Sophie Ibbotson

This new, thoroughly revised third edition of Bradt''s Ladakh, Jammu and the Kashmir Valley remains the only standalone English-language guide available to this stunning region of mountain wilderness and lush valleys. Although Ladakh is becoming an ever more popular destination, Zanskar, the Kashmir Valley and Jammu are still off the beaten path, attracting only the more adventurous foreign tourist, so their treasure trove of natural and cultural wonders awaits your discovery. Ladakh, Zanskar and the Kashmir Valley have long astounded intrepid visitors with their epic Himalayan beauty. Thousands of years of history sit side by side with vibrant modern communities; spectacular natural landscapes ripe for exploration are dotted with all manner of architectural curiosities. This guidebook is the ideal companion to these contrasting and spellbinding regions, where mountains, pilgrimage destinations, cultural sites and exciting wildlife - notably the chance of seeing the formerly near-mythical snow leopard - vie for your attention. Here you can gasp at the views from the roof of the world at the breathless Khardung La mountain pass, stroll through Eden-like Shalimar Gardens (where the early-morning mist rises eerily off the lawns and channels), trek remote mountain trails through Ladakh and Zanskar (with this edition featuring several new suggested routes), admire the monkeys that have colonised the 19th-century palace of Mubarak Mandi, take a shikara ride across the lotus-strewn lakes of Srinagar, marvel at the Buddhas of Kargil (cut from rock in the 7th and 8th centuries), relax on a houseboat at Srinagar or join the Buddhist monks at Thiksey Monastery for early-morning prayers by candlelight. And if that is not enough, you can white-water raft on the Indus, travel by jeep along nerve-wracking mountain roads, follow millions of Hindu faithful to the Amarnath Cave and enjoy superb powder skiing in amid true wilderness. Whatever your interests, and wherever they lead you in this fascinating and rewarding region, let Bradt''s Ladakh, Jammu and the Kashmir Valley illuminate your way.

Written by Central Asian expert and experienced travel writer Sophie Ibbotson, who is Uzbekistan''s Tourism Ambassador to the UK, this new, fully updated fourth edition of Bradt''s Uzbekistan remains the definitive practical travel guide to an increasingly liberal destination - Central Asia''s most populous country and the heart of the Silk Road - offering more detail for independent travellers than any other guidebook, sharing first-hand descriptions of everything from UNESCO World Heritage sites and the world''s best collection of Soviet avant-garde art, to riding across deserts by camel and cooking plov (lamb pilaf).A perfect spring or autumn destination, Uzbekistan is unexpectedly packed with diverse experiences, from the Silk Road cities of Bukhara and Khiva to glorious Islamic architecture. Explore the Kyzylkum Desert by camel, ski amid the western Tian Shan mountains, overnight by the Aral Sea to search for the bizarre saiga antelope, visit 50 ancient Khorezm fortresses in Karakalpakstan, or gawp at Registan''s unmissable sound and light show. Stroll through Bukhara''s old town then take tea at chaikhana teahouse or shop in the Chorsu bazaar, trade''s beating heart in Tashkent. Or marvel at medieval tiled tombs in Shah-I Zinda and the magnificent 19th-century palace of Kokand ruler Khudayar Khan.It has never been easier to explore this fascinating country. Over the past decade,Uzbekistan''s new reformist government has been strengthening its tourism offer, including improving infrastructure and reducing bureaucracy, culminating in it hosting a World Tourist Organisation conference in 2023 and initiating a new $300 million tourism strategy for 2030. Complemented by the author''s 2023 Bradt guide to Karakalpakstan, this new edition reflects post-COVID 19 investments in tourism infrastructure, and provides more detailed economic and political insights. Entirely new elements include Amirsoy resort, Zarafshan nature reserve, Lower Amudarya Biosphere Reserve and Shirin ecovillage, while there is expanded coverage of Tashkent hotels, museums and shopping; Navoi tour operators; and new hotels in Khiva.Whether you''re interested in culture, trekking, historical sites, archaeology and architecture, seeing endless deserts or majestic mountainscapes, or fascinated by the Golden Road to Samarkand and Silk Road cities, Bradt''s Uzbekistan is your ideal travel companion.