Oplev Aralhavet med Ayimtour

What a phenomenal experience. This is a must see if you have any interest at all in ecology and the environment and how poor planning where water is assumed to be unlimited leads to disaster. An economist would appreciate how the mispricing of water could cause such a calamity. But there is much more to this tour then just getting you to what remains of the Aral Sea. There are the bizarre ghost towns left as a result of the disappearing sea but also some great ruins of forts from the time of the active Silk Road. An added feature is the impact of the discovery of natural gas in the region with so many modern wells and pumping stations. Most importantly the key to this tour is the Driver. You are off road for a great deal of this tour and a skilled and experienced driver makes the trip so much more enjoyable. Our driver was not a maniacal taxi driver type but one who drove to maxis customer safety and comfort. My wife and I felt incredibly safe. Everyone in the organisation was very friendly and helpful. Please note that the drivers have limited English so best to read the signs and do your own background research. The yurts were comfortable, the toilets basic but clean. The meals were above expectations for a “camp”. Disappointingly for us, we would have preferred a quiet campfire and stargazing but instead got incredibly loud karaoke until 11 pm. But overall an incredible experience and we are so thankful that our driver was so exceptional. Everyone who cares about the future of our planet should take this tour.

Ayimtour organised two trips for us. The first one with pickup in Khiva, visit to the fortresses and destination Nukus. Guide Yusup and driver Arslan were very competent, professional and friendly. All our questions were answered with plenty of details and the trip helped us to understand and learn more about Karakalpakstan long and rich history. The second trip was a 2-days tour to Aral sea. This time we were with guide Kuuat and driver Rustin on a sturdy 4WD veichles. Also Kuuat and Rustin were extremely professional a guided us through the discovery of Aral Sea history. Despite the extremely sad part of the recent history for this area, the region is extremely interesting, showing stunning views and breathtaking landscapes. The night passed inbthe yurt camp and the sunrise on the Aral Sea is priceless! The experiences along the trip (visit to a farm to see how local bread is baked and lunch ina private house) are a must of you want learning more about this beautiful region. Great job guys! I definitely recommend Ayimtour for their professional behaviour, for their fast follow-up to any question during the preparation not the trip and for the support once we arrived at the departure point.

We discovered Ayimtour by booking at the Jipeck Joli hotel (pro staff) We particularly appreciated the professionalism of this agency. The trip went as we had requested with little extras that delighted us thanks to the guide Asil's knowledge and good humor. The meal stop with a very welcoming family in the region allowed us to experience a moment of life in Karakalpakstan. Not to mention this magnificent journey between Nukus and Khiva with Arslan. Many thanks to Asqar for knowing how to advise and guide us. We will be back.

For us visiting Uzbekistan without seeing Aral Sea was not an option. Not only we saw the vanishing sea, we also had the opportunity to get to know Karalpakstan better. Everything went perfect- from smooth communication with Askar from the agency, to the trip itself. As a family of 4 we travelled in one car, joined by two other parties in their cars, and we all shared a guide Ahmet. We prefer travelling on our own, but this trip simply coudn't be done without experienced guide and driver. We appreciate Ahmet style of guiding- providing all sorts of info and fun facts but also being flexible and not rushing us to move if the point was of greater interest of the group. Last but not least, we want to thank our driver Saramat (I hope a wrote the name correctly)- being with him for 2 days in a car, gave us a great opportunity to learn about Karalpak people, their way of life, etc He made the drive over bumpy roads fun and special 😊

Excellent experience. Well-prepared logistics, good meals, a friendly guide, sturdy and comfortable cars, serious drivers, the night in a yurt, the possibility of swimming in the Aral Sea, visits to historical sites, Lake Sudochye. Good value for money. The other agencies, to my knowledge, are much (really much) more expensive. Everything is included except the entrance to the Moynak museum (about 3 euros). Thank you Askar for your professionalism!!!

+15

Very unique, fun and interesting excursion. The guide and driver were very friendly and helpful. Our guide, Yusup, spoke great English. While it is certainly an expensive trip, it is worth it because the things you can see and do on it are unlike anything else in the world, such as seeing the ship graveyard and swimming in the Aral Sea. We faced some minor issues, such as our car having problems and us needing to get in a different one on the way to Moynaq, but it did not hinder the experience in any significant way. Overall, this tour was an overwhelmingly positive and enjoyable experience.

