Tour to the cemetery of Ships on the Aral Sea
Remains (skeletons) of ships on the Aral Sea –
Jeep tour to the Northern Aral Sea –
The cemetery of ships on the Aral Sea is the remains of ships in different parts of the Aral Sea. This is due to the disappearance of water in the Aral Sea, the water was leaving quickly and therefore the ships that were not transported to safe places in time remained lying on the ground. At the moment, the remains of these ships are one of the attractions of the region. Traveling to the Aral Sea, we will definitely see them, the roads along the route are only country roads, as well as there are no amenities and tourist infrastructure in this tour, the trip is completely autonomous, so it is not cheap. In this tour there are at least two cars for mutual assistance, all the equipment for the installation of the base camp, kitchen sleeping bags, etc. we bring with us. The Aral Sea is located in a desert region, so be prepared for dust, hot sun and sometimes extreme conditions.
The route of the tour to the cemetery of ships on the Northern Aral Sea:
Aralsk – Zhalanash settlement – cemetery of "Lost ships" - Aralsk
Detailed program of the tour day by day from the village of Zhalanash to the Aral Sea:
- Distance of the route:
282 km
- Season time:
Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Best time:
Summer time
- Group size:
1-25
- Days & nights:
1 day
Tour itinerary:
Transfer: Aralsk – Zhalanash village (63 km). Departure from Aralsk, our way lies to the northwest, approximately 5 kilometers from the city the asphalt ends, the further way to the village of Zhalanash, passes along the grader. 27 kilometers in front of the village of Zhalanash, to the left of the road, there are picturesque cliffs of the Saryshoky tract of the Eastern Chinka of Ustyurt, a stop for photographing. Arrival in the village of Zhalanash, a short walk in the vicinity of the village, photographing rural houses with flat roofs.
Transfer: Zhalanash village – Tastubek village (25 km). The village of Tastubek is located on the Koktyrnak Peninsula. In the southwest of the village, 29 kilometers away is the bay of Zhalanash, in the southern part of the peninsula there are low hills Bultuk and Ushshoky. This is an ordinary village located on an elevation, from here to the fishermen's camp on the shore of the Aral Sea 3 kilometers.
Transfer to the fishermen's parking lot (3 km). The fishermen's working day starts early in the morning. In the morning, fishermen sail out to sea on motorboats, set nets, and in the afternoon pull out fishing nets with fish.
Transfer: fishermen's camp near the Small Aral Sea – Shoshkaly tract - chink Kaltybai (30 km). We are moving north, to our left is Butakov Bay, this is the northernmost part of the Aral Sea. Approximately 2 kilometers from the sea, the cliffs of the Eastern tip of the Chinka Ustyurt begin, and the Kaltybai Mountains are located here. A walk in the neighborhood.
Transfer: Kaltybai Mountains – The first ship on the shore of the Aral Sea (11 km). We are going west along the Eastern Chink of Ustyurt and along the northern shore of Butakov Bay. On the right we observe an elevation – Mount Karasandyk with a height of 200 meters above sea level. After 10 kilometers, Mount Akshoky rises 215 meters above sea level on the Ustyurt chinka. Arrival to the First ship, a walk in the vicinity. This ship is on the shore, mostly disassembled, wooden parts are lying in a pile apart from the ship to the side, everything is rusted through.
About 400 meters southwest of the First Ship is the Second ship. The second ship is a shapeless pile of rusty iron, it was practically not pulled apart, because it is in the water, about 70 meters from the shore. The bottom is very heavily silted, it is almost impossible to approach the ship. From here, to the east, 3 kilometers away, almost in the coastal zone of the Aral Sea, there is the deepest place in Butakov Bay - 45 meters. A walk in the neighborhood.
About 120 meters to the west of the Second Ship is the Third Ship. The third ship is a shapeless pile of rusty scrap metal, which, under the name of the former ship, is also partly in the water and partly on land. Most likely it was a tugboat, judging by the preserved cabin of the boat. A walk in the neighborhood.
Transfer: The third ship is a barge on the shore of the Aral Sea (9 km). Our way lies to the northwest along the Eastern chink of Ustyurt. We pass the Kenderli Mountains with a height of 227 meters above sea level, which is the most dominant elevation on the coastal chinka. The barge has been preserved better than all the other ships.
Most of the barge is in the water, the rest is on the shore. There is sand around the barge, a lot of garbage, apparently local residents from the village of Akespe come here to swim. A walk in the neighborhood.
Transfer: Barge – the city of Aralsk (141 km). Arrival in Aralsk, the end of the tour.
Photogallery:
