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Uzbekistan

A 3-day expedition tour to the Aral Sea

A 4×4 jeep journey from Nukus across the dried-up bed of the Aral Sea: the ship graveyard in Muynak, the canyons of the Ustyurt Plateau, two nights in yurts on the shore, Kurgancha-Kala and flamingos on Lake Sudochye.

Expedition tour to the Aral Sea ship graveyard in Muynak ship graveyard in Muynak ship graveyard in Muynak Canyons of the Ustyurt Plateau Canyons of the Ustyurt Plateau Aral Sea Eco-tour to the Aral Sea Yurt camp Eco-tour to the Aral Sea Eco-tour to the Aral Sea Eco-tour to the Aral Sea Mizdakhan Barsakelmes Barsakelmes Lake Sudochye Lake Sudochye Eco-tour to the Aral Sea ship graveyard in Muynak Kunty-Baba Canyons Kunty-Baba Canyons Kunty-Baba Canyons Aral Sea Canyons of the Ustyurt Plateau Muynak and the ship graveyard Barsakelmes and salt marshes Lake Sudochye Mizdakhan Necropolis Gyaur-Kala Flamingos on Lake Sudochye
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Duration
3 days / 2 nights
Season
Year-round
Group
from 1 person
Price
from $350
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Itinerary
3 days · tap a day to expand

  1. Day 1 Nukus — Muynak — Ustyurt Plateau — Aral Sea

    This tour promises unforgettable experiences, immersion in history and unique nature, and cozy nights in yurts. Visit the Aral Sea and its surroundings and feel the magic of this place.

    09:00 Meet the driver and start your unique journey to Muynak.

    12:00 Arrival in Muynak. Visit to the ship graveyard and the Aral Sea Museum, which displays works by the artists F. Madgazin and R. Matevosyan, who captured the grandeur of the Aral Sea and the beauty of the Amu Darya River on their canvases.

    13:30 Lunch in a cozy guesthouse in Muynak.

    14:30 We continue along the dried-up bed of the Aral Sea, where you can capture the unique landscape on camera. A steep climb onto the Ustyurt Plateau will mark the beginning of a new stage of the expedition. We stop at the magnificent Ustyurt canyons for a photo session.

    18:00 We arrive at the seashore, and a walk along the coastline lets you soak up the atmosphere of this place.

    19:00 Dinner at the yurt camp. Conversations in good company. A night in cozy yurts with a truly mystical atmosphere.

  2. Day 2 Aral Sea — Kurgancha-Kala — nomad cemetery — Aktumsyk canyons — Aral Sea

    06:00 An early wake-up will let you watch a magnificent sunrise over the boundless sea and will mark the start of our excursion.

    07:30–08:30 After breakfast, the tour begins at the Kurgancha fortress. We travel back in time, feeling the history of a caravanserai on the Great Silk Road.

    09:30 Stop at the nomad cemetery. A tour down the descent from the Ustyurt Plateau along a trail, where you will be immersed in the beauty created by nature, surrounded by canyons that resemble a sculpture park.

    13:00 Lunch at the Besqala yurt camp.

    14:00 The excursion continues to Cape Aktumsyk (15 km), with a walk through the scenic spots of Ustyurt: high canyons, a Martian landscape, a mysterious cave and picturesque rock slabs, each like a page of history. Afterwards, you can stroll along the beach and swim in the sea. Return to the Besqala yurt camp.

    19:00 Dinner in the traditional style. After dinner, you can watch the stars through a telescope under the open sky, feeling the authentic and romantic spirit of this place.

  3. Day 3 Aral Sea — Kubla-Ustyurt village — Lake Sudochye — Barsakelmes salt flat — Kungrad — Khodjeyli — Nukus

    06:00 An early rise to greet the sunrise, which paints the sea in delicate shades.

    08:00 After breakfast we head to the village of Komsomolsk, Kubla-Ustyurt.

    09:30 With the village landscape as a backdrop, you can take photos of camels and horses, stroll along an abandoned airstrip, try camel milk from the locals, and immerse yourself in the authenticity of this place.

