Chimgan and Beldersay: Mountains Next Door to Tashkent

What makes this route nice is that it has options. The direct road runs through Gazalkent straight up to Chimgan and takes about 1h 40m. The scenic alternative goes via Khosilot and the Charvak Reservoir — slightly longer, but the views earn the extra minutes. Most people swap directions for the way back to avoid repeating themselves.

What you actually see

Charvak Reservoir is a big turquoise lake ringed by mountains, visible from dozens of points along the road. People swim in it in summer and photograph it in winter. Chimgan itself is a small settlement and ski resort at the foot of Greater Chimgan (3,309 m). Beldersay, 8 km further on, has longer slopes and a chairlift. In summer both turn into trekking bases for routes towards Gulnara and the local waterfalls.

• Winter (December – March): skiing, snowboarding, on-site rental, slopes from 800 to 2,200 metres.
• Summer (June – August): trekking, chairlift running, mountain air is 8 – 12°C cooler than the city.
• Autumn (September – October): best season for hiking and photography.
• April and May are best skipped: gravel turns to mud and slopes become greasy and unsafe.

What the road is like

The road to Gazalkent is normal two-lane asphalt in decent condition. Past Gazalkent it becomes a switchback — not extreme, but in winter ice it asks for confidence. In winter you need winter tyres (Rentz.uz fits them by default from December through March) and occasionally chains, which the traffic police hand out and remove at posts on the snowline.

• Refuel in Tashkent before leaving. There are stations in Gazalkent, sparser beyond.
• There can be a Bostanliq district environmental/resort checkpoint that looks at your passport and may charge a small per-vehicle fee (5 – 10 thousand soum).
• Mobile coverage along the road is stable, slightly weaker in the mountains but not lost.
• Parking at the Chimgan and Beldersay lifts is either free or 5 – 10 thousand soum.

Charvak as the destination on its own

If you do not want to climb up to Chimgan, you can spend the day at Charvak instead: the Brichmulla beach, pedal boats, fish and plov at lakeside cafés. With kids this is often the better call — no switchbacks, no altitude, and the day stays