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Danziger's Travels: Beyond Forbidden Frontiers
A bestseller when it was first published nearly a decade ago, Danziger’s Travels is a riveting account of a daring 18–month journey from Istanbul to Peking, written by a young British photographer who walked and hitchhiked his way across six frontiers without a visa. Featuring 40 color photos.
448 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
October 2, 2012
I read this because it languished on my shelf for so long that the spine, originally a deep crimson red has faded away to a greyish yellow due to exposure to the sun. If the irreversible organic decay of a book before your very eyes is not a strong enough sign that a book has been on your shelf for too long then i'm not sure what is. Therefore in a bid to see this book go off and have its own adventure (via www.bookcrossing.com - sign up you'll bloody love it!), I pulled it off the shelf and it travelled overland from Liverpool to Lancaster - my own personal pilgrimage, made grudgingly each week!
Ultimately I came to Danziger's book either too late or too early. Too late because it was written in the 1980s and so has a slightly dated, almost "retro" feel to when discussing politics, currency and fashion as well as peoples expectations of the current affairs at the time. Too early because it has the makings and hallmarks of many classic travel journeys and will, in time no doubt join the hallowed ranks of Burton, Park, Lawrence, Doughty, Thesiger, Newby, Thubron et al, however it will take at least another 60 years till it has matured enough to warrant a ranking alongside the heavy weights.
Temporal moans aside, this is a jaunty little read and who wouldn't want to follow a man who is clearly a person of determination and optimism, as they head off to cross some of the most inhospitable geography in Asia, armed with more cameras than clothes and sometimes more enthusiasm than common sense. Travel is frequently about the return journey - the sense of achievement of having survived the outward leg of the journey and come back to tell the tale. Obviously if Danziger had not survived the freezing conditions, mountainous treks and military sieges then there'd be no book for me to review but at some points it is touch and go. There are millions of AK47s in Asia and Danziger seems to have delighted in putting himself on the pointy end of more than a few.
Ultimately it is rare for people to have one great adventure these days. The world is closing in and GPS and satellite phones knit worlds together in a way that was not possible one hundred years ago. If you're yet to find your adventure then you might want to settle down with Danzigers.
Ultimately I came to Danziger's book either too late or too early. Too late because it was written in the 1980s and so has a slightly dated, almost "retro" feel to when discussing politics, currency and fashion as well as peoples expectations of the current affairs at the time. Too early because it has the makings and hallmarks of many classic travel journeys and will, in time no doubt join the hallowed ranks of Burton, Park, Lawrence, Doughty, Thesiger, Newby, Thubron et al, however it will take at least another 60 years till it has matured enough to warrant a ranking alongside the heavy weights.
Temporal moans aside, this is a jaunty little read and who wouldn't want to follow a man who is clearly a person of determination and optimism, as they head off to cross some of the most inhospitable geography in Asia, armed with more cameras than clothes and sometimes more enthusiasm than common sense. Travel is frequently about the return journey - the sense of achievement of having survived the outward leg of the journey and come back to tell the tale. Obviously if Danziger had not survived the freezing conditions, mountainous treks and military sieges then there'd be no book for me to review but at some points it is touch and go. There are millions of AK47s in Asia and Danziger seems to have delighted in putting himself on the pointy end of more than a few.
Ultimately it is rare for people to have one great adventure these days. The world is closing in and GPS and satellite phones knit worlds together in a way that was not possible one hundred years ago. If you're yet to find your adventure then you might want to settle down with Danzigers.
August 17, 2016
Fantastic, brilliant and courageous travel writing. Nick follows his romantic travel urges with single minded devotion which has to be rare trait in the world of today. Choosing to traverse through the Russian war in Afghanistan was a truly remarkable endeavour. I also highly enjoyed his travels among the Ughairs in China, about whom little literature is available. Very enjoyable and entertaining read indeed.
May 9, 2011
A pretty incredible (if true?) travel saga of a young UK artist who gets a grant to travel the "silk road" via land in 1983-1985. So he does. There are some very interesting behind the scenes parts in Herat hanging with the mujaheddin and he describes the horrific conditions of being an "insurgent" or in this case a freedom fighter fighting the USSR, when the MiGs come in to bomb some donkeys, women and freedom fighters. Hells bells, there are a ton of stories in this book, as you can imagine travel via local bus from Istanbul to Lhasa to Peking and LOTS of points in between. Seems a little fishy at times, but maybe it all was legit. Would Vintage Books, Vintage Departures Originals series, tell a fib?
March 5, 2020
This book covers a remarkable journey that Danziger, a 26 year-old Englishman, took in 1984-85. He traveled along the old "silk road" from Europe to Shanghai, thru Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, the western Chinese desert, and into more civilized eastern China. The section in which he makes his way right thru the Afghan war zone makes for truly exciting reading. I learned a lot about all of these places and some about the people and customs there, but not enough as I would have liked. Danziger writes with aplomb and humor; he is always respectful but a little dry. Only occasionally did I feel these mysterious regions coming to life by virtue of his writing. This was a fascinating trek which could have been a better book, but it is still worth reading.
