People come here thinking it’s a desert — but they leave with a story.

In the late 1990s, as a young volunteer at the NGO Aral Tenizi, I witnessed a remarkable time in the life of this region. The Aral Sea was making headlines around the world. Scientists, filmmakers, travelers, and journalists from every corner of the globe were arriving in our small, dusty town of Aralsk, each drawn by the mystery and tragedy of a vanishing sea. For us, it was the beginning of something unexpected — a new role for Aral as a place of meaning, curiosity, and unforgettable encounters.

Today, the sea may have retreated, but the stories have only grown deeper. This land holds silence that speaks, and landscapes that echo with both history and hope. Visitors walk among sunken ships in the sand, climb the wind-swept cliffs of the Chinkis, swim in hot springs under a boundless sky, and share tea with local families who open their homes and hearts.

What makes this place special isn’t just what you see — it’s what you feel. The hospitality, the resilience, the music, the memory.

At Visit Aral Sea, we don’t just offer tours. We offer connection.

In the next post, I’ll take you to the ghost port of Aralsk, where rusted vessels rest like monuments — and every grain of sand carries a piece of the sea’s story.

— Yedige