Aral Sea

Why visit

Muynak was a fishing port. Today its ships rest on sand 150 kilometres from the water, and the Aral Sea shore is reached by a long desert drive across the exposed seabed. It is the most sobering landscape in Uzbekistan and, at night, one of the best places for stars anywhere in Central Asia.

Tour Highlights

• ✦ Ship graveyard at Moynaq
• ✦ Aral Sea museum
• ✦ Desert camping
• ✦ Retreating shoreline
• ✦ Environmental heritage

What you can do

See the ship cemetery and the Aral museum in Muynak, cross the Ustyurt escarpment, camp by what remains of the sea, and watch the sky at night with no light for a hundred kilometres.

Where to stay

A guesthouse and a small hotel in Muynak, and yurt or tent camps on the former seabed with camp beds, dry toilets and no running water.

Food

Expedition meals are cooked by the crew, typically soup, plov and tea. Vegetarian and vegan food must be confirmed before departure because nothing can be bought after Muynak.

How to get there

Muynak is about 3 hours by road north of Nukus. The remaining shoreline is a further 4-5 hours by 4x4 across the seabed, so the trip is normally done as an organised two-day expedition with an overnight in a yurt or tent camp.

When to visit

April to May and September to October. Summer temperatures on the dry seabed exceed 45C and winter brings strong salt-laden winds.

Transport

Road transfer Nukus-Muynak, then 4x4 only across the dry seabed. Self-driving beyond Muynak is not advisable and no rental company permits it.

Practical information

This is a genuine expedition, not a day trip: no fuel stations, no shops and no mobile coverage beyond Muynak. Vehicles travel in pairs, and drivers carry extra fuel, water and a satellite phone.

Safety

Remote and demanding: extreme heat, salt dust, no medical facilities and no phone signal. Travel only with an operator that carries satellite communication and a second vehicle.

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Frequently asked questions