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Offered languages
- English
If you’re drawn to remote and quiet places, the Republic of Karakalpakstan might fascinate you. The Karakalpaks were once nomadic and relied on fishing for their livelihood. However, the drying up of the Aral Sea has turned Karakalpakstan into one of Uzbekistan’s poorest regions. The capital, Nukus, feels almost empty, and traveling to the surrounding areas reveals struggling towns and barren landscapes.
On this tour, you’ll visit the main attractions outside Nukus, including the Aral Sea shore, the Usturt Plateau, the Muynak Ship Graveyard, the Sudochye Lake Natural Reserve, and the Mizdakhan Necropolis.
This tour also supports the local community, as we work exclusively with local staff, including guides, drivers, and cooks.
What's Included
Lunch
Meeting and pickup
The guide will meet you in the hotel lobby, the train station, or the airport arrivals area (depending on your chosen meeting point), holding a sign with the traveler’s name.
Itinerary
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1
After breakfast, you will start your journey to the actual shoreline of the drying Aral Sea. The first stop at your jeep journey will be the infamous ship graveyard of Moynak (Muynaq) city. Once Aral Sea shores were close to the city and it was famous for its fisherman and canned fish products. Later, water was gone and left all ships on its sea bottom. Lying on salty sand ships became a rusting attraction that reminds ones who visit it about the huge tragedy of the disappeared sea. Here you will visit the local museum of city history and ship graveyard itself. Later, you will continue to drive to the Aral Seashore. Upon arrival check-in to the yurt camp and rest. Here, far away from the civilization and big cities light pollution you could freely observe the dark sky with myriads of stars, end even Milky Way could be visible sometimes. The wind and sea waves will sing for you all night and you will discover what it's like to be a nomad at the edge of the world.
2 hours • Admission ticket free -
2
Early breakfast in yurt camp. After breakfast, you will continue your Aral Sea journey with the end at Nukus city (~450 km 7H00M). Today your back road to Nukus will lay across Usturt Plateau, where you will see wonderful natural landscapes and survived local flora and fauna. Mysterious and inscrutable Usturt Plateau remains not only huge deposits of gas and oil but also many canyons and cliffs, with extraterrestrial design. Here you will have a stop to try camel milk in a local camel breeder’s family.
3 hours • Admission ticket free -
3
The next stop will be Sudochye Lake. The rich fauna of this lake and its shores is famous far beyond Karakalpakstan. Many scientists, fishermen, and hunters come to this place from all over the world. This lake is a key stop on the long way of various migrating birds, some of them are pink flamingoes, white swans, geese, and ducks.
2 hours • Admission ticket free -
4Mizdakhan Necropolis
Then, you will have your next stop for Mizdakhan Complex. Mizdakhan is a necropolis of the city of ancient Khoresmians (4-2 century B.C.). Here gathered one of the most important mausoleums and archeological monuments of that time. Later, arrival to Nukus. End of the tour. Note: we do not include hotels in Nukus but we could offer booking of the hotels as per your request, please contact us during the booking.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
D1 – Nukus – Muynak – Aral Sea Shore
D2 – Aral Sea Shore – Usturt Plateau – Sudochye Lake – Mizdahan – Nukus
Additional info
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
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Additional info
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- This tour involves long off-road travel, staying in a yurt camp, and outdoor walking tours. Please make sure to wear comfortable clothing and footwear suitable for the season and weather conditions. We do not offer rental or sale of hiking or trekking clothing or equipment. Please note that during summer, this area can be very hot during the day, while in autumn and winter, the weather may be quite cold and windy.
- Please ensure you bring all the personal medical and care items you may need for the duration of the tour, as there are no pharmacies or additional medical services available along the route. Kindly note that medical insurance is not included in this tour.
- If you have any food restrictions or allergies, please inform us in advance so we can prepare lunchboxes and meals according to your requirements.
- Small pets are welcome, but please inform us in advance if you plan to bring one so we can prepare the vehicles accordingly.
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Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 3 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
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Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 3 full days before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 3 full days before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
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