the Great Silk Road was a major factor contributing to cultural exchange between China on the East and Europe on the West with the Central Asia in between the two as a hub of international trading relations. Many conquerors such as Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and the Arabian general Kutaibah Ibn Muslim went through these lands with fire and sword sweeping away everything they met in their path.

World-famous genius scientists, enlighteners and poets of medieval - Avicenna, Ulughbek, Navoi and Omar Khayam - were born in this blessed land.

Majestic cities with beautiful palaces, mosques, minarets and madrasahs were erected here over thousand of years ago. Many of them were ruined; yet tourists still have an opportunity to admire many remaining parts of these constructions. Medieval architectural monuments of Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Shakhrisabz, Merv, Pendjikent, Kunya-Urgench are well-known all over the world. Such "pearls" of ancient architecture as Shakhi-Zinda Ensemble, Bibi Khanum Mosque, Registan Square, Mausoleum of Ismail Samani, Gur-Emir Masoleum, Kalyan Minaret, architectural town-museum "Ichan-Kala" (in Khiva) impress the visitor with their splendour of decorative art and consummate skills of their ceramic artists comparable with that of ancient Egypt, India, China, Greece and Rome.

Over the centuries, like in those old days when innumerable treasures were being transported along the caravan roads of the Great Silk Route, the present-day Central Asia still plays its specific role.

The unique natural wealth of Central Asia inimitable in its beauty, its historical monuments, well-developed transport and tourist infrastructure, favourable geopolitical position and stable social-political situation, the all-round governmental support for international tourism, the traditional hospitality and cordiality of local people make Central Asia one of the exuberantly growing centres of world tourism.

The climate of Central Asia is continental-dry, with plenty days of sunshine, short mild winter, early sunny spring, long hot summer and mild and most enjoyable autumn. The oases here are abundant with trees, chill-water brooks and small irrigation canals bringing water to fountains in the squares and green parks of the cities. These factors combined with dryness of the air and the permanently blowing light mountain breezes keep the mean January temperatures at +3°C while mean July temperature rises to 32°-36°C. Travelling in Central Asia is possible at any season of the year. Winter is the best season for alpine skiing, when spring and autumn times are paradise for city tours and summer – for trekking and mountaineering.

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