Reader Barbara Elazari turned us on to the unusual trips offered by Salom Travel based in Bukkhara, Uzbekistan. As a new country founded on the territory of the Soviet republic, Uzbekistan is a fascinating country in the midst of change. Salom Travel, a small agency founded in 1994 by Raisa Gareyeva, enjoys success that is a testament not only to the quality and value of the trips her company offers, but also to the power entrepreneurs have to support local economies in developing countries.

From Istanbul, take Barbara’s lead and travel with Salom’s expert guides through Ashkabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, and then into Uzbekistan with a focus on local artisans and sites of cultural and holy significance. Uzbekistan’s complex topography – massive, stony mountains, separated by vast deserts and lush, emerald river valleys – delights as much as learning about the region’s exotic history rife with tales of Alexander the Great and Ghengis Khan.

A fantastic opportunity for culturally oriented explorers, Salom Travel offers a range of itineraries in Central Asia and can also arrange special interest trips to focus on crafts, history, religion or architecture. Combine a week’s itinerary through Salom Travel with a wilderness rafting adventure provided by Mountain Travel Sobek and you’ve got quite the two week vacation. MTS’s six day rafting itinerary on the Chatkal River takes guests through the shadow of the Tien Shan mountains to enjoy some serious splashy whitewater as well as mountain hikes and the occasional luxury of a riverside sauna.

For More Information on Salom Travel: www.salomtravel.com or contact Raisa directly at raisaslm@rol.uz. For more information on Mountain Travel Sobek: www.mtsobek.com or call 1-888-687-6235.

We know when a trip comes recommended by a redheaded woman who speaks three languages, works for a leading computer gaming design company and spends her free time cycling in Southeast Asia, or gallivanting itinerary-less through Morocco, odds are it’s going to be pretty unusual.

Our friend Peppi has recommended the serious whitewater experts at Sjoa Adventure in Norway, just an hour and a half north of Lillehammer. Flowing clear and cold out of Lake Gjende in the Jotunheimen mountains, the Sjoa is a gorgeous river running through the serene and wooded Heidal region. It’s famous for rafting, kayaking and fishing and has hosted numerous extreme water competitions over the years.

Join Sjoa Adventure’s experts such as Ed Cornfield, a pro-kayaker and adventure tourism management graduate who moonlights as freelance leadership coach and post-graduate psychology student for a couple days of rafting, or mix rafting and canyoning, with nights spent camping on the river bank or in classic nearby farmhouses. The Sjoa Adventure trips are ideal add-ons to a longer Norway exploration.

And if you’ve ever dreamed of becoming a river guide, check out Sjoa’s Raft Guide training course. The five-day course is designed for people with little or no experience and includes sessions on river dynamics, whitewater confidence and basic psychology, safety and rescue, and surfing.

For more information visit their website www.sjoaadventure.com, email info@sjoaadventure.com or call (+47) 93 40 65 00.