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2-day trip from Khiva visiting Hand-Harvested Cotton Experience, Roadside Melon Degustation and Kizil Kala (The Red Fort). Operated by Islambek Travel & Hotels, Khiva.
Highlights
- Discover the ancient fortresses of the Khorezm Empire on a 2-day tour
From Khiva to Bukhara 2-Day Trip with Yurt Stay & Fortresses: Key Facts
| Price | From $585 per person |
|---|---|
| Duration | 2 days |
| Languages | English |
| Tour type | Guided Tour |
| Booking | Direct with the local operator — no OTA markup |
Choose from 1 available option
From Khiva to Bukhara 2-Day Trip with Yurt Stay & Fortresses
Full description
A 2-day trip out of Khiva taking in Hand-Harvested Cotton Experience, Roadside Melon Degustation, Kizil Kala (The Red Fort) and Toprak Kala (The Imperial Capital). There are 17 stops in all.
The running order is Hand-Harvested Cotton Experience, then Roadside Melon Degustation, then Kizil Kala (The Red Fort), then Toprak Kala (The Imperial Capital), then Midday Break, Lunch & Swim at Akchakul Lake, and on from there.
The price covers overnight stay in the Ayaz Kala Yurt Camp, Included Meals: Traditional dinner and morning breakfast at the Yurt Camp, Entrance Tickets to the all Fortresses listed in the itinerary and Modern, air-conditioned Chevrolet vehicles with 100% functional seat belts. It does not cover personal Guide and Camel Ride, so budget for those separately. Two travellers pay $780 together rather than $585 each, because this is priced per party and not per head.
Tour Itinerary
The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.
Departure from Khiva & River Crossing
Meet your driver at your hotel in Khiva. Head northeast through Urgench, crossing the iconic Amu Darya (Oxus) River to enter the autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan.
Hand-Harvested Cotton Experience
Walk directly into an agricultural field. Experience the hand-picking process of Uzbekistan’s "white gold." (Note: Seasonally active during autumn; serves as a brief photo stop during other months).
Roadside Melon Degustation
Stop at a traditional wayside stand. Sample freshly sliced local desert melon varieties famous for their incredible sweetness.
Kizil Kala (The Red Fort)
Begin at this square, 1st–3rd century AD border garrison. Its heavily restored mud-brick walls and defensive arrow slits offer a clear look into ancient Khorezmian military engineering.
Toprak Kala (The Imperial Capital)
Drive 10 minutes to the crown jewel of the region. This 1st–3rd century AD complex served as the capital of the Khorezm Empire. Walk the foundations of the High Palace-Temple where royal frescoes and early archives were unearthed.
Midday Break, Lunch & Swim at Akchakul Lake
Drive to Akchakul Lake, a striking blue water sanctuary surrounded by desert dunes. Enjoy a traditional lunch at a roadside teahouse. Afterward, take a refreshing swim in the lake's remarkably clear waters, or try a traditional sand bath—a therapeutic local practice of burying oneself in the warm, mineral-rich desert sand to soothe muscles and joints. (Note: Bring a swimsuit and towel; swimming is weather-dependent).
Kavat Kala
Explore this expansive 12th–13th century AD network of ruined agricultural settlements and manor houses, showcasing the sophisticated irrigation systems that once fed the empire.
Guldursun Kala
Arrive at one of the largest perimeter fortresses of ancient Khorezm (4th c. BC). Walk its monumental ramparts and hear the tragic legend of the princess who betrayed the city for love.
Koykirilgan Kala (The Observatory)
Drive deeper into the desert to visit this unique, completely circular complex. Archaeologists believe this 4th-century BC structure served as both a temple for celestial rituals and an advanced astronomical observatory.
Angka Kala
Make a brief tactical stop at Angka Kala (1st c. BC) to examine its monumental defensive gateways and take photos of its lonely standing walls.
Janbas Kala
Explore this fascinating 4th-century BC settlement. Janbas Kala is highly unique because it completely lacks defensive towers, relying instead on specialized arrow-slits built into its double-layered walls.
Big Kirkkiz Kala
Drive north toward the Ayaz Kala cluster, stopping to explore the "Forty Girls Fortress." This sprawling ruins complex is believed to have been a fortified frontier manor or an ancient pottery-making monastery.
Yurt Camp Arrival & Desert Camel Trekking
Arrive at the camp. Before hiking the ruins, enjoy an optional opportunity to ride a double-humped Bactrian camel across the rolling desert dunes. (Note: This is an optional experience; a small extra fee is paid in cash directly to the local camel handlers).
Full Ayaz Kala Citadel Sunset Trek
Explore the massive architectural layers comprising this ancient defensive network: Ayaz Kala 3 (Plains Garrison): See the 1st–2nd century CE complex foundations and governor's palace footprint. Ayaz Kala 2 (The Feudal Castle): Walk up the steep clay cliff to explore the 7th-century CE fortress built to repel early invasions. Ayaz Kala 1 (The Grand Citadel): Complete your ascent to the highest 4th-century BCE hilltop ruins and walk along the preserved double-layered walls.
Campfire Dinner & Desert Stargazing
Descend to the camp for a traditional Karakalpak dinner. Spend the evening relaxing outdoors on wooden topchans. Free from city light pollution, the camp offers premier views of the night sky and the Milky Way.
Desert Sunrise & Breakfast
Wake up early to witness a desert sunrise over the dunes. Enjoy a homestyle breakfast at the camp and pack your belongings into your vehicle
Morning Highway Transit
Depart the yurt camp and drive south to join the main A380 highway, the primary road bisecting the Kyzylkum Desert. Enjoy the vast desert landscapes, rolling red sand dunes, and sparse desert vegetation. Keep an eye out for herds of double-humped camels along the roadside.
Lunch on the Silk Road Highway
Stop at a rustic roadside chaykhana deep in the desert. This is an excellent opportunity to try hearty, nomadic-style meat dishes or fresh bread baked in a clay tandoor oven. Zahratun Café is recommended.
Arrival & Drop-off in Bukhara
Arrive in Bukhara in the late afternoon. Your driver will drop you off directly at your hotel or near the historic Lyabi-Khauz ensemble, leaving you with plenty of time for an evening stroll through the ancient dome bazaars.
Includes
- Overnight stay in the Ayaz Kala Yurt Camp
- Included Meals: Traditional dinner and morning breakfast at the Yurt Camp
- Entrance Tickets to the all Fortresses listed in the itinerary.
- Modern, air-conditioned Chevrolet vehicles with 100% functional seat belts.
- Professional local drivers with basic English & Russian language skills.
- Free Wi-Fi internet access is available in the car during the day trip.
- Door-to-door hotel pickup and drop-off (including luggage handling).
- Informative printed materials and brochures about the historical sites.
- Complimentary chilled mineral water (1L per person).
- Fresh, local melon and watermelon tastings along the way.
- Hands-on cotton picking experience in local cotton fields (seasonal).
- Opportunities to view desert camels in their natural habitat.
Excludes
- Personal Guide
- Camel Ride
Important information
Meeting point
The operator confirms the exact meeting point and time once your booking is confirmed, and you will have it well before the day. If you would rather know before you book, message us on WhatsApp and we will ask them for you.
Know before you go
- Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts