The Story

In 1903, Austrian journalist and adventurer Erich von Salzmann set off on an almost unbelievable journey. His goal was to ride on horseback from the shores of the Caspian Sea, through the deserts and high mountain passes of Turkestan (modern-day Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan), and end at the Chinese border. The book is his day-by-day account of those 176 days. We follow him as he navigates scorching deserts where water is life, crosses paths with nomadic tribes, deals with suspicious local rulers, and pushes his horses (and himself) to their absolute limits.

Why You Should Read It

This isn't a polished, romantic travelogue. It’s gritty and immediate. You feel the saddle sores, the thirst, and the constant negotiation for food and shelter. What makes it special is the snapshot it provides. Salzmann traveled through kingdoms and khanates that would vanish within a few decades. He describes a way of life—the caravanserais, the bustling Silk Road cities like Samarkand—on the cusp of massive change. You’re right there with him, a stranger in a strange land, experiencing the sheer scale and isolation of Central Asia before the modern world reshaped it.

Final Verdict

Perfect for readers who love true, unfiltered adventure stories and armchair travelers with a taste for history. If you enjoy tales of endurance like those of Shackleton or classic explorers, but prefer dusty trails to icy wastelands, this is for you. It’s a fascinating, boots-in-the-stirrups look at a region that remains mysterious to many, written by a man who was there when it was truly wild.