Share this tour
Offered languages
- English
Join us on the incredible journey to the disappearing Aral sea. You will travel through the rocky desert, walk over the bottom of the dried sea, visit mysterious medieval towns and ascend the magnificent Ustyurt Plateau. You will spend the night in Karakalpak yurts falling asleep to the songs of the desert wind, and watch the sun rising over the Aral Sea. This is a journey to the parallel world that you never knew existed.
The sites you are going to visit have been inaccessible to public for a long time. That is why the areas surrounding the Ustyurt Plateau have always been shrouded in myth and mystery. Now you have a real chance to see these amazing sites with your own eyes.
So book your Aral Sea tour today and gain an unforgettable experience!
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
- We can pick up the tourists from Khiva as well (any accommodation or Urgench airport) at 6:00-6:30 am on the tour start date and bring them to Nukus at additional cost. Once there, they then transfer to an off-road car/s at Jipek Joli Hotel and leave for the tour.
- We also pick tourists up from Kungrad train station (it's a small district on the way to the Aral Sea) and start the tour from Kungrad.
Please note: The pick-up price is included in the tour price only if starts from Nukus airport/hotel or Kungrad station, but not from Khiva. The drop-off price to Khiva or to the Turkmenistan border (which is located in Khodjeyli) is not included as well.
Itinerary
-
1Mizdakhan Necropolis
Mizdakhan and Gyaur-Kala are two famous ancient archeological sites located in close proximity to each other. Mizdakhan is mentioned in many legends. It is a spiritual site revered by pilgrims. In Mizdakhan, mostly you will see ancient mausoleum complexes. In Gyaur-Kala, you will see an amazing labyrinth of the ancient inner city and a great view of the Mizdakhan necropolis.
1 hour • Admission ticket included -
2Kungrad
On the way to Kungrad, one of the five ancient cities of the region, you will observe the authentic life of the people of Northern Karakalpakstan. In Kungrad, we will stop at a shop to buy soft drinks, travel accessories or toiletries.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3Ships Cemetery
In Muynak, you will visit the ship graveyard where the abandoned ships seem to be frozen in time. You will walk down the high slope to the ships and listen to the story of a disappearing sea while standing at the very sight of the Aral Sea tragedy. After that, we take you to have lunch at Aunt Bali's, the hospitable resident of Muynak that will prepare for you her wonderful traditional homecooked meals. After lunch, you will visit the Muynak Museum of History and Ecology of the Aral Sea.
2 hours • Admission ticket included -
4
You will ascend the Ustyurt Plateau. Leaving behind the modern roads of Muinak, you will journey to the Ustyurt Plateau through the desert that used to be the bottom of the Aral Sea. The table-like plateau with carved walls can be seen from afar. You will ascend the Ustyurt in the off-road vehicles, and your unbelievable journey will begin.
3 hours • Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Arrive at the Aral Sea yurt camp. You can relax in a cozy yurt camp on the Aral Sea Shore. The camp is located on a platform between the Ustyurt and the Aral Sea. You will take a walk to the sea, have an outdoor dinner enjoying the view of the sea, and spend the night in comfortable Karakalpak yurts.
Admission ticket free -
5
After breakfast, our tour will also take you to the ancient Kurgancha-Kala site (Davletgirey). You will hike to the ruins of the huge market that was built in this deserted area to facilitate the trade between the population of the Khorezm Kingdom and nomads. Kubla-Ustyurt is a remote settlement with an airstrip. You will find out why people still live here in the middle of the desert where the nearest settlement is a hundred miles away. You will have a chance to visit the house of the camel herder and try camel milk
2 hours • Admission ticket free -
6
Urga, an abandoned fishing village, looks like a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie. You will see the ruins of the Russian city once inhabited by the exiled Cossacks and their descendants, visit a Russian Orthodox cemetery on a hill, decrepit factory, salt-covered lakeshore, wooden fishing boats and vast areas overgrown with bulrush. We will make a quick stop at the fishing outpost. Sudochie Lake with its bulrush-covered islets is home to a variety of birds, so it is often visited by ornithologists and photographers from all over the world.
2 hours • Admission ticket free -
7Nukus
A busy road running along with the patches of desert, green fields, and lakes will take us back to Nukus. Lunch will be served at the roadside café in Kungrad, and then we will continue our way back to the modern life of Nukus. Stay at our Jipek Joli Hotel or drop-off at any hotel our tourists checked-in.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Your guide to the flawless travel experience
Popular Countries
Get our app
