- Kyzyl Kala - Kyzyl Qala (“Red fortress” in Uzbek)— situated in present-day Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan, was an ancient fortress in Khorazm constructed between the 1st and 4th centuries AD. The Kyzyl Qala fortress lay buried in the desert for centuries until its discovery by Professor Tolstov in 1938.
- Fortress Toprak Kala - Toprak Qala (“Sand” in Uzbek)— was once the largest city in the region (350 meters by 500 meters) until the destruction of canals left it stranded in the desert sands. Russian archaeologist Tolstov unearthed the palace friezes in 1938, which date back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD.
- Ayaz-Kala - Ayaz Qala— is a “must-see” fort in the desert. The external walls, built on a flat hilltop, have endured since at least the 4th century BC. Visitors can clearly appreciate the scale of the site, with sections of the wall still standing at 10 meters high. After exploring the forts, transfer to Khiva and check in to the hotel.
- Entrance tickets to the fortresses
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Lunch
- English guide
- Gratuities
Visit three top attractions outside of Khiva on this day trip to Kyzyl Qala (“Red fortress” in Uzbek), Toprak Qala (“Sand” in Uzbek), and the must-see fort in the desert, Ayaz Qala. After breakfast, transfer to the Qala trip (“Fortress” in Uzbek) with a total drive of 210 km. The ruins of over a dozen walled towns, palaces, and forts, some well over 2000 years old, stand half-forgotten in the semi-desert east and north of Urgench in southern Karakalpakstan. The area’s traditional name, Ellik Qala (the 50 fortresses), gives a stark indication of what lies beneath the desert sands. There are about 20 forts, and you will visit three of the most impressive ones: Toprak Qala and Ayaz Qala.
- Total duration of the tour is 7 hours which includes driving from Khiva till Kyzyl Qala (less than an hour), from Kyzyl Qala till Toprak Qala (around 10 minutes), from Toprak Qala till Ayaz Qala (around 45 minutes), lunch break if needed and drive back to Khiva (1 hour 40 minutes).
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
