Travel West and Central Asia

Crossing the Bosporus from Eminönü to Kadıköy in Istanbul, Europe is traded in for Asia. While many residents of Istanbul claim to live in Europe, almost no one outside of the world-famous metropolis will consider Turkey to be part of the European continent. As such, Turkey serves as a (literal) bridge to Asia. Diving deeper into Western Asia, you’ll find the beautiful rural landscapes of Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.

Further to the east lie Israel and Palestine, as well as the Arabian Peninsula, bordered by Iran. United primarily by Islam and the Arabic language, the Middle East hosts its own distinctive culture, which peculiarities are frequently explored in the region’s budding film industry. From Caucasian wildcats and striped hyenas to camels and other desert creatures, the wildlife of Western Asia is equally interesting to explore.

Looking forward to your trip to West or Central Asia? Read everything about traveling in the Asia and the Middle East in our first-hand experience Travel Guides.

If you’re still thinking about where you want to go, you can also check out our pages for Europe, Africa, South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Oceania, North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.

Recent articles about West and Central Asia