    11:00 Arrival at Lake Sudochye, formerly part of the Aral Sea, where numerous migratory birds nest, including pink flamingos. This place is a true paradise for wildlife enthusiasts.

    12:30 The journey continues to the Barsakelmes salt flat, a vast salt lake (similar to Salar de Uyuni — the salt flat in Bolivia) left over from the ancient Tethys Ocean. Here you'll have the chance to take one-of-a-kind photos surrounded by incredible natural scenery.

    14:30 Lunch at the roadside cafe Naiman.

    16:30 On the way, you will pass through the Kungrad and Khojeyli districts, which played an important role during the Great Silk Road era. Tour of the Mizdakhan necropolis in the Khojeyli district. The ruins of the necropolis will let you feel the history of the Mazlumkhan Sulu mausoleum (12th–14th centuries), the Jumart-Kassab mound, Shamun Nabi (13th–14th centuries), Caliph Erezhep and Gyaur-Kala (4th century BC – 13th century AD).

    18:30 Arrival in Nukus. End of the tour.

About the tour

The Aral Sea tour is an expedition-style journey combining ecology, history, and the exploration of hard-to-reach areas. It is not a classic excursion but a route through regions where the consequences of one of the largest environmental disasters of the 20th century are visible.

The journey takes you through the dry bed of the Aral Sea, abandoned cities, the Ustyurt Plateau, and remote natural landscapes inaccessible by conventional transport. The tour includes 4x4 vehicles, overnight stays far from civilization, and complete immersion in the vastness and scale of the region.

This ecotour is suitable for those seeking a deep and meaningful experience, wanting to see the Aral Sea as it is today, and understand its significance for the history and future of Central Asia.

The cost of a three-day tour to the Aral Sea
Number of people With a guide (per person) Without a guide (per person)
1 920 $ 710 $
2 525 $ 420 $
3 410 $ 350 $
4 — 350 $

Highlights

The expedition route covers several iconic sites at once, each revealing a different side of the region's history and ecology. These locations make the Aral Sea tour rich and multi-layered, combining nature, history and ecology in a single route.

  • Aral Sea

    Aral Sea

  • Canyons of the Ustyurt Plateau

    Canyons of the Ustyurt Plateau

  • Muynak and the ship graveyard

    Muynak and the ship graveyard

  • Barsakelmes and salt marshes

    Barsakelmes and salt marshes

  • Lake Sudochye

    Lake Sudochye

  • Mizdakhan Necropolis

    Mizdakhan Necropolis

  • Gyaur-Kala

    Gyaur-Kala

  • Flamingos on Lake Sudochye

    Flamingos on Lake Sudochye

Tour conditions

Starting point
Nukus
Duration
3 days / 2 nights
Price
from $350

Included

  • Toyota SUV from Nukus and back to Nukus
  • Meals
  • Accommodation in a yurt for 2 nights
  • Entrance tickets to the Aral Sea Museum in Muynak

Not included

  • Personal expenses outside the program.

Additional information

  • 50% prepayment

Good to know

9 answers to frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa to travel to Uzbekistan?

Citizens of most CIS and European countries don’t need a visa.

CIS and former USSR countries. Citizens of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Ukraine, and Georgia enter without a visa under bilateral agreements, with no fixed length of stay: for a long trip, temporary registration is required. Citizens of Kyrgyzstan can stay without a visa for up to 60 days, and those of Tajikistan and Turkmenistan for up to 30 days. Russians need an international passport: an internal passport will not be accepted.

Europe and the USA. Citizens of EU countries, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Norway can enter visa-free for up to 30 days, and US citizens also for up to 30 days (from 2026). Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after entry.

Other countries. If a visa is required, it is applied for online on the e-visa.gov.uz portal; an e-visa is issued in about 3 business days. We will tell you how to get one.

Registration. Foreigners are registered at their place of residence within 3 days of arrival, and citizens of Russia within 14 days. In a hotel, the hotel does this; the tourist tax is usually already included in the bill. Keep the registration slip until departure.

