Things to do & places to visit in Republic of Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan

Republic of Karakalpakstan #5 destination in Uzbekistan 2023. The average rating score is 4.52 based on 535 traveler reviews, of 15 attractions. Timezone: Asia/Samarkand, current date and time: Friday, May 10, 2024, 1:49.

Top things to do (21)

Top places to visit (18 attractions)

5.0 Ayimtour Travel Agency (62 reviews)
- Unforgettable days
Friday: 7:00 AM - 11:00 PM 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours • Taxis & Shuttles • Hiking & Camping Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours • Self-Guided Tours & Rentals • Bus Tours

A wonderful experience! A must-do in our 22 days voyage. Unforgettable. We'll never forget the milk way, the red moonrise over the Aral sea, wakening in the silence of the yurta camp, the landscapes. Sursen (tour-guide) and Joldas (driver) were wondeful: nice, competent, smiling, caring. We felt always safe. Thanks! See more..
5.0 BesQala Tour Agency (10 reviews)
- Terrific tour--well worth the time, effort and money--with great guide and excellent driver
Multi-day Tours • Eco Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours

I spent two nights and three days at the Aral Sea (I highly recommend spending more than one night if it’s at all possible). My guide Sarsenbay was knowledgeable, attentive and fun to travel with as was Mahmoud, the navigational wiz of a driver. How to describe the landscape? Magnificent in its grandeur and ultimately astounding in the extent of its climate changing devastation. It’s a landscape of incredible haunted and haunting beauty and you leave it with a lot to marvel over and think about. Plus it’s a unique experience to swim there. Also of note: when I arrived back in Nukus with time to kill before my flight back to Tashkent, the owner Mr. Tazabay Uteuliev, kindly arranged a shower for me in the hotel I’d stayed in earlier as well as provided me with coffee and snacks. See more..
5.0 Nizhne-Amudaryinskiy State Biosphere Reservoir (1 review)
Spent 1-2 hours National Parks

The Lower Amudarya State Biosphere Reserve has conducted significant work in preserving the population of the Bukhara deer that was included in the Red List of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Red Book of Uzbekistan. Three hundred fifty-six vertebrate species, including 36 mammal species are registered in the Lower Amudarya State Biosphere Reserve. See more..
5.0 Nizhne-Amudaryinskiy State Biosphere Reservoir (1 review)
Spent 1-2 hours National Parks

The Lower Amudarya State Biosphere Reserve has conducted significant work in preserving the population of the Bukhara deer that was included in the Red List of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Red Book of Uzbekistan. Three hundred fifty-six vertebrate species, including 36 mammal species are registered in the Lower Amudarya State Biosphere Reserve. See more..
4.5 The Karakalpakstan State Museum of Art named after I.V. Savitsky (220 reviews)
- Finally found the time to visit, well worth the wait
Spent 2-3 hours Art Museums

This was my third visit to Nukus, and finally found time to visit the Savitsky Museum. As is the case with much in Nukus, this is a very understated place, but is absolutely huge, and really reflects the ambitions of a previously sleepy ex-soviet region. While I am not a huge art lover, the displays of traditional artefacts, and the history of the region were well worth the $5 entrance fee. There were countless guides available if needed, but I am a bit old school, and like to make my own way. I will certainly visit again should I be back in Nukus next year. See more..
4.5 Ayaz-Kala (71 reviews)
- Huge kala
Spent More than 3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks

Recently we went to Kalas and a lake which are located in Ellikkala. One of the Kalas is Ayaz Kala. When we got there, we met the people who live near the Kala. The people of that place were very kind. The entrance of Ayaz kala we were asked for 10,000 sums for each person to enter the kala. And there we saw not only one kala but also two. Small kala is located near the big one. Ayaz kala is the biggest of two kalas. It was a bit difficult for us to get out of the kala. That's why when I reached the top of the Kala I saw such a beautiful sight. There were a range of mountains and the sun was setting in red. See more..
4.5 Fortress Toprak Kala (56 reviews)
- Interesting place
Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Historic Sites • Ancient Ruins • Points of Interest & Landmarks • Historic Walking Areas

When we arrived at the entrance there was a young lady, who informed us that we should pay 10 000 soums per person in order to enter the kala. Toprak kala was more interesting and bigger than Kyzyl kala and less ruined than the previous one. It was like a maze and there were several rooms that looked small but when we entered them they were much bigger than we thought. One interesting thing is that the walls of the rooms were carved and ancient people used that hole as a cupboard. Toprak kala was the capital of Chorasmia in the 2nd or 3rd century CE, where wall paintings, coins and archives were discovered. Its history covers a period from the 1st to the 5th century CE. Stretching 500 meters long and 350 meters wide, Toprak kala was fortified with 12-meter-thick walls and watch towers standing 20 meters tall. More than 2,500 people once lived on Toprakkala. Toprak kala may be remote, but its air of mystery and historic significance make it a truly worthwhile and unforgettable stop during your Uzbekistan travels. See more..
4.5 Ships Cemetery (53 reviews)
- Unreal but real - Consequences of Aral sea disaster in Muynak Uzbekistan
Friday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent More than 3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks

