Score

Does Karl May's "Durch das wilde Kurdistan" count?

Also: What about Central Asian/Caucasus countries whose names don't happen to end in "-stan", such as Georgia?

Yes on both counts. I had thought to include the Silk Road, Tibet, the Karakorams, the Himalayas.....Trouble with these lists is the creator cedes control of the list, and somehow we always wind up with Twilight or Eat, Pray, Love at the top. I invited only a few to add to the list hoping the kids would steer clear of it.

Now you're making me feel privileged. ;)

Thanks for the clarification. I added some stuff on Georgia (fascinating country indeed, btw.), Tibet/the Himalayas and Kurdistan. Will have to think some more on the rest!

I can't remember now if part of Arabian Sands was set in Afghanistan? anyone remember? and what is that other old book with the woman wandering all over Afghanistan with a caravan most of the time? I can't think of the name of it for anything.

Not sure if this list is still active, but 'Through a Land of Extremes: The Littledales of Central Asia' might be worth adding to your collection. An English husband and wife naturalist team travel through the stans and to china on several journeys right before the height of the great game. She was the first westerns woman to travel in many of these areas.

Everybody can add books to lists, Peter -- there's a tab up at the top next to "all votes."