Day Trip from Khiva to the Top 10 Fortresses and Akchakul Lake

5.0 (33 reviews) 10–12 hours Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

33 reviews

5.0

Day Trip from Khiva to the Top 10 Fortresses and Akchakul Lake — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Day Trip from Khiva to the Top 10 Fortresses and Akchakul Lake, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Step off the standard tourist trail and discover the best ""Ancient Khorezm Fortresses" on a premium private archaeological expedition from Khiva. Designed specifically for discerning travelers, historians, and photography enthusiasts, this exclusive full-day itinerary offers an exhaustive exploration of Ancient Khorezm—a sophisticated 2,000-year-old desert civilization whose monumental architecture once rivaled the greatest empires of antiquity.

Accompanied by a dedicated professional local expert drives, you will traverse the desert plains to analyze ten of the most structurally significant, monumental mud-brick citadels remaining in Central Asia.

To balance the day's intensive archaeological focus, the journey includes a curated stop at the striking Akchakul Lake oasis, where deep blue waters provide a stark, beautiful contrast to the surrounding golden sand dunes.

Day Trips Full-day Tours Bus Tours Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Historical Tours Archaeology Tours Car Tours

At a glance

Duration: 10–12 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–3
Written guide: English
Operated by: Islambek Travel & Hotels, Khiva

What is included

Included

Included: Free Wi-Fi internet access is available in the car during the day trip.
Included: Pick up and drop off in your place (also with luggage)
Included: Excperienced local drives with basic language skills
Included: Visit Cotton Fields and experience cotton picking
Included: Printed Materials and Brochures related to the daytrip
Included: Modern, air-conditioned Chevrolet vehicles with 100% functional seat belts.
Included: Swim and Sand Bath in Akchakul Lake
Included: Photo stops in any place during the daytrip
Included: Stops to taste local melon and watermelons
Included: Watching Camels

Not included

Not included: Lunch (optional)
Not included: Admission fees: Ayaz Kala Fortress (must be paid on site)
Not included: Admission fees: Toprak Kala Fortress (must be paid on site)
Not included: Admission fees: Kizil Kala Fortress (must be paid on site)
Not included: Personal Guide (optional)

Itinerary

Urgench

Passing by

We can also start the daytrip here
Stop 2

30 min

Stop 1: Guldursun Kala – Marvel at one of the largest frontier fortresses of Khorezm, famous for its towering mud walls and the tragic medieval legend of the princess who betrayed her city for love.
Stop 3

40 min

Stop 2: Koy Krylgan Kala – Discover a unique, thousands-of-years-old circular complex believed by archeologists to have served as both a sacred Zoroastrian temple and an astronomical observatory.

Stop 3: Angka Kala – Explore this lesser-visited, well-preserved square frontier post that guarded the ancient trade routes passing through the oasis.
Stop 4

30 min

Stop 3. Angka Kala (also spelled Anka-kala or Anka Qala) is a remarkably well-preserved ancient mud-brick military fortress located in the Turtkul district of Karakalpakstan, roughly 4 kilometers east of the famous circular ruins of Koykirilgan Kala.Unlike the larger royal palace cities of the region, Angka Kala is highly valued by archaeologists for providing a textbook example of a highly disciplined, standard-issue Late Antique Khorezmian military outpost
Stop 5

40 min

Stop 4: Janbas Kala – Step inside a fascinating fortress dating back to the 4th century BC. Uniquely built without defensive towers, its well-preserved arrow slits reveal early military architecture.

