ARMENIA
Armenia with Nagorno Karabagh Bradt Travel Guide – Nicholas Holding
This is the most comprehensive travel book on Armenia in the market. Complemented with good maps and written in a comprehensive style, Holding provides practical information including visas, red tape, land border crossings and health and safety issues, and covers thoroughly covers Yerevan and the rest of the provinces, including the enclave of Nagorno Karabagh.

The Crossing Place: Journey among the Armenians – Philip Marsden
A fascinating and engaging book, this is a passionate and dramatic portrait of Armenia, its people and their massive exodus. Travelling from Venice to Istanbul, passing through Eastern Europe, Beirut and Syria, and crossing the Black Sea to the Caucasus and into Armenia, the author takes us on a journey through time and history as we come to know this closed society, although always remaining objective and critical.

AZERBAIJAN
Trailblazers Guide to Azerbaijan with Georgia – Mark Elliott
Illustrated throughout with colour photographs and hand drawn maps this guide to Azerbaijan, with a section on neighbouring Georgia, includes a full historical background, good cultural tips, general information on all aspects (including where to eat, shopping, etc) plus comprehensive information for motorists. Mark Elliott writes with his characteristic humorous and easy-to-read style.

GEORGIA
Georgia Bradt Travel Guide – Tim Burford
This guide represents the most up to date and detailed source of hard facts for independent travellers and hikers on getting to and around this little explored but very welcoming ex-Soviet state. Extensive coverage of the increasingly cosmopolitan capital, Tbilisi, as well as provincial towns is provided, together with plenty of suggestions for itineraries that cover the highlights of Georgia’s picturesque and unspoiled countryside. 

Georgia Odyssey Travel Guide – Roger Rosen
Possibly the most comprehensive guidebook in English about Georgia reflecting the tumultuous geopolitical reality of the country in the new millennium. This guide explores the various regions of the country in depth, focusing on the Golden Age of Georgian culture in art and architecture during the medieval period but by no means neglecting the bar and restaurant scene of today. Literary excerpts from renowned Georgian and European authors, as well as from the national epic, The Knight in the Panther's Skin, provide added insight. This is the guide to have when touring the Caucasus and the one the New York Times called 'the best guidebook to Georgia.

Bread and Ashes: A Journey Through the Mountains of Georgia – Tony Anderson
This book charts Tony Anderson's attempts to walk the length of the mountains of Georgia in the summer of 1998, particularly to discover the Georgian mountain tribes - Tush, Khevsurs, Ratchuelians and Svans-, learn if they shared a common mountain culture, and test the old idea of the Caucasus as an impenetrable barrier from sea to sea. This is an almost classic mixture of travelogue, ancient and modern history and post cold war politics, with some lovely stories about fascinating people and incredibly vivid landscape descriptions of the mountains.

Caucasus: Mountain Men and Holy Wars – Nicholas Griffin
Beautifully written and brilliantly combining the past and the present, this book leads the reader from myth, through history and politics, letting colourful, remarkable and romantic stories ease you through hundreds of years of what might have been confusing facts and figures.

Central Asia: The Practical Handbook (Cadogan Country Guides) - Giles Whittell et al.
Offers historical and cultural information and practical travel tips for Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tadjikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, and includes additional information about crossing the Karakoram Highway into China.

KAZAKHSTAN
In Search of Kazakhstan: The Land That Disappeared – Christopher Robbins
Packed full of fascinating facts, wit and adventure, this book explains what this upcoming country is really all about in a highly humorous and engaging writing style.

Once in Kazakhstan: The Snow Leopard Emerges – Keith Rosten
Author Keith Rosten was a Fulbright Lecturer in Kazakhstan soon after the country gained independence. In Once in Kazakhstan, Rosten draws a sometimes humorous portrait of a critical period in the emergence of Kazakhstan. He interweaves the challenges and exhilaration of living in Kazakhstan with the historical backdrop of a country grappling with its independence. From horse heads in the Central Market, to guns on the ski slopes, to the first-ever parliamentary elections, Rosten takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of the country. Containing photographs of the people, places, and monuments of the country this is a valuable resource for anyone who is travelling to Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan (Modern World Nations) - Zoran Pavlovic
An introductory text featuring a comprehensive overview of the people, geography, history, government, economy, and culture, complemented with full-colour illustrations and maps.