We have just finished two incredible tours: the fortresses and the Aral Sea. Three days in the Uzbek desert, covering kilometres and kilometres on truly rough roads… but it was absolutely worth it! An incredible experience that is difficult to put into words: we visited fortresses hidden in the middle of the desert, slept in a traditional yurt, swam in the waters of the Aral Sea, visited the ship cemetery and the canyon, met camels and even tasted their milk. 🐪🌵 But what made this journey even more special were the people who accompanied us along the way. We were lucky enough to have two exceptional guides: brothers Yusuf and Ahmed, always helpful, knowledgeable and passionate about sharing the history and culture of their country with us. You can really see how much they love what they do, and that makes the whole experience truly unforgettable. With Yusuf, we had the opportunity to learn more about Uzbek culture, often comparing it with Italian and European culture. They say that travelling changes you, and never has this felt more true than this time. We are going home with a different perspective, because we met people who see the world differently from us — and Yusuf was able to share that perspective with us. ❤️ A special thank you also goes to our drivers, Ali and Djoldas, who accompanied us with great professionalism and patience along roads that calling “difficult” would almost be an understatement! 😄 And Djoldas, a special thank you for coming to pick us up at the beach at 6 a.m. ❤️🌅 An incredible experience, far away from the usual tourist routes, made of desert, silence, nature, adventure, encounters and so much humanity. We are going home with unforgettable memories and with the feeling that we have discovered not only a wonderful place, but above all some truly special people who will always have a place in our hearts. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to all of you. ❤️ Absolutely recommended to anyone looking for a different, authentic journey filled with adventure and emotions! 🇺🇿❤️ Barbara, Mattia e Luca. (Milano - Italy)

+5

We did a three day trip from Nukus through Karapakalstan to Aral Sea and back again. It was a great experience. The tour was very well organized. We went along in a comfortable 4CV, and the driver made us almost forget the rough terrain. Our local guide was very knowledgeable and gave as a lot of interesting information. Although subject to a huge natural disaster the region is a fascinating place with a rich and unique culture.

Ayim tour and our driver Joldas aka went far and beyond to make our two-day trip to the Aral Sea interesting, comfortable, and meaningful. We started in Nukus at 8am stopping in Mizdakhan necropolis, and reached Moynak after three hours. We then stopped at canyons and did unplanned stops, because Joldas aka wanted to show us around, such as watching a herd of camels walking by, drinking fermented camel milk, and buying famous melons. For lunch, we stopped in a village household with great homemade food. It is another three hours from Moynaq to the Aral Sea, so we reached the Aral Sea yurt camp called BesQala at 6pm. After unloading our stuff and getting towels from the yurt camp, Joldas aka drove us to the Aral Sea (it is two-three km from the camp). I highly recommend swimming in the Aral Sea; it is a surreal experience: first, for the quietness of the surrounding area, second, salty and heavy water keeps you buoyant, which pushes you up. Just try not to get water into your eyes because salty water will give you a burning sensation. Our plan of swimming for 30 minutes turned into a 1.5-hour experience. The second day started at 5:20am with watching sunrise and immediately Joldas aka driving us for 30 minutes to another canyon called Marcian Environment, which is another unique canyon with red hills. After breakfast in the yurt we started our trip back to Nukus, stopping at Lake Barsakelmes (saltmines) instead of Sudoyche Lake. Barsakelmes was another surreal experience of endless vistas of salt with a thin layer of clear water on top. Far away, you can see dots of heavy machinery mining for salt. We reached Nukus at around 4 pm. The Toyota Rav4 was comfortable for four people and cooled the inside of the car quickly despite 42 Celsius-degree heat. We learnt later that Ayim Tour is run by a local woman who is very proud of her Karakalpak heritage and eager her guests to have the best experience. She also runs a chain of hotels in Nukus called Jipel Joli, where we stayed as well. So I highly recommend this company.

+6

I took a two-day tour to see what remains of the Aral Sea, departing from Nukus. I reached out to Asqar from Ayimtour Travel Agency and had a wonderful experience, thanks to the driver Kolea, who was punctual, precise, and extremely reliable. The yurt camp that Ayimtour booked for us is very comfortable and is located in a strategic position. I feel confident recommending both the excursion and the agency.