Day 2 · Muynak
Ships where the sea once was
We walk among rusting ships on the dry seabed.
Aral Sea, Khorezm Fortresses and Khiva in 5 Days
Programme updated on 23 October 2026
Private tour for 1–8 guests
5 days / 4 nights
Ground route: Nukus → Urgench Airport
Ships on dry land and a night by the Aral Sea
In Muynak, we walk among ships left on the former seabed. After the drive to the Aral Sea, we have dinner at the camp and spend the night in a yurt. We explore the earthen fortresses of Khorezm, walk through Khiva and make tukhum barak in a cooking class.
USD 980 per person for two guests sharing a DBL/TWN room. Flights are paid for separately.
Four highlights of the journey
Day 2 · Aral Sea
A night in a yurt by the Aral Sea
After the ship cemetery, we drive to the Aral Sea. We have dinner at the camp and stay overnight in a yurt.
Day 4 · Khorezm
The three Ayaz-Kala fortresses
We explore the earthen ruins of Ayaz-Kala 1, 2 and 3 on the way to Khiva.
Day 5 · Khiva
Making tukhum barak
We make tukhum barak in a cooking class at a local restaurant. After the class, we stay for dinner.
The price for two travellers
USD 980 / person
USD 1960 for two guests sharing a Standard room. Valid until 31 December 2026. We calculate the price separately for other group sizes.
USD 1102 / person
USD 2204 for two guests in Standard single occupancy. Valid until 31 December 2026.
On request
This is an additional service. State your preferred language when booking.
What is included
- Four nights along the route;
- meals listed for each day.
- meeting at Nukus Airport;
- 4×4 vehicles with drivers on days 2–3;
- a vehicle with a driver along the route;
- transfer to Urgench Airport.
- a guide at the Savitsky Museum;
- a local guide in Khiva;
- independent visits at the other stops.
What you pay for separately
- flights Tashkent–Nukus and Urgench–Tashkent;
- travel insurance;
- admission to the Muynak museum and ship cemetery.
- meals outside the programme;
- additional drinks;
- shopping, tips and personal expenses.
- a tour escort throughout the route;
- extra nights and early check-in;
- transfer after arriving in Tashkent.
For guided visits, check the language and duration when booking. Ask which admission tickets are included and whether breakfast on day 2 is included.
Route and transport changes
The schematic shows the sequence of journeys and changes of transport. It is not to geographical scale.
5 days / 4 nightsFlights from Tashkent are separate
Karakalpakstan and KhorezmNukus, the Aral Sea, fortresses and Khiva
Car and 4×4Flights are paid for separately
Days 1–3
2 nights in Nukus and 1 at the camp
Nukus → Muynak → Aral Sea → Nukus
1
Nukus → Muynak → camp4×4 vehicles
The museum and ship cemetery in Muynak, followed by the journey to an overnight stay by the sea.
Lunch and dinner as listed in the itinerary
2
Camp → Urga / Sudochye → Nukus4×4 vehicles
Korgansha-Kala, CS No. 7 Kubla Ustyurt, Urga / Sudochye and the return via Kungrad.
Change vehicles after returning
Days 4–5
1 night in Khiva
Nukus → fortresses → Khiva → Urgench
3
Nukus → fortresses → KhivaVehicle with a driver
Chilpik-Kala, Toprak-Kala, lunch by Ayaz-Kala and independent visits to the fortresses.
Lunch at the Ayaz-Kala camp
4
Khiva → Urgench AirportTransfer timed to your flight
After the programme in Khiva, travel to the airport. The onward flight to Tashkent is purchased separately.
Ground services end at the airportAbout the guided visits: Guides and visits
Route map
The ground tour starts in Nukus and ends at Urgench Airport. Tashkent and the flights on the map provide context; flights are paid for separately, and flight numbers and schedules must be checked for your dates.
Day-by-day itinerary
The stops are listed in order. Exact meeting and departure times depend on your chosen date.
