Aral Sea – biggest ecological disaster in the World - 13 Days

Fixed Travel Dates

TRIP DATESOFFERPRICESPACE
2.October 2023 - 14.October 2023Available 1,535
16
Booking
4.October 2023 - 16.October 2023Available 1,535
16
Booking
6.October 2023 - 18.October 2023Available 1,535
16
Booking
16.October 2023 - 28.October 2023Available 1,535
16
Booking
18.October 2023 - 30.October 2023Available 1,535
16
Booking
20.October 2023 - 1.November 2023Available 1,535
16
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When you sail a ship on the Sea, the further you get from the shore, the more you come back to the age of the creation of the World. The average age of water in the open ocean is estimated to be about 300 million years. So the same water that you can pass by and even touch existed in the time of the dinosaurs. But is it possible for man to destroy an entire sea that nature has been creating for tens of millions of years? First to deprive it of its rivers, then to pollute it and shrink it and turn it into a vast, eerie, poisonous desert? Aral Sea, the fourth largest inland water body in the world a few decades ago. Where waves once raged and ships sailed, is now salt desert. It is the question of time and we say a final farewell to the Aral Sea. Only a few artificial lakes and a part in the north, which belongs to Kazakhstan, have been saved. Together with the agony of the sea, Uzbekistan is becoming one of the biggest cotton exporters in the world. The goal has been achieved. But what is the use of this cotton, because the locals will soon realize what a huge chaos they have gotten into. We will take you to Moynaq, once a fishing village and ship port of the Aral Sea. There we will visit the ship graveyard and meet former fishermen.

Day 1: Day of Arrival 

Day 2: Tashkent – where Modern and Old meet

Day 3: Aral Sea – the drying wonder of Central Asia!

Day 4: Aral Sea – the drying wonder of Central Asia!

Day 5: Khiva – Museum under open air

Day 6: Khiva – Museum under open air

Day 7: Through the Red Wonder

Day 8: Bukhara – Pearl of the Orient

Day 9: Bukhara – Pearl of the Orient

Day 10: Shakhrisabz – the Hometown of Amir Temur

Day 11: Samarkand – on the Trail of Temur’s Treasure

Day 12: Samarkand – on the Trail of Temur’s Treasure

Day 13: Early Morning Transfer to the Airport and Departure

Day 1
Day of Arrival 

Arrival in Tashkent. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay in a 4-star Hotel.

Day 2
Tashkent - where Modern and Old meet

After breakfast at hotel we start our Tour in Tashkent. Tashkent, the capital of the Republic of Uzbekistan where the history of modern and old stands side by side is located in the northeast of Uzbekistan and with circa 3 million inhabitants the biggest city in Central Asia. Along with modern hotels, restaurants, theatres, cinemas, opera, disco, oriental bazaars, the city also offers a thousand years of history. Khazrati Imam Complex consisting of Barak Khan Madrasah (16thc.), Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum (15thC.), Muyi-Mubarak Mosque – storehouse of the well-known Koran of Khalif Osman and gold hair of Prophet Muhammad, Djuma Mosque of Khodja Akhrar Vali. Dinner at local city Restaurant. Overnight stay in a 4-star Hotel.

Day 3
Aral Sea - the drying wonder of Central Asia!

After breakfast transfer to the Airport and flight Tashkent – Nukus. On arrival visit of Nukus. Karakalpakistan is one of the regions which is strongly affected by the drying up of the Aral Sea. We visit the State Museum “Sawitsky”. In the afternoon we will drive to Moynaq, once a fishing village and ship harbour of the Aral Sea. Dinner and overnight stay with a family.

Day 4
Aral Sea - the drying wonder of Central Asia!

After breakfast visit of Moynaq>/strong>, former fishing village on the shore of Aral Sea>/strong>. From there we can have a look at the drying Aral Sea. Once the Aral Sea was one of the largest lakes on the planet – which was not called “sea” for nothing. It has gone down in history with a number of names like “the Choresmian Sea” and “the Blue Sea”. Today, however, the water level of the Aral Sea has fallen by more than 22 metres. In the middle of the Aral Sea there was the island of “rebirth”, which has become a peninsula in the meantime. The drying up of the Aral Sea is regarded as a catastrophe of mankind, a tragedy on a world scale. In the afternoon we drive to Khiva. Dinner in a traditional restaurant. Overnight stay in a 3-star hotel.

Day 5
Khiva – Museum under open air

After breakfast we visit the historical City Ichan Kala. Dinner with live Music in the Restaurant. Overnight stay in a 3-star Hotel.

Day 6
Khiva – Museum under open air

After breakfast we visit the historical City Ichan Kala. Dinner at the local Restaurant. Overnight stay in a 3-star Hotel.

