Trekking in Russia and Central Asia: A Traveler's Guide

Now that I've been to Central Asia, I understand why the Lonely Planet guidebook refers to Maier's book so often. This is a unique perspective on getting off the beaten path. Her advice is inspiring and practical. Recommend it for anyone who wants to get out of the cities.

This woman has managed to see things that some of us, Russians, are unable to notice, for the reality we live in is too close to our eyes. This book gave me a rare pleasure to see our people and places in a new, clearer, nearly stereoscopic, light.

Traveling Russia is like nowhere else in the world, and Maier is uniquely qualified to help make sense of it. This book was the most interesting and useful of the required reading for Peace Corps volunteers going there.

I spent 5 weeks this summer traveling and mountaineering in Central Asia, primarily in the Tien Shan Mountains. Maier's guidebook, Trekking in Russia and Central Asia, was extraordinarily helpful for planning my travels and choosing destinations while travelling. It provided the essential information I needed to get into mountains. The maps and trek descriptions were almost always accurate, and the glossary in the appendix was very useful for breaking down language barriers. I'd rely on it again for future trips.