Khiva – Three Fortresses – Nukus / Nukus – Three Fortresses – Khiva

Daytrip Duration: 7-9 hours
Sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Driving time: 4-5 hours
Driving Distance: 260 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 to Ancient Fortresses & Nukus

We’ll pick you up from Urgench Airport, the train station in Khiva or Urgench, or directly from your hotel. The trip can begin at any time, but we recommend starting around 8:00 a.m. after breakfast to make the most of the day. From Khiva, it’s about a two-hour drive to reach the first site.

Stop 1: Jampik Kala
This fortress has roots going back to the 4th century BCE – 1st century CE, but the walls you see today were built later, between the 9th and 10th centuries CE. Inside are the remains of domestic and industrial areas from the 12th–14th centuries. On the northwest side stands a palace or citadel with decorative fluted walls, a fine example of medieval Khorezm architecture.

Stop 2: Gyaur Kala
Founded in the Early Antique period, this fortress was in use until the 4th century CE. It once had a trapezoid layout with double walls, archer galleries, towers, and arrow slits — but today only part of the north wall and a short section of the west wall remain. Much of the southern side was lost to the river. The fortress stayed active into the Kushan period (3rd century CE).

🛑 Lunch Stop: After exploring the first two fortresses, you can pause at a small local restaurant or minimarket. While options are limited, it’s a great chance to try authentic local dishes and use the available restrooms.

Stop 3: Chilpik Kala – The Tower of Silence
Our last fortress is Chilpik Kala, a striking circular enclosure perched above the Amudarya River. It was a sacred site for Zoroastrians, who placed bodies here for exposure to the sky and birds. Once the bones were cleaned, families stored them in clay or stone urns. The site dates to the first centuries CE, with rebuilding phases in the 7th–10th centuries.

Final Stop: Nukus
After visiting Chilpik Kala, we drive about 40 minutes to Nukus. You can finish your journey at Nukus Airport, the train station, or your hotel — whichever is most convenient.

✨ Tour Highlights:

Comfortable pick-up in Khiva or Urgench

Three unique ancient fortresses (Jampik, Gyaur, Chilpik)

Authentic local lunch stop

Easy drop-off in Nukus at the end of the trip