Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hook up with the Tashkent Hiking Club
or talk to Boris at Asian Special Tourism to
get the scoop on day and overnight hiking
possibilities around here.
A guide is highly recommended for all
hikes as the routes are not marked and top-
ographical maps are about as common as
Caspian Tigers (which died out from these
parts in the 1970s). Guides are mandatory
for multiday hikes to secure the necessary
border-zone permits and ensure that you
don't inadvertently walk into Kyrgyzstan
(highly possible given the jigsaw borders).
Skiing¨&¨Heli-skiing
In the winter months, downhill skiing is
possible at the Beldersoy and Chimgan ski
areas. They encompass both the best and
the worst of Soviet-style ski resorts. The
best: limited grooming, excellent free-
riding, some unexpectedly steep terrain,
rock-bottom prices and plenty of hot wine
and shashlyk. The worst: crummy lifts,
limited total acreage and no snow-making
to speak of.
The best terrain is way up above the tree
line at Beldersoy, accessible by a lone T-bar.
From the base, a long, slow double chairlift
leads up to the T-bar. With just one chairlift
and two trails, Chimgan is more for begin-
ners, but also has challenging free-riding
off-piste. A full-day lift pass at either 'resort'
costs 25,000S, or you can pay by the ride
(T-bar/chairlift 2000/5000S). Beldersoy has
surprisingly passable equipment available
for hire.
While the resorts are not worth a special
trip to Uzbekistan, the helicopter skiing
most definitely is, as the Chatkal and Pskem
Mountains are reputed to get some of the
driest, fluffiest powder you'll find anywhere.
Figure on paying US$500 per day for heli-
skiing - a bargain by international stand-
ards. Book through Asia Adventures.
Rafting
In the warmer months, white-water rafting
trips are possible on the raging gazpacho of
the Pskem, Ugam and Chatkal rivers. Talk
to
Asia¨Raft
(
%
71 267 09 18; www.asiaraft.uz;
Mavlono Riezi 77)
in Tashkent.
4
¨Sleeping
Hotel¨Chimgan¨
SANAToRiUM $
(
%
90 105 50 02; Chimgan; r per person incl full
board US$15)
Here's your chance to experi-
ence one of those (barely) still-standing
Soviet relics. With a mix of threadbare but
clean doubles and quads, it's
the
place to
stay for skiers and hikers on a budget.
Around Tashkent
0
20 km
0
12 miles
Pskem Mountains
Shymkent (55km);
Chorvok
(3497m)
Bishkek (495km)
Oromgohi
Ugam-Chatkal
Chorvok
National Park
Chorvok
Reservoir
K A Z A K H S T A N
Hojakent
Burchmulla
Chimgan
Chinar
Gazalkent
M39
Arostr-Chimgan
Chimgan
Hotel
Chimgan
Besh-Aral
Ski Area
Nature
Reserve
Beldersoy
Chirchik
Hotel
(3309m)
Beldersoy
Ski Area
Bolshoy
Chimgan
Chernyaevka
Ugam-Chatkal
National Park
(3789m)
Ugam-Chatkal
(3303m)
Parkent
TASHKENT
Tashkent
Biosphere Reserve
Lakeside
Golf Club
M39
Ugam-Chatkal
Biosphere Reserve
Chinaz (45km); Syr-
(3555m)
Darya River (50km);
Krasnogorsky
Gulistan (95km);
Yangiobod
Samarkand (285km)
Kokand (100km);
A373
Fergana (200km);
R-2
Andijon (215km)
A373
Toytepa
Tuyabogiz
Angren