Stops 5 & 6: Big & Small Kirkkiz Kala – Explore the "Forty Girls" fortresses. Separate myth from history as you tour these atmospheric ruins, which legends say were defended by fierce warrior women.
Stop 6

30 min

Stop 5. Big Kirkkiz Kala (also known as U'lken Qırq Qız qala) is a prominent, ancient mud-brick fortress located roughly 11 kilometers east of the famous Ayaz Kala complex in the Ellik Kala district of Karakalpakstan.Its name translates to "Forty Girls," a common moniker in Central Asian folklore traditionally associated with legends of brave warrior women defending their lands
Stop 7

30 min

Stop 6. Small Kirkkiz Kala (also known as Kishkene Qırq Qız qala) is the sister outpost to Big Kirkkiz Kala. It is situated in the Ellik Kala district of Karakalpakstan, roughly 6 kilometers east of Ayaz Kala and just over 4 kilometers west of its larger counterpart.Dating back to the 4th–3rd centuries BCE, it was a vital node in the ancient outer defensive network of the Khorezmian Oasis.
Ayaz-Kala

one hour Admission included

Stop 7. Ayaz Kala is the one of the most spectacular fortresses in the area. There are in fact, not one but three fortresses clustered together on and around a prominent hill at the Eastern end of the Sultan-Uiz-dahg range. The fortress provided defense against nomad raids. A gravel road leads up to a small cluster of Yurts, a tourist rest center overlooking a shallow but picturesque lake. The Fort dates to medieval times. It was probable founded in the Afrighid period, sometime around the 7th to 8th Centuries CE…

Please take your time and guide yourself to visit the Fortress, climb & walk on it and enjoy the panoramic view from the top of the fortress.

You can get more interesting historical information on the Printed Brochure provided by your driver.
Stop 9

20 min Admission included

Stop 8. Kavat-Kala is a vast archaeological oasis complex dating from the 12th to the early 13th centuries CE, famous for its exceptionally well-preserved medieval agricultural grid, canals, and ruins.

Please take your time and guide yourself to visit the Fortress, climb & walk on it.

You can get more interesting historical information on the Printed Brochure provided by your driver.
Stop 10

30 min

Stop 9. Akchakul Lake is a natural Lake located in the Karakalpakstan region where visitors can enjoy freshwater swimming, jet skiing, take a sand bath, wildlife birdwatching, eat and drink in the local restaurant/Caffes and overnight stays in beachfront desert yurt camps. The This unique body of water sits right alongside the region's ancient ruins, making it the perfect relaxation stop during the daytrip.
Fortress Toprak Kala

30 min Admission included

Stop 10. Toprak-Kala means Earth Fortress. It is a 2,000-year-old fortified palace complex that served as the capital and royal residence of the ancient Khorezm Kings from the 1st to the 4th centuries CE.

Please take your time and guide yourself to visit the Fortress, climb & walk on it and enjoy the panoramic view from the top of the fortress.

You can get more interesting historical information on the Printed Brochure provided by your driver.
Kyzyl Kala

30 min Admission included

Stop 11. Kizil Kala means red Fortress. It is a compact and highly photogenic ancient military outpost located in the Ellik-Kala oasis of Karakalpakstan. Originally built between the 1st and 4th centuries AD to protect the nearby royal capital of Toprak Kala, it stands as a unique testament to the military architecture of ancient Khorezm.

Please take your time and guide yourself to visit the Fortress, climb & walk on it and enjoy the panoramic view from the top of the fortress.

You can get more interesting historical information on the Printed Brochure provided by your driver.
Urgench

Passing by

We can also end the daytrip here

Meeting point and pickup

You can be picked up from your accommodation or go straight to the meeting point.

Meeting point

Our Travel Agency located inside the Ichan Kala Touristic Complex next to the Caravan Sarai and Toshhovli Palace.

End point

Our Travel Agency located inside the Ichan Kala Touristic Complex next to the Caravan Sarai and Toshhovli Palace.

Pickup points

Urgench Airport

We can start the day trip in your hotel, airport or railway stations in Khiva or Urgench. Driver arrives at the agreed location 5 minutes in advance and wait for you there with his cars. One day before the day trip, we will send you a reminder Email or WhatsApp message with all the details and pictures of your driver and car. So, you can find and recognize him easily.