Guided walking tour of Khiva

Explore one of Central Asia’s best-preserved Silk Road cities with a privately guided walking tour.

You’ll spend a whole day with a private guide exploring Khiva’s walled old town called Itchan Kala, which feels like a living museum. Inside, discover a well-preserved citadel where centuries of Silk Road history are still palpable. Unlike many cities in Central Asia, Khiva is compact, its mosques, madrasas, mausoleums, and palaces clustered within easy walking distance.

Your adventure will begin at the West Gate, the traditional point of entry into the old town. Here, the unfinished but strikingly patterned Kalta Minor minaret and the grand Mohammed Rakhim Khan Madrasa immediately set the tone.

The nearby Ark fortress, once the khans’ stronghold, offers an atmospheric glimpse into Khiva’s darker side with its dungeon display, while the Mohammed Rakhim Khan Madrasa showcases refined architecture often missed by visitors. Inside the Juma mosque, hundreds of carved wooden pillars hold the roof aloft in timeless harmony.

Heading north, you’ll encounter the ornate Tosh-Hovli Palace, renowned for its intricate tilework and harem quarters, while the Pahlavon Mahmud Mausoleum, still a place of pilgrimage, adds a spiritual dimension. The tour culminates at the Islom Hoja minaret, Khiva’s tallest structure, where a climb is rewarded with sweeping views over the terracotta rooftops and out to the desert. Along the way, Khiva’s bustling bazaars overflow with chugurma (traditional wool hats), textiles, and souvenirs.