KYRGYZSTAN
Kyrgyzstan Republic Odyssey Guide – Rowan Stewart and Susie Weldon
This book fills a much needed gap in literature about Kyrgyzstan. It provides very detailed and useful information for a traveller that likes to read about the political, cultural and economic background of a country in detail before travelling. The authors point out some great travel opportunities and provide the basic information needed for travel.

Kyrgyzstan Bradt Travel Guide - Laurence Mitchell
Not yet published

MONGOLIA
Mongolia Bradt Travel Guide - Jane Blunden
A region-by-region comprehensive guide taht includes detailed history and natural-history sections, and full coverage of the thriving capital, Ulaanbaatar. And, for those keen to sample the unique pleasures of staying with nomads, it explains how and where to experience the traditional lifestyle of a Mongolian ger.

Mongolia: Empire of the Steppes (Odyssey Guides) - Claire Sermier
An extremely well documented tourist guide that helps the traveller better understand the country while providing essential information for making a really worthwhile visit to this rugged and incomparable land. Very well illustrated with 92 exceptional colour photographs and 22 maps .

PAKISTAN
Insight Guide to Pakistan - C Osborne
This profusely illustrated travel guide provides the complete picture through essays by well regarded authors on history, politics and culture, hundreds of photos and maps, and some limited practical information. It is an inspiring background read, serving as an invaluable, on-the-spot companion. It contains detailed, cross-reference maps which means that areas and sites mentioned can be quickly pin pointed. A new section highlights the best of Pakistan and section of Travel Tips incorporates all the travel details and contact numbers visitors will need.

Spectrum Guide to Pakistan – Camerpix
Comprehensive, beautifully illustrated with more than 200 images and well written, this guide produced in Nairobi is an excellent overview of the history, cultures, nature and attractions of Pakistan.

TADJIKISTAN
Tajikistan and the High Pamirs: A Companion and Guide - Robert Middleton & Huw Thomas
Not yet published this will be the first dedicated guide to Tadjikistan. It describes the country’s unparalleled opportunities for trekkers, expert mountaineering advice and specialist essays on wildlife, botany, geology and archaeology. The comprehensive coverage of culture, music and ethnic traditions make a tantalizing read.

TURKMENISTAN
Turkmenistan Bradt Travel Guide – Paul Brummell
The only existing Turkmenistan travel guide, this dedicated resource book to the country caters to business people, volunteer workers, archaeologists and intrepid adventures. It includes information on Silk Road archaeological treasures, ex-Soviet era relics and post-independence monuments along with horse trekking, how to buy Turkmen carpets and other highlights.

UZBEKISTAN
Uzbekistan Republic Odyssey Guide – Kalum McCleod & Bradley Mayhew
An extensive, well-illustrated and highly useful guide to this highly interesting country. Full of practical advice and information as well as in-depth history of the region, this book is highly recommend for those researching the country or to use during the trip.

MALDIVES
Lonely Planet – Tom Masters
This bestselling guide provides essential advice on planning your trip and choosing the perfect resort: the best places to dive, snorkel and surf; practical tips for getting underwater, including a fish-spotter's guide; inside information on the Maldives away from the resorts, including a guide to the capital, Male. It also includes detailed maps showing atolls, reefs, resorts and dive sites.

SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka Insight Guide - Edmund Bealby-Wright
This excellent travel guide includes a section detailing Sri Lanka's history, 13 features covering aspects of the country's life and culture, ranging from its ancient healing practice of Ayurveda to its cloud forests and highland peaks, a region by region visitor's guide to the sights, and a comprehensive Travel Tips section packed with essential contact addresses and numbers. Plus 13 maps and many remarkable photographs.

Sri Lanka Insight Pocket Guide – Vijitha Yapa
This 96-page guidebook offers a "local host's" recommendations of Sri Lanka's highlights with 13 suggested itineraries and excursions taking in sights ranging from Colombo's Fort to the Yala National Park. A general insight into the country’s history and culture, practical travel tips and many excellent colour images and maps that work well as an introductory travel guide to this interesting country.

Sri Lanka Insight Compact Guide – Martina Miethig
This 128-page guidebook covers Sri Lanka's highlights, neatly presented in a compact format ideal for on-the-spot use, plus practical travel information and dozens of full-colour photos and detailed maps.

