Samarkand Group Day Tour: Five Monuments with a Local Guide
Five monuments in a day with a licensed guide: the Registan, Gur-e-Amir, Bibi-Khanym, Shah-i-Zinda and Ulugh Beg's observatory. Transport included. From $20.
Day Trip from Tashkent to the Mountains: Amirsoy, Charvak Lake and the Chatkal Range
A day out of Tashkent in the Western Tian Shan: the Amirsoy resort and its cable car, the Chatkal Mountains, Sijjak village and the blue water of Charvak Lake. Group tour from Hotel Uzbekistan.
About this trip
About an hour and a half from Tashkent the city stops and the Western Tian Shan begins. This day takes you into the Chatkal Mountains to the Amirsoy resort, past the village of Sijjak and down to Charvak Lake, with time for photographs, a walk or a ride on the cable car.
What you see
- Amirsoy, the mountain resort, with views of the Chatkal range and a cable car to the peak at 2,290 metres if you want to ride it. See our Amirsoy cable car prices.
- The Chatkal Mountains: rocky slopes, green valleys and photo stops on the way, depending on the road and the time.
- Sijjak, a quiet village of orchards and old houses in the hills above the lake.
- Charvak Lake, the reservoir of bright blue water ringed by mountains, with viewpoints and time by the shore.
How the day goes
About eight hours, leaving from Hotel Uzbekistan in Tashkent, in an air-conditioned vehicle with a driver. It is a scenic day rather than a guided one: the driver knows the route and the stops, but does not give a running commentary. Lunch is not included; there are cafés at Amirsoy and around the lake.
The off-road extension
If you want more, the route can continue by Niva or UAZ to the mountain village of Nanay and the Aksarsoy waterfall. It is arranged on the day and costs $60 for the car, not per person, with the waterfall entrance included.
Who it suits
Anyone who has seen the Silk Road cities and wants a day of fresh air and mountain views. For a private car with pickup from your hotel, see our private day trip to Chimgan, Charvak and Amirsoy.
Day by day
- Drive to Amirsoy Mountain Resort
Your journey begins with a scenic drive from Tashkent toward the Chatkal Mountains, where the modern mountain resort of Amirsoy is located. Surrounded by fresh alpine air, pine-covered slopes, and beautiful mountain views, Amirsoy is one of the most attractive nature escapes near Tashkent.
At the resort, travelers can enjoy panoramic views of the mountains, take memorable photos, relax in a peaceful mountain atmosphere, and optionally ride the cable car to reach higher viewpoints. In winter, Amirsoy is known as Uzbekistan’s leading ski resort, while in warmer seasons it becomes a beautiful place for walking, sightseeing, and enjoying the cool mountain climate.
This stop is perfect for guests who want to experience a different side of Uzbekistan beyond historic cities — fresh air, modern mountain infrastructure, and the natural beauty of the Western Tian Shan range.
Travelers can optionally ride gondola, it is not included in tour price.
- Chatkal Mountains
On the way, travelers will pass through the beautiful Chatkal Mountains, part of the Western Tian Shan range. This scenic mountain area is known for its dramatic landscapes, rocky slopes, green valleys, and fresh alpine air.
During the drive, guests can enjoy panoramic views from the vehicle, with possible short photo stops depending on road conditions and timing. The route offers a peaceful contrast to the city atmosphere of Tashkent and gives travelers a chance to see Uzbekistan’s natural mountain scenery.
The Chatkal Mountains are especially beautiful in spring and summer, when the valleys are green, and in winter, when the peaks and slopes are covered with snow. This part of the journey makes the tour feel like a true mountain escape.
- Sijjak Village
On the way to Charvak Lake, travelers will pass by Sijjak village, a peaceful mountain settlement surrounded by hills, orchards, and scenic countryside views. The village gives guests a glimpse of local life outside Tashkent, where people live close to nature and the rhythm is much calmer than in the city.
Depending on the season, the road around Sijjak offers beautiful views of green valleys, mountain slopes, fruit gardens, and traditional village houses. It is a nice part of the journey for photos and for experiencing the rural atmosphere of the Chatkal mountain area.
This scenic pass-by adds a local cultural touch to the tour before continuing toward the panoramic viewpoints of Charvak Lake.
- Charvak Lake
The tour continues to Charvak Lake, one of the most beautiful and popular natural attractions near Tashkent. Surrounded by the Chatkal Mountains, the lake is famous for its bright blue water, wide open views, and peaceful mountain atmosphere.
Travelers can enjoy panoramic viewpoints overlooking the lake, take photos, and relax by the water. In warmer seasons, Charvak becomes a favorite place for locals and visitors to enjoy fresh air, lakeside cafés, boating, swimming, and other seasonal activities. In cooler months, the lake offers a quiet and scenic escape with beautiful mountain reflections.
This stop is one of the highlights of the tour, combining mountain landscapes, fresh air, and the relaxing beauty of Uzbekistan’s countryside. It is a perfect place for memorable photos and a short break before returning to Tashkent or continuing with the optional off-road extension.
- Nanay Village (off-road extension)
For travelers who choose the off-road extension, the route continues toward Nanay village, a mountain settlement near the Pskem Valley and Charvak area. Nanay is known for its calm rural atmosphere, surrounding mountain scenery, and access to waterfall routes, making it a more adventurous addition to the standard Amirsoy–Charvak day tour.
The village offers a glimpse of local life in the mountains: quiet streets, traditional homes, orchards, fresh air, and beautiful views of the Western Tian Shan landscape. Compared with the more developed resort atmosphere of Amirsoy, Nanay feels more remote and natural.
This stop is especially suitable for guests who want to go beyond the classic tourist route and experience a more local, countryside side of the Tashkent mountain region.
From Nanay the off-road route continues to Aksarsoy Waterfall. The extension is arranged on the day and costs $60 per vehicle, with the waterfall entrance included.
What's included
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Bottled water
- Professional driver for the full tour
- TravelX assistance before and during the tour
Not included
- Lunch
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance — required for every traveller
- Tips for the driver
- The Amirsoy gondola, if you ride it: Express (lower section) 115 000 UZS on weekdays and 135 000 UZS at weekends and public holidays; Express + Prima (both sections, to the 2 290 m peak) 225 000 UZS on weekdays and 255 000 UZS at weekends and public holidays, per adult.
- The Nanay off-road extension, if you take it: arranged on the day, $60 per vehicle, waterfall entrance included. That is for the car, not per person, so it splits between everyone travelling in it.
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