Here are 3 excellent day hikes in the Ugam Chatkal National Park in Uzbekistan, recommended by Karin-Marijke Vis (text) and Coen Wubbels (photos) from Landcruisingadventure.
“You have to go to Urungach Lake!” It sounded like a refrain and as soon as we talked to locals in Tashkent that we were heading for the mountains, this was their number 1 tip. And so, expectations ran high.
We stocked up on food and water, planning wild camping and hiking in the area, and set out with our Land Cruiser.
After some hours of driving, we left the main road, followed an unpaved track, passed a gate where we had to register, and hit one of the trails in the Ugam Chatkal National Park.
The landscape was gorgeous with the grassy fields filled with wildflowers! The track cut through a narrow valley and crossed a shallow river, but we started getting a bit worried after a while.
It was already late afternoon and small 4x4s such as Lada Nivas packed with families came our way. Where did all these people suddenly come from?
Granted, our plan to spend time alone in nature hadn’t been the greatest. Ramadan had just ended with a four-day holiday and ‘everybody’ wanted to enjoy the lovely spring weather in the mountains. There was no solitude to be found at the stunning Urungach lake…
Hemmed in by a rock face and lower mountain hills, the lake is protected from wind and smooth as glass. The color of the water changes from turquoise to green, depending on the angle at which you look at the surface.
A small stretch of flat ground shaded by trees was filled with people picnicking, enjoying the views and taking selfies. Some were courageous enough to wade through the icy water.
This most certainly wasn’t our idea of wild camping in solitude, but the place was mind-blowing and the people very kind.
As soon as the sun started disappearing, so did the crowds, and silence reigned again over this magical setting. Sometimes all you need is a bit of time and patience to find quietude…
The Ugam Chatkal National Park, about 150km northeast of Tashkent, is one of Uzbekistan’s most scenic mountain areas.
Located in the Chatkal Mountain Range which extends to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, Ugam Chatkal is the largest protected nature reserve in Uzbekistan and has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2017.
A large part of the park is open to visitors. People can go there to relax, ski in winter, raft, and hike on one of the many trails leading to lowland valleys, rocky gorges, alpine meadows, and high-mountain glaciers.
If you want to do some hiking in Uzbekistan, you should definitely visit the Ugam Chatkal National Park! Here’s an overview of 3 awesome day hikes you can make in one of Uzbekistan’s most beautiful nature parks!
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Plan your trip to Uzbekistan
- 18 important things to prepare your trip to Uzbekistan
- 26 beautiful places to visit in Uzbekistan
- Uzbekistan Itineraries: 1 to 4 weeks in Uzbekistan
- How to travel around Uzbekistan by train
- What to pack for Uzbekistan
- Uzbekistan Safety Guide
- Uzbekistan Money Guide
- Tours & Experiences: Guided City Tours in Uzbekistan, Adventure Tours in Uzbekistan
1. Hike to Urungach Lake
Urungach Lake lies 160 km from Tashkent (a 4-5 hour drive). Apart from lazing around the Lower Urungach Lake (as mentioned above), you might want to opt for a great hiking opportunity.
Follow the trail along the left shore, which steeply zigzags up the mountain at the far end, across the shoulder, and meanders on until it reaches a second lake, the Upper Urungach Lake. Enjoy the magnificent setting!
At the far end, you can pitch a tent or follow a couple of other trails.
There is no tourist infrastructure so you must bring a picnic and lots of drinking water as the air is dry and hardly any shade can be found.
You don’t need a permit to visit and hike around Urungach Lake but bring your passport as you’ll have to register at the entrance gate before entering the national park.
How to get from Tashkent to Urungach Lake
If you don’t have your own vehicle, you’ll have to find public transport to take you from Tashkent to the park (ask your hostel/guesthouse/hotel to help you arrange this) or organize your trip through a travel agency.
You can get a 4×4 taxi at the gate where you have to register that will take you to the lake, or you can just hike there. It’s a lovely walk in itself.
GPS waypoint: 41.923405, 70.308434
2. HIking to Badak Lake
Southeast of Urungach lake, across the Pskem River, lies Badak Lake at an altitude of 1700 meters.
