Chilpik - Savitsky museum - Aral Sea

Chilpik Dakhma/Kala - This ancient Zoroastrian monument, known as Chilpyk (or Shylpyk, Chilpak Kala), dates back over 2200 years. Chilpyk is a circular, roofless tower standing 15 meters tall and 65 meters in diameter, situated atop a rounded natural hill 43 km from Nukus. Zoroastrians used it for the burial of the dead, where remains were left for birds of prey. Later, the bones were collected in earthenware vessels called ossuaries and buried. This method of disposal aligned with Zoroastrian beliefs that prohibited contaminating the earth with decaying bodies.

The Karakalpakstan State Museum of Art named after I.V. Savitsky - Located in Nukus, Karakalpakstan, the Nukus Museum of Art, formally known as the State Museum of Arts of the Republic of Karakalpakstan named after I.V. Savitsky, houses the world’s second-largest collection of Russian avant-garde art. It also features galleries of antiquities and Karakalpak folk art. Founded in 1966 by Moscow artist Igor Vitalievich Savitsky (1915-1984), the museum boasts the largest art collection in Central Asia, with around 100,000 items spanning over four millennia.

Muynak ship cemetery - Mizdakhan

The Regional History and Aral Sea Museum - The Muynak Regional Studies Museum, also known as the Ecological Museum of Muynak, is one of Uzbekistan’s most unique museums. Though modest in size with fewer than two hundred exhibits, it tells the tragic story of a bygone era when the Aral Sea was vast and thriving. The museum’s collection includes paintings by Soviet artists, old photographs, flora and fauna specimens, canned goods from the local cannery, household items, and arts and crafts from the people who lived along the Aral Sea, creating a comprehensive picture of the sea’s past and present.

Ships Cemetery - Muynak (also known as Moynoq in Uzbek Latin and Mojnak in Karakalpak) was once the largest port on the Aral Sea, where much of the catch was processed and canned. In 1921, during a severe famine in the Volga region, Lenin appealed to the Aral fleet for help, and within days, 21,000 tonnes of fish were sent, saving thousands of lives. Today, Muynak is a desolate town with stagnant, corrosive pools and abandoned factories, a victim of a Soviet campaign to conquer nature. The sea can no longer support fish, leaving 10,000 fishermen jobless and the port without purpose. Visitors now come to witness the eerie sight of rusting fishing boats stranded in the sand, 160 kilometers from the current shoreline. Many ships have been sold for scrap, so finding them may require some searching.

Mizdakhan Necropolis - The Mizdakhan necropolis, an ancient cemetery near the ruins of the Gyaur-Kala fortress, is one of Karakalpakstan’s oldest and most visited pilgrimage sites. The fortress, named during the Arab conquest, means “fortress of disbelievers,” as its inhabitants were Zoroastrians before the Arabs arrived. Mizdakhan emerged around the 2nd-4th centuries BC and later became a revered Muslim shrine in Central Asia. The nearby city of Khojali, on the Amudarya riverbank near Nukus, means “land of pilgrims.” The Mizdakhan necropolis (4th century BC - 14th century AD) is a vast complex of ancient relics, including one of Central Asia’s oldest cemeteries.

• Private transportation
• Hotel pick up and drop off
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Audio guide materials

• Lunch
• Dinner
• Savitsky museum (Nukus) entrance ticket is USD 7/person
• Aral Sea Museum (in Muynak) - entrance ticket is USD 3/person
• Accommodation at yurt camp - USD 40 per person that offers dinner and breakfast

Two vehicles, a sedan and a 4x4, will be utilized for this round trip to the Aral Sea shore. In total, approximately 1,000 kilometers will be covered over two days. Six significant tourist attractions will be visited, including the Aral Sea shore, Ustyurt Canyons, Muynak ship cemetery, Muynak museum, Savitsky museum, and Chilpik Kala fortress. Skilled drivers ensure a smooth journey through desert conditions. The tour includes key areas and can commence or conclude in Khiva, Urgench, or Nukus, based on the visitor’s preference. Customers enjoy an immersive cultural experience in Karakalpakstan, gain insider knowledge of the Aral Sea region, and have memorable interactions with local traditions in the western part of Uzbekistan.

• Minimum age is 15 for this tour
• Disclaimer: transportation time is included in the total duration

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.