CHINA
China Eyewitness Travel Guide
A richly illustrated text that covers the countries’ highlights for visitors, area-by-area. A wealth of practical and concise information on the countries' history, culture and people and practical travel tips, illustrated with hundreds of full-colour photographs and cross-referenced with detailed cutaway maps regional and city maps and unique 3D models.

China Odyssey Guide – Charis Chan
As well as detailed descriptions of the major cities and their environs, a selection of suggested expeditions for the more adventurous includes all the major tourist sites, the more remote provinces and several climbable mountains. Special sections examine such topics as Chinese opera, calligraphy and painting and opportunities for seeing unique wildlife. Numerous maps and colour photographs handsomely illustrated this compact guide to China.

Great Wall of China, Beijing and Northern China Bradt Travel Guide – Thammy Evans
The Ming Great Wall, the last of four Great Walls in China, snakes through nine provinces from the border with North Korea to Gansu along the Silk Road. Each chapter covers an individual province, incorporating the history and legends related to the wall in that area; there is also coverage of the main cities that act as a base for exploration. A range of cultural information - Chinese food, customs, history, politics and economy -provides the essential background to gain an insight into the local way of life.

China, Hong Kong and Tibet Nelles - Volker Kienast
Complete with detailed relief maps and packed with insider travel tips on sightseeing hotels restaurants entertainment and up-to-date travel information this guide to China, Hong Kong and Tibet also includes a selection of useful local phrases.

Tibet Bradt Travel Guide – Michael Buckley
Michael Buckley's provides a knowledgeable insight into Tibetan culture and history. His advice includes guidelines on cultural etiquette, local customs, and travelling with minimum impact on Tibet's environment. The holy city of Lhasa, Buddhist monasteries, and pilgrimage sites are covered in depth. There are also well presented maps and useful appendixes on the Tibetan and Chinese languages.

JAPAN
Japan Insight Guide - Scott Rutherford
A comprehensive, illustrated guide to the culture, history and attractions of Japan for the traveller, featuring excellent full colour maps. An excellent resource for both background and on-the-road reading that includes sections on arts and crafts, performing arts, etiquette, Japan's history and other topics of interest. A region by region visitor's guide to the sights and a comprehensive travel tips section packed with essential contact addresses and numbers Insight Guide to Japan

Japan Eyewitness Travel Guide - Dorling Kindersley
This superb guide to all of Japan features colour photography, dozens of excellent local maps and a region-by-region synopsis of the country's attractions. Handsome, convenient and up-to-date, the volume is an excellent overview of the country. For even more detailed practical information, especially for self-guided trips, consider Gateway to Japan by Kodansha Guides.

Gateway to Japan (Kodansha Guide) - June Kinoshita
An excellent planning tool and one of the best guidebooks to Japan, the heart of this guide is a region-by-region catalogue of attractions, history, art, culture and travel information including almost everywhere from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south. One of the most useful and comprehensive book of its kind on the market, featuring over 100 maps and illustrations, place names in English and Japanese and overflowing with information on where to go and what to do. It also gives a short introduction to Japanese food, and some useful notes about language.

NORTH KOREA
North Korea Bradt Travel Guide – Robert Willoughby
The only travel guide entirely dedicated to this inaccessible country. This guide offers an insight into the culture and history of a country that currently exists in virtual isolation from the rest of the world. It covers the capital Pyongyang in detail and offers in-depth information on the practical aspects of travelling to and around North Korea. It provides information on everything a traveller needs including festivals, culture red tape and security issues.

North Korea: Another Country – Bruce Cummings
Cumings demonstrates in this provocative little book that the story of the US-Korea conflict is more complex than our leaders or our news media would have us believe. Drawing on his extensive knowledge of Korea, and on declassified government reports, Cumings traces that story, from the brutal Korean War to the present crisis. Harbouring no illusions regarding the totalitarian Kim Jong II regime, Cumings nonetheless insists on a more nuanced approach. The result is both a counter-narrative to the official US and North Korean versions and a fascinating portrayal of North Korea, a country that suffers through foreign invasions, natural disasters, and its own internal contradictions, yet somehow continues to survive.

