Aydarkul Lake
Aydarkoʻl
A man-made salt lake in the Kyzylkum Desert, with dunes reaching the shore. You can swim and watch the sunset here, and it is the centerpiece of yurt camp overnight tours.
Aydarkul Lake formed in 1969, when floodwaters from the Syr Darya flowed into the Arnasay depression. Together with Tuzkan Lake and others, it forms the Arnasay lake system, which stretches about 250 km from east to west. The water is slightly salty and clear. Yurt camp guests are usually driven to a sandy beach on the northwest shore, where yellow dunes, tamarisk thickets, and blue water all come together. It is good for swimming, photographing the sunset, and watching cormorants, pelicans, and other waterbirds. There are almost no facilities along the shore and no entrance fee, so bring your own drinking water and sun protection. Midday sand temperatures in summer are extremely high, so go early in the morning or in the evening. The drive from the yurt camp usually takes 30 to 40 minutes, and most camp packages include round-trip transfers.
Opening hours
All day