Winter tourism in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is particularly attractive for devotees of mountain skiing. Some eighty kilometers from Tashkent in the western spurs of Tian-Shan, “Sky Mountains”, there is Ugham and Chatkal National Wild Park with the resort area “Chimghan-Charvak-Beldersay”. 

On the beautiful mountain slopes of Chimghan tract, located at the height of 1600 – 2400 meters above sea level, the blanket of snow lies from October till May and the local skiing routes meet the requirements of the International Mountain Skiing standards.

Comparatively mild climate, almost windless weather, availability of three hundred sunny days a year, big choice of routes for skiing, slalom and downhill racing create good conditions for winter recreation. Here, on the slopes of Big and Small Chimghan, at the skiing lodge “Twelve Sources”, the Olympic national team of Uzbekistan on skiing is coached; here Lyna Cheryazova has developed into an Olympic champion in freestyle.

Hotel “Chimghan Oromghohi”, with its bars and restaurants, tourist equipment and outfit rental station, welcomes the guests. Ski lift and chair lift tracks lead to the top of the route. Here on the top there are easy “blue” routes for beginners who are not confident about their skiing or for those who like tobogganing. Patient instructors can teach the newcomers the basics of mountain skiing techniques on the training slopes. Experienced sportsmen prefer downhill racing on the well-equipped more complicated “red” and “black” routes. And the most adventurous ones make unbelievable turns on snowboards.

Crystal-clear frosty air, glaring snow and alpine sun empathize the majestic beauty of snow-covered mountains.

Escorted by a guide one can make a walking tour along the snow paths to the birch grove and to Ali-Baba gorge. Skiers can follow a romantic route in the Nurekatasay tract. There, right on the snow, one can set up a camp, lay a fire, and if in luck, one can watch curious ermine or wary fox. Those who fancy horse riding can betake themselves to riding. In “Chimghan Oromghohi” newcomers would be trained to keep steady in the saddle, to manage a horse, while the experienced riders would make long riding tours along the most picturesque sites.

In search of extreme adventures there come to Chimghan valley numerous mountaineers, eager to surmount the peak of the Big Chimghan which is 3309 meters high (10850 feet). Numerous hindrances lurk in the blinding blanket of loose snow in which deep abysses and steeps are concealed. The route lies through the relic woods of alpine juniper; sportsmen have to overcome rocks and glaciers where there can be found flocks of argali and snow leopards. But all these efforts will be rewarded with the magnificent view of Tian-Shan spurs and the valley with the mirror-like surface of Charvak reservoir. Of course only well-trained mountaineers, who have certain skills in handling the outfit and who are supervised by experienced instructors, can cope with such a travel.

When the night falls and myriads of stars show up on the black fathomless sky above the Chimghan tract one can relax in sauna, spend the night in a discotheque or home video theatre of hotel.

At a distance of only three kilometers from the Chimghan tract, on the territory of about forty hectares, there was built all-the-year-round mountain resort complex “Beldersay Oromghohi”. Here the most demanding guests can enjoy the comfort of a 4-star hotel, fitted up in accordance with the European standards, and 16 cozy family cottages. In all the rooms and apartments modern system of heating and conditioning has been installed as well as satellite television and international telephone connection. The resort complex also includes a conference hall, two swimming pools and sauna, tennis courts and a badminton playground.

From the territory of “Beldersay Oromghohi” there is a direct access to the ski-lift and chair-lift roads 2225 meters long, that take you up to the “Kumbel” mountain skiing route starting point. From here you can see the wonderful view of the snowy peaks of the Big and Small Chimghan. Here, too, a helicopter is at the disposal of those who like to make an aerial tour of the most beautiful sites of western Tian-Shan. The helicopter can land at the very top of the mountain and the sportsmen who are fond of extreme types of sport can make heliski – a breathtaking downhill racing, or they can make a fantastic low-level flight on a paraplane, wing shaped parachute, over the Kumbel route.

Stable snow blanket, that lies on the mountain slopes till mid-April, and first-rate Kumbel mountain skiing route, which has the length of 3500 meters and the steep drop of 565 meters, have made Beldersay the favorite place for the skiers who are enthusiastic about downhill racing and slalom. Less trained tourists make five or ten kilometers cross-country skiing along the surroundings of Beldersay. The qualified guides and rescue team ensure the safety of sportsmen. Alongside with recreation Beldersay offers its guests aero therapy and phyto therapy, which are rather effective in treatment and prophylaxis of many diseases.

Wintertime tourism is the festival of health. A famous French mountain-skier, who won the Olympic Games thrice, Jean Claude Killie once said that the “skiing is not happiness but it can replace it”. The joy and intensity of life, which you experience on the ski routes of Chighan, make you feel self-confident and happy.

All Tourist Gems of Uzbekistan