Ayaz-Kala
Ayozqal’a
An ancient Khwarazmian fortress on a sand-dune hilltop, overlooking the Kyzylkum Desert and a salt lake. There is a yurt camp at the foot of the hill where visitors can stay overnight.
Ayaz-Kala is a group of mud-brick fortresses dating from the 4th century BC to the 7th century AD. The main fortress sits atop a lone sand-dune hill, and its surrounding walls and towers remain intact. From the top you can see far across the Kyzylkum Desert, the salt lake and two smaller fortresses below. The climb takes about 15 to 20 minutes, and the sand is loose underfoot. At the foot of the hill are yurt camps in the Kazakh and Karakalpak style, where you can ride camels and watch the sunset and stars. It is about 90 km from Khiva and is often the final stop on a day trip to the desert fortresses.
Opening hours
Open daytime
Nearby sights
- Toprak-Kala
- Kyzyl-Kala
- Tash Hauli Palace
- Palvan Darvaza & Allakuli Khan Caravanserai
- Allakuli Khan Madrasa
- Nurullabay Palace
- Kutlug Murad Inaq Madrasa
- Anusha Khan Bathhouse