About Us
Khaykel Tour aims to assist those eager for handicrafts and traditional crafts, as well as anyone who wants to, get acquainted with tradition keepers and hereditary masters of embroidery and ceramics of Karakalpakstan and Uzbekistan.
We offer our guests an unconventional holiday, combining their favorite hobby with the study of local culture’s symbols and ornaments, along with the ubiquitous charm of historical parts of the cities. The harmonious mix of a classic journey with the study of iconic aesthetic motifs from Karakalpak and Uzbek culture creates a delightful combination of the past and the present.
Travelers will find themselves surrounded by the simple Karakalpak and Uzbek people, who preserve their ancestors‘ traditions through embroidery and ceramics, and reinterpret historical heritage in modern pieces, for an unforgettable and exciting holiday.
Experiencing the breathtaking art of local artisans symbolizes the unity of people from all over the world, regardless of their origin and travel destination.
Our Story
Khaykel is the name of the traditional massive chest ornaments worn by the Karakalpak bride. The Khaykel’s peculiarity is in the twisted upwards bull’s horns-shaped top element, and in the twisted downwards ram horns-shaped lower element. The word Khaykel originates from the cult of ancestors and totemism.
The horns of a strong bull and a fertile ram were endowed with protective power and were the symbols of the lunar bull and solar ram. In the center of the amulet, there is an etui with a needle inside. Since ancient times, the needle has been known as a remedy against evil forces. After the adoption of Islam, the needle gave way to a paper with a prayer written on it. The Khaykel was considered the main decoration in the bride’s dowry. The bride wore it as a talisman throughout her childbearing years.
Our story began as a story of love for beautiful and rare things, such as ancient Khaykel samples in museums, combined with admiration for the skillful craftsmanship of the Karakalpak embroiderers. The ancient meanings hidden in the symbols, patterns, and ornaments that the artisans reflect in their embroidery serve as a roll call of times between our days and the hoary past, when the Scythian tribes inhabited these lands.
Interest, love, and admiration have spread over time to other types of traditional crafts. It gives us pure joy to discover for ourselves and indeed for our guests, the works of masters living in small villages. They live their quiet lives far from the city’s noise and create beautiful things the same way their ancestors did. Familiarizing ourselves with the history of clay whistles or the color scheme of ceramic dishes, or another intricate symbol on a hand-embroidered suzani, we become familiar with the history of world civilization, with forgotten knowledge preserved in these skillfully made things.
This is how the idea of Khaykel Tour as a resource uniting handicraft enthusiasts from all over the world came about.
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