April 21, 2008
this guy is one of those intrepid travelers that might have crossed the border between fearless and not right in the head. he traveled the silk road from istanbul to beijing, crossing border after border illegally without a visa. the place where he most impressively demonstrated his disregard for reality was afghanistan, which he traversed in the middle of the extremely bloody war between the Soviets and the proto-Taliban.
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September 29, 2019This was a profound influence on me. Also, it was where I first heard about the Uyghurs.
August 4, 2011
While i'll admit I found some of later chapters dealing with the travel through China a little tedious feeling too much of a travel diary rather than an adventure/anthropological study, the 'core' of the book dealing with journey through Afghanistan, Pakistan and the crossing of the Chinese border into Tashkurgan was absolutely gripping.
I'd recommend this to anyone with an interest in Central South Asian culture & politics. This along with Elliot's 'An unexpected light' set in the aftermath of Russian occupation in the 1990's and Rory Stewart's 'The places in between' set in 2001, gives an excellent overview of Afghan society over the last 30 years and vividly shows how conflict has been at the core of Afghan life over this period (which is possibly reflected in the currently escalating situation in the country today).
I'd recommend this to anyone with an interest in Central South Asian culture & politics. This along with Elliot's 'An unexpected light' set in the aftermath of Russian occupation in the 1990's and Rory Stewart's 'The places in between' set in 2001, gives an excellent overview of Afghan society over the last 30 years and vividly shows how conflict has been at the core of Afghan life over this period (which is possibly reflected in the currently escalating situation in the country today).
October 19, 2007
It was a treat to read Danziger's adventures in the region specially Afghanistan. Writing about the resistance used to be pretty popular among the western authors in 80s. But reading from someone who spent some time with the Mujahideen while not amongst them but part of them really gives an interesting insight.
Apart from Afghanistan thingie, the way he overcame the difficulties in completing his "Mission silk route" really gives one the inspiration that if you have faith and decide to make your dreams come true, there is little that can stop you.
Apart from Afghanistan thingie, the way he overcame the difficulties in completing his "Mission silk route" really gives one the inspiration that if you have faith and decide to make your dreams come true, there is little that can stop you.
October 11, 2007
Epic travel book; I aspire to do what he did!
March 12, 2023
Amazing tale set within a distinct geopolitical context. The author escapes the confines of Conservative Britain to seek adventure overland between home and distant Beijing. For the exact details read a synopsis. The main takeaways for me were:
His travels in Iran: the hospitality of the ordinary people and the power of the clerical leadership
Afghanistan: hair-raising encounters with the Soviet occupiers and the camaraderie of the mujahedeen.
Xinjiang, China - after his very dogged and admirable entry via the Khyber Pass from Tibet, his descriptive experience of an almost medieval province and its people. He becomes very fond of the Uighurs and his insight into their 2nd rate status in China is quite prescient.
Throughout, the author's photographs are superb. He also adds little sketches of landmarks and things he sees, but the photographs are superior. No wonder he went on to become a very successful photojournalist!
His travels in Iran: the hospitality of the ordinary people and the power of the clerical leadership
Afghanistan: hair-raising encounters with the Soviet occupiers and the camaraderie of the mujahedeen.
Xinjiang, China - after his very dogged and admirable entry via the Khyber Pass from Tibet, his descriptive experience of an almost medieval province and its people. He becomes very fond of the Uighurs and his insight into their 2nd rate status in China is quite prescient.
Throughout, the author's photographs are superb. He also adds little sketches of landmarks and things he sees, but the photographs are superior. No wonder he went on to become a very successful photojournalist!
September 27, 2024
Copied from my non-author profile
Amazing tale set within a distinct geopolitical context. The author escapes the confines of Conservative Britain to seek adventure overland between home and distant Beijing. For the exact details read a synopsis. The main takeaways for me were:
His travels in Iran: the hospitality of the ordinary people and the power of the clerical leadership
Afghanistan: hair-raising encounters with the Soviet occupiers and the camaraderie of the mujahedeen.
Xinjiang, China - after his very dogged and admirable entry via the Khyber Pass from Tibet, his descriptive experience of an almost medieval province and its people. He becomes very fond of the Uighurs and his insight into their 2nd rate status in China is quite prescient.
Throughout, the author's photographs are superb. He also adds little sketches of landmarks and things he sees, but the photographs are superior. No wonder he went on to become a very successful photojournalist!
Amazing tale set within a distinct geopolitical context. The author escapes the confines of Conservative Britain to seek adventure overland between home and distant Beijing. For the exact details read a synopsis. The main takeaways for me were:
His travels in Iran: the hospitality of the ordinary people and the power of the clerical leadership
Afghanistan: hair-raising encounters with the Soviet occupiers and the camaraderie of the mujahedeen.
Xinjiang, China - after his very dogged and admirable entry via the Khyber Pass from Tibet, his descriptive experience of an almost medieval province and its people. He becomes very fond of the Uighurs and his insight into their 2nd rate status in China is quite prescient.
