Armenia has a fascinating history, a vibrant culture and magnificent landscapes — a land strewn with prehistoric sites, medieval monasteries and intricately carved cross-stones, as well as the most luscious apricots in the world. This completely updated edition of Armenia with Nagorno Karabagh provides the entire practical and background information needed to explore not only the best-known sites but also off the beaten track Armenia.

This is the most detailed guide to Central Asia's most populous country and the heart of the historic Silk Road. Strikingly beautiful yet little understood, Uzbekistan finally has a guide to inspire independent travelling, with all the in-depth practical information required, highlighting epic landscapes through to awe-inspiring architecture. Practical details are entwined with cultural, literary, social, religious and historical curiosities to make an entertaining companion and guide. It includes up-to-date and personal reviews of accommodation, restaurants and entertainment venues across all budgets. Alongside historical detail and anecdotes, exceptional colour photography brings to life places, people and local traditions as they appear today. Comprehensive bird-watching and wildlife sections are provided by experienced twitcher and BBC journalist Ben Tavener and there is a thorough introduction to the Uzbek and Russian languages.

Discover the spice of modern Britain from the top deck of a bus. We may complain about the quality of our local bus services, but Britain is blessed with a very fine network of local bus routes. That network takes in celebrated coastal and mountain landscapes as well as gritty industrial towns and unsung suburbs. In Bus-Pass Britain Rides Again, over three dozen writers retrace journeys that have particular meaning for them, along the way revealing the diversity of modern Britain. Evocative and fun, often witty and perceptive, the book gives a fresh perspective on communities across Britain. Just the ticket for travellers of all ages.

Almost everyone on safari hopes for a glimpse of the charismatic and elusive leopard. Chui was the first of a new generation of leopards Jonathan Scott watched and photographed in Kenya's Masai Mara Game Reserve in the 1970s and 1980s. He spent every available moment watching and photographing Chui and her cubs, Light and Dark, aware that he was only privileged to do so for as long as they chose to remain visible. His classic account tells the story of the mother leopard as a solitary hunter providing for herself and her offspring. He records encounters with baboon, hyaena and man, hazards facing the cubs as they learn to fend for themselves and periods of play and relaxation. Some years after Chui disappeared, a young female appeared, Half-Tail. Jonathan and Angela have followed her and her daughter Zawadi, stars of the BBC's Big Cat Diary, for the past twenty years, bringing the story up to date. Nobody has studied leopards more closely or known them more intimately Jonathan says: The update is based on our work with Half-Tail and Zawadi from both the pictures and text perspective — Angie worked with us on Big Cat Diary as the stills photographer from 1996 and before that we both worked with Half-Tail from the time she first appeared around Leopard Gorge and Fig Tree Ridge — our kids grew up on safari with Half-Tail and Zawadi as stars of their own Mara adventures.

Separated from the north in 2011, South Sudan is the world's newest country and has emerged from decades of inaccessibility as a vibrant and diverse destination. Nature lovers are drawn to the region to experience one of the world's largest wetlands, the many tropical forests and the second-largest wildlife migration on earth. The tribal people such as the Dinka, Bari and Zande preserve unique cultures thousands of years in the making. Authors Sophie Ibbotson and Max Lovell-Hoare provide practical information on getting around this new country where the travelling is rugged but the rewards are immense. This stand-alone guide outlines tour operators, hotels, restaurants, suggested itineraries, and how you can give back to the community. The chapter on Sudanese culture provides in-depth coverage of its languages, people and culture. Visitors are enticed by the extensive national parks, the Sudd wetlands and the world's second largest wildlife migration. Divided into geographical regions with photographs and maps, South Sudan enables the intrepid traveller to explore the length and breadth of the country.

Somebody once said that if you planted a walking stick overnight in the soil of Uganda, it would take root before morning dawned. Of all Africa's safari destinations, this is the most fertile. It's also the best destination in Africa for seeing a variety of primate species — visitors can spot more than ten types of monkey including mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. And if primate enthusiasts are found wandering round with imbecile grins, Uganda's birds have ornithologists doing cartwheels: more than 1,000 bird species have been recorded here making Uganda, in practical terms, the finest birdwatching destination in Africa. Moreover, in Uganda's premier savanna reserves, one can be almost certain of encountering lions, elephants and buffaloes. Whether visitors want to climb to the snows of the fabled Mountains of the Moon, raft the headwaters of the mighty Nile, or marvel at the legendary tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, this seventh edition of Philip Briggs' much-praised guide is the most comprehensive resource available.

