1. We pick you up from the Airport, Train Station, or your hotel in Khiva or Urgench to begin the day trip, recommended in the morning after breakfast. It takes about 90 minutes to reach Dumon Kala, a fortress with three connected sections: a square-shaped western citadel with corner towers measuring approximately 150 by 170 meters, a smaller eastern citadel around 100 meters across, and the northern enclosure whose remains are mostly gone, showcasing ancient Khorezm defensive design.

2. Guldursun Kala, a 12th-century fortified town, features defensive walls and towers, with archaeological finds including pottery, bronze items, and coins from Muhammad Khorezmshah’s reign during the Mongol invasion of 1220, revealing rich medieval history.

3. Koykirilgan Kala, now a dusty mound, originally had a rounded two-story structure 45 meters in diameter with double ring walls, towers, and arrow slits, reflecting strategic military architecture.

4. Angka Kala, dating from the Late Antique period (1st–3rd centuries AD), guarded the eastern caravan routes during the Kushan Empire, highlighting Khorezm’s role in ancient trade and defense.

5. Janbas Kala, with four flanking walls up to 20 meters high, is unique for lacking towers on outer walls, using steep loopholes for archers to defend the lower sections, an Early Antique fortification system.

6. Kurgashin Kala, well-preserved with some towers standing two stories high, 1.4 hectares in size, dates from the 4th–3rd centuries BCE and remained in use up to the 4th century CE, featuring a rectangular plan.

7. Big Kirkkiz Kala, dating from the 4th century BCE to the 7th–8th centuries CE, is rectangular with double walls containing a two-story archer gallery; in the Afrighid period, it was surrounded by pottery production centers.

8. Small Kirkkiz Kala, founded around the 4th–3rd centuries BCE and abandoned at the end of the 3rd or early 4th century CE, consists of western and eastern parts with different layouts, serving as a border fortress at the edge of the oasis.

9. Ayaz Kala, a spectacular cluster of three fortresses atop a hill at the eastern end of the Sultan-Uiz-dahg range, founded around the 7th–8th centuries CE, provided defense against nomad raids and features a tourist center with yurts overlooking a shallow picturesque lake.

10. Yekke Parsan, an impressive fortified manor house dating from the 6th–8th centuries CE, was likely the residence of a prominent feudal lord, with surrounding spaces for estate workers and servants.

11. Kavat Kala, reflecting 2,400 years of history, served as the center of a complex irrigation system and was surrounded by flourishing settlements, particularly between the 11th and 13th centuries.

12. On the way to the next fortress, stop at Akchakul Lake to swim and enjoy lunch at lakeside yurt camp restaurants, a perfect desert retreat.

13. Toprak Kala, from the 2nd–3rd centuries CE during the Kushan period, was the royal residence of Khorezm kings, initially a sanctuary and later an administrative citadel, showcasing royal architecture and city planning.

14. Kizil Kala, originally constructed in the Late Antique period (1st–4th centuries CE) and rebuilt in the 12th–13th centuries, may have served as a garrison or fortified manor house, completing a comprehensive exploration of Khorezm’s historic fortresses. After visiting all sites, return to Khiva or Urgench with drop-off at your hotel, airport, or train station, concluding an unforgettable day of ancient history and desert adventure.