Itchan Kala — The Merchant's Secret Ledger
Decipher a hidden 19th-century merchant's ledger to expose a conspiracy of silence surrounding the slave trade routes through Khiva's inner fortress.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In 1870, a wealthy Khorezm merchant vanished from Itchan Kala, leaving behind a cryptic ledger buried beneath the Tash-Hauli Palace
Itchan Kala — The Merchant's Secret Ledger
You are a historical researcher, tasked by an enigmatic 19th-century merchant in Khiva to unearth a forgotten ledger.
Your mission leads you through Itchan Kala, the fortress city where
Immerse yourself in Itchan Kala, the inner city of Khiva, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1991, and uncover the millennial secrets of Silk Road merchants.
The story that haunts this land
Your quest begins at Ota Darvoza, the main western gate of Itchan Kala, named for its geographical position. This gate is the traditional entry point for visitors to the city of Khiva and is located next to the Kalta Minor minaret and the ticket office. The fortress walls, 8 to 10 meters high and 6 to 8 meters thick over a total length of 2200 meters, remind you that you are entering a UNESCO site, the first of its kind in Uzbekistan, inscribed in 1991. The first clue to the ledger seems connected to this ancient entrance.
Just past Ota Darvoza, your gaze is drawn to Kalta Minor, the unfinished minaret, one of Khiva's most iconic landmarks. Built in the 19th century, it was originally planned to reach 45 meters high, but its construction was prematurely halted. Its blue turquoise tiles, visible from the western entrance, may hold a riddle about the ledger. Nearby, the Madrasa of Muhammad Rahim Khan II, erected in the 19th century by the eponymous khan, represents typical Khivan madrasa architecture, offering another anchor point for your investigation into this Xorazm heritage.
Your journey then takes you to Kunya Ark, the 17th-century citadel. Built by Muhammad Erenke Khan or Arang Khan between 1686 and 1688, this fortress within a fortress served as an administrative center, housing the mosque, the khan's residence, the supreme court, the reception hall, the mint, the arsenal, the harem, and the stables. It is here, at the heart of Khiva's power, that the merchant might have hidden a crucial clue. Access to the Ak Sheikh Bobo tower offers a panoramic view of Itchan Kala, allowing you to spot other leads.
Continue to Tosh-Khauli Palace, a major monument in Itchan Kala built in the 19th century as the khan's residence. This palace, included in standard Khiva tourist tours, is renowned for its opulent architecture, harems, and ornate inner courtyards. The merchant's ledger, related to court affairs, could be hidden there. Not far, the Juma Mosque, dating from the 10th century with later additions, and its 250 wooden columns, is a central place of worship and a visited UNESCO site. Its complex history offers many nooks for ancient secrets.
Finally, your investigation leads you to the Mausoleum of Pahlavan Mahmud, the famous wrestler and poet, whose monument was built in the 14th century and reconstructed in the 19th. This site, also included in the UNESCO heritage tours, houses the tomb of a local legendary figure. By exploring these historical sites of Khiva, you are not just following a GPS treasure hunt, but immersing yourself in the richness of the Ancient Silk Road, discovering the history of the Xorazm region. Each monument, from Ota Darvoza to the mausoleum, reveals a facet of the open-air museum city, enriching your understanding of this crossroads of civilizations.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
8 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
The Secret Ledger
Uncover hidden clues to reconstruct the journal of a scholar who documented the lives of Khiva's slaves.
Chains of History
Confront the harsh reality of slavery on the Silk Road and the efforts to end it.
City of Wonders and Shadows
Explore Khiva's majestic architecture, a silent witness to a complex past.
Truth cannot remain captive forever.
Uncover history's secrets to free the voices of the past.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
Avis des aventuriers
Soyez le premier à partager votre expérience.
Did you play le registre oublie de khiva? Check the email you received after your game to leave a verified review.
Your turn to play
Immerse yourself in Itchan Kala, the inner city of Khiva, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1991, and uncover the millennial secrets of Silk Road merchants.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
Other escape games in Itchan Kala, Khiva
See all games in Itchan Kala, Khiva→More ideas for self-guided walking tours, scavenger hunts & city quests in the same city
Other escape games in Ouzbékistan
View Ouzbékistan→More destinations, tours & urban treasure hunts across the country
