Claire Blackmore Author

Sophie Ibbotson moved to central Asia in 2008 and lived and worked in the 'Stans for the next five years, advising national governments and promoting investment. She now returns to central Asia several times a year and continues to develop and promote investment and tourism opportunities there. Claire Blackmore has worked in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan as an influenza expert both independently and with global health organisations. She first visited Tajikistan after a long European winter and fell in love with the warmth and colours of the capital, Dushanbe. Since then she has been to Tajikistan five times, each time exploring a new part of the country and attempting (mostly in vain) to improve her language skills. She wants others to find out more about this fascinating and welcoming country in order to share the wild untouched beauty and rugged mountain landscapes. Having graduated from Tajik State National University with a Bachelors degree in International Economic Relations, Behruz Boev has worked in tourism for four years, both as a tour guide and as a manager in a number of tour agencies. He has volunteered and worked in many different international organisations but gains the most enjoyment from exploring his country and sharing it with others. He loves his job, the nature, people, local traditions, customs and music, and is passionate about introducing his country to the rest of the world. He sees organising tours as not just his profession but as an art, creating a deeper contact and understanding between tourists and his country, and taking a little of the Tajik hospitality home in their luggage.