SOUTH KOREA
South Korea Insight Guide - Tom Le Bas
A region by region visitor's guide covering all the tourist sights and packed with essential travel tips and practical information. This book includes sections detailing Korea's history, aspects of the country's life and culture ranging from earthy shamanism to modern-day business conglomerates. The book is illustrated throughout with top-notch photographs and maps.

South Korea Moon Handbook – Robert Nilsen
A well written guide book to the paradoxically ancient and modern country of South Korea. An exhaustive survey of almost every corner of the country, it provides historical and cultural background information, practical travel tips and maps along with a phrase-book with pronunciation charts and Han'gul renderings of place names.

Korea Lonely Planet – Martin Robinson et al.
This frequently updated bestseller works as a good introduction to this amazingly country.
There are sections covering ‘highlights’, ‘itineraries’, ’listings’, ‘culture’ and ‘practical directory’. With over 100 detailed maps, including a full-colour map of Seoul, this is a good option although not as complete and detailed as our other suggestions. It also includes a chapter of the country’s far more inaccessible neighbour, North Korea.

Moon Handbook: Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos - Michael Buckley
A great resource for the independent traveller, this guidebook, mostly focused on Vietnam, features a thorough introduction to the land, history and culture, as well as astonishing practical detail on getting around, where to go and where to stay. It features 100 illustrations and 116 maps, as well as a small fold-out map on the inside back cover. With its thoroughly-researched background, cultural data and wealth of practical information Michael Buckley offers advice on avoiding land mines and malaria while steering travellers to the best of Indochina.

A Dragon Apparent: Travels in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam - Norman Lewis
A classic account of travels and adventure during the last years of French Indochina, strong on atmosphere and including wonderfully detailed descriptions of local cultures and archaeological treasures. Originally published in 1951, this was the first title by John Hatt.

Laos and Cambodia Insight Guide – Clare Griffiths
This guide to Laos & Cambodia covers all the countries’ highlights for visitors, area-by-area, illustrated with hundreds of full-colour photographs and cross-referenced with detailed regional and city maps. A wealth of practical and concise information, a detailed essay section including in-depth features on the countries' history, culture and people and hundreds of stunning colour photographs, illustrating all the major sights and portraying the character of both countries.

Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos Footprint Guide - Jack O'Tailan et al.
A detailed, practical guide to Bangkok, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, filled with maps, background on attractions, practical information on transportation, food, activities and lodgings, and a handful of well selected photographs.

CAMBODIA
Cambodia Insight Compact Guide – Andrew Forbes
The ideal reference guide to this fabulous country. Providing fascinating insights into local life, this guide is packed with information, arranged in easy-to-follow routes and lavishly illustrated with photographs. The text, photographs and maps are all clearly cross-referenced, and star attractions are highlighted making it ideal for consulting on-the-spot.

Angkor Odyssey Guide - Dawn Rooney
An indispensable guidebook encompassing Khmer culture and history, detailed temple descriptions and practical information about Siem Reap. With temple plans and photographs. This edition includes 10 new temple sites and an additional 180 pages of new information with 86 new photographs along with updated practical details.

Gecko Trails – Carol Livingston
The first travel book to be devoted solely to Cambodia in forty years, Gecko Tails is an hilarious yet moving account of the supposedly glamorous world of the foreign correspondent.

First They Killed My Father - Loung Ung
An emotive and eye-opening account of the atrocities suffered by millions of Cambodians from the perspective of a young girl who survived the reign of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge.

LAOS
Laos Insight Compact Guide – Simon Robson
This compact guide to Laos includes a chapter detailing the country's history and culture; details of sights ranging from the stark Soviet architecture of Vientiane to the historic temples and tree-lined avenues of Luang Prabang; leisure-time suggestions; and a comprehensive information section with essential contact addresses and numbers. It also contains dozens of photographs and maps.

Laos Footprint Guide – Jack O'Tailan
A good pocket guide for all travellers who want to get an insight into this enigmatic country’s history and culture. Includes highlights map showing the best sights, recommendations of places to stay and eat, and tips for the adventurous traveller, covering Vientiane, Luang Prabang, the north, the central provinces and the far south.

VIETNAM
Vietnam Insight Guide – Scott Rutherford
A highly recommended guide to Vietnamese history, culture and popular destinations. This guide book covers the main attractions of this fascinating country providing good background and travel information and adorned with wonderful photography and informative maps.