If you’re going to the national park with your camping and trekking gear, you can hike from Urungach lake to Badak Lake. It’s a beautiful region for a multiple-day trek.
If you are a day-hiker, you’ll have to find a travel agency in Tashkent to sign up for a trip to the lake.
This is not a difficult hike in terms of terrain. It’s a decent unpaved trail, although it does cross a glacier or two. Walking poles may help. It’s quite a climb tho, so some level of fitness is required.
The first stretch follows a river, so no need to carry a lot of water if you have a water filter or Steripen. You’ll have to bring your own snacks/meals as there aren’t any food stalls or shops.
Badak lake is another gorgeous setting of jade colors amidst bare mountains. See how far you can walk around it, laze on one of the boulders, go for a swim, pitch your tent, and marvel at Mother Nature.
Important note: Wear long pants! The region is home to a plant, I believe the Latin name is Ferula, family of Hogweed. When your skin comes into contact with the plant, it doesn’t itch or hurt but does leave burns and scars that may take months to heal (not painful, but ugly).
GPS waypoint: 41.857735, 70.429122
3. Chimgan day hike
An easy-to-reach destination to go hiking in Uzbekistan is Chimgan. It’s located at a 1,5 hours drive (80 km) from Tashkent and there is lots of public transport between the towns.
Chimgan is Uzbekistan’s most popular ski region but offers plenty of hiking opportunities in spring and fall.
A popular hiking area is Beldersoy, just south of Chimgan. You can take the cable car up, enjoy the views over the valley, and hit the trails.
You can walk downhill for an easy day-hike or bring a tent and wander for a couple of days through the green mountains partly covered with pine forests.
Bring food and carry enough water. In (early) spring you’ll find streams.
GPS waypoint: 41.502577, 69.978700
When is the best time to go Hiking In Uzbekistan?
The hiking season in Uzbekistan is short and the best months are April and May. It already gets very hot in June, too hot for doing outdoor activities during the day. September and October are also good months.
Uzbekistan Hiking Resources
There is no extensive, well-researched, and documented hiking trail system in Uzbekistan. But for the independent (experienced) hikers, there are plenty of options if you do some research.
Here are some good resources for hiking in Uzbekistan:
- Wikiloc
- Openstreetmap
- Maps.me
- MapOut (our favorite app)
Where to stay in Taskent
Art Hostel (low budget) & Art Eco Hotel (mid-budget and its cafe is a great place for vegan/vegetarian meals) are good accommodations in Tashkent.
Pavel, who runs both places, is a fantastic source of information and likes to help his guests in every possible way!
You might also want to read:
What to wear in Uzbekistan – The Essential Uzbekistan packing list
The best way to get from Tashkent to Osh and from Osh to Tashkent, crossing the Dostyk border (Kyrgyzstan – Uzbekistan)
Uzbekistan Travel Itinerary (2026): 1, 2, 3 & 4 Week Travel Routes + Tips
Uzbekistan Money Guide (2026) – How much does it cost to live and travel in Uzbekistan?
What are the Best Places to visit in Uzbekistan in 2026?
Everything you need to know about horse riding in Uzbekistan+ 3 best horse trekking destinations in Uzbekistan
About the author:
Karin-Marijke Vis and Coen Wubbels have been traveling through Asia and South America in an old Land Cruiser since 2003.
They work as a freelance duo, publish articles and photos in car and travel magazines, and have written two books about their travels (currently only available in Dutch): ‘Van het pad af’ and ‘Omwegen’. You can find their blogs and books at Landcruisingadventure.
Hi Cynthia, are there any guest houses / BnBs in Ugam Chatkal that are a good base for day hikes? We’re thinking of spending 2-3 nights in the area and don’t want to camp, nor do we want organized day trips from Tashkent.
Thank you!
Hi Arne, most guest houses are located in Chimgan, which can be the base for hiking to Ugam Chatkal.
Can we rent a 4×4 car in Tashkent and drive to Ugam Chatkal National Park on our own?
Hi Cilla, yes you can 🙂