In which languages are the tours and support provided?

Guides lead excursions and accompany groups in the following languages: Russian, English, French, German, and Italian. The guiding language is confirmed in advance when you book the tour.

Is this a regular tour or an expedition?

This is a truly expeditionary tour. The route passes through remote regions of Karakalpakstan, with long journeys, minimal infrastructure, and overnight stays far from cities.

Is special physical training required?

No special training is required. The tour does not involve trekking or strenuous physical activity, but you should be prepared for long drives and basic field conditions.

What kind of transport is used on the tour?

The route is traveled in 4x4 vehicles, with much of the route unpaved. This is the only way to reach most of the tour's locations.

Is there mobile coverage and internet during the expedition?

Mobile phone coverage is either unavailable or spotty along much of the route. This is normal for the region and allows for complete disconnection from the urban environment.

What time of year is best to visit the Aral Sea?

The best time for an expedition is spring and autumn, when temperatures are comfortable for travel. Tours are possible in summer and winter, weather permitting.

How is this tour different from excursions in Uzbekistan?

An expedition to the Aral Sea is not just a sightseeing trip, but an immersion into the region's space, history, and ecology, something unavailable on traditional tours.

What makes this route unique?

The route combines the Muynak ship graveyard, the Ustyurt plateau, the dry bed of the Aral Sea, salt marshes, and ancient necropolises—a combination of experiences unmatched anywhere else in the region.

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Aral Sea trip format

The expedition tour to the Aral Sea is run in a fully self-sufficient format and is a true journey through the hard-to-reach regions of Karakalpakstan. Travel is by 4×4 off-road vehicles specially prepared for routes across the desert, salt flats, and the Ustyurt plateau.

Overnight stays are arranged in a yurt camp on the shore of the Aral Sea. This allows you to experience the region's remoteness, witness sunrises and sunsets over the former sea, and spend the evening by the campfire far from civilization. Meals are included and provided along the route and at the camp.

The tour is accompanied by experienced guides and drivers who know the region and the specifics of the route well. Despite the remoteness and expedition character, the trip is designed with safety and comfort in mind, which makes it accessible to prepared travelers without special expedition experience.

The ship graveyard

Why is it worth visiting the Aral Sea?

The Aral Sea is a place where travel becomes a meaningful experience, not just a change of location. Here you can witness the scale of the environmental disaster with your own eyes, understand how one of the planet's largest seas disappeared, and experience a space where time seems to stand still.

A trip to the Aral Sea is a chance to visit ghost towns, walk across the dried-up seabed, see the ship graveyard in Muynak and the endless expanses of the Ustyurt Plateau. Such landscapes cannot be compared to any other place in Uzbekistan or Central Asia.

This tour is chosen by those seeking unusual routes, deep emotions, and a true journey that will remain in the memory for a long time and change the perception of the region and the world as a whole.

Reviews

5.047 reviews

  • Anna Wandlang

    Ich habe die zweitägige Tour zum Aralsee relativ spontan gebucht und bereits die Organisation im Vorfeld war völlig unkompliziert. Die Kommunikation war schnell und zuverlässig und auch die kurzfristige Buchung hat problemlos funktioniert.
    Die Tour selbst hat meine Erwartungen absolut erfüllt. Die Landschaften sind beeindruckend und gerade die Geschichte des Aralsees und die Veränderungen dieser Region haben mich sehr berührt. Der Schiffsfriedhof in Moynaq, die Fahrt über den ehemaligen Meeresboden, das Ustjurt Plateau und schließlich der heutige Aralsee waren unglaublich spannend zu erleben. Besonders faszinierend fand ich auch die abgelegenen Orte unterwegs und die enorme Weite dieser Landschaft.
    Ein großes Lob verdient mein Fahrer. Leider habe ich seinen Namen vergessen, aber er war wirklich großartig. Die Strecken sind lang und teilweise anspruchsvoll, trotzdem habe ich mich während der gesamten Tour sehr sicher und gut aufgehoben gefühlt. Er war unglaublich aufmerksam, freundlich und hilfsbereit.
    Auch das Essen war wunderbar. Ich esse vegetarisch und darauf wurde überall ganz selbstverständlich Rücksicht genommen. Ich hatte während der gesamten Tour sehr gutes und reichliches Essen.
    Besonders schön fand ich auch die Übernachtung im Jurten Camp am Aralsee. Das Camp ist sehr einfach, aber gerade das hat für mich perfekt zu diesem Erlebnis und zu dieser außergewöhnlichen Umgebung gepasst. Ich habe mich dort sehr wohlgefühlt.
    Auch das Preis Leistungs Verhältnis fand ich für das, was in diesen zwei Tagen organisiert und geboten wurde, absolut angemessen.
    Für mich war die Tour von Anfang bis Ende ein besonderes Erlebnis und definitiv eines der Highlights meiner Reise durch Usbekistan. Ich würde sie jederzeit weiterempfehlen.