Vietnam Footprint Guide – John Colet
From background information on Vietnam's modern history and invaluable pointers on learning the language to mouth-watering details on local cuisine and the best places to sample it; this travel guide provides advice on how to escape the hoards while experiencing the best of this captivating country. A special section covers crossing the Mekong Delta and trekking in northern Vietnam. Illustrated throughout with colour photos and maps.

Three Moons in Vietnam – Maria Coffey
This inspiring novel narrates the story of the author and her husband's journey around the "real" Vietnam by leaky fishing boat, sampan and coracle, rickety bicycle and battered bus; a journey that took three full moons. It reveals a Vietnam where people survive their terrible past with dignity and humour.

Vietnam, A Traveler's Literary Companion - John Balaban & Nguyen Qui
From the sweltering rain forest and rural countryside to the bustling cities, these 17 stories from Vietnam's finest writers often eschew the political and instead explore the country's landscapes, mythology and changing traditions.

IRAN
Iran Bradt Travel Guide – Patricia L Barker
Patricia Baker’s Iran is aimed squarely at the cultural traveller attracted to this country’s ancient sites, which include the ruins of Persepolis, innumerable beautiful mosques and Islamic architecture. Advice on cultural awareness and religious sensitivity is set in the context of Iranian history which, together with in-depth coverage of where to go and what to see, makes this guide invaluable. This second edition provides thorough updates on planning and practicalities both for those on a tour and for the independent travellers wishing to get the most out of their stay.

Iran Odyssey Guide – Helen Loveday and Bruce Wanell
An essential book both for visitors to Iran and for those with a thirst to learn about and understand this fascinating country. It provides a fascinating illumination of both ancient Persia and modern Iran with up-to-date travel facts and tips, chapters on each of the country’s provinces, sections on Islamic art, architecture and religion, and colour illustrations and detailed travel maps.

Mirrors of the Unseen: Journeys in Iran – Jason Elliot
The product of three years of travel and research, this book is not only an exploration of the immensely rich heritage of Persian culture, but also a unique and timely portrait of contemporary Iran. Brimming with history, anecdote and provocative analysis this highly acclaimed volume dispels all stereotypical views of a much misunderstood nation revealing glimpses of Iran beyond the clichés and headlines.

Neither East nor West – Christiane Bird
One woman's journey through the Islamic Republic of Iran

The Road to Oxiana – Robert Byron
Robert Byron's account of his pilgrimage through Persia and Afghanistan in the late 1930s, in search of the origins of Islamic architecture.

JORDAN
Jordan Insight Guide - Michael Ellis
This 362-page guidebook to Jordan presents the country's highlights in a comprehensive format, illustrated with hundreds of full-colour photographs and 13 maps, and packed with essential travel tips. Sections on food, wildlife and traditions give a real Insight into the destination and expert local writers bring Jordan's history, culture, arts and people to life. It is an inspiring background read, serves as an invaluable, on-the-spot companion and is a superb, visual souvenir of a visit. A detailed section of travel tips and advice will make sure you've got all the information and contact numbers you will need.

Jordan Blue Guide – Sue Rollin
Widely acclaimed as the most comprehensive guide to Jordan's extraordinary historic cities and sites, the new edition has been thoroughly updated. Written by enthusiastic experts with extensive local knowledge, this Blue Guide is full of detailed practical advice illustrated with many colour photographs, maps and plans. A fascinating insight into the country's history, the land and its flora, people past and present.

LEBANON
Lebanon, An Insider’s Guide – Blair Kuntz
This guide combines tourist information of a practical nature with cultural and artistic descriptions. It includes user-friendly maps, accommodation, facilities and food listings, detailed cultural background including literature, music, art, folk tales, and architecture.

SYRIA
Syria Bradt Travel Guide – Diana Darke
The country possesses some of the most impressive historical sites in the Mediterranean. Damascus and the surrounding area are covered in detail with the Roman caravan city of Palmyra and the Crusader castle of Crac des Chevaliers being just two of the attractions featured in the guide.

The Desert and the Sown – Bell Gertrude
An entertaining account of the desert explorer’s on 1905 trip across the Syrian desert from Jericho to Antioch and the observations of the people she met on route. It contains evocative descriptions and numerous photographs of the Middle East during its time under Ottoman rule.

