Can tourists climb the Islam Khoja Minaret?

Tourists are allowed to climb the Islam Khoja Minaret in Khiva, which reaches 45 metres and is considered the tallest building in the place. For the climb, there is a separate entrance fee that you pay right at the base, and that’s it.

Once you reach the observation deck, you get a breathtaking panoramic view, sweeping over the mud-brick rooftops of Itchan Kala and the turquoise domes that stand above everything else. The ascent is not for anyone with a weak nerve, because it takes you through 118 really steep spiral stone steps, which are also quite dark and narrow. If you have claustrophobia or reduced mobility, then it is wise to skip the whole idea, and it’s better to do the climb early, in the morning, before the daytime heat starts to build.