Khiva City Tour — Ichan-Kala on Foot

Meet your guide at the western bastion, passing through the massive crenellated clay gate that separates modern Khiva from the preserved medieval walled city. Receive an orientation on the defensive layout and 2.5-kilometer fortress walls.

Marvel at the extraordinary girth (over 14 meters at its base) and vibrant peacock-blue tiles of this iconic landmark. Construction halted in 1855 following Muhammad Amin Khan's death in battle, creating one of Central Asia's most recognizable and poetic architectural silhouettes.

Enter the 'Old Fortress', the residential and administrative heart of Khiva's rulers since the 17th century. Tour the open-air Throne Room with its blue tilework, the royal reception courtyard, the mint, and the elevated Ak-Sheikh Bobo observation bastion overlooking the city's sea of flat roofs.

Examine the monumental facade and twin-tiered arched student cells of Central Asia’s grandest madrasa, capable of housing 260 theological students in its heyday and reflecting the khanate's commitment to Islamic education and prestige.

Unlike traditional courtyard mosques, Juma Mosque is a vast, low-ceilinged hall illuminated by skylights and supported by 218 carved elm and walnut pillars. Each column features distinctive geometric, floral, and epigraphic motifs, reflecting woodworking traditions from the 10th to 18th centuries.

Gaze up at the graceful 56-meter minaret built in 1910 by modernizing grand vizier Islam Khoja. Its tapering form, banded with dark green and white glazed bricks, resembles ancient lighthouse towers. Visitors on full-day tours can ascend the spiral staircase for the ultimate bird's-eye view across Khiva.

Step into the revered shrine of Khiva’s patron saint—a 14th-century poet, philosopher, furrier, and invincible wrestler. Under a radiant emerald-turquoise dome lies a lavish interior covered floor-to-ceiling in pristine blue-and-white majolica, celebrated as the masterpiece of Khiva tile art.

Wander through the 19th-century palace complex of Allakuli Khan, comprising over 150 rooms and three grand courtyards: the public reception court, the supreme court of justice, and the private Harem with its ornate carved wooden balconies and intricate ceramic walls.