Water adventures
Uzbekistan is blessed with rich nature, in particular its rivers, waterfalls and green oases, which freshen up the arid climate with flowing water. Here are some of the best places to go for a hike and a splash.
Words by Sevinch Umarova
Photos by Marat Nadjibaev
Koksu River
Koksu means ‘blue river’ in Uzbek, a name that nods to its incredibly clear mountain water. Visitors come for the so-called ‘Gap’, which is visible beyond the birch grove. The river flows through this spot, creating a gap where the rocks resemble a canyon.
Things to do
● Watch the sunset on the riverbank
● Arrange an overnight stay in a tent
● Observe the starry sky
● Tell campfire stories with a group of friends
Unique features
Tulips bloom on the rocks in spring.
Best time to visit
Spring, when it's not yet too hot but the weather is already warm
Location
Charvak Reservoir, near the village of Brichmulla, Tashkent region
Lashkerek
The lush hills of Lashkerek were home to one of the largest known medieval silver mines in Central Asia. Today, travellers visit to immerse themselves in extraordinary nature, which almost feels like being in a foreign land.
Things to do
● Go swimming in cool river water
● Walk through a juniper forest
● Enjoy waterfall views
Unique features
The slopes of Lashkerek are strewn with juniper forests and fruit trees grow along the gorge.
Best time to visit
It is worth visiting Lashkerek in the summer when the purest water flows in the river. But it’s also quite special to see the waterfall completely frozen in winter. In spring, the weather is perfect.
Location
Angren, Tashkent region
Karakiyasay
Karakiyasay is a mountain river that originates from Mingbulak peak, whose name means ‘a thousand springs’. It eventually flows into the Chirchik River, which is the main waterway of Tashkent. A hike up the Karakiyasay valley leads to large boulders with hundreds of petroglyphs (rock carvings), some of which date back to the beginning of the 1st millennium BC.
Things to do
● Splash in the waterfalls
● Admire the petroglyphs and their history
● Go fishing
Unique features
There is a variety of wildlife present here, including badgers, foxes and wolves.
Best time to visit
It is best to visit during the warm season to enjoy swimming and avoid attracting dangerous animals, which go higher into the mountains during this season.
Location
Bostanlyk, Tashkent region
Make it happen
There are a couple of ways to arrange a visit to any of the sights above. The best option is to sign up for a tour with gototravel.uz or wolftravel.uz, which are led by professionals who know these areas very well. They provide interpreters and employ English-speaking guides. Very experienced trekkers can opt to rent a minibus with a driver and visit independently through perevozka24.uz, which provides drivers with an intermediate level of spoken English.
It’s imperative that you wear the correct hiking shoes with excellent support, as some of the hikes include steep, rocky portions and uneven footing.
What to bring
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Spare clothing and socks
Sun hat
3 litres of water per person
Lunch
Snacks
First-aid kit
Phone power bank and charging cable