Throughout, the author's photographs are superb. He also adds little sketches of landmarks and things he sees, but the photographs are superior. No wonder he went on to become a very successful photojournalist!
March 20, 2025
The Afghanistan part is fascinating and I definitetely say this is the highlight of the book. However, he seems at the time to be willing to wander off the approved route but unwilling to accept the consequences-for example, the side trip to a tibetan temple caused his travel partner to fight with the lamas, even though he disapproves the Chinese governance in the area, he went to the local Foreign Affairs office to demand compensation...another funny episode is a uyghur young man whom he thought to be a future freedom fighter ironically became a successful businessman in southern China in 6 months
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2020
One of the most brilliant travelogue that I've read. Nick Danziger in 80's retraces the old silk route and he is one of the few travellers who documents the daily life and hardship of not so well known territories of Iran, war devastated Afgan people, Uighurs and the Tibetans. The interesting style of writing never fails to wonder about the varied landscapes that he travelled along with his exceptional experiences as he travels through different countries, territories and culture.
May 26, 2021
Nick Danziger undertook an epic adventure, traveling the Silk Road from the Middle East to China, often on foot, smuggled across borders hidden in the back of a truck, and generally outside the view of officialdom. I frequently recommend this classic travel story to friends since I read it in the early 1990s. It's unforgettable.
August 27, 2024
fascinating account of an epic journey, and especially insightful into central asian politics (eg. Afghanistan) in the early 80s. also some very interesting takes on the nature of travel and tourism, as many of the country through which Danziger passed were on the cusp of commercialised tourism and commercialisation. perfect holiday read, and lots of inspo too!
July 3, 2018
Very believable tale. I wonder why he did not include pics from his journey.
January 2, 2020
It is people like Mr Danziger who has the ability to take us along
March 1, 2020
Well written and insightful account of breaking down barriers while travelling in very inhospitable areas. From the mid-80s but still very relevant.
April 18, 2020
Fascinating travelogue. Walking from London to Beijing. It seems that little has changed in 30 years.
April 10, 2021
A remarkable travellers tale from a beautiful part of the world
November 23, 2021
I still do not 'get' his purpose in the journey. Also, where is the overarching narrative beyond travelogue?
September 16, 2022
Wow. No way something like this voyage is possible today (illegal border crossings, a month through Afghanistan at the height of the Soviet invasion) but really makes me wish it were!
April 8, 2014
This book sat on the top shelf of my bookcase for many, many years. I didn't want to read it as I feared it would have me yearning again for my backpacking days around Asia decades ago. That said, I never went into a 'live' war zone like Danziger but the general hardships of life on the road ... on a tight budget ... were pretty similar. It delivers a fascinating insight into the 'ordinary' people in the Middle East and especially Afghanistan, that war-blighted country in a time when the Soviets were the hated enemy (Danziger would not be able to make his trip now). If you wish a travelogue that leaves the dirt of the trail on your shoes then this is a good place to start.
July 29, 2023
I was first introduced to this travelogue in 1993. It was a leftover paperback from a former hotel guest. I've read this book several times over the years. This is a book for you if you love adventure and intrigue. The main voice of the book, Nick Danziger, is attempting to follow the Silk Road. He meets many different peoples and he has some harrowing moments when he is in Afghanistan when the Russians were trying to take over the country. He dresses like the locals and even though there are language barriers, Mr. Danziger makes friends. Recommended for arm chair travelers as well as those who travel.
February 25, 2017
A life-changing read this one was. On my own stick in a backpackers in a Swiss ski resort trying to find work but having no luck, only a few days before Christmas and very homesick. Picked this up in the common room bookshelf and finished in in about 4 hours. Inspirational travel book written well before off the beaten track backpacking became fashionable. Sure he's no Thoreaux, as proven by his next book, but his story makes up for the lack of prose. It was another 10 years before I finally stopped travelling, but never got to try the old silk route, ended up crossing Africa instead.
June 15, 2022
It ends on an unfortunate and ludicrous note, with Danzinger walking around London in his Afghan clothes, but seems emblematic of how deep the experience was for him, how much he saw but also how pompous he was. At its worst it’s a ploddingly written and self important man becoming best mates with some very unpleasant people. At its best it’s probably the most interesting and fascinating pieces of armchair travel you will ever experience
March 8, 2011
one of the best adventure travelogues out there. especially interesting is the author's encounter with the mujahadeen fighting the Soviets in 1980s Afghanistan. overall, the author has a good eye for detail and description.
April 29, 2015
A real inspiration to take up the next adventure. And so much I learnt about the lands and people around the SIlk Road. The journey in the book is as old as me, but his urge to travel would never be dated.
January 24, 2015
Read this book years ago and it came up on my home page here at Goodreads so I thought I'd add it to my list of read books. This book encouraged me to travel off the beaten path, perhaps not as far off the path as Danzinger but it got me to places I would not have visited had I not read this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews