Active tours/ Trekking/ Horse-riding/ Camel safari/ Snowboarding/ Rafting
How to travel to Uzbekistan
Hotel and B&B Reservations
Uzbekistan Weather
Public holidays
Uzbekistan is not only about history and fabled architecture. Enthusiasts of active tourism have always been very much attracted by Uzbekistan’s exotic nature with its contrasts, diverse flora and fauna, abundance of sunny weather all the year round, and friendly climate.
Uzbekistan embraces as diverse types of the environment as deserts with their sand-dunes, blossoming oases and riverside tugai woods, alpine meadows and mountains topped with eternal snow.
Active tours
Uzbekistan is not only about history and fabled architecture. Enthusiasts of active tourism have always been very much attracted by Uzbekistan’s exotic nature with its contrasts, diverse flora and fauna, abundance of sunny weather all the year round, and friendly climate.
Uzbekistan embraces as diverse types of the environment as deserts with their sand-dunes, blossoming oases and riverside tugai woods, alpine meadows and mountains topped with eternal snow.
Trekking
The charm of Uzbekistan’s unrivalled nature can be experienced during the trekking tours in the Western Tien-Shan, the Celestial mountains. In search of extreme adventures there come to Chimgan valley numerous mountaineers, avid to surmount the peak of the Big Chimgan, which is 3309 meters high (10850 feet).
Horse-riding
Romantic appeal of horse riding attracts people of any age and temperament. Horseback ride tours are generally arranged in summertime, but Uzbekistan’s unique climatic conditions make horse riding possible all the year round. One of the most popular alluring horseback riding travels are through Ugham-Chatkal National Wild Park well-known for its rich flora and fauna.In some eighty kilometers off Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, at the foot of snow-covered spurs of the Western Tien Shan Mountains there exists“Chimghan Oromghohi” resort complex designed for horse ride enthusiasts. In the stables of the complex there are horses of local breeds, such as kurama and karabair, as well as akhal-teke breed and sturdy half-bred horses. From here the horseback tours head up through the wilderness areas of the National Park.
Impressions of your journey along the mountains wh ere fresh, clear air is filled with the superfine aroma of the numerous herbs and flowers, the squeak of a saddle, rhythmical clatter of hoofs and romantic evening meal round campfire under bottomless mountain sky with myriads of stars, will be long kept in your memory.
Camel safari
The ambience of the legendary Silk Road of our distant past can be experienced during camel safari through the Kyzyl-Kum Desert. Sand-dunes, merciless sun, sparse islands of saxaul, camel’s-thorn (alhagi) and sand, sand, sand… In early spring, thanks to the life-giving rains, the desert is covered with purple poppies and an emerald carpet of grass – sadly, these colours fade quickly. At the camel farm tourists change their comfortable cars to camels- the only suitable form of transport in the desert and start their exotic journey. Unforgettable impressions of riding on camelback; watching the beautiful sunset, its colours bleeding into the horison’s shimmering sands; overnight in yurtas (Kazakh collapsible tents); exotic national dishes and ceremonies — this is what makes this tour popular with tourists.
Heli-ski and snowboarding
Mountains of the Western Tien-Shan offer everything a snow enthusiast could ask for. Comparatively mild climate, almost windless weather, availability of three hundred sunny days a year, big choice of skiable terrain with tracks for cross-country skiing, slalom and downhill runs, create good conditions for winter recreation.
Over the last few years “Chimgan-Charvak-Beldersay” resort area has become a popular location for enthusiasts of heli-ski and free-ride, the youngest but fast developing types of extreme sports and recreation. Thus 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.
For the enthusiasts of heli-skiing many runs start from the heights up to 4000 m above sea level and finish in the valley. You can make up to 6 runs per day making the first tracks in virgin powder.
Rafting
‘Asian Switzerland’ as Uzbekistan is sometimes called, is especially attractive for those who fancy extreme traveling, who become ecstatic about rafting down the rapid local rivers.
Rafting along the rapid Chatkal River is the favorite activity of extreme travelers. They are interested in many-day rafting along the route rated as the route of the fifth category of complexity, as well as in diverse landscapes and natural obstacles. Not less than fifty serious obstacles await the travelers on the river. Among the hardest ones are waterfalls, cascades of rapids, stony shallow areas with rapid current, whirlpools, rocky gorges and sharp stone cogs sticking out of waves.
Golfing
Tashkent Lake Side Golf Club is a wonderfully organized golf club with first-rate golf fields. 108 hectares of land with 18 holes on evergreen lawns, with gently sloping hills and branchy crowns of trees, lakes and waterfalls that serve as natural barriers for the game, all this pertains to Tashkent Lake Side Golf Club. It also possesses a large recreational area with training lawns, tennis courts, swimming pool, sauna.
For all the flavours of its storied past, cultural mosaics and unique natural beauty, warmth, hospitality and enthusiasm of the people, Uzbekistan is the country to visit and marvel.