Day 7
Through the Red Wonder

After breakfast drive: Khiva → Buchara (480 km). During the drive through the Desert Kysyl-Kum (Red Sand). The Kysyl-Kum Desert is about 200 000 km² and belongs to the territories of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. There you can find the red Sand, from which the Desert gets its Name. On the way to Bukhara we make a stopover at the teahouse “Bukhoro-i-Sharif”. In Bukhara check-in at the hotel. Dinner at the local Restaurant. Overnight stay in a 3-star Hotel.

Day 8
Bukhara - Pearl of the Orient

After breakfast we visit Poyi Kalon Ensemble consisting of Kalon Minaret (12th c.), Kalon Mosque (12th C.), Miri Arab Madrasah (16th C.), domed bazaars Toqi Zargaron (15th C.), Toqi Telpak-Furushon (16th C.) and Toqi Zaroffon (16th C.). Continue we visit Lyabi-Khauz Complex (14th-17th C.) and Nodir Devonbegi Madrasah. Dinner at a local restaurant and then live Folklore in the Medresse Nodir Devon Begi. Overnight stay in a 3-star Hotel.

Day 9
Bukhara - Pearl of the Orient

After breakfast we visit Citadel Ark (4th c. BC), Bolo-Khauz Mosque (beginning of the 20th c.), Samanides Mausoleum (9th-10th c.), Chashmai Ayub (14th c.). Lunch at local city restaurant in Bukhara. Afternoon we visit: Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Complex, summer residence of the last Emir (ruler) of Bukhara, Bakhouddin Naqshbandiy Memorial Complex, Chor Bakr (19th c.) and Chor Minor. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight stay in a 3-star Hotel.

Day 10
Shakhrisabz - the Hometown of Amir Temur

After breakfast we drive to Shakhrisabz, to the City of birth Amir Temur (known in the West as Tamerlan). The city was already known to Alexander the Great as Nautaca. We visit the summer palace “Ak Saray” (White Palace, 1380-1405). “Ak Saray” was added to the list of World Heritage by UNESCO. We also visit Kok Gumbaz Mosque, Darus Soadat Complex and the Jahongir Mausoleum. Afternoon we will drive to Samarkand. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight stay in a 3-star hotel.

Day 11
Samarkand - on the Trail of Temur's Treasure

After breakfast we visit in Samarkand the three Medressen of the Registanthe Ulugbek-Medresse (built 1417-1420), the Sher-Dor-Medresse (1619 – 1636) and the Tillo-Kori-Medresse (1646 – 1660). The legendary Timurid mausoleum Guri Amir (XIV-XV century) enchants the viewer with its golden interior decoration. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay in a 3-star hotel.

Day 12
Samarkand - on the Trail of Temur's Treasure

Breakfast at hotel. You will enjoy hearing some legends while visiting the Bibi-Chanum Mosque and the Medresse (XIV century). We visit the traditional oriental Siyab Bazaar. Near the Siyab bazaar there is an ensemble of Shohi-Zinda (the living king, “IX.-XIV century), one of the world’s most famous group of mausoleums, which fasinate you with its beautiful architecture. Next we will visit the famous Ulugbek Observatory (1428-1429 which was built on one of the hills of Chupanata). The observatory was a unique design in his time. Afternoon Transfer to the train station. We will drive by Train to Tashkent (dep. 17.00 – arr. 19.20). Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay in a 4-star hotel.

Day 13
Early Morning Transfer to the Airport and Departure

Services included in Price:

  • 3 Nights in 4 star hotels in double rooms with Shower/WC
  • 9 Nights in 2-3 star hotels in double rooms with Shower/WC
  • 11x Breakfast, 1x Lunch, 13x Dinner
  • Mineral water (1,5 l per person and per day)
  • Folklore show program in Khiva and Bukhara
  • Services of A/C comfortable transport with professional driver pas per the program
  • Professional English-speaking guides from group arrival to departure
  • Domestic air tickets Tashkent - Urgench
  • High-speed train economy-class (Y class) tickets for Samarkand → Tashkent
  • Entrance fees to all the mentioned sights as per the program (except photo and video charges)

Do not include:

  • Visa costs and processing
  • Photo and video charges
  • International air tickets
  • Beverages
  • Meals not indicated in the program
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Any personal expenses
  • Any services not included in the above itinerary

You can send your enquiry via the form below.

Aral Sea – biggest ecological disaster in the World
Price From
$ 1,535 Per Person
Number of passengersTotal price
1 Adult USD 1,535
2 Adults USD 3,070
3 Adults USD 4,200
4 Adults USD 5,400
5 Adults USD 6,625
6 Adults USD 7,500
7 Adults USD 8,400
8 Adults USD 9,200
9 Adults USD 10,350
10 Adults USD 11,000
11 Adults USD 12,100
12 Adults USD 13,200
13 Adults USD 13,650
14 Adults USD 14,700
15 Adults USD 15,750
16 Adults USD 16,800
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Trip Facts

  • $ 205,-
  • TT0013
  • Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
  • 2 - 16
  • Easy
  • Uzbekistan
  • Tashkent
  • Tashkent