I'm planning a trip to Uzbekistan for the May holidays.
I have a question about visiting Lake Urungach. As I understand it, the area is part of the border zone, and it seems that foreigners might need permits to enter. I couldn't find any recent information about the permits—does anyone know if they're still required?
We visited Lake Urungach—or the Jade Lakes, as they’re also known—this May.
Good news: the route is open, and no permits are required. While you do pass by a border checkpoint on the way, taxis drive straight through without stopping.
We started our journey from Chimgan, where we stayed for a couple of days. The drive from there to the lakes takes about two hours by taxi, plus another 40 minutes in a Niva or UAZ, as the last stretch of the road is only navigable with off-road vehicles. The taxi ride cost us 800,000 UZS, and the Niva ride was an additional 50,000 UZS per person. There's also a 17,000 UZS entry fee per person for the nature reserve.
The Niva drops you off at the lower lake. From there, it’s a fairly easy 30-40 minute hike to the upper lake. Once you’re at the upper lake, you’ll find boats available to take you across to the other side. The round-trip fare is 50,000 UZS per person.
The trip is a bit long, but the route is absolutely stunning, with breathtaking scenery. And the Jade Lakes themselves? Simply spectacular! They’re definitely worth the visit.