Louder Than Words - Aral Sea
About this tour
Aralsk town
Former Aral Sea port
Driving in former seabed
Hot water spring
Desert
Abandoned villages
Fishermen
A lot of camels
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Aralsk, Kazakhstan
Day 1. Driving in desiccated seabed, abandoned villages and cemeteries near former shoreline, fishermen teams, hot spring. It is real desert!! The regular temperature is within +36 to +44 degrees, Celsium. You will see abandoned sea infrastructure, fish procurement points, wharf, shipwrecks, but the latter may be gone, because looters quickly steel them for scrap metal. Just 5 years ago there were still more than 20 of them, which is very pity!! On the way you will see how poor is life in desert, just few groundsquirrels, eagles, but loat of seagulls near water and lot of camels. But this grim and seemingly severe landscape is magnificent in its own way, especially when you realize what had happened to this place. Some village stay in their own places now 50 to 150 km from the sea but still continue their only business, fishing. In shallow places, where coastline is sandy it is possible to swim. The last point is hot water spring, about +62.2 degrees. This water contains and smells hydgrogene sulfid, this is why so many people come here to heal their skin diseases. They spread mud upon themselves and bath in hot water.
Day 2: Aralsk, Kazakhstan
Day 2, drive to Kok-Aral dam. It was built in Y'2005 to close the Northern part of Aral Sea that belongs to Kazakhstan. Due to this dam, now more water is collected in North sector, so that the sea recovers qite fast. At least, water is back near fishermen villages, greenery, animals and fish breed and grow much better. Like on the first day, it is possible to swim in the sea, it is shallow and clean here, don't worry, it is safe. On the way back it will be possible to swim in fresh water lake named Kambash, good stopover before drive back to Aralsk. You will return to Aralsk quite soon, so will have time for local museum and visiting former sea port - now desiccated too) - where famous Pink Floyd group made their Louder Than Words video.
What's included
Although accomodation is included I must note that service in all hotels is quite poor. Owners tend to cheat and charge additionally for included costs or not deliver promised addtional services. No choice unfortunately yet. Rooms are good enough but accuracy is almost abscent. Being late without any excuses and rude manners are typical,probably, not hotels' fault but local habit. 1 bottle of water is included but you may need several more, please have enough water with you and avoid using sweet beverages. The transport cost to get in Aralsk is not included but can be organazied and included additionally.
Hotel prices change in wide range, almost 6 times. I can recommend which hotel I think is best, but it is up to guest's choice.
What to know
This tour can be customized. Please get in touch with me. This tour can be comfortably combined with Baikonur cosmodrome due to location.
Route & locations
Aralsk, Kazakhstan