Uzbekistan: Khorezm oasis and Louvre in the desert

After breakfast, we'll explore the inner city of Ichan Kala. Here, monuments of the past, built over centuries, await you at literally every turn. Ichan Kala is the first World Heritage Site in Central Asia. Strolling along the ancient streets within the mighty fortress walls, you'll see the majestic architectural complex of Pakhlavan Mahmud with its majolica cladding and elegant ornamentation, the city's tallest minaret, the unusual Juma Mosque with its carved wooden columns, and the Tash-Khauli palace complex, where the khan and his harem lived. We'll also visit the monumental Kunya-Ark fortress, which can literally be called a "city within a city.".

Today, you'll see two unique archaeological sites. First, we'll visit the ruins of the Ayaz-Kala settlement. These fortifications were built in the 3rd-2nd centuries BC, during the Zoroastrian era. A labyrinth protects the entrance to the fortress, and the remains of its impressive ancient walls evoke thoughts of both the transience of time and how human creations outlive their creators for centuries. Next, you'll explore the Toprak-Kala fortress, built at the beginning of the Common Era. Excavations revealed that the palace contained 150 halls and rooms, most of which were decorated with masterpieces of painting and sculpture. Toprak-Kala was the first capital of the ancient state of Khorezm.
We'll have lunch by the picturesque Lake Akhchakol, and then continue to the city of Nukus.

In the morning, we'll head to Muynak. Here, we can truly appreciate the scale of the environmental disaster—the dramatic shallowing of the Aral Sea. During Soviet times, Muynak was a fishing town, home to one of the largest fish canning factories in the USSR. However, due to the shallowing of the sea, caused by both natural causes and destructive human activities, the bustling harbor has become a wreck in the desert. A cemetery of ships that once lay in the port is also located here. We'll climb to an observation deck, from which we can see the seabed, now overgrown with tough, dry shrubs.
After lunch at a café, we'll head to the Mizdakhkan necropolis. Its grounds contain burial sites from various eras and religions, as well as two ancient fortresses. The necropolis is surrounded by legends: it is believed to be the tomb of Adam, the first man according to Christianity, or Gayomard, the first man according to Zoroastrian beliefs. Return to Nukus.

Nukus is the capital of the sovereign Republic of Karakalpakstan, part of Uzbekistan. Surrounded by the Kyzylkum, Karakum, and Aralkum deserts, the city is a vital center for the Karakalpak people, the republic's indigenous population. But Nukus offers more than just immersion in local culture and customs. Here, in an oasis amidst endless sands, lies a true gem, known as the "Louvre in the desert." The Savitsky Museum of Art houses a vast collection of paintings from the early 20th-century avant-garde, as well as exhibits relating to the life and culture of Ancient Khorezm—over 9,000 objects in total.
After a tour of the museum, we return to Khiva.