Unreal but real - Consequences of Aral sea disaster in Muynak Uzbekistan We did a quick detour & stop during our Mongol Rally trip in 2016. We camped closed to the boats, I don´t know if it´s (still) allowed or not. Recommendable but a bit scary. It´s impressive to see man´s stupidity, madness, and our negative influence on the environment is dramatically evident here - deserted area, the rusting ships are now more than a hundred miles from what's left of the Aral. It was once a busy Soviet fishing port on the Aral Sea — once one of the four largest lakes in the world — but today, nothing but desert (and maybe some camels if you´re lucky enough to spot them) remains. You can enter inside the boats (there´s no one around) and try to imagine how all this looked like. A bit depressing, but definitely worth seeing. Owner & Copyright: Carlos Bobillo Barbeito See more..
4.5 Kyzyl Kala (10 reviews)
- Kizil kala
Spent < 1 hour Historic Sites • Ancient Ruins • Points of Interest & Landmarks

Kyzylkala looks outstanding and indestructible. It seemed to me that there were 4 floors because the wall had been divided into 4 parts via wood, as well as new stairs which were constructed recently during the reconstruction, were for 4 floors. However, the reconstruction has been stopped since the kala ought to remain how it is. Exploring the Kyzylkala we have found some holes, and they are connected to each other according to local boys. Nevertheless, it has not been proved yet by archaelogists. Another point, one should be careful while going up the Kyzyl kala since there are lots of bees and their nests. See more..
4.5 Ayaz-Kala (71 reviews)
- Huge kala
Spent More than 3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks

Recently we went to Kalas and a lake which are located in Ellikkala. One of the Kalas is Ayaz Kala. When we got there, we met the people who live near the Kala. The people of that place were very kind. The entrance of Ayaz kala we were asked for 10,000 sums for each person to enter the kala. And there we saw not only one kala but also two. Small kala is located near the big one. Ayaz kala is the biggest of two kalas. It was a bit difficult for us to get out of the kala. That's why when I reached the top of the Kala I saw such a beautiful sight. There were a range of mountains and the sun was setting in red. See more..
4.0 Mizdakhan Necropolis (26 reviews)
- Interesting collection of buildings
Spent 1-2 hours Ancient Ruins • Cemeteries

I paid 100,000 som for a car to drive me over and wait from Nukus. The site is a bit bizarre, with the important buildings surrounded by graves. There was one beautiful mausoleum, plus the ruins of the madrassa. It was nice to wander around for 30 minutes. No entrance fee. See more..
4.0 The Regional History and Aral Sea Museum (23 reviews)
- Not to be missed when visiting the former Aral Sea
Speciality Museums • History Museums

The Aral Sea museum of Moynaq is located in a building of the Town Hall opposite a square, on the long main road in this village. A visit to this Aral Sea region is not complete without a visit to this local museum. The museum is not large, but gives in about 45 minutes with pictures, paintings, maps and articles a good idea of the cause and consequences of the disappearance of the Aral Sea. Especially the movie we saw, with a lot of shots in the past of a large watersurface with many fishing boats, was impressive to see. Particularly when we afterwards went to the shore of the former Aral Sea and walked on the sand plain of the former surface of the sea. Advise, it is not a good idea to go to the toilet in the museum. It is in a dirty small building on the outside. You could better avoid it. See more..
4.0 Karakalpakskiy Gosudarstvennyy Krayevedcheskiy Muzey (1 review)
- This is Karakalpakstan history museum
Natural History Museums
One of the two main museums in Nukus, is not as famous as the art museum but definitely worth a visit. The museum exhibits various pieces of art, jewelry, clothing parts through the History of Karkalpakstan. Make sure you take the guided tour, otherwise, it will be boring. Many exhibits are really unique and rare, but some explanations on them are needed. 1 hour is enough, once you are already in Nukus - quite worthy. See more..
3.5 Chilpyk (2 reviews)
- Interesting
Spent < 1 hour Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks

Chilpik (I–IV, IX–XI centuries) is located on top of a butte at the right bank of Amudarya, 43 kilometres south of the city of Nukus. According to Zoroastrianism tradition, dead people were brought here for the body to decompose. The bones were later collected by relatives and put in an ossuary. A legend says “…in ancient times people used to repudiate elderly, leaving them on a mountain. See more..
Irene Plus Travel LLC (Karakalpakstan) (0 review)
Friday: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Multi-day Tours • 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours • Private Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours • Day Trips

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Gallery-Workshop of Serekeyev Bakhtyar (0 review)
Friday: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Art Galleries
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Koi Krylgan Kala (0 review)
Ancient Ruins
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Koi Krylgan Kala (0 review)
Ancient Ruins
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