Seven Pillars of Wisdom – Lawrence, T. E.
Lawrence of Arabia’s classic account of the Arab Revolution during World War I.

TURKEY
Turkey Eyewitness Travel Guide – Kate Poole
The guide that shows you what others only tell you! This is a very informative book and a detailed insight into an exotic Eurasian country and its history. The 3D sketches and full colour original reconstructions of key sites give history and heritage a new meaning. Share local information and practical advice with an author who has lived in Turkey for 13 years.

Turkey Blue Guide - Bernard McDonagh
A travel guide to Turkey giving coverage to its artistic heritage, the Aegean and Mediterranean coastlines and considerable information on central and eastern Turkey. Practical information including travel advice, suggestions of where to stay and eat and opening times.

EGYPT
Egypt, Land of the Pharaohns (Odyssey Guides) - Robert Morkot
This thorough and well-edited guidebook makes all of Egypt's mysteries accessible, from exciting Cairo to the quiet, unspoiled biblical Sinai. Robert Morkot shares the basics of Egyptian history, food, etiquette and customs, shopping and sports and he illuminates chapters on specific regions with more than 50 full-colour photographs that highlight archaeological wonders.

Egypt Eyewitness Travel Guide - Jane Ewart.
With more than 1,000 full-colour photographs, advice on exploring the Pyramids, boat tours along the Nile, and trips to the Red Sea, DK's Eyewitness Travel Guide: Egypt details everything that any traveller will need to experience this "jewel of the Nile." Providing a listing of over 200 hotels and restaurants, an Arabic Phrase Book, and transportation maps, this is the perfect guide for getting around Cairo, Sinai, Rhoda Island, and the Western Desert.

The Search for Ancient Egypt - Jean Vercoutter
A pocket-size encyclopaedia of archaeology and history packed with illustrations, maps and archival photographs and geared toward a general audience. This slim paperback is a tale of Greek travellers, buried treasure, international intrigue and dedicated scholarship. It is a book about the discovery of Egypt by modern Europeans and research on the civilization through the 1980s.

The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Egypt - Bill Manley
Organized chronologically, this book is a concise survey of the economic and political development of ancient Egypt as shown through well-conceived, clear, and easy to understand colour maps, site plans, photographs and accompanying essays. If you love maps, this is an indispensable reference.


ETHIOPIA
Blue Nile, Ethiopia’s River of Magic and Mystery - Virginia Morell
Highlighted by Nevada Wier's evocative photographs, this vivid chronicle takes us down the Blue Nile from its source high on an Ethiopian mountain to the Sudan border, a trekking and river journey that has rarely been undertaken and never before in one uninterrupted excursion.

In Search of King Solomon’s Mines - Tahir Shah
Where did the gold that King Solomon used to adorn his temple come from? Tahir Shah took up the quest in the heart of Ethiopia.

Bradt Travel Guide to Ethiopia (4th edition) - Philip Briggs
This is the most thorough travel guide to Ethiopia that has become the definitive source of information on a country rich in culture, history and dramatic scenery. Philip Briggs’s gives plenty of down-to-earth advice on etiquette and safe travelling. His particular writing style and enthusiasm for this little understood country is an inspiration for those planning a trip. In this 4th edition the number of places covered countrywide has been expanded

LIBYA
Footprint Libya Handbook - James Azema
It gives generally good overviews of the country, although there are occasional errors and out of date comments and costing

Lonely Planet Guide to Libya (2nd edition) - Anthony Ham
This guide to Libya is written by an expert author who has visited the country many times, and his warmth for the destination comes through on every page. The information contained in the book, both practical and factual, is still up-to-date and very precise and detailed. This new edition of the Libya travel guide features extended information and insightful reviews.

The Antiquities of Tripolitania - D.E.L. Haynes
Sabratha, A Guide For Visitors - Philip Press.
Cyrene and Apollonia, An Historical Guide - Richard Goodchild.

If you are visiting the Roman and Greek sites of Libya, the above three publications are excellent and will definitely enhance your visit. However, they do seem to be out of print in the UK. They are available from the Dar al-Fergiani bookshop in September 1 Street, Tripoli and we recommend that you purchase them on arrival. The guide will know the shop, which is a few minutes walk from Green Square.

