Leave the bustling city of Tashkent behind and find yourself in the Tian Shan mountain range. Green or snow-covered, with sheep and goats on the slopes, tulips and snowdrops in the meadows. You won't meet a soul here for hours on end. We have compiled a list of mountain destinations within a few hours of Tashkent that you will remember for a long time to come.
The mountains of Uzbekistan are home to lavender and poppy fields, almond groves, coniferous forests, and even the 3,000-meter Chimgan peak, which is not too difficult to climb. A trip to Tashkent would not be complete without a visit to the mountains. But first, let's take a detour.
These places are not always accessible by car, and the journey on foot takes several hours or even days. It is safe in the mountains—it is unlikely that you will be attacked by wolves or people. However, we do not recommend going without a guide. You may lose your way or get into trouble, and it can be difficult to find you in a place where there are no street names. There are many guides in Tashkent who will keep you company or share advice. Alternatively, you can consider ready-made tours to Uzbekistan. The company Madera Travel can organize such a trip for you.
Jade Lakes
Many Uzbeks admit that this trip was the most impressive for them. These lakes are called jade because of their amazing deep color. You need to leave early in the morning to chase this beauty, as the journey from Tashkent takes about 4 hours. But we still include them in our list, because the road is worth it!
Tavaksa Waterfall
Head to Tavaksa Waterfall and you'll get to see some canyons as a bonus. The round trip on foot will take almost the whole day, as it's 18 km each way. But it's an easy walk, with no steep climbs or descents.
Amirsoy
Let's simplify the task a couple more points — and recommend the Amirsoy resort. Just come by car and admire the mountains. They remain snow-capped even in spring. The resort has ski lifts, restaurants, a climbing wall, a rope park, and much more. You can also stay at a hotel here. It's a great place for a lazy vacation if you love the mountains but don't like hiking.
Blue Mountains
A very picturesque area on the border with Tajikistan. It is called Sinegorye because of the color of its coniferous forests, but it is actually the Kuraminsky Ridge.
Locals admit that the nature here is so unique that they "feel like they are not in Uzbekistan." And in some ways they are right — along the road you will see signs saying "state border." Rest assured that border guards will not let you accidentally run onto the slopes of a neighboring country.
On an easy trek through Sinegorye, you will pass through meadows and forests, see grazing cows (just like Alpen Gold!), and then high snow-capped mountains above blue-green conifers. Everything around you will be so perfect that you will feel like you are inside a painting.
Pulahkhtan Plateau
This is not the easiest high-altitude hike deep into the Uzbek Tien Shan. It is impossible to climb to an altitude of almost three kilometers in one day—the hike will take two to three days. A large flat area in the mountains used to serve as a natural fortress. Many legends have sprung up around it — for example, that it is a landing site for UFOs or the Central Asian Shambhala. Come and put forward your own version of this mystical place.
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Charvak Reservoir
Well, at this point, you will have room for improvisation. Take a road trip in the mountains around the turquoise reservoir or have a picnic with horseback riding. Against the backdrop of a large artificial reservoir, you will see the famous snow-capped three-thousand-meter peaks, which are not far away. The reservoir has many recreation areas with sun loungers, barbecue grills, and gazebos. In summer, locals come here to swim.
