For me, a journey to Damascus is an amazing hunt from beginning to end, a slice through layers of history in search of treasure.

— Tahir Shah

For me, nature is something you watch on the Discovery Channel, or in the evening news -- as you learn how much more of it's been savaged to make way for the Blackberry realm that is my home

— Tahir Shah

Forms Road has a sordid reputation (…) Old crones sat in doorways, while their daughters were pushed out to earn money. It is intriguing that a society which is very covert with sexuality should be so straightforward about prostitution.

— Tahir Shah

For my father there was no sharper way to understand a country than by listening to its stories.

— Tahir Shah

I believe that Marrakech ought to be earned as a destination. The journey is the preparation for the experience. Reaching it too fast derides it, makes it a little less easy to understand.

— Tahir Shah

I felt sure we could gain the upper hand by putting ourselves in the mindset of the Incas.

— Tahir Shah

If hot food is they key to maintaining an expedition's stamina, then low grade gut-rot alcohol is the key to sustaining its sense of pleasure.

— Tahir Shah

I had learned years ago never to give original documents to anyone if I could help it.

— Tahir Shah

In any case, a little danger is a small price to pay for ridding a place of tourists.

— Tahir Shah

In India an explanation is often more confusing than what prompted it.

— Tahir Shah