Aral Sea - Ayaz Kala - Khiva Tour

Tour itinerary: Tashkent – Nukus – Aral Sea

Season: April - October

Days: 4 | Nights: 3

4 day tour to Aral Sea, Muynak, famous ship cemetery, ancient fortresses Ayaz Kala and Toprak Kala and amazing museum under open air - Khiva is an outstanding trip to the hidden gems of Uzbekistan.

Discover off-beaten route of Aral Sea and ancient Khorezm !

Day 1

Tashkent – Nukus – Aral Sea

Meet the driver at the hotel in Tashkent.

06:00 Transfer to the local airport.

07:25 Flight Tashkent - Nukus HY 11.

09:05 Arrival in Nukus.

Come out of the terminal and meet the driver and guide.

Transfer to Aral Sea lake shore with sightseeing and photo stops en-route.

The Aral Sea is the former fourth largest lake in the world bordering on Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. In 1960-s the construction of melioration canals for cotton irrigation from the Amu Darya River began, the Aral Sea began to shallow. The area of the Aral Sea is rapidly decreasing, towns and villages that once the seaports are now far away from the present sea line.

The same is with Muynak, once located on the shore of the Aral Sea, now it is separated from the sea by 200 kilometers.

Photo stop in Ustyurt Plateau to enjoy unusual landscapes.

Arrival in the yurt camp, located close to Aral Sea.

Resting time in the afternoon. BBQ dinner and overnight in a yurt.

Day 2

Aral Sea – Nukus

Camp-style breakfast.

09:00 Transfer to Muynak via beautiful Red Canyons with the beautiful and unusual Martian landscape. Arrival in Muynak city that used to be one of the richest cities in the delta of Amu-Darya,” the gates to Uzbekistan from the sea”.

- The Regional History and Aral Sea Museum and the ship cemetery of the Aral Sea.

- Mizdakhan necropolis on the way back to Nukus (about 20 km from Nukus), an ancient cemetery, and located next to the remains of the Gyaur-Kala fortress (4-3 Century BC).

- Gaur Kala (translated as the fortress of pagans) was a Zoroastrian town with the citadel, the fire altar, and a large cemetery nearby. Even after the Arab invasion and Islam expansion, the town was inhabited until 14th Century and people continued to bury their relatives in Mizdakhan as they believed the place was a sacred place.

Arrival in Nukus.

Resting time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3

Nukus – Khiva

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the driver in the lobby.

- Visit Savitsky Museum exhibiting a unique collection of antiques of Khorezm and Karakalpak, Uzbek fine arts, and second-largest collection of Russian avant-garde works after the Russian Museum in Saint Petersburg.

The founder of the museum, Igor Savitsky devoted his life to piece-by-piece collecting of the finest works of modern artists of Uzbekistan and Russian avant-gardists. In 70 s it was quite risky to become an anti-Soviet propagandist. During perestroika and first years since Uzbekistan independence, the museum earned world recognition and deserved rightfully the must-see site status in Central Asia.

Transfer to Khiva (180 km, ~ 3,5 hours) en-route photo stops at the ruins of fortresses of ancient Khorezm.

- Ayaz-Kala and Toprak-Kala, the fortresses of the Kushan period of Ancient Khorezm that used to be mighty border forts protecting the residents from raids of nomadic tribes. The forts were built in ~4-7th century BCE, during the ages when Khorezm achieved its independence. The fortresses are located on the hills quite close to each other and visitors are welcome to have a short overview tour in the monumental forts that currently are drowning in sands.

Arrival in Khiva. Check-in the hotel.

Resting time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4

Khiva – Tashkent

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide and start walking excursion in the historical part of Khiva – Ichan-kala (translated as “Inner town”) - the largest Museum in the open air in Central Asia:

- Ata-Darvaza, Kunya- Ark;

- Madrassah of Muhammad Rahim Khan;

- Madrassah of Muhammed Aminhan;

- Kalta Minor, the Palace of the Allakulihan Khan of Khiva;

- Tash Hauli, where the harem of 40 concubines was;

- Caravanserai and Tim Allakulihan;

- Mausoleum of Seyd Allaudin,

- Islam-Khoja Madrassah - was built in 1908 by Islam-Hoja of the Prime Minister of Khan. The minaret is a symbol of the country, is an early example of the architecture of the XIV century.

