Khiva – Six Fortresses – Nukus / Nukus – Six Fortresses – Khiva

Daytrip Duration: 10-12 hours
Sightseeing time: 4-5 hours
Driving time: 5-6 hours
Driving Distance: 340 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.

Day Trip: Fortresses of Ancient Khorezm

We will pick you up from Urgench Airport / Train Station or from your hotel in Khiva or Urgench to begin the day trip. The tour can start at any time, but it is best to begin in the morning around 08:00 am after breakfast. The drive from Khiva to the first fortress takes about 90 minutes.

🏰 Ayaz Kala

Our first stop is Ayaz Kala, one of the most spectacular fortresses in the region. In fact, it is not a single fortress but a complex of three fortresses built on and around a hill at the eastern end of the Sultan-Uiz-dagh range. These fortifications were designed to defend against nomadic raids. A gravel road leads up to a cluster of yurts, a small tourist rest center overlooking a picturesque lake. Ayaz Kala dates back to medieval times, though its origins go further.

🌊 Akchakul Lake

Between Ayaz Kala and Toprak Kala lies Akchakul Lake, where visitors can stop for a short break. Around the lake are yurt camps and local restaurants offering traditional meals. Visitors sometimes also enjoy swimming or taking a sand bath here.

🏰 Toprak Kala

Next is Toprak Kala, dating back to the Kushan period (2nd–3rd centuries CE). This site once served as the royal residence of the Khorezm kings. The monumental palace at the northwestern corner is among the largest and best-preserved Kushan-era buildings in Central Asia. After being briefly abandoned in the early 4th century, it was later restored and used as an administrative citadel.

🏰 Kizil Kala

We then visit Kizil Kala, first constructed between the 1st and 4th centuries CE, and rebuilt in the 12th–13th centuries, just before the Mongol invasions. Historians debate its original purpose: some suggest it was a military garrison, while others believe it was an early example of the fortified manor houses typical of medieval Khorezm.

🏰 Jampik Kala

Our next stop is Jampik Kala, whose earliest foundations date back to the 4th century BCE – 1st century CE. The walls visible today, however, were built in the 9th–10th centuries. Inside the fortress are domestic and industrial areas from the 12th–14th centuries. On the northwest side stands a citadel with elegant fluted facade moldings, a hallmark of medieval Khorezmian architecture.

🏰 Gyaur Kala

We continue to Gyaur Kala, founded in the Early Antique period and in use until the 4th century CE. Today, only parts of the north and west walls remain. Originally, the fortress had a trapezoidal layout with double walls, archer’s galleries, towers, and arrow slits. The southern wall has disappeared, eroded by the river. Gyaur Kala remained in use into the Kushan period (3rd century CE).
After visiting, there is an option to stop at a local minimarket or restaurant for a light meal, snacks, or to use the restroom.

🏰 Chilpik Kala

The final fortress of the day is Chilpik Kala, also known as the Tower of Silence. This Zoroastrian structure was used for the ritual exposure of the dead. Bodies were left under the open sky to be consumed by birds, after which the bones were placed in clay or stone ossuaries. Originally built in the first centuries CE, the site was rebuilt several times, most notably in the 7th–10th centuries.

🚗 Return to Nukus

After exploring all the fortresses, it takes about 40 minutes to drive from Chilpik Kala to Nukus. At the end of the trip, we will drop you off at Nukus Airport / Train Station or your hotel in Nukus, marking the end of the day trip.

✨ This day trip offers a fascinating journey through the history of Khorezm, exploring its mighty fortresses, royal residences, and sacred Zoroastrian sites.