How to travel to Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan today has a developed tourism infrastructure which meets the international standards. You don’t need to spend months in order to reach your destination, like it was in the times of the Silk Road.
Today Getting to Uzbekistan is quick and easy. As one of the main gateways to Asia, Uzbekistan has direct flights to the world's major cities.
The most convenient way to travel to Uzbekistan is by taking flights to Tashkent, the capital, from main international airports of Europe, Asia and Middle East. The national airline company Uzbekistan Airways (HY), which significantly expanded its routes since independence of Uzbekistan, offers regular flights to more than 40 destinations worldwide including London, Birmingham, Amsterdam, Athens, Frankfurt am Main, Paris, Peking, Bangkok, Delhi, Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, New York, Seoul, and Tel Aviv. Further, HY offers flights to many destinations within the CIS and Uzbekistan. Additionally you can use air service of more than 15 international air carriers to visit Uzbekistan through Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Urgench international airports.
Hotel and B&B Reservations:
During the past few years, luxurious hotels were built in Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara, which are also managed by western hotel operators. In addition, there are a number of licensed independent hotels and B&B's that provide suitable accommodation at much lower price. It is necessary for visitors to obtain a registration during the stay in Uzbekistan, which is usually provided by the hotel that you will stay. Most tourist hotel rooms have a shower, private bath, air conditioning, telephone, satellite TV with international channels.
Making reservations:
To ensure that your choice of departures, tours and hotels will be available, we highly recommend an early reservation, especially during the busy seasons, which run from mid April through mid June and from end of August through late October.
Uzbekistan Weather:
Uzbekistan has an extreme continental climate. It is generally warmest in the south and coldest in the north. Temperatures in December average -8�C (18�F) in the north and 0�C (32 �F) in the south. However, extreme fluctuations can take temperatures as low as -35�C (-31�F). During the summer temperatures can reach 45�C (113�F) and above. Humidity is low. Spring (April to June) and Fall (September through October) are in general the most pleasant times to travel. In Fall it's harvest time, and the markets are full of fresh fruit. If you're interested in trekking, then summer (July and August) is the best time, because summers are almost dry. In recent years Uzbekistan was notably affected by the global warming and dry-out of the Aral Sea, which turned snowy cold winters to mild with less precipitation by allowing to travel in the wintertime. The following is the average temperatures in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.
|
Month |
Avg. |
Avg. |
Mean |
Avg. |
Avg. |
Avg. |
Mean |
Avg. |
|
Jan |
42�F |
26�F |
33�F |
2.20 in. |
6�C |
-3�C |
1�C |
55.9 mm |
|
Feb |
46�F |
29�F |
36�F |
1.90 in. |
8�C |
-2�C |
2�C |
48.3 mm |
|
Mar |
57�F |
39�F |
48�F |
2.80 in. |
14�C |
4�C |
9�C |
71.1 mm |
|
Apr |
71�F |
49�F |
60�F |
2.50 in. |
22�C |
9�C |
16�C |
63.5 mm |
|
May |
81�F |
56�F |
69�F |
1.30 in. |
27�C |
13�C |
21�C |
33.0 mm |
|
Jun |
91�F |
63�F |
78�F |
0.30 in. |
33�C |
17�C |
26�C |
7.6 mm |
|
Jul |
96�F |
66�F |
82�F |
0.20 in. |
36�C |
19�C |
28�C |
5.1 mm |
|
Aug |
93�F |
63�F |
78�F |
0.10 in. |
34�C |
17�C |
26�C |
2.5 mm |
|
Sep |
83�F |
54�F |
68�F |
0.20 in. |
28�C |
12�C |
20�C |
5.1 mm |
|
Oct |
69�F |
45�F |
56�F |
1.30 in. |
21�C |
7�C |
13�C |
33.0 mm |
|
Nov |
57�F |
38�F |
46�F |
1.80 in. |
14�C |
3�C |
8�C |
45.7 mm |
|
Dec |
47�F |
31�F |
38�F |
2.10 in. |
8�C |
-1�C |
3�C |
53.3 mm |
Public holidays:
January 1 - New Year
March 8 - Women's day
March 21 - Navruz. The most ancient national holiday Navruz (in translation with Persian Navruz designates "new day") which is celebrated on March, 21st, is considered the beginning of new year. As is known, March 21st is a day a spring equinox. Day length and nights is identical - 12 hours. In the beginning of this holiday many Uzbek families prepare for national dishes such as Sumalak, Halim, Somsa from plant, Plov and others. These Uzbek dishes contain many vitamin substances which are useful to a human body.
May 9 - Day of memory and honor
September 1 - Independence day
October 1 - Teachers day
December 8 - Constitution day
Religious holidays:
1) Ramazan Khayit (Eid-Al-Fitr)
2) Kurban Khayit (Eid-Al-Adha)