Transfer from Khiva to Bukhara by Fortresses (or vice versa)
Description
The trip connects between Khiva and Bukhara bypassing top interesting fortresses of ancient Khorezm - Ayazkala, Toprak kala, Kyzylkala. These fortresses were the royal residence during Khorezm Khanate in 4-3 centuries BC. In total, the transfer time from Khiva to Bukhara takes around 8 hours. You will have opportunity to discover local lifestyle, culture, way of living in Kyzylkum desert of Central Asia.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The ancient settlement Toprak-Kala is an outstanding monument of culture of Khorezm in 1-6th centuries A.D. The capital of Khorezm was here in the 3rd century A.D. Toprak-kala was discovered by by the Khorezm expedition under the guidance of S.P.Tolstov in 1938. According to the plan, the city had a form of a correct rectangle. The palace of the governor - a huge castle with three towers- was located in a northwest corner. The fire temple was in the south east from the castle. A long street dividing the city into two parts led from the fire temple to south direction. Lanes departing from it separated massive houses-blocks, forming the capital of the late slave-owning Khorezm.
Ayaz Kala is a fortress dating back to end of the 4th or beginning of the 3rd century BCE. In this time Khorezm had become independent from Persia. Ayaz Kala 1 was part of a chain of fortresses protecting the agricultural settlements from attacks by nomads. The fortress is situated on the top of a hill, approximately 100 m (330 ft) high, providing wide views over the surrounding plains. The fortress is rectangular in plan with sides 182 and 152 m (597 and 499 ft) long. The main axis is oriented from south to north.[4][5] At the southern end of the axis is a square gateway, which is a typical element of frontier fortresses of Khorezm. The enemies' approach lies parallel to the south east walls and invaders were vulnerable to attack from above. A massive gateway defended by two rectangular towers leads into a small rectangular chamber. This chamber was overlooked on all sides by high walls from which bowmen could shoot at the enemy in case the first gate was breached.
The Kyzyl-Kala fortress is located in the territory of Ancient Khorezm (modern Karakalpakstan) in the vicinity of ancient town Toprak-Kala. Kyzyl-Kala is a monument of the last stage of antique Khorezm architectural history and can be considered as a prototype of the Afrigid period castles corrugated with massive columns.This architectural site was discovered during a Khorasan expedition headed by S.P. Tolstov in 1938. All basic study of the fortress was conducted by the expedition staff. The fortress itself is not large in size and almost square in form. The study of the foundation and the structure ruins showed that the fortress was surrounded with a double vallum, and there were watchtowers in every corner of the fortress. A main street in the center of the settlement led to a temple of fire-worshippers where Zoroastrian priests were holding their sacramental rites. The residential part of the city was divided by a street into several sections with several rooms in each
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- The total duration includes the travel time.
- The youngest age we can accommodate is 10 years old.
Reviews(17)
I chose the transfer from Bukhara to Khiva by car visiting the five fortresses with Islambek travel. It is a very reliable agency with which it is easy to communicate and organize. Private tours can also be a bit customized according to current needs. Comfortable and pleasant journey, our driver Suhrob was very efficient, punctual, and an excellent guide. Interesting trip with fascinating stops at the fortresses! Recommended!
Dear Valeria, huge thanks for sharing your best impressions, highly appreciated
Superb experience and value for money
Dear Sanjeet, huge thanks for sharing your impressions, highly appreciate that
In the end, I did not take the tour of the fortresses; it seems that they are more like ruins of fortresses. The journey from Khiva to Bukhara is already quite tough; it is a long but necessary route. Both places are beautiful.
Hello, thanks for sharing your impressions, well noted
Travelling from Khiva to Bukhara can take a long time by train, so we recommend using this tour. Kyzil-Kara ↓ Toprak-Kara ↓ Ayaz-Kara We will see the sights in the following order. The advantages are that they are all difficult for individuals to reach and can be incorporated into the Khiva→Bukhara journey. Please note that the total time is 11 hours (subject to traffic conditions). It was harder to communicate because the driver spoke less English. Olimjon, from our company, supported us on the phone, which was a relief. I also enjoyed a fish meal at a restaurant near Lake Akhchakol. If you tell us what you want, we will arrange it too. Also, since it is a private car, we were the only ones, so we can travel at our own pace and sleep while traveling because it is a safe pick-up company. Ayaz-Kara walks a lot. It's like climbing. If you are lame, you may want to skip here.
Dear Makoto, huge thanks for sharing you best impressions, highly appreciate that!
Very comfortable car with excellent friendly driver. The guide for the three fortresses was excellent. Thank you.
huge thanks for your lovely feedback, highly appreciate that
Great trip. We just did the transfer to Bukhara from Khiva and it went well. I'm sure the fortresses would have been nice but we didn't have time this trip so we went straight to Bukhara.
Dear Scott, huge thanks for sharing your impressions, highly appreciate that, thanks
In late March and early April, I had the opportunity to explore the heart of Uzbekistan with a group of amazing people. One of the most memorable experiences of this trip was the organized transport from Bukhara to Khiva, about 450 kilometers across the Khorezm desert, punctuated by some of the region's most fascinating fortresses. The service started in the morning with a punctual managed to pick us up directly from our hotel in Bukhara. We found a well-maintained minivan and, above all, an extraordinary driver waiting for us. Over nearly seven hours of travel—with strategically thought-out stops—he demonstrated a mastery of the road and kindness that turned what could have been a simple commute into a curated experience. Along the way, we were guided to an authentic local eatery. This is where we enjoyed an excellent lakhgon, an unpretentious but extraordinarily tasty dish—the kind of genuine food that tells the true story of local cuisine far more than any tourist restaurant. The architectural stops in the desert fortresses proved cathartic. Those massive structures, immersed in the vastness of arid space, exert an almost overwhelming impression. They were not simple landscape photographs, but moments of silent confrontation with history. We reached Khiva at sunset. The next day, a carefully structured guided tour allowed us to understand the historical and architectural layers of the walled city with the necessary targeted explanations, transforming the visit from mere observation into a deep reading of the place. A transport service of rare quality.
Hello, huge thanks for sharing your best memories from the trip! I highly appreciate that. I hope to see you again in Khiva and at fortresses, many thanks
very good, exclellent services were provided for the transfer between Khiva and Bukhara, highly recommended travel agency OXUS.
Our tour and transfer were fantastic. We found the castles really interesting and they were in a beautiful locations, especially Ayazkala in the middle of the desert. The drive to Bakhara was comfortable and our driver was considerable about regular stops and making sure we were ok. This tour company were the best we have used in Uzbekistan. It was easy to arrange things with Olimjon via WhatsApp. He messaged with detailed information including photo of the driver and really helpful audio tours. These increased the appreciation of the sites. He called on the day to make sure we had everything we needed. This trip is part of a 10 day tour of Uzbekistan we have organised ourselves. The country is really welcoming and I would recommend it as a holiday destination
Dear James, Huge thanks for sharing your impressions! Wish you pleasant travels in Uzbekistan. Best regards Olimjon
Spectacular desert landscapes, ruins only partially restored full of charm evoke the glories and distant times, illustrated by Olimjon, competently and sympathetically, and finally digressing on a cotton field and especially on a small Soviet-style restaurant in Bost'on where you can immerse yourself in a past that is there and little else. You don't forget.
Huge thanks for sharing your best impressions, highly appreciated!
