Discover the Aral Sea in 2 days and 1 night
Daytrip Duration: 2 days and 1 night
Sightseeing time: 6-8 hours
Driving time: 16-18 hours
Driving Distance: 1050 km.
Included: Hands-Free Brochures, a good drivers with new Cars with AC, pick up and drop off at your location and Mineral water (0.5l. per person)
Not Included: Entrance tickets, meals, camel riding, Yurt Camp stay & etc.
The Aral Sea, once the world’s 4th largest inland saltwater lake, has today shrunk to a fraction of its size due to extensive irrigation projects that diverted the Amudarya and Syrdarya rivers. While human impact has been devastating, history shows the Aral has always gone through natural cycles of expansion and retreat. Ancient riverbeds, visible in satellite imagery, reveal that its waters once flowed differently—even connecting with the Caspian Sea. Archeological discoveries along these now-dry riverbanks prove that settlements thrived here not so long ago in historical terms.
This journey gives you a chance to explore this unique landscape, discover its history, and experience one of Central Asia’s most hauntingly beautiful places.
Day 1: Khiva/Urgench – Muynak – Aral Sea
06:00 – Departure from Khiva or Urgench.
07:30 – 08:00 – Visit Chilpik Kala (Tower of Silence), a Zoroastrian funerary monument.
09:00 – 10:30 – Explore the Savitsky Museum in Nukus, home to the world-famous collection of Russian avant-garde and Karakalpak art.
13:00 – 15:00 – Arrive in Muynak to see the haunting Ship Cemetery and the Muynak Museum of the Aral Sea. Here you will also switch from a sedan to a 4WD vehicle.
18:30 – Reach the Aral Sea shoreline. Overnight stay in a yurt camp or tents on the beach. Enjoy swimming in the salty waters, hiking on the hills, relaxing by a fire, and tasting freshly prepared meals under the stars.
Day 2: Aral Sea – Canyons – Mizdakhan – Khiva/Nukus
07:00 – 09:00 – Morning walk by the Aral Sea shore, photography, and sunrise views.
10:30 – 11:00 – Visit the Great Ustyurt Canyons and see the ancient tombs of nomadic fishermen.
12:30 – 13:00 – Return to Muynak, switch back from 4WD to sedan.
15:30 – 16:00 – Explore the Mizdakhan Necropolis, a vast medieval cemetery and one of the most sacred sites of Karakalpakstan.
19:00 – Arrive back in Khiva. Drop-off at your hotel, train station, or airport (Khiva, Urgench, or Nukus).
✨ This 2-day journey combines history, culture, and adventure—perfect for travelers who want to experience the raw beauty and powerful story of the Aral Sea.
