Hi everyone! I’m planning a trip to Uzbekistan and will have a few extra days in Tashkent. I’ve already got Samarkand and Bukhara on my itinerary, but I’d really like to see some nature as well — mountains, turquoise lakes, somewhere different from the usual city sightseeing.
I came across photos of the Urungach (Jade) Lakes and they look amazing. Is it realistic to visit them independently from Tashkent using public transport, or would I need to hire a driver? I’m travelling solo, so trying not to spend a fortune on a private tour.
Honestly, for Urungach I’d arrange a car or find other travellers to share one with. Getting out of Tashkent is one thing, but reaching the lakes is another. You can look into transport towards Gazalkent and then ask about connections further on, but I wouldn’t count on everything lining up conveniently.
If you only have one day, a car makes much more sense.
I looked into this a while ago and came to the same conclusion. The problem isn’t necessarily getting out of Tashkent — it’s the last part of the journey. Also, check the season before going. I’ve seen people mention that the lower lake can have very little water, so the photos don’t always reflect what you’ll find when you arrive.
Oh, that’s useful to know! I was imagining something like taking a bus in the morning, spending a few hours there and coming back in the evening. Are there other mountain places near Tashkent that are easier to reach without booking a whole-day excursion?
Chimgan and the Charvak area are probably worth looking into first. They’re much more established weekend destinations, and there are more transport options to investigate.
Just don’t assume that public transport will take you directly to every viewpoint or walking trail. You may still need a taxi for the final stretch.
One thing to remember about Uzbekistan: distances on the map can be misleading. A place might look close to Tashkent, but that doesn’t mean there’s a convenient bus going there and back. For the Jade Lakes, I’d either find a group to share a driver with or leave them for another trip. Personally, I wouldn’t risk spending half the day trying to organise transport.
I disagree a little. Not every trip outside Tashkent needs to be a private tour. Sometimes you can get to a nearby town by shared taxi and work out the rest locally. But you need flexibility. If you have a train to catch or must be back in Tashkent by a particular time, that’s a different story.
That’s exactly what I’m trying to figure out. I don’t mind a bit of improvisation, but I don’t want to end up stranded somewhere in the mountains!
One more question: would you recommend spending an extra day in the Tashkent region, or is it better to use that time for another city?
Depends on what you like. If you’re interested in architecture, markets and history, you can easily spend more time in Tashkent itself. Don’t just treat it as a place to sleep before catching the train. And if you enjoy nature, a day in the mountains gives you a completely different impression of the country.
For me, the best option would be to combine both. Spend a day exploring Tashkent properly, then take a separate day trip outside the city. Also, don’t underestimate travel time between the main cities. People sometimes try to squeeze Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva into a very short itinerary and end up spending most of the holiday moving between stations and hotels.
Good point. I’ve currently allowed two days for Tashkent, but I might keep one day flexible until I arrive.
Thanks, everyone! I’ll look into the mountain options around Charvak and Chimgan first, and see if I can find people to share a car to Urungach. If anyone has a recent experience with the route, especially the transport from Tashkent and the condition of the lakes, please share it!