A hidden corner of eastern Europe, Montenegro lies across the Adriatic Sea from Italy, its stark mountains rising up from the coast. It offers superb, year-round, eco-adventure and sports facilities. Medieval architectural gems vie for attention with more recent Venetian fortresses and churches, reflecting the diversity of Montenegrin culture. Along the eastern border lies Lake Skadar, a nature lover's dream with national park status. Updated throughout, this edition has all the practical information the independent traveller needs, including new hotels and restaurants on the coast and in the mountains. Outdoor and cultural enthusiasts will enthuse over the extended coverage on national parks, fishing opportunities and archaeological finds.

Britain is packed with places to visit that can be called sacred. Many are tourist sites, such as Iona, Lindisfarne and Stonehenge. Many more are out-of-the-way pilgrimage destinations, druidic circles, holy wells or obscure islands that few people would find without this book. Some are only recognised as sacred by people with a special interest: Karl Marx's tomb in Highgate cemetery or the island on Althorp where Princess Diana is buried. This book journeys from pilgrimage sites with tombs of martyrs and scenes of medieval miracles to the remote islands of Iona, Bardsey and Lindisfarne, as well as to modern Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic shrines. It visits pre-historic stone circles and ancient chalk hill carvings such as the phallic Cerne Abbas giant. As well as sites of myth, legend, and apparition it covers shrines to philosophers and locations revered for their connections with art, music, literature, sport and crime.

Dorset is quintessential rural England: rolling hills, thatched houses, narrow, winding lanes and stunning stately homes and gardens. A large part of the county is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and includes England's first natural World Heritage Site. Revealing the hidden delights of one of the most unspoiled of English counties, the author introduces some of Dorset's best kept secrets including little known walks, cycle rides, pubs, and visitor attractions. The Dorset town of Weymouth will host the sailing events during the 2012 Olympics.

Spanning the northernmost fringes of Norway, Sweden and Finland, Lapland offers exciting winter and summer adventures. Take in the indigenous Sami culture, experience a husky safari or snorkel alongside killer whales. Scandinavia enthusiast James Proctor leads visitors across magical frozen scenery, from the world-famous ICEHOTEL and the stunning Laponia World Heritage area to the Arctic's midnight sun — 24-hours of unbroken sunlight. Whether on an organised tour or travelling independently, Bradt's Lapland is the essential travel companion. Now in its second edition, it's the only guidebook to this wintry wonderland. James Proctor is a freelance travel writer and author of several guides to Scandinavia including Bradt's Faroe Islands. He divides his time between the South of France and his log cabin in the heart of the Swedish forest.

Vast and vibrant Argentina has it all — adventure, culture, luxury, scenery — and it's still great value. From eating beefsteak in Buenos Aires to drinking Malbec in Mendoza, from the tango rhythms of town to remote landscapes and hidden gems, this second edition of the most in-depth guide on the market provides the necessary practical and background information to take visitors beyond the tourist haunts. The guide covers all the unmissable experiences from horseback trekking through the Andes to watching penguins, seals and whales on the Valdes Peninsula. Bradt's Argentina details many small-scale, offbeat and sustainable projects for those interested in culturally-sensitive, eco-friendly travel. Canadian writer and editor Erin McCloskey now lives in Italy. After her degree in conservation biology, she travelled internationally, focussing on photography and dance, both well-represented in Argentina.

With ancient chiefdoms tucked between terraced fields and volcanic mountains, Mount Cameroon — Africa's highest peak, the impressive Waza National Park with its herds of elephants, and the coast's sleepy palm-fringed beaches, Cameroon has no shortage of attractions, yet it somehow fails to be a tourist haunt. The only full-length, English-language guide, this book contains essential information on nature, culture and staying healthy plus practical details like getting around and accommodation options in the city and countryside. It includes details of wildlife and bird sites, ancient tribal kingdoms, colourful trading towns, 'pygmy' hunting camps and even where to see the endangered lowland gorilla. Ben West writes on travel for newspapers and magazines. Travel writing has taken him to more than 20 countries, including six in Africa. His first trip to Cameroon in 1986 netted him four tropical diseases.

Tiny but perfectly-formed Dominica is one of the most naturally dramatic islands of the Lesser Antilles. This beautiful island with its verdant mountains, lush valleys and dense tropical rainforests is still off the mass-tourism trail. However, cruise ships, hikers, scuba divers and nature-lovers are starting to discover this gorgeous 'Nature Island of the Caribbean'. This second edition offers practical information on the growing health and wellness holidays, weddings and yachting parties as well as extended coverage of the rich cultural heritage. Dominica's dramatic scenery recently attracted Hollywood's attention and the island was location for the filming of the blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean. Paul Crask is a freelance writer, editor and Bradt author who has visited the island of Dominica since 1993 and is now a permanent resident.

