Daytrip from Khiva to the best 10 Fortresses and Akchakul Lake

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• 1
  Urgench

  We can also start the daytrip here
• 2

  Stop 1: Guldursun Kala – Marvel at one of the largest frontier fortresses of Khorezm, famous for its towering mud walls and the tragic medieval legend of the princess who betrayed her city for love.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 3

  Stop 2: Koy Krylgan Kala – Discover a unique, thousands-of-years-old circular complex believed by archeologists to have served as both a sacred Zoroastrian temple and an astronomical observatory. Stop 3: Angka Kala – Explore this lesser-visited, well-preserved square frontier post that guarded the ancient trade routes passing through the oasis.

  40 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 4
  Angka Kala

  Stop 3. Angka Kala (also spelled Anka-kala or Anka Qala) is a remarkably well-preserved ancient mud-brick military fortress located in the Turtkul district of Karakalpakstan, roughly 4 kilometers east of the famous circular ruins of Koykirilgan Kala.Unlike the larger royal palace cities of the region, Angka Kala is highly valued by archaeologists for providing a textbook example of a highly disciplined, standard-issue Late Antique Khorezmian military outpost

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 5
  Jonbos qala

  Stop 4: Janbas Kala – Step inside a fascinating fortress dating back to the 4th century BC. Uniquely built without defensive towers, its well-preserved arrow slits reveal early military architecture. Stops 5 & 6: Big & Small Kirkkiz Kala – Explore the "Forty Girls" fortresses. Separate myth from history as you tour these atmospheric ruins, which legends say were defended by fierce warrior women.

  40 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 6

  Stop 5. Big Kirkkiz Kala (also known as U'lken Qırq Qız qala) is a prominent, ancient mud-brick fortress located roughly 11 kilometers east of the famous Ayaz Kala complex in the Ellik Kala district of Karakalpakstan.Its name translates to "Forty Girls," a common moniker in Central Asian folklore traditionally associated with legends of brave warrior women defending their lands

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 7

  Stop 6. Small Kirkkiz Kala (also known as Kishkene Qırq Qız qala) is the sister outpost to Big Kirkkiz Kala. It is situated in the Ellik Kala district of Karakalpakstan, roughly 6 kilometers east of Ayaz Kala and just over 4 kilometers west of its larger counterpart.Dating back to the 4th–3rd centuries BCE, it was a vital node in the ancient outer defensive network of the Khorezmian Oasis.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 8
  Ayaz-Kala

  Stop 7. Ayaz Kala is the one of the most spectacular fortresses in the area. There are in fact, not one but three fortresses clustered together on and around a prominent hill at the Eastern end of the Sultan-Uiz-dahg range. The fortress provided defense against nomad raids. A gravel road leads up to a small cluster of Yurts, a tourist rest center overlooking a shallow but picturesque lake. The Fort dates to medieval times. It was probable founded in the Afrighid period, sometime around the 7th to 8th Centuries CE… Please take your time and guide yourself to visit the Fortress, climb & walk on it and enjoy the panoramic view from the top of the fortress. You can get more interesting historical information on the Printed Brochure provided by your driver.

  1 hour • Admission ticket included
• 9

  Stop 8. Kavat-Kala is a vast archaeological oasis complex dating from the 12th to the early 13th centuries CE, famous for its exceptionally well-preserved medieval agricultural grid, canals, and ruins. Please take your time and guide yourself to visit the Fortress, climb & walk on it. You can get more interesting historical information on the Printed Brochure provided by your driver.

  20 minutes • Admission ticket included
• 10
  Aqchako‘l

  Stop 9. Akchakul Lake is a natural Lake located in the Karakalpakstan region where visitors can enjoy freshwater swimming, jet skiing, take a sand bath, wildlife birdwatching, eat and drink in the local restaurant/Caffes and overnight stays in beachfront desert yurt camps. The This unique body of water sits right alongside the region's ancient ruins, making it the perfect relaxation stop during the daytrip.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 11
  Fortress Toprak Kala

  Stop 10. Toprak-Kala means Earth Fortress. It is a 2,000-year-old fortified palace complex that served as the capital and royal residence of the ancient Khorezm Kings from the 1st to the 4th centuries CE. Please take your time and guide yourself to visit the Fortress, climb & walk on it and enjoy the panoramic view from the top of the fortress. You can get more interesting historical information on the Printed Brochure provided by your driver.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket included
• 12
  Kyzyl Kala

  Stop 11. Kizil Kala means red Fortress. It is a compact and highly photogenic ancient military outpost located in the Ellik-Kala oasis of Karakalpakstan. Originally built between the 1st and 4th centuries AD to protect the nearby royal capital of Toprak Kala, it stands as a unique testament to the military architecture of ancient Khorezm. Please take your time and guide yourself to visit the Fortress, climb & walk on it and enjoy the panoramic view from the top of the fortress. You can get more interesting historical information on the Printed Brochure provided by your driver.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket included
• 13
  Urgench

  We can also end the daytrip here

Additional info

• Specialized infant seats are available
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

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