Uzbekistan in depth: 12 days
Tashkent → Kokand → Rishtan → Margilan → Khiva → Desert fortresses of Khorezm → Bukhara → Nurata & Lake Aydarkul → Samarkand → Shakhrisabz
From €1,315 per personView tour
Uzbekistan · 1 day
Desert fortresses day tour from Khiva
KhivaDesert fortresses of Khorezm
A day across the Amu Darya to the clay castles of ancient Khorezm, Kyzyl Kala, Toprak Kala and Ayaz Kala, with lunch in a yurt camp below Ayaz Kala.
This is the day trip we run most often from our office in Khiva. You cross the Amu Darya into Karakalpakstan to see three of the fortresses of ancient Khorezm, built of mud brick between roughly the 4th century BC and the 7th century AD and left in the desert when the rivers moved. Toprak Kala was a royal residence; Ayaz Kala stands on a ridge with the widest view in the region.
The tour is private: just your group, a driver and, if you wish, a guide who knows the archaeology. We adjust the order and timing to the season, visiting the open sites early and late in hot weather. Read more about the sites on our desert fortresses guide.
Highlights
- Kyzyl Kala: a square fort with restored walls, to see how the castles were built
- Toprak Kala: the royal palace platform above a walled town
- Ayaz Kala: the hilltop fortress and the view over the Kyzylkum and Akchakul lake
- Lunch in the yurt camp below Ayaz Kala
- Back in Khiva in time for sunset on the walls
Route map
By road
- Khiva
- Desert fortresses of KhorezmDay 1 By road → Khiva
Positions are exact; lines show the order of the route, not the road.
Day by day
-
Day 1Khiva – Kyzyl Kala – Toprak Kala – Ayaz Kala – Khiva
About 8:00: pick-up at your hotel in Khiva. Drive through Urgench and across the Amu Darya into the Ellikqala district of Karakalpakstan (1.5–2 hours).
Mid-morning: Kyzyl Kala, a compact square fort, then Toprak Kala, the royal city of ancient Khorezm. Walk up to the palace platform for the view over the town plan.
Lunch: at the yurt camp below Ayaz Kala. Rest in the shade of a felt yurt.
Afternoon: climb the sandy path (15–20 minutes) to Ayaz Kala on its ridge, with views over the desert and the salt lake of Akchakul. Explore the lower fortresses at the foot of the hill.
Late afternoon: drive back to Khiva, arriving in time to walk the walls at sunset.
In summer we start earlier and save Ayaz Kala for the late afternoon. In winter the order is reversed to use the warmest hours.
Hotels, transport & meals
Accommodation
None needed: this is a day tour from and back to your hotel in Khiva. Ask us to add a night in the Ayaz Kala yurt camp (seasonal) to see sunset and sunrise over the desert.
Transport
- Private vehicle with driver, from and back to your hotel in Khiva
Meals
Details are confirmed in your proposal.
Make it yours
Change the pace, upgrade hotels, add a night in a yurt camp or a day in the mountains. Tell us what to change and we’ll send a revised route and price.
Ask about this tour
Tap a question: WhatsApp opens with it already written. Our team in Khiva usually replies within a few hours.
Questions about this tour
How long is the desert fortresses day tour?
About 8–9 hours door to door. Each way is 1.5–2 hours by road, and you spend about four hours at the three fortresses and the yurt camp.
Is it suitable for children and older travellers?
Yes, with care. Kyzyl Kala and Toprak Kala are easy. Ayaz Kala needs a 15–20-minute climb up a sandy slope; anyone who prefers not to climb can stay at the lower fortress and the camp.
Can we stay overnight in the yurt camp?
Yes, in the warmer months. Staying the night adds sunset on Ayaz Kala and sunrise over the desert, and you can continue to Nukus the next day instead of returning to Khiva.
Can the tour start from Urgench?
Yes. Urgench is on the way, so we can pick you up there, or at the airport if your flight arrives in the morning.
How does booking work?
Tell us your dates, group size and interests through the trip builder, the request form on any tour, or WhatsApp. We reply with a proposed itinerary and price. Once you are happy with it, we confirm hotels, guides and transport.
Can I change an itinerary?
Yes. Every itinerary on this site is a starting point. It can be shortened, extended, upgraded or combined with another country.
Is there any obligation when I ask for a proposal?
No. Proposals are free and you pay nothing until you decide to confirm your trip.
What is your cancellation policy?
Our cancellation terms are included with every proposal, before you pay anything.
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