Jungle-clad and teeming with exotic wildlife, Guyana is a South American secret begging to be told. With its unique geography of coastal waters, mangroves, marshes, savannas, mountains and tropical rainforests, it's an ideal match for adventure seekers and wildlife enthusiasts. Explore the interior's waterways from a dugout canoe, swim alongside a black caiman — the world's largest alligator, take in Amerindian culture at Surama, or spot one of Guyana's 800-plus birds. Fully updated, Bradt's second edition of Guyana provides all the practical and background information necessary to get the most from your trip — whatever your budget or time constraint. Raised in Brooklyn, New York, Kirk Smock is a freelance writer who regularly contributes articles on Guyana for newspapers, magazines and websites.

Landlocked between Russia and China, and surrounded by the shimmering Caspian Sea shores and the Altai and Tian Shan mountains, a trip to the exotic wilds of Kazakhstan will erase any association Westerners may have with the film Borat. Visit in May and find the slopes of the Tian Shan carpeted with tulips, base yourself in cosmopolitan Almaty and daytrip to the nearby mountains and forest (where the pious may encounter the legendary Buddhist kingdom of Shambala), or sample a glass of kumiss at a Kazakh dastarkhan. Now updated with more detail, Kazakhstan provides in-depth explanation of the rich and unique Kazakh traditions and nomadic heritage. The most comprehensive guide available, it's invaluable for anyone visiting or living in Kazakhstan. Paul Brummell is a career diplomat with the UK's Foreign Commonwealth Office.

Zambia is one of the best destinations in Africa for walking and river safaris, hot springs and waterfalls. This fifth, fully updated edition leads visitors through all the prime attractions — set in their historical and environmental context — from the newly declared Ngonye Falls National Park, through the Sioma Ngwezi National Park to the famous Luangwa Park, host to several unique species and an ideal place for leopard-spotting. It includes advice for the independent traveller: how to bush camp in comfort, survival techniques for canoe encounters with hippos or crocodiles as well as guidance on all-terrain driving. With detailed reviews of lodges, hotels and campsites, plus 51 maps and GPS coordinates, Bradt's Zambia is the essential travel companion for anyone going to this under-explored safari destination. Chris McIntyre is Managing Director of Expert Africa, a tour operator specialising in southern Africa. He is also author of Bradt's Botswana and Namibia, and co-author of Zanzibar, Pemba & Mafia.

Bradt's Estonia remains the only English-language guidebook to this Baltic destination, and this sixth edition reveals more of the country than any previous guide. Readers now discover why Miss Estonia likes antique cars, where Eiffel built before Paris, and why Edward VII could not land in Tallinn to meet Tsar Nicholas II and had instead to spend three days in the harbor. Offering extensive coverage of Estonia's complex cultural history and its artists, writers and musicians, alongside comprehensive practical information, Baltic expert Neil Taylor proves that there's much more to Estonia than the cobbled streets and cafes of Tallinn.

There's more to Malawi than its lake. This fifth edition of the Bradt guide explores the country's rolling plateaux and massifs, and its five national parks and four game reserves. Adventurers, meanwhile, can discover how to kayak off Cape Maclear, hike up Mount Mulanje or cross the wildlife-rich Nyika Plateau on horseback. The book covers the country's dynamic music scene, and uncovers little-visited gems such as Dedza and Elephant Marsh. And if visitors must find a luxury lodge on Lake Malawi's palm-fringed shore on whose deck to sip their sundowners — well, this book tells them how to pull that off, too.

There's a magical romance about trains that no other form of transport can capture. Meeting under an iconic station clock at a grand terminus. Gathering speed through city, town and country, swooping across viaducts, rattling across huge junctions and whistling through tunnels. At long last you are in a small Sussex beachside halt, or a Welsh valley country station, beside a quiet Norfolk waterway, or winding through a remote forest high above a Scottish loch. Dreamily you think, 'Do those same twin ribbons of steel really lead all the way back to the greatest city in Europe? Can this really be the very same seat?' Britain from the Rails travels to a world far from the endless queues and prodding security of ugly airport terminals. It abandons the cars to their motorway jams and soaring petrol prices, and revels instead in the gems of Britain's historic railway system.

Go Slow is a new series from Bradt that encourages visitors to slow down and savor the best of Britain's rural destinations. The series' three launch titles are Go Slow Devon, Go Slow Norfolk & Suffolk, and Go Slow Yorkshire. Each is written by an author resident to the area, and delves into unsung delights and personal favorites not covered by other guidebooks, from conservation projects to boat trips, wildlife holidays, restaurants using locally sourced ingredients and scenic walks. The series is published in conjunction with Alastair Sawday, whose book Go Slow England is drawn from a nationwide database of restaurants, accommodation providers and other businesses.