Mountain tours (Charvaq and Chimgan)

This Pearl of Tian Shan Mountains has appeared quite recently. The rock fill dam of 168 meter height was made in 1970. Confluent of mountain rivers of Pskem, Kok-Su and Chatkal created the wonderful mountain lake – Charvak Reservoir, which blue water attracts everyone in hot summer days.

Formerly, some villages, mounds, evidences of primitive people sites, petroglyphs and other historical sights has existed on the site of the lake bottom. But after the destructive earthquake of 1966, when entire USSR made every effort to rebuild Tashkent, it was the period of acute shortage of cheap and ecological electricity. Therefore the government decided to create the Charvak Hydropower Station (they didn’t have another more convenient place for this purpose). Archeologists and historians have conducted researches of every object, made photos and fixed over 150 monuments of this area. Today, 40 years later, major part of these sights is under layers of mud and sludge.

Charvak Reservoir is located 60 km from Tashkent and is the most popular recreational area for local people. The coastline of the reservoir is almost 100 km, and half of this area is occupied by various recreation zones, boarding houses and summer camps. The most comfortable place here is the complex “Charvak Oromgokhi”, where you can have good time, tanning on sandy beach, boating or riding on water scooter. In addition you can enjoy your time in Yusupkhona and Brichmula villages overlooking the great panorama of Big and Small Chimgan peaks and other rock mountains, which are also popular tourist sites for residents and guests of the capital. 

One of small and interesting sights of Charvak Reservoir is the village of Bogiston. It is the birthplace of two great figures of East: Sheikh Khovendi at-Tahur (Shaykhantaur) and his distant relative Ubaydulla Akhror, world-wide known great master of Sufism. On the way to Charvak Dam you can visit “chaykhona” (national café) where you will find the 600-year Plane tree mural paintings of primitive people close to it.

It takes one hour or more to reach Charvak Reservoir from Tashkent. Here you can swim, go on a hike along surrounding hills and mountains as well as paraglide or ride on water scooter or just come to enjoy fresh air, pure mountain water and see unforgettable sunrises and sunsets.

Exclusive Weekend and unforgetable adventure in the Chimgan Mountains with Nika Travel Company

Chimgan is the most popular ski resort of Uzbekistan, located 80 km from Tashkent on slopes of Chimgan Mountains which are the part of Chatkal range of western Tian-Shan.  

The Valley of Chimgan is located on the height of 1200-1600 meters above sea level and is surrounded with mountains. Greater Chimgan Mountain (3309 m) is the main peak of the valley and towers above the entire valley.  Chimgan mountains include such beauty spots as Gulkam, Beldersay and others. In addition this district is the most ecological part of Uzbekistan, because these places are the part of Ugam-Chatkal National Park, under protection of which are various mountain landscapes of western Tian-Shan.

For its beauty and health-improving properties Chimgan is called as "Uzbek Switzerland". Slopes of mountains are covered with relict fir-tree woods. Mountains and hills are indented by mountain rivers, which people call "sai". There is the fresh and pure air with fragnance of numerous flowers and herbals (the word “Chimgan” or “Chim yon” is translated as “green grass”, “green valley”).

The development of this territory as the recreation zone was started as far back as in pre-revolution period. In the end of XIX century Russian doctors – officers built the hospital in Chimgan, finding out about healing properties of mountain air. And after construction of country residence of Governor-General of Turkestan area, Chimgan obtained the popularity among citizens as the perfect recreation zone. 

Tourist complex Chimgan includes the number of high-rise buildings, hotels, cottages, cable rail road, network of shops, bars, restaurants and cafe and other recreation institutions such as recreation zones, sanatoriums, summer camps.

The main inflow of tourists into this place falls on winter and spring. In winter this area is the hot-time for admirers of winter sports: downhill skiing, toboggan, snowboarding, free-ride. The ski season starts in December and lasts until March. Spring is the time of alpinists, rock climbers, sky surfers. In summer Chimgan invites to carry out interesting itineraries along mountain landscapes, to fly on paraglider, to ride horses. Besides it Chimgan mountains attract tourists with apple-tree and fir-tree forests, barberry and dog rose bushes, tumultuous rivers, beautiful lakes and waterfalls.  

People come here either for short period with the aim of recreation after day-to-day work or for long period to have good time in the company of friends. Here you will experience everything: beginning from extreme activities and finishing with pleasant relax in the hotel with all amenities.