Nature experience in Uzbekistan - hiking in the mountains

Our last trip started with a nature experience in Uzbekistan. We started from the capital Tashkent and travelled by minibus, in a north-easterly direction, towards the mountains of Ugum-Chatkal National Park. Wow, what an adventure!

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Start in Tashkent - the capital of Uzbekistan

When we received the programme for the press trip to Uzbekistan, just before departure, there was no nature experience planned. The group of journalists and bloggers were disappointed - nature in Uzbekistan is supposed to be something special - and immediately started lobbying to try to squeeze nature, mountains and hiking somewhere into an already packed programme.

The organisers in Uzbekistan went out of their way to accommodate our wishes and found a tour operator who, with just two days' notice, arranged a day trip to the mountains for us. The only catch was that the first rest day, which had been planned because we had flown at night, disappeared. We arrived at the hotel at 8am, handed in our suitcases at the reception of The Tower Hotel in Tashkent, and left immediately...

Road trip to the mountains - and a first stop at Lake Sharvak

It was Oybek and some of his colleagues from the company apollo-travel.uz who came and picked us up in a minibus. This company is based in Tashkent and organises different kinds of tours and excursions around the country.

We drove north-east from Tashkent, in the direction of Ugam-Chatkal National Park. A first stop was made at Lake Sharvak, where we could admire the beautiful view.

Stop for samsa

We also stopped at a small country shop, where we could take the opportunity to buy something or use the toilet. Several of us bought a "samsa", that is, filled dumplings that are baked in a large oven on site. The dumplings are often filled with minced meat, but it is also possible to get a vegetarian filling, such as potatoes. Delicious!

Long drive to Ugam-Chatkal National Park

Once we had replenished our energy, it was time to continue our journey towards Ugam-Chatkal National Park. The roads, which were initially wide and paved, changed to dirt roads and became narrower, rougher and steeper over time. We met horses, cows and donkeys and the minibus chugged along at a leisurely pace, enjoying more and more amazing views of the mountains.

It was a long trip and we almost started to question our choice of day trip, given that we had barely slept and the next day would have to get up at 5am to catch a train. But despite everyone being massively sleep deprived, the atmosphere was good, and there was a lot of laughter on the bus. Even when the driver asked us to get off and walk up a hill, in order for the car to make it up, everyone was in a good mood.

In fact, it was kind of nice to get out into the fresh air and look out over the snow-capped mountain peaks.

What an amazing landscape we had the chance to experience! Although the journey was long and bumpy, we felt privileged to come to this place in the world.

Change of vehicle - from minibus to Lada

After a four-hour journey, it was finally time to get off. We were now met by local staff who handed out water and sandwiches, and let anyone who wanted to use the toilets (well, outhouses might be a better description). And then it was time to change cars! The last stretch was too tough for the minibus and instead we had to get into three small rusty cars of the Lada brand.

This last stretch was not long, but we will remember it forever, and it has also forever changed our view of the Lada car brand. The driver was driving reaches into in a rapids with flowing water, where we made our way on large round stones while the water splashed around us.

Subsequently, there were absolutely no road, just a steep uphill in dense terrain, but that didn't stop the driver or the car. Up we went, at all costs! The car lurched over rocks, roots and deep potholes. We tumbled around inside the vehicle, half-screaming in some mixture of horror and delight. Rollercoasters for real!

When the driver stopped, we burst into spontaneous applause. Wow!

Hiking in the mountains of Nephrite Lakes

We had now arrived at a beautiful green shimmering lake that officially has the name Urungach Lake, but is better known as Small Nephrite Lake. Here you can enjoy the lovely environment and swim if you want, and this is also where our little hike started.

We did a short hike of about a kilometre in each direction to get to the larger Big Nephrite Lake.

Although the walk was short, it was still demanding, as we were almost always walking steeply uphill, in rocky terrain.

Along the way, we could enjoy amazing views. The mountains are dramatically steep and nature offers a palette of colours: intense green vegetation, reddish-brown tones in the mountains and white snow on the peaks. At the same time, you can hear the water rippling.

We had to pause occasionally, and the jacket we had brought just in case quickly came off. And then suddenly we were at the viewpoint!

Lake number two, Big Nephrite Lake, was also very beautiful and here we saw some boats moving on the water, or lying on the shore. What views!

We were very happy to have had this nature experience in Uzbekistan. Now we "only" had the hike down ahead of us, and after that we would be served food somewhere ...

Dinner in the countryside

We got back into the Lada cars and once again made the dramatic journey through the rapids. This time the drivers dropped us off at an idyllic farm in the countryside, surrounded by high mountains, fields and flowering trees.

Here we were shown to a table set up under a roof, but with open walls. Here we sat in the traditional way on mats on the floor, while one treat after another was served. The temperature was fantastic. Not too hot and not too cold, but just perfectly timed.

The men grilled skewers of beef and chicken. They also served bread, fresh fruit, dried fruit, nuts, honey and tomato salad. A relatively simple meal, but delicious! Not only will we never forget the bumpy car journey, the trip with Ladan through the rapids or the hike to the lakes, but we will also never forget this relaxed dinner, in the company of good friends.

Summing up: a great nature experience in Uzbekistan

We certainly thought that the car journey felt very long in relation to how long we were out in nature. On the other hand, we might normally have started earlier in the morning. Other options could be to do a multi-day trip, or to choose a shorter excursion.

But even though the car journey was long, we remember this day as perhaps one of the best and most special in Uzbekistan. It was very special to see the steep mountain ridges and the green-blue mountain lakes, as well as to meet the friendly people in the countryside. We can highly recommend doing a nature experience in Uzbekistan!

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

There is, of course, more to see and do in Uzbekistan. I the capital Tashkent you can experience the market, eat the national dish plov from the giant pot and admire the stunningly beautiful Tashkent metro. You can also take the Afrosiyob high-speed train to historic cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara and Chiva. Also, don't miss out on shopping in Uzbekistan!

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