Soles of a Nomad

From Dubrovnik’s city walls to Thailand’s shifting travel economy and Uzbekistan’s growing list of entry fees, more destinations are putting price tags on access. Sometimes it works—reducing crowds and funding preservation. Sometimes it risks pricing out the very travelers who helped make a place special in the first place. This is a look at when charging more makes sense, when it backfires, and why tourism doesn’t disappear—it just moves.

Khiva is one of the most intact Silk Road cities in Central Asia, a place where massive mudbrick walls still enclose a living old town. This nuts-and-bolts guide covers when to go, how to get there, where to stay, what to eat, and how much time to spend—so you can slow down, wander the Itchan Kala, and experience Khiva at its best.

Everything you need to know about taking the overnight train from Tashkent to Khiva: comfort, cabins, sleep, and whether it’s worth it.