  • Tatyana

    It was a pleasure spending time with such a wonderful guide. Evgeny showed us everything we asked for. We recommend him!

  • Ilya

    Uzbekistan is the new Rome of modern history. The trip was a great success. I'd love to go back to warm and beautiful Uzbekistan once more. Thank you, Evgeny, for the tour

  • Alex

    We were offered a trip to the Nurata mountains, to the villages of Sentob and Majrum. We had hiked the mountains around Charvak many times and wanted something new and fresh. Huge thanks to Evgeny for showing us this wonderful place. These places were magical. Every village is full of its own history, way of life and beautiful scenery. We want to go back with our family, despite the long road there.

  • Dmitry

    We spent two days on tours with our guide Evgeny — and it was wonderful!

    The first day — Tashkent.
    The city made an incredible impression: modern, spacious, green and very atmospheric. The tour was perfectly balanced — Evgeny did not overload us with unnecessary information but managed to convey the essentials: the spirit of the city, its history, character and mood. We saw all the main sights, learned many interesting facts, had a delicious meal at the Plov Center and got useful tips on where else to go. Evgeny even suggested routes and ideas for our next days in Samarkand — special thanks for that!

    The second day — the Chimgan mountains.
    It had a completely different mood, and that was wonderful. The trip into nature gave us new emotions: mountains, fresh air, stunning scenery. We took the cable car up to the Amirsoy ski resort, enjoyed amazing views, and then went paragliding over the Charvak reservoir — an unforgettable feeling of freedom and beauty. On the way back, on Evgeny's recommendation, we stopped at a cozy café and tried incredibly delicious Uzbek dishes.

    In short:
    Huge thanks to Evgeny for his professionalism, attention, friendliness and two wonderful days in the city and in the mountains. The tours left only the warmest and brightest impressions. We definitely recommend him.

  • Evgeny Amiraslanov

    I’ve traveled with Zhenya Shabanov several times now: we hiked Patandezbashi, went to Turkmenistan together, and most recently did a seven-day trip through the Fann Mountains. He organizes every trip end to end, taking each participant’s interests into account. On our trek he lent everyone his own tents and sleeping bags and took care of the meals; when we went to Turkmenistan — that was back in 2024, when it had only just opened up to tourists — he told us all about his own experience there and put all our worries to rest. Plus, Zhenya is simply fun and interesting to be around — he’s incredibly well-read and always has an amusing story to share. I highly recommend Zhenya!

  • Vien and Chris

    My husband and I came ftom France. We had an amazing time hiking with Darya to the top of Chimgan Mountain! She was helpful, kind, and full of positive energy, and made the challenging climb both fun and safe. It was also great to practice my rusty Russian with her 😊. Highly recommend her to anyone visiting the mountains around Tashkent!

  • Elena

    I want to thank Evgeny for organizing our unforgettable holiday. Thanks to the professional guides and the driver who accompanied us all week, we got to know Bukhara, Samarkand and Tashkent. I would also like to mention the convenient location of the guesthouses he suggested — our evening walks were wonderful!

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