Tashkent Region

The mountains and valleys around the capital: the Chimgan and Beldersay slopes, Charvak reservoir and the Ugam-Chatkal park, all within a couple of hours' drive of Tashkent.

Photo 1 of 12

Guide to Tashkent Region

Overview

Tashkent Region surrounds the capital on three sides. To the east the land rises into the western spurs of the Tien Shan: the Chatkal, Pskem and Ugam ranges, with peaks over 3,000 metres, fast rivers and juniper slopes.

For visitors this is mostly the mountain escape from the city. People come for day hikes and skiing at Chimgan, Beldersay and Amirsoy, for the lake shore at Charvak, and for walks in the Ugam-Chatkal National Park. Closer to the city there are pilgrimage sites such as Zangiata and the solar furnace near Parkent.

History

The plains of the region belong to the old Chach oasis, irrigated from the Chirchiq and Ohangaron rivers, and have been farmed and settled since antiquity. Medieval towns and caravan stations stood along routes to the Fergana Valley and the steppe.

In the 20th century the region was industrialised: coal and metal mining around Angren and Almalyk, chemical plants in Chirchiq, and the Charvak dam on the Chirchiq river, completed in the 1970s. The mountain areas were protected early on; the Chatkal reserve was set up in the Soviet period and later became part of the Western Tien-Shan World Heritage property.

Getting there

Everything starts from Tashkent, where the international airport and the main railway station are. The mountain resorts of Chimgan, Beldersay and Amirsoy and the Charvak shore are reached by road, usually through Gazalkent; the drive takes about one and a half to two hours depending on traffic.

There is no train to the mountains. Most visitors take a Yandex Go taxi, hire a car with a driver or join a tour; shared taxis to Gazalkent and Chirchiq leave from the north-east of Tashkent.

Getting around

Public transport between the mountain villages is limited, so a car with a driver is the practical choice if you want to see more than one place in a day. Taxis wait at the main resorts, but prices rise at weekends and in the evening.

At Chimgan, Beldersay and Amirsoy, chairlifts and gondolas take you up the slopes in both winter and summer. Hiking trails in Ugam-Chatkal are not always marked, and some areas near the border need a permit, so a local guide is worth it for longer walks.

When to go

The ski season usually runs from December to March, depending on snowfall. Late spring brings green slopes and wild tulips; summer is the busy season at Charvak, when the mountains are a few degrees cooler than the city.

September and October are good for hiking, with stable weather and autumn colours in the valleys. Weekends in summer and on public holidays are crowded, so go on a weekday if you can.

Food

Roadside places along the way to Chimgan and Charvak serve shashlik, plov, fresh non and trout from mountain fish farms. Many have tapchan platforms by a stream where you sit with a pot of tea.

In season, stalls sell local honey, dried apricots, walnuts and fruit from the orchards of Bostanliq district. Resort hotels have their own restaurants, but food choice in the villages is simple.

Crafts

This is not a major crafts area; for textiles and ceramics, shop in Tashkent. In the mountains you will mostly find felt items, knitted socks and wool goods sold at viewpoints and resort entrances, along with local honey and herbal teas.

If you buy dried herbs or honey from roadside sellers, check that jars are sealed and ask what the plants are.

Good to know

Take layers even in summer: the weather in the mountains changes quickly and evenings are cool. Bring cash in soʻm, since card payment is not accepted everywhere outside the big resorts.

Parts of the Chatkal and Pskem area lie near the border and inside protected zones; check permit requirements before you plan a trek, and keep your passport with you.

Must-see in Tashkent Region

All 43 places in Tashkent Region

Nature
Bostanliq districtUNESCO World Heritage
Ugam-Chatkal National Park
A large mountain national park in the north-east of the region, covering the Ugam, Pskem and Chatkal ranges, with walnut forests, rivers and alpine meadows.
Nature
Bostanliq and Parkent districtsUNESCO World Heritage
Chatkal Biosphere Reserve
A strict nature reserve on the slopes of the Chatkal range, protecting mountain forests and wildlife; part of the Western Tien-Shan World Heritage property.
Resorts
Bostanliq district
Chimgan
A mountain resort area in the western Tien-Shan, about two hours' drive from Tashkent, used for skiing in winter and for hiking and horse riding in summer.
Nature
Bostanliq district
Greater Chimgan
The highest peak of the Chimgan massif, rising above 3,000 metres over the resort; a long but non-technical summer climb popular with Tashkent hikers.
Resorts
Bostanliq district
Amirsoy Mountain Resort
A modern ski and mountain resort near Chimgan, opened in 2019, with gondola and chairlifts, groomed runs in winter and hiking and bike trails in summer.
Nature
Bostanliq district
Charvak Lake
A large mountain reservoir formed by a dam in the 1970s, ringed by foothills, beaches and summer resorts, about 80 km from Tashkent.