Two-day trip to the Four Fortresses on the way from Khiva to Nukus
Discover Ancient Khorezm Fortresses in 2 days by sleeping in the Yurt Camps!
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Route
Khiva - Ayaz Kala (sleep) - Toprak Kala - Kizil Kala - Chilpik Kala - Nukus
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Details
Tour Duration: 2 days and 1 night
Driving time: 3-4 hours (270.km)
Included: Only a good driver, car & water
Not included: Yurt Camp, meals, tickets & etc.
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Price per car
A Sedan (1-3 people) - $98 (Sedan pictures)
An SUV (1-4 people) - $183 (SUV pictures)
A Minivan (1-6 people) - $253 (Minivan pictures)
A Minibus (1-10 people) - $293 (Minibus (1-10) pictures)
A Minibus (1-13 people) - $313 (Minibus (1-13) pictures)
A Bus (1-45 people) - $620 (Bus pictures)
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How to Reserve
First day we can pick you up from Urgench Airport, Urgench / Khiva Train Station or your hotel both from Khiva or Urgench to start the trip. You can start the trip at any time of the day. It is recommended to start the trip in the afternoon time after lunch. It takes about 90 minutes to drive from Khiva to the first fortress – Ayaz Kala. That is all for the first day. Our driver drops you off in Ayaz Kala and end his job for the first day, Ayaz Kala Yurt Camps located next to the Ayaz Kala Fortress. You can visit Ayaz Kala by yourself. It was originally constructed in the Late Antique period, 1st to 4th centuries CE, but was abandoned and then rebuilt in the 12th-13th centuries on the eve of the Mongol invasions. There is some debate about how this fortress may have been used in ancient times, with some scholars proposing that it was a garrison barracks for troops, whilst others suggest it was an early example of the many fortified manor houses that were typical of Khorezm in the early medieval periods.
On the next day our driver will go to Ayaz Kala Yurt Camps at any time you want to pick you up and start the second day of the trip. He will go to pick you up at any time you want but I recommend you to start the trip around 09:00 am. Next fortress to visit is Toprak Kala. But our driver will stop at the shore of the Akchakul Lake before going to Kizil Kala. It takes about 20 minutes to drive from the Ayaz Kala to the Lake. There are also Yurt camps and restaurants next to the lake where visitors can enjoy local meals, drinks and even Ice-Cream from local milk. It is also possible to enjoy swimming and sand bath in Natural Lake Akchakul.
The second Fortress Toprak Kala is dated in the Kushan period, around the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE and was the royal residence of the kings of the Khorezm. The place was briefly abandoned in the early 4th century and then after some restorations, was used as an administrative citadel for the city.
Next fortress Kizil Kala located very close to Toprak Kala. It was originally constructed in the Late Antique period, 1st to 4th centuries CE, but was abandoned and then rebuilt in the 12th-13th centuries on the eve of the Mongol invasions. There is some debate about how this fortress may have been used in ancient times, with some scholars proposing that it was a garrison barracks for troops, whilst others suggest it was an early example of the many fortified manor houses that were typical of Khorezm in the early medieval periods
Last fortress to visit is Chilpik Kala. Chilpik Kala is a Dakhma or Tower of Silence which was used by people of the Zoroastrian faith for exposure of the dead. The bodies were laid out under the open sky for the birds to eat. When the bones were cleared, families collected them and placed them in clay or stone ossuaries for burial. The building was originally constructed in the first centuries CE.
This is the end of the Daytrip. It takes about 40 minutes to drive from Chilpik Kala to Nukus. We may drop you off in Nukus Airport / Train Station or in your hotel in Nukus at the end of the trip there.
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Itinerary
We pick you up from Khiva Train Station or from your hotel both in Khiva and start the Daytrip from there. You can start the Daytrip at any time of the day. It is recommended to start the trip in the morning after breakfast or in the in the afternoon after lunch while it is a half day trip. It takes about 20 minutes to drive from Khiva to the first destination Chodra Hauli - Khan’s Summer Residence. It is located on the east side of Khiva. The building has its own shape and was built in 1871 by Muhammad Rakhim Khan as a summer residence. The four-story 30-meter building is reminiscent of a minaret with its own design. Apart from design, the building has a relatively small base, is 16mx8m. There is a storage room and two warehouses in the basement. The first and second floors were served in the room.
The next place to visit is Yangiariq Poetry Center. There you can see all the processes of making different ceramic products and the traditional ways of making ceramics. You can also buy lots of products made from Ceramics as a souvenir, present or to decorate your house.
The most interesting part of the day is to swim in the Salty Lake - Kalajik Lake. The lake is located in the middle of the desert next to the fortress with the same name called Kalajik Kala. The castle was built in the 4th century BC as a defensive building. There is no accurate information on who built the fortress. According to the myths, one of the mysterious figures left in history by Solomon was built in honor of his father, David. Content of the Kalajik Lake water is close to the Dead Sea Water and has a useful property. Sand dunes around the lake are also famous for their useful properties. Hundreds of people will enjoy therapeutic swimming, sand bath, camel safari and horse riding daily in the summer period.
It is about 90 minutes to drive from Kalajik Kala to Khiva. We may drop you off in your hotel or train station at the end of the trip for the same price. - Download Itinerary and Maps
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Our Adress:
Uzbekistan, khiva, Zargarlar 60
Our E-mail:
Islambektravel@gmail.com
Phone (WhatsApp, Telegram):
+99899-666-33-22; +99891-999-33-22