Day-Trip to Ten Castles

Discover 2000 years old Ancient Khorezm Fortresses with us!


  • Route

    Khiva - Urgench - Dumon Kala - Guldursun Kala - Koykirilgan Kala - Angka Kala - Janbas Kala - Big Kirkkiz Kala - Ayaz Kala - Yekke Parsan - Akchakul lake - Toprak Kala - Kizil Kala - Urgench - Khiva

  • Duration: 10-12 hours
    Driving time: 4-5 hours
    Sightseeing time: 6-7 hours
    Daytrip length : 355 km.
    Included: Fuel, Driver & Drinking Water
    Not Included: Entrance tickets (10,000 sums for Toprak Kala and another 10,000 sums for Ayaz Kala for each tourist), meals & etc.

  • Sedan (1-3 people) - $54

    SUV (1-4 people) - $100

    Minivan (1-7 people) - $110

    Minibus (1-10 people) - $150

    Bus (1-45 people) - $320

  • Please provide and confirm following details via E-mail or Whatsapp to make a reservation:
    1. Name of the Daytrip/Transfer.
    2. Date of the Daytrip/Transfer.
    3. Number of Participants.
    4. Full names.
    5. Pick up and starting time.
    6. Pick up and starting place.
    7. Drop off place
    That is all we need to know from your side in advance to book and organize our Daytrips and Transfers.

  • We pick you up from Airport / Train Station or your hotel both in Khiva or Urgench and start the Daytrip. It is recommended to start the trip in the morning after breakfast. It takes about 90 minutes to arrive to the first Castle.

  • We pick you up from Airport / Train Station or your hotel both in Khiva or Urgench and start the Daytrip. It is recommended to start the trip in the morning after breakfast. It takes about 90 minutes to arrive to the first Castle.
    1.Duman Kala composed of three adjacent sections – a square-shaped western enclosure with corner towers, measuring about 150 by 170 meters; a smaller square-shaped citadel on the eastern side roughly 100 meters in size; and an irregular four-sided northern enclosure, the remains of which can no longer been seen.
    2. Guldursun Kala is a fortified town date to the 12th century CE. Much ancient and medieval pottery and many bronze items and coins were found within the site during archeological excavations. The coins indicate that the last period of occupation is related to the year 1220, during the rule of Muhammad Khorezmshah and the time of the Mongol invasion of Khorezm.
    3. Koykirilgan Kala. While today little is visible but a dusty mound, the original plan of the site consisted of a rounded, two story building 45 meters in diameter fortified by a double ring wall with arrow slits and towers.
    4. Angka Kala dates from the Late Antique period of Khorezm, around the 1st to the 3rd centuries AD - the time of the Kushan Empire. It seems to have been established on the eastern edge of Khorezm to guard the main caravan trade route to the east.
    5. Janbas Kala has one of the most archaic fortification systems dating from that Early Antique period. All four of its flanking walls are in relatively good condition, reaching in places up to 20 meters in height. It differs from most of the other fortresses in having no towers on its outer walls. This meant that the fort was potentially vulnerable from an attack on the lower sections of its walls.
    6. Big Kirkkiz Kala. The fortress dates from the 4th Century BCE to the 7th-8th centuries CE. The fortress is rectangular in plan with double walls containing a double story archer's gallery with arrow-shaped embrasures. In the Afrighid period the area within and around the fortress was a pottery production center.
    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. It was probable founded in the Afrighid period, sometime around the 7th to 8th Centuries CE…
    8. Yekke Parsan. It is an impressive fortified manor house dating from the 6th to the 8th centuries of the Afrighid era. It would have been the residence of an important feudal lord.
    On the way to next Fortress, there is Akcha-kul Lake where visitors can swim and have a Lunch in the Yurt Camp restaurants.
    9. 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, having first served as a Royal sanctuary, was briefly abandoned in the early 4th century and then after some restorations, was used as an administrative citadel for the city.
    10. Kizil Kala 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.
    After visiting all fortresses, it is about 90 minutes to drive back to Khiva. Our driver may drop you off in Urgench Airport, Urgench / Khiva Train Station or in your hotel both in Khiva or Urgench at the end of the trip without any extra charge.

Photo Gallery

Pictures of the Day-Trip

Contact

If you have any questions or requests about our Daytrips, Transfers or Accommodations in our hotel please, contact us by E-mail, WhatsApp, Telegram or Phone Calls. Your questions, e-mails and requests are answered within 24 hours.


Location:

Uzbekistan, khiva, Zargarlar 60

Phone (WhatsApp, Telegram):

+99899-666-33-22; +99891-999-33-22