Witness one of the world's most dramatic environmental stories — rusting ships stranded in the desert, vast salt plains, and the haunting beauty of the dying sea.
Five 2-day Aral Sea expeditions — departing from Khiva or Nukus, for every budget. Prices are per group.
Explore the Aral Sea — former fourth largest lake in the world with us in 2 days and 1 night!
Transportation, Driver & Water
Route: Khiva – Chilpik Kala – Nukus Museum of Art – Muynak Ship Cemetery – Muynak History Museum – The Aral Sea – Great Ustyurt Canyons – Mizdakhan Necropolis – Khiva
Explore the Aral Sea — former fourth largest lake in the world with us in 2 days and 1 night!
Transportation, Yurt Camp & Meals
Route: Khiva – Chilpik Kala – Mizdakhan Necropolis – Muynak Ship Cemetery – Muynak History Museum – Ustyurt Canyons – Tombs of Nomads – The Aral Sea – Kurgancha Kala – Nukus Museum – Khiva
Explore the Aral Sea — former fourth largest lake in the world with us in 2 days and 1 night!
Transportation, Yurt Camp & Meals
Route: Khiva – Chilpik Kala – Mizdakhan Necropolis – Muynak Ship Cemetery – Muynak History Museum – Great Ustyurt Canyons – Tombs of Nomads – The Aral Sea – Kurgancha Kala – Kubla Ustyurt – Sudochie Lake & Urga – Nukus Museum of Art – Khiva
Explore the Aral Sea — former fourth largest lake in the world with us in 2 days and 1 night!
Transportation, Yurt Camp & Meals
Route: Nukus – Mizdakhan Necropolis – Muynak Ship Cemetery – Muynak History Museum – Tombs of Nomads – The Aral Sea – Kurgancha Kala – Nukus Museum – Nukus
Explore the Aral Sea — former fourth largest lake in the world with us in 2 days and 1 night!
Transportation, Yurt Camp & Meals
Route: Nukus – Mizdakhan Necropolis – Muynak Ship Cemetery – Muynak History Museum – Great Ustyurt Canyons – Tombs of Nomads – The Aral Sea – Kurgancha Kala – Kubla Ustyurt – Sudochie Lake & Urga – Nukus Museum of Art – Nukus
The Aral Sea was once the world's fourth-largest lake. Today it's a haunting landscape of rusted ships, white salt flats and resilient desert life. This 2-day private expedition brings you face to face with one of Earth's most extraordinary places.
| Vehicle | Group Size | Total Price |
|---|---|---|
| SUV | 1–4 people | $699 |
| Minivan | 1–6 people | $899 |
| Minibus | 7–12 people | $1,199 |
Price includes guide, vehicle, yurt accommodation and meals (dinner + breakfast). Entrance fees paid on-site.
A carefully paced two-day journey — enough time to truly absorb the landscape without rushing.
Pick-up from your hotel in Ichan Kala. Depart Khiva heading north through the Khorezm oasis towards Karakalpakstan.
Short stop at Chilpik Dakhma — the ancient Zoroastrian "Tower of Silence" perched on a desert hill. Panoramic views across the flatlands.
Arrive Nukus. Optional stop at the Savitsky Museum (entrance extra) — one of the world's great collections of Russian avant-garde art, hidden in the Karakalpak desert.
Lunch in Nukus (at own expense), then continue north on the desert highway to Muynak, approximately 2 hours drive.
Muynak Ship Cemetery. Stand among the rusting Soviet fishing trawlers, now stranded kilometres from any water on the dry seabed. One of the most surreal sights on Earth.
Visit the Muynak Regional Museum to see photographs documenting the shrinking sea from the 1960s to today — a deeply affecting exhibit.
Drive across the former seabed onto the Ustyurt Plateau. Watch the landscape shift from flat salt plains to dramatic red-cliff canyons.
Arrive at the yurt camp on the plateau edge. Traditional Karakalpak dinner prepared by the camp host. Campfire under the stars — no light pollution, extraordinary night sky.
Aral Sea sunrise. Wake before dawn for a short drive to a viewpoint over the remaining Aral Sea waters. The morning light turns the salt flats gold — an unforgettable sight.
Return to camp for breakfast. Traditional flatbread, eggs, tea and fresh produce.
Explore the Ustyurt Plateau canyon system — dramatic chalk-white cliff faces dropping down to ancient sea-floor. Your guide explains the geological history.
Off-road drive across the dried seabed. The 4×4 navigates salt crust and sand dunes on what was once open water 40 years ago.
Begin the return journey south. Stop for lunch in Nukus or on the road (at own expense).
Arrive back in Khiva. Drop-off at your hotel in Ichan Kala. Times may vary by ±1 hour depending on road and weather conditions.
April – June and September – October are ideal. Summer (July–August) temperatures can reach 45°C — possible but demanding. Winter trips available on request.
Sun hat, high-SPF sunscreen, layers for cool nights, sturdy shoes, camera, power bank. The plateau can be cold at night even in summer.
As with all our tours, no deposit is required. Pay your guide in cash (USD preferred) at the end of the expedition. We trust our guests completely.
Mobile signal disappears beyond Nukus. Download offline maps before you depart. The yurt camp has no Wi-Fi — enjoy the digital detox.
Our guides carry first aid kits and satellite communication devices. The route is well-established and driven weekly. The Ustyurt plateau is safe for tourists.
Minimum 1 person, maximum 12 per vehicle. The price is per vehicle — larger groups reduce the per-person cost significantly. Ask about multi-vehicle discounts.
Message us on WhatsApp to check availability and secure your dates. No prepayment needed — pay at the end.
