Explore former Port City Muynak, Ship Cemetery and famous Nukus Art Gallery!
Daytrip Duration: 14-16 hours
Sightseeing time:4-5 hours
Driving time: 9-10 hours
Driving Distance : 780 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
Our driver will pick you up from your hotel in Khiva or Urgench to begin the day trip.
For the best experience, we recommend an early morning departure around 06:00 am.
⚠️ Please note: The Nukus Museum is closed every Monday. For updated opening times, visit museum.kr.uz/visiting
.
🏰 Chilpik Kala (Tower of Silence)
After about 90 minutes of driving, we arrive at Chilpik Kala, a Zoroastrian Dakhma or Tower of Silence. Here, the followers of Zoroastrianism once practiced the ritual of exposing the dead: bodies were laid out under the open sky for birds to consume, and once the bones were cleansed, families placed them in clay or stone ossuaries for burial.
🎨 Nukus Art Museum
Next, a 40-minute drive brings us to the world-renowned Karakalpak State Museum of Art, named after Igor Savitsky. Known as the “Louvre of the Steppe”, it houses a priceless collection of Russian and Soviet avant-garde art, alongside works from Karakalpak and Uzbek masters.
We recommend spending 1–2 hours exploring the museum’s collections.
🍴 Lunch Options
Depending on your timing, lunch can be enjoyed in Nukus, Kungrad, or Muynak.
In Nukus, we recommend:
Cinnamon Café (in front of the museum)
Premier Lounge
Karakalpagim (for local cuisine)
Neo Restaurant
Along the highway to Muynak, a great choice is Nayman Highway Restaurant, serving tasty local meals.
Lunch in Muynak is not recommended, as there are very few options.
⚓️ Muynak Ship Cemetery & Aral Sea History Museum
The highlight of the day is a visit to Muynak, where the Ship Cemetery and the Aral Sea Museum are located side by side.
Here you can learn the dramatic story of the Aral Sea: once the 4th largest inland saltwater lake in the world, supporting a thriving fishing industry in Muynak. In the Soviet era, massive irrigation projects diverted the rivers feeding the sea to support cotton farming. As the waters receded, fishing boats were abandoned in the desert sands, businesses closed, and the population had to move elsewhere to survive. The museum provides a vivid account of this environmental tragedy.
🕌 Mizdakhan Necropolis
On the return journey (5–6 hours back to Khiva), we make a stop at Mizdakhan Necropolis.
This vast archaeological and religious complex, first settled in the Early Antique period and later reoccupied up to the 14th century, was mentioned by Persian historians and Arab geographers as early as the 10th century. The site includes a citadel, outer town, and necropolis, spread across three small hills. About 1 hour is usually enough to explore the highlights.
🚗 Return & Drop-off
At the end of the day, you may choose to be dropped off in Nukus, Urgench, or Khiva.
This concludes your journey through the history, culture, and landscapes of Karakalpakstan.
✨ A fascinating day blending ancient history, avant-garde art, and the haunting story of the Aral Sea.
