Music on the Aral Seabed

Every year, the small town of Muynaq in Karakalpakstan attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world for the Stihia festival. The largest non-profit open-air electronic music festival in Central Asia, Stihia often features The event offers unique emotional experiences in a remote part of the world.

While primarily a music event, the Stihia festival quickly grew into a big movement and expanded beyond playing techno sounds at the edge of a dead sea. Started in 2017 by Otabek Suleimanov, an enthusiastic DJ from Tashkent, Stihia became the main cultural and social event in Karakalpakstan within a few years. It is a lodestone not only for music lovers but also activists who care about environmental issues. Today, Stihia is a combination of projects in which musicians, artists, scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs collaborate. They all unite to raise public awareness of the Aral Sea’s ecological disaster.

Photos by Feruz Rustamov

Beyond the festival grounds, visitors can witness the remnants of the Aral Sea itself, explore the surreal Muynaq Ship Graveyard, or join workshops on traditional yurt-building—an enduring symbol of nomadic heritage. As night falls, the desert transforms into a stargazer’s paradise, with some of the clearest skies in the world.

The stark, post-apocalyptic landscape—scattered with rusting ships and desert flora—also provides a striking backdrop for creative photography.

Though attendance is free, advance registration is required. Reaching this remote destination is part of the adventure, with travel via Nukus followed by a journey to Muynaq. Accommodation ranges from guesthouses to tents, with traditional yurts offering the most authentic stay.

For those seeking a journey that blends culture, nature, and reflection, Stihia is unlike anywhere else.

For more info: www.stihia.org