Republic of Karakalpakstan

An autonomous republic in western Uzbekistan, with Aral Sea relics, desert fortresses and a remarkable avant-garde art museum.

The Republic of Karakalpakstan is an autonomous republic within Uzbekistan, located in the west along the lower Amu Darya and the southern shore of the Aral Sea, with a landscape of desert and the Ustyurt Plateau. The Savitsky Museum of Art in the capital, Nukus, holds a large collection of Soviet avant-garde works; the "ship graveyard" at Moynaq bears witness to the shrinking of the Aral Sea; and the surrounding area has ancient Khorezmian desert fortresses such as Ayaz-Kala and Toprak-Kala. The best seasons are spring and fall. The gateway is Nukus Airport, and you can also travel by road from the direction of Khiva.

Destinations

• Nukus & Aral Sea
• Khiva

Itineraries

• Aral Sea Ship Graveyard & Khorezm Fortresses – Take an off-road vehicle to spend the night in a yurt on the shores of the Aral Sea, then head south to Khiva via deser…
• In-Depth Uzbekistan Grand Loop – A comprehensive loop covering the four ancient cities plus Fergana Valley, Nukus, and the desert mountain villages of N…
• Classic Uzbekistan Silk Road Rail Tour – Connect Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva by high-speed rail, including a day trip to Shahrisabz.
• Turkmenistan Overland: Khiva to Bukhara – Enter via Shavat and exit via Farap, connecting four classic Turkmen highlights on the way to Bukhara.
• Overland Journey Across Turkmenistan: Khiva to Bukhara – Enter via Shavat and exit via Farap, incorporating the Caspian canyons, mountain villages, and Gonur Depe into the over…