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

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. We can also start the daytrip here

2. 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.

   30 min

3. 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.

   40 min

4. 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

   30 min

5. 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.

   40 min

6. 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

   30 min

7. 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.

   30 min

8. 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.

   1 hAdmission included

9. 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.

   20 minAdmission included

10. 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.

    30 min

11. 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.

    30 minAdmission included

12. 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.

    30 minAdmission included

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 28 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Showing reviews written in English.

• 5Reasonable trip!

  Excellent work throughout super smooth booking, perfect itinerary and arrangement of driver. The driver is professional and supportive. We enjoyed the trip.

  966norimOctober 2026via Tripadvisor

• 510 fortress trip

  A wonderful opportunity to discover the history of Khorezm. I recommend it to anyone tired of crowded tourist spots who is looking for authenticity. The organization was excellent, and our driver, Qabulbek, was a real gem—attentive to every detail and sensitive to our needs. Highly recommended!

  OnAir226444October 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5Bukhara to Khiva transfer with some sightseeing

  We booked a transfer directly with Islambek from Bukhara to Khiva with a visit to 3 fortresses along the way. Our driver, Abdulla was on time to pick us up. He was a good driver and stopped along the way for toilet breaks at clean toilets. Overall, it was a good mix of a transfer between Bukhara and Khiva with sightseeing thrown in.

  chingn595October 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5Great Experience

  We had a wonderful experience with Dilshod as our driver. He was prompt, friendly and courteous. We were allowed to explore the fortresses on our own timetable and didn't feel rushed. The car was comfortable on the rough roads although the dark tinting on the backseat windows made it difficult to see out. I'm sure it's necessary for the strong sun but other than in summer it's too much. So we just opened the windows when there was something to see. Overall a very good experience. Thanks very much!

  donaldg983October 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5A mystical and post-Soviet desert trip

  The castles were amazing, a mystical place in the desert. The tour proceeded very smoothly. The driver, Jahongir, has been really nice and he has made me feel very comfortable: we have talked a lot during the travel and we had a lunch in a typical Soviet stolovaya along the way. The car was very comfortable.

  I4975VWsergiocSeptember 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5An Unforgettable Journey to the Ancient Fortresses

  Our driver, Umirbek, was absolutely wonderful! He was punctual, kind, and very helpful throughout the entire trip. He even gave us some delicious melon along the way, which was such a lovely touch! We visited several ancient fortresses, including Ayaz-Kala, and had an incredible experience that felt like stepping into another world. It was truly an unforgettable journey. The trip is a little far from Khiva, but it is absolutely worth the time and effort to get there. I highly recommend this tour!

  kanan483September 2026via Tripadvisor

Know before you go

How it compares in Khiva

• Its from-price is close to the median of the 19 day trips we list in Khiva.
• It is longer than most of them.
• By number of reviews it ranks 3 of 19.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Khiva

Khiva is a walled desert city in western Uzbekistan, a Silk Road oasis of turquoise domes, carved wooden columns and brick minarets.

Khiva rises from the desert of Khorezm in western Uzbekistan, near the Amu Darya river, its inner town, Itchan Kala, enclosed by mud-brick walls about two kilometres long with four gates. Within the walls, narrow lanes link mosques, madrasas, minarets and palaces in sun-baked brick. UNESCO listed it in 1990, and it was the capital of the Khivan khanate until the early twentieth century.

See all 53 experiences in Khiva