Day 1 — Nukus, the Savitsky Museum and Mizdakhan
| Stage of the day | Itinerary | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| After arrival | We meet the driver at Nukus Airport and head to the central market. We explore the market independently. | If you are already in Nukus, the driver meets you at your hotel. Give the meeting place when booking. |
| The museum and Mizdakhan | At the Savitsky Museum, we meet the museum guide. After the tour, we travel to Mizdakhan and walk to Gyaur-Kala. | We explore Mizdakhan and Gyaur-Kala independently. We take the museum's closing days into account when choosing the date. |
| Back to Nukus | We return to Nukus and check in at the hotel. | Early check-in is not included in the price. |
Day 2 — Muynak and a night by the Aral Sea
| Stage of the day | Itinerary | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Morning departure | In the morning, we leave Nukus for Muynak in 4×4 vehicles. | A long day on the road lies ahead. Journey times depend on road conditions. |
| The Muynak stop | In Muynak, we visit the museum and walk to the ship cemetery. Fishing vessels remain on the former seabed. Afterwards, we have lunch. | We buy admission tickets locally in UZS. They are paid for separately from the tour. |
| On to the sea | We continue towards the Aral Sea. At the camp, we settle into the yurts, have dinner and stay overnight. | The approach to the camp includes unpaved sections. The actual route depends on the location of the shoreline. |
Day 3 — Ustyurt, Urga and Sudochye
| Stage of the day | Itinerary | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Leaving the camp | After breakfast, we leave the camp. On the way, we stop at Korgansha-Kala and CS No. 7, Kubla Ustyurt. | We continue in 4×4 vehicles. We visit the stops without a sightseeing guide. |
| Urga and Sudochye | Our route continues through Urga and Sudochye. We stop for lunch in Urga. | |
| Back to Nukus | We return to Nukus via Kungrad. After the journey, we have dinner and stay at a city hotel. | This is the end of the 4×4 section. For the rest of the route, we travel by car with a driver. |
Day 4 — The fortresses of Khorezm and the road to Khiva
| Stage of the day | Itinerary | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Chilpik and Toprak-Kala | After breakfast, we leave Nukus for Chilpik-Kala. Our next stop is Toprak-Kala. | We explore the fortresses independently. The ground is uneven in places. |
| Ayaz-Kala | We have lunch at the yurt camp by Ayaz-Kala. Then we explore the three fortresses: Ayaz-Kala 1, 2 and 3. | Wear comfortable, closed shoes for the approaches to the ruins. |
| Arrival in Khiva | After the fortresses, we continue to Khiva. We check in at the hotel. | Dinner is not included. |
Day 5 — Ichan-Kala, tukhum barak and Urgench
| Stage of the day | Itinerary | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| After breakfast | We check out and leave our luggage at the hotel. We meet the local guide and start our walk through Khiva. | Check-out time and luggage storage depend on the hotel. |
| A walk through Ichan-Kala | The guide leads us through Ichan-Kala. We take a break during the day for lunch. | Lunch is paid for separately. |
| Dinner and a cooking class | At a local restaurant, we learn to make tukhum barak. We combine the cooking class with dinner before heading to the airport. | |
| Airport transfer | We travel from Khiva to Urgench Airport for our flight. The ground tour ends here. | You buy the ticket to Tashkent separately. A late flight may arrive on the sixth calendar day. |
Where we stay along the route
The photographs show accommodation options. We choose specific hotels and bed arrangements when booking.
Nukus
Hotel in Nukus
We spend nights 1 and 3 in Nukus, before and after the Aral Sea trip.
Aral Sea
Yurt camp
We spend the second night by the sea. Yurt conditions are simpler than a hotel's; check capacity, facilities and private occupancy before travelling.
Khiva
Hotel in Khiva
We spend the fourth night here. The next morning, we set out for our walk through Ichan-Kala.
Before you travel
Days 2–3 involve long 4×4 journeys, including unpaved roads. We approach the fortresses over uneven ground. Weather and road conditions can change the order of remote stops. If you have difficulty walking or are travelling with children, give any limitations and the children's ages when booking.
What to bring
- comfortable, closed shoes;
- layers and a windproof jacket;
- a sun hat and sun protection;
- personal medication and a power bank;
- your passport and some cash in UZS for individual admission tickets.
How to book the tour
Complete the form for tour No. 24: choose the date, number of guests and accommodation.
Pay for your selected tour online with Visa or Mastercard.
After payment, CAJ receives your order. CAJ then sends you written confirmation of the purchased tour.
Before purchasing, read the booking terms and cancellation and refund policy.
Your tour operator — Central Asia Journeys
Company information and published documents are available on the About us page. Clients describe their trips with CAJ in reviews.
Staying in Khiva after the tour
Can I finish the trip in Khiva?
If you would like to stay longer in Khiva, mention this when booking. We calculate the price of that option separately.
Useful for this route
Nukus and the Aral Sea
Khiva
A shorter itinerary
Choose your travel date
Five days from Nukus to Khiva
For two guests, the price is USD 980 per person in DBL/TWN. Flights are paid for separately.
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