Situated in the southeast corner of the nation, just to the north of the snow-capped Trans-Ili Alatau (Zailiysky Alatau) Mountains and neighboring Kyrgyzstan, is Kazakhstan’s largest and most cosmopolitan city. Former capital of Kazakhstan during the Soviet era (known as Alma-Ata), Almaty is still the nation’s center of commerce, home to the...
read more
Armenia Yerevan - Often referred to as the 'Pink City' thanks to the color of the volcanic stone used to construct the central Kentron district, Yerevan is already the 14th administrative capital in Armenia's history (named the nation's capital in 1918). A testament to Armenia's ancient heritage, Yerevan itself has been continuously inhabited since 782 BC, when King...
read more
Azerbaijan Baku - The largest city both in Azerbaijan and the Caucasus region – Baku - is situated on the western side of the Caspian Sea, on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula. With a population in excess of 2 million inhabitants (roughly 25% of Azerbaijan's population), the city is a splendid mix of antiquity and modernity. On one side visitors can...
read more
The Baltic States – comprised of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – offer a diverse range of attractions for visitors. Distinct, yet united in a common history, all three nations are rich in culture, architecture and natural splendor. To give just a glimpse of all the things to see and do in the Baltic States, we’ve compiled a sample travel itinerary...
read more
One of Europe’s least visited countries, Belarus offers a travel experience distinctive from typical European tourist destinations. A vestige of the old Soviet Union, Belarus still holds on to many of the conventions of an era gone by. And this is the strange appeal for many visitors. Its a trade-off of commercialism and certain conveniences of the West, for a...
read more
Occupying the far southwestern corner of the country, the Carpathian Mountains are the “Green Pearl” of Ukraine. The region’s forested mountainsides and winding rivers offer a playground for nature lovers and adrenaline junkies alike. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy trekking, rafting and hiking in the summer, skiing and snowboarding in the winter. And for those...
read more
Some of the most remote, untouched ecosystems in the world can be found in Russia and nations of the former Soviet Union. And you don’t even have to travel to far-off nature reserves in the Taiga, Eurasian Steppes, or Russian Far East to get away and enjoy peace and solitude. Sparsely inhabited, eco friendly retreats lie right in Europe’s backyard – in...
read more
Discover local culture by attending events and festivals throughout Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus. Shop for traditional Ukrainian handicrafts at the “Sorochinsky Fair”, marvel in the performing arts at St. Petersburg’s “White Nights Festival”, enjoy Moldovan wines and liquors at Chisinau’s “Wine Day”, revel in food, wine, folk song and...
read more
Enthusiasts of fine arts and architecture have a plethora of options when planning a trip to nations of the former Soviet Union. World famous galleries and UNESCO World Heritage Sites are littered throughout Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus – offering a wide variety of exhibits and sites to visit. Eastern Europe is predominately a mix of Russian...
read more
One of the best ways to explore the culture and traditions of a Post-Soviet nations is through food and wine. Within each country lies a bounty of gastronomic delights. An exploration of food and wine throughout Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus is an eye opener to the pleasure and wholesomeness of local food culture (something that is endangered in the...
read more
Georgia Tbilisi - Lying on the banks of the Kura (Mtkvari) River, amid the foothills of the Trialeti mountain range, Tbilisi is Georgia's capital and largest city with a population of roughly 1.5 million inhabitants (more than a third of the nation's citizens). Historically, due to its location at the crossroads of trade, culture and religion, it has long been a...
read more
Kazakhstan Nur-Sultan (Astana) - Situated on the banks of the Ishim River in the northern part of of Kazakhstan, the nation's capital and second largest city (after Almaty), was named Nur-Sultan in March 2019 (in honor of departing Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev). Formerly known as Astana (between 1998 and 2019), the planned city (designed from the master...
read more