MOROCCO
Insigt Guide to Morocco – Dorothy Stannard
This guide includes various detailed sections on Morocco's history, as well as aspects of the country's life and culture ranging from intricate Islamic architecture to skiing in the Atlas mountain.. A great introduction to the country and its culture, beautiful pictures and maps.

A Hedonist’s Guide to Marrakech – Paul Sullivan
Hg2 Marrakech's first edition was recommended by many of the UK's top glossy magazines and newspapers. The second edition will contain more riads, restaurants and bars than before and along side a new internal design will keep readers so up to date on this thriving city.

Marrakesh, the Red City - Barnaby Rogerson.
A joy to read, the remarkable stories in this wonderful book will take you back over the centuries.

The Shadow of the Silk Road – Colin Thubron
Recounting his journey along the greatest land route on earth, Thubron covered 7,000 miles in eight months, travelling from the Tomb of the Yellow Emperor to the ancient Mediterranean port of Antioch, going by local bus, truck, car, donkey-cart or camel. All of this comes magically to life in his speaking engagements, which are regular sell-outs and a master class in the literary travel experience.

Silk Road: Xi’an to Kashgar - Judy Bonavia
This beautifully photographed and intelligent book is the authoritative guide to travelling China's Silk Road, along which the early trade of silk was carried on against incredible odds over some of the most in hospital territory on earth. With beautiful colour photographs, excellent maps and much historical information, this comprehensive and handy book includes separate essays on the history and culture of the area, excerpts from the literature, a brief Chinese phrasebook, and a province-by-province description of points of interest.

Silk Route by Rail – Dominic Streatfeild-James
Very informative and well illustrated, this travel guide covers the rail line which follows the old Silk Route from Moscow via the Central Asian cities of Samarkand and Tashkent across western China to Beijing. This second edition (1997) was updated 10 years ago so it may be a bit out of date, and because is out of print and it may be difficult to find.

Silk Roads: A Route and Planning Guide – Paul Wilson
A compact, practical guide to the network of ancient trade routes extending from Turkey and the Mideast across Central Asia to China. With 60 maps and town plans. Also includes lesser-known routes – Southern Taklamakan, Kashgar-Rawalpindi (Karakorum Highway) Marco Polo’s route to Xanadu. The book is a revised and expanded version of Silk Route by Rail.

The Silk Road, Two Thousand Years in the Heart of Asia – Frances Wood
A nicely illustrated overview of the art, culture and history of the Silk Road covering more than 5,000 years and lavishly illustrated with photographs, manuscripts, and paintings from the collections of the British. Frances Wood, head of the Chinese section at the library, makes good use of archival photographs, manuscripts and paintings in telling a lively story of these diverse ancient trade routes. She includes chapters on jade and silk, trade during the Han dynasty, Dunhuang, the Great Game, explorers, and the Silk Road today. As someone who clearly knows the area as well as she does its history, Frances Wood is an erudite narrator and writes in a sober tone, leavened by quirky details and dry asides.

Trans-Siberian Handbook - Bryn Thomas
A comprehensive and up to date guide to a journey on the Trans Siberian Railway that gives mile-by-mile accurate and detailed information of the route. Full of useful tips on route planning, timetables, what to take, etc; useful background reading list with internet resources, practical information about food and drink, money, health, and safety tips from other travellers; good maps with time zones marked, colour photographs, historical facts, city guides and information about crossing the borders. An excellent book which should be read thoroughly before embarking on the journey then kept in your back pocket throughout.

Trans-Siberian Lonely Planet – Mark Elliott et al.
An easy travel guide for this epic train journey that will help you to make the most of every moment during this trip of a lifetime. With Russian, Mandarin and Mongolian language guides including helpful phrases and extended food glossaries; 65 maps of major cities and regions, train routes and coverage of the BAM for the truly adventurous; in-depth history, culture, environment and cuisine chapters to keep you informed (and entertained) en route.

By Train to Shanghai: A Journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway - William, J. Gingles
This is a compelling narrative of a long train journey and an illuminating insight from the shadows of the past, descending from the mountains, the unbroken silence of the forest, intertwined with the people who shaped historical events along the route. From the former Tsarist Russian capital of St. Petersburg, this 10,000 kilometre railway odyssey terminates in the great metropolis of Shanghai.