- Mosque and Jami Minaret.

Evening at leisure.

21:00 Transfer to the Urgench airport.

23:00 Flight Urgench - Tashkent by evening flight.

00:20 Arrival in Tashkent Airport ( Terminal 3/ terminal of internal flights).

Come out of the terminal and meet the driver. Transfer tp the hotel in Tashkent.

End of the tour.

Tour Price (PER PERSON):

Person in group	Standart	Comfort hotels
1	$1410	$1445
2-3	$975	$995
4-5	$945	$965
6-12	$895	$935
Single supplement	$130	$140

Book it!

- Accommodation based on 2- 4 pax shared yurts near Aral Sea (incl. sleeping mat, sleeping bag, and pillow);

- Accommodation in standard double/twin hotel rooms in Nukus and Khiva;

- All transfers as per program by comfortable tourist class/SUV transport as per road conditions including transfers to-from airports /borders;

- English-speaking local guides (3 standard excursions and excursion with museum guide in Savitsky museum);

- Meals: breakfast at hotels in Nukus and Khiva; camp-style breakfast and dinner in Aral Sea yurt camp; lunch in Muynak in a guesthouse (traditional / home-made meals, fixed menu, alcohol excluding);

- Single entry tickets to the sites, museums, mausoleums and natural fees as per program;

- Internal flights Tashkent - Nukus, Urgench - Tashkent ( economy class);

- Tourist tax per person.

- International flights to/ from Tashkent;

- E-visa to Uzbekistan;

- Accommodation in Tashkent;

- Photo/video fees (professional camera);

- Transport for walking tour in Khiva; guide/transport service for free days and free time after the standard city tours;

- Single accommodation in yurt camps is not always available in high season ( subject of availability and of surcharge);

- Meals: lunches and dinners except those specified in the included section;

- VAT, Personal/travel insurance; portage, tips, personal expenses, and other services not specified under “Tour Price Includes”.

The tour is published on December 18, 2024 and the rates as per program and conditions specified are actual for 180 days ( 6 month) from the date of publication.

All the rates will be subject to change if the request is after 180 days from date of publication because any changes in the seasonal tariffs for hotels, air/train ticket prices, tax increase, and exchange rate fluctuation may cause the increase of rates.

- Any changes in the basic itinerary and service content may cause the change of the tour prices.

- If the hotels, noted in the program are fully booked or not available for the dates or in case of late / last-minute booking, the tour company reserves the right to book the other hotels of the same category and similar service as per room availability.

- Please note that during the national holidays, during the big summits, fairs, festivals, major sport and cultural events, some parts of the roads can be temporarily blocked for delegations and events as per government decrees.

- Check-in 14.00, check-out time 11.00. No early check-in/ late check-out is included unless indicated;

- Please note that the drivers do not speak English or can speak only basic English;

- Please note yurt camps, guesthouses, and homestays offer homemade/camp-style traditional meals; there are quite basic toilet and shower conditions.

- All the changes in the basic itinerary, the timing for transfers depending on the international flight departure/arrival time are to be discussed and pre-agreed;

- After the date of publication, any changes in the hotels, air/train ticket prices, tax increase, and exchange rate fluctuation may influence the tour prices;

- Anur Tour is not responsible for the force majeure occasions (weather conditions during the tour, repairing-reconstructing works at some parts of roads, government restrictions).

ACCOMMODATION

CITY	STANDARD HOTELS	COMFORT HOTELS
ARAL	Yurt camp
NUKUS	Pana/ Damir/Jipek Joli
KHIVA	Minor Boutique/ Malika Kheyvak/ Arqanchi	Zarafshon Boutique/ Erkin Palace/ Asia Khiva
Or other hotels of the same category as per room availability for the dates