Uzbekistan

Go Off-Piste In Offbeat Destinations

Posted January 6, 2010 by BookingBuddy

Skiing may be a fun way to stick to your New Year’s resolution to ‘exercise more’, but going to the same resorts in the Alps and seeing the same faces every year can get a little boring. So why not venture further afield and explore some more unusual ski destinations this season? You’ll be rewarded with unusual scenery and much lower prices, and you won’t have to waste hours queuing for the ski lifts with hordes of teenagers on their annual school ski trip. 

Zakopane, Poland – This scenic town has been a well-kept Polish secret for ages, but more British skiers in the know have been venturing over there recently. Quad biking and snowmobiling are also available for adrenalin junkies, while those who prefer a slower pace can go for sleigh rides drawn by cute Polish ponies. All this activity can make a person really hungry, and the town offers a range of restaurants to satisfy your grumbling tummy. Choose from huge barbecued Polish sausages, hearty Italian meals, or even fondue-style meals.  

Oukaimeden, Morocco – Skiing may not be an activity you associate with Marrakech, but there’s plenty of it available in this tiny ski resort about 45 miles from the city. Many families spend their time sledging, while others go simply for the view – at over 2600m, Oukaimeden is the highest ski resort in Africa and offers spectacular views over the surrounding countryside. 

Chimgan, Uzbekistan - The Tian-Shan mountain range provides an impressive backdrop to this picturesque ski resort about 85km from Tashkent. Most slopes are geared towards beginners, and the area is hugely popular with families. The rental station also provides snowboards and sleds for those who want to try something else. If you prefer a break from the slopes, the village nearby has horses for hire, and some villagers are willing to take in guests for a small fee. The resort itself has a vibrant nightlife, with several clubs playing throbbing dance music through the night.

(Photo: touruz.narod.ru)

Categories: Holiday Ideas, January, Morocco, Poland, Uzbekistan, Winter
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Visit The World’s Oldest Cities

Posted December 9, 2009 by BookingBuddy

Towering skyscrapers of steel and glass may be very eye-catching and cutting edge, but they do tend to look alike after a while. If modern cities such are Sydney and Tokyo are starting to look very similar these days, then maybe it’s time for a change of pace? Instead of rushing around under the shadows of tall, shiny office buildings, why not travel to some of the oldest cities in the world and discover the origins of civilization?

Athens, Greece - Often referred to as the ‘cradle of Western civilization’, this city has layers of history buried under yet more layers of history. Monuments from the Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires all jostle for space in this ancient city, while camera-wielding tourists engage in elbow fights for a chance to pose in front of these magnificent ruins.

Beirut, Lebanon – With a history that stretches back at least 5000 years, you’d be forgiven for thinking that this city is nothing much than a bunch of dusty old buildings, but Lebanon’s capital is a bustling, modern city these days. Churches and mosques stand side by side, and visitors who aren’t fans of gawking at Phoenician remains can choose to go shopping at ultra-modern, air-conditioned shopping centres. 

Samarkand, Uzbekistan – As one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world, Samarkand has seen the fall of several great civilizations. Modern-day Samarkand is a cheerful, bustling market town boasting a wealth of carefully restored archaeological treasures.
These days, you’re more likely to run into hordes of beige-clad retirees bargaining for a silk rug than rampaging Mongol soldiers on their way to sacking the city.

(Photo: math.unicaen.fr)

Categories: Greece, Holiday Ideas, Lebanon, Uzbekistan
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