Khiva- Five Fortresses – Bukhara / Bukhara – Five Fortresses – Khiva

Daytrip Duration: 10-12 hours
Sightseeing time: 3-4 hours
Driving time: 7-8 hours
Driving Distance: 640 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 (or from the airport/train station) to begin your day trip. You may start at any time, though the ideal time is in the morning after breakfast, around 08:00–09:00. The first stop is about 60–90 minutes away.

Kizil Kala is the first fortress on the route. Originally built between the 1st and 4th centuries CE, it was later abandoned and then reconstructed in the 12th–13th centuries, just before the Mongol invasion. Historians still debate its purpose—some believe it was a military barracks, while others think it was an early form of fortified estate typical of Khorezm in the medieval period.

Just a 10-minute drive from there lies Toprak Kala, a royal stronghold dating back to the 2nd–3rd centuries CE during the Kushan period. This site once served as the residence of Khorezm’s kings. After being briefly abandoned in the 4th century, it was restored and later functioned as the city’s administrative citadel.

After exploring these fortresses, the journey continues to Akchakul Lake, where you can take a relaxing break. At the lakeside, you’ll find a yurt camp, a small restaurant, a minimarket, and washrooms. Visitors can enjoy local dishes, refreshing drinks, and even homemade ice cream prepared from fresh milk. Swimming and sand bathing in the lake are also possible.

The next stop is Kavat Kala, a fortress with more than 2400 years of history. It once stood at the heart of an elaborate irrigation system, surrounded by thriving settlements, especially during the 11th–13th centuries.

A short 30-minute drive brings you to Ayaz Kala, one of the most impressive fortresses in the region. In fact, this site includes three fortresses built on and around a high hill at the eastern end of the Sultan-Uiz-Dag ridge. Thought to date back to the Afrighid dynasty (7th–8th centuries CE), Ayaz Kala served as protection against nomadic attacks. Nearby, you will also find a small yurt camp and a tourist rest area overlooking a beautiful lake.

The final stop is Guldursun Kala, a large fortified town. Its massive walls and towers date to the 12th century. Archaeological excavations uncovered pottery, bronze artifacts, and coins, with the latest finds linked to around 1220 CE, during the rule of Muhammad Khorezmshah and the Mongol invasion.

Once you’ve visited all five fortresses, the drive across the Kizilkum Desert to Bukhara takes about 4–5 hours. Along the way, you can stop whenever you like for photos, breaks, or meals. Several roadside restaurants are also available for lunch. By evening, our driver will drop you off at your hotel, the airport, or the train station in Bukhara, where the trip concludes.