Islambek Travel & Hotels

Daytrip Duration: 12-14 hours
Sightseeing time: 4-5 hours
Driving time: 8-9 hours
Driving Distance: 710 km.
Included: Printed Brochures, a good drivers with new Cars with AC, pick up and drop off at your location and Mineral water (0.5l. per person)
Not Included: Entrance tickets, meals, camel riding, Yurt Camp stay & etc

A Sedan (1-3 people) - $109 (Sedan pictures)

An SUV (1-4 people) - $219 (SUV pictures)

A Minivan (1-6 people) - $299 (Minivan pictures)

A Minibus (1-10 people) - $309 (Minibus (1-10) pictures)

A Minibus (1-13 people) - $329 (Minibus (1-13) pictures)

A Bus (1-45 people) - $849 (Bus pictures)

Once you decide to use our services, please confirm and provide the following details in order to make a reservation:
1. Please confirm the name of the transfer, tour, or day-trip (as written on our website);
2. Please confirm the date of the transfer, tour, or day trip
3. Please confirm the type of transport you want to book (sedan, SUV, minivan, or minibus).
4. Please confirm the price of the transfer, tour, or day-trip you want to reserve.
5. Please confirm the number of people (and luggage if available) in your group.
6. Full names of all group members, including information about citizenship, passport, or ID card numbers.
7. Please confirm pick-up & and the starting place of your transfer, tour, or day trip (please state the name of your hotel).
8. Please confirm pick-up and the starting time of your transfer, tour, or day trip (you can see the recommended starting time on our website).
9. Please confirm the drop-off / ending place of your transfer, tour, or day trip.
10. Please provide your contact information: Email, Mobile Phone, or WhatsApp Numbers.
- That is all we need to know from your side in advance to make a reservation and organize the requested services.
- We do not need prepayment to make a reservation or organize the requested services. You will make a full payment directly to our drivers (guides) at the end of each transfer, day trip or tours.
- In order to cancel reserved services without being charged (%20 of the tour), please contact us at least 3 days in advance the tour starts.
- One day before each trip, tour, and transfer, we will send you a reminder email or Whatsapp message with all the details and pictures of your driver, car, and guides.
Please feel free to ask if you have any questions or special requests.

Daytrip Details: We pick you up from your place in Khiva or Urgench with our driver and start the Daytrip from there. You can start the Daytrip at any time of the day. It is recommended to start the trip in the morning after breakfast around 07:00 – 08:00 am. It takes about 60-90 minutes to the first fortress.
The first fortress Kizil Kala was originally constructed in the Late Antique period, 1st to 4th centuries CE, but was abandoned and then rebuilt in the 12th-13th centuries on the eve of the Mongol invasions. There is some debate about how this fortress may have been used in ancient times, with some scholars proposing that it was a garrison barracks for troops, whilst others suggest it was an early example of the many fortified manor houses that were typical of Khorezm in the early medieval periods.
The next fortress Toprak Kala located just in 10 minutes far from Kizil Kala. It is dated in the Kushan period, around the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE and was the royal residence of the kings of the Khorezm. The place, having first served as a Royal sanctuary, was briefly abandoned in the early 4th century and then after some restorations, was used as an administrative citadel for the city. After visiting two fortresses, our driver will stop at the shore of the Akchakul Lake. You can find Yurt Camp Restaurant, Minimarket and WC there. You can enjoy local meals and drinks, swimming and sand bath.
The next and the fortress is Kavat Kala. It looks back on 2400 years of History. As center of complex irrigation system, it has been surrounded by flourishing settlements especially in the 11th to 13th centuries.
After driving 30 minutes from Kavat Kala, you will arrive to Ayaz Kala which 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 was probable founded in the Afrighid period, sometime around the 7th to 8th Centuries CE…
The next fortress is Big Kirkkiz Kala. The fortress dates from the 4th Century BCE to the 7th-8th centuries CE. The fortress is rectangular in plan with double walls containing a double story archer's gallery with arrow-shaped embrasures. In the Afrighid period the area within and around the fortress was a pottery production center.
Next fortress Janbas Kala has one of the most archaic fortification systems dating from that Early Antique period. All four of its flanking walls are in relatively good condition, reaching in places up to 20 meters in height. It differs from most of the other fortresses in having no towers on its outer walls. This meant that the fort was potentially vulnerable from an attack on the lower sections of its walls. Angka Kala dates from the Late Antique period of Khorezm, around the 1st to the 3rd centuries AD - the time of the Kushan Empire. It seems to have been established on the eastern edge of Khorezm to guard the main caravan trade route to the east.
The last fortress is Guldursun Kala. It is a fortified town. The exterior walls and towers date to the 12th century CE. Much ancient and medieval pottery and many bronze items and coins were found within the site during archeological excavations. The coins indicate that the last period of occupation is related to the year 1220.
After visiting all eight fortresses it takes about 4-5 hours to drive to Bukhara. Please feel free to stop the car in any place during the trip to have a break, to take photo, lunch or other reasons. There are also several restaurants available on the way where you can stop for lunch. Afterall, our driver will drop you off in your hotel, airport or train station in Bukhara and end the trip there.

