Khiva

Why visit

Ichan-Kala, Khiva's walled inner town, was Uzbekistan's first UNESCO World Heritage site. Inside two kilometres of mud-brick wall stand minarets, madrasahs and the Kunya-Ark palace, and the whole town can be crossed in twenty minutes on foot.

Tour Highlights

• ✦ Ichan-Kala Fortress
• ✦ Kalta Minor Minaret
• ✦ Juma Mosque
• ✦ Tash-Hauli Palace
• ✦ City walls at sunset

What you can do

Climb the Islam Khoja minaret for the rooftop view, see the turquoise stump of Kalta Minor, walk the city wall at sunset, visit Tosh-Hovli palace and watch wood carvers at work near the west gate.

Where to stay

Small hotels and family guesthouses operate inside Ichan-Kala itself, which is the reason to stay overnight: the walled town empties of day visitors after sunset.

Food

Khorezm specialities: shivit oshi green dill noodles, tukhum barak egg dumplings and thick lamb shurpa. Shivit oshi is made with egg and yoghurt, so vegan travellers should ask for plain noodles with vegetables instead.

How to get there

Urgench airport is 35 km away with flights from Tashkent. A direct train from Tashkent to Khiva runs overnight; from Bukhara the road crosses the Kyzylkum in about 6 hours.

When to visit

April to early June and September to October. Khorezm has hot dry summers above 40C and genuinely cold winters, which make the walls photogenic but the days short.

Transport

Shared taxis run constantly between Urgench and Khiva; the trolleybus line between the two towns is a local curiosity.

Practical information

A single combined ticket covers most museums inside Ichan-Kala and is valid for two days. Minaret climbs are steep and unlit; bring a phone torch.

Safety

Safe and compact. Main cautions are heat in summer, ice on stone paving in winter and unlit stairways in the minarets.

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Frequently asked questions