Download Itinerary

Daytrip Duration: 12-14 hours
Sightseeing time: 4-5 hours
Driving time: 8-9 hours
Driving Distance: 710 km.
Included: Printed Brochures, a good drivers with new Cars with AC, pick up and drop off at your location and Mineral water (0.5l. per person)
Not Included: Entrance tickets, meals, camel riding, Yurt Camp stay & etc

A Sedan (1-3 people) - $109 (Sedan pictures)

An SUV (1-4 people) - $219 (SUV pictures)

A Minivan (1-6 people) - $299 (Minivan pictures)

A Minibus (1-10 people) - $309 (Minibus (1-10) pictures)

A Minibus (1-13 people) - $329 (Minibus (1-13) pictures)

A Bus (1-45 people) - $849 (Bus pictures)

Making Reservation of our Private/Shared Daytrips, Transfers, Aral Sea Adventure or Guided City Tours is very easy and totally free of cost. We only need from your side to confirm and provide following details related to your reservation in order to check availability, book and organize it with our team:
1. Name of the Trip, Transfer or Service interested.
2. Date of the Trip, Transfer or Service interested.
3. Please state type of Transport and confirm the Price.
4. Number of Travelers (luggage if available) in your group.
5. Full names of all Travelers including info about Citizenship and Passport/ID Card numbers.
6. Pick up and starting time of the Trips or Transfers (contact us for recommendations).
7. Pick up and starting place of the Trips or Transfers (name of your hotel, Airport or Railway Station)
8. Drop off and ending place of the Trips or Transfers (name of your hotel, Airport or Railway Station)
9. Please state your contact information: Email, Mobile Phone or WhatsApp Numbers.
That is all we need to know from your side in advance to check availability, make a reservation or to organize the requested services.
In order to cancel reserved trips or other services without being charged (%20 of the tour) please contact us at least 3 days before the tour starts.

We pick you up from your place in Bukhara and start the Daytrip from there. You can start the Daytrip at any time of the day. It is recommended to start the trip in the morning after breakfast around 07:00 – 08:00 am. It takes about 4-5 hours to get to the first fortress. Please feel free to stop the car in any place during the trip to have a break, to take photo, lunch or other reasons. There are also several restaurants (Zahratun is recommended) available on the way where you can stop for lunch.
The first fortress to visit is Guldursun Kala. It is a fortified town. The exterior walls and towers date to the 12th century CE. Much ancient and medieval pottery and many bronze items and coins were found within the site during archeological excavations. The coins indicate that the last period of occupation is related to the year 1220.
Angka Kala dates from the Late Antique period of Khorezm, around the 1st to the 3rd centuries AD - the time of the Kushan Empire. It seems to have been established on the eastern edge of Khorezm to guard the main caravan trade route to the east.
Next fortress Janbas Kala has one of the most archaic fortification systems dating from that Early Antique period. All four of its flanking walls are in relatively good condition, reaching in places up to 20 meters in height. It differs from most of the other fortresses in having no towers on its outer walls. This meant that the fort was potentially vulnerable from an attack on the lower sections of its walls.
The next fortress is Big Kirkkiz Kala. The fortress dates from the 4th Century BCE to the 7th-8th centuries CE. The fortress is rectangular in plan with double walls containing a double story archer's gallery with arrow-shaped embrasures. In the Afrighid period the area within and around the fortress was a pottery production center.
After driving 30 minutes from Big Kirkkiz Kala, you will arrive to Ayaz Kala which 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 was probable founded in the Afrighid period, sometime around the 7th to 8th Centuries CE…
The next fortress is Kavat Kala. It looks back on 2400 years of History. As center of complex irrigation system, it has been surrounded by flourishing settlements especially in the 11th to 13th centuries.
After visiting six fortresses, our driver will stop at the shore of the Akchakul Lake. You can find Yurt Camp Restaurant, Minimarket and WC there. You can enjoy local meals and drinks, swimming and sand bath.
After a break, it comes to the – Toprak Kala. It is dated in the Kushan period, around the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE and was the royal residence of the kings of the Khorezm. The place, having first served as a Royal sanctuary, was briefly abandoned in the early 4th century and then after some restorations, was used as an administrative citadel for the city.
The last fortress Kizil Kala was originally constructed in the Late Antique period, 1st to 4th centuries CE, but was abandoned and then rebuilt in the 12th-13th centuries on the eve of the Mongol invasions. There is some debate about how this fortress may have been used in ancient times, with some scholars proposing that it was a garrison barracks for troops, whilst others suggest it was an early example of the many fortified manor houses that were typical of Khorezm in the early medieval periods.
After visiting all eight fortresses it takes about 60-90 minutes to drive to Khiva or Urgench. Our driver will drop you off in your hotel, airport or train station in Khiva or Urgench and end the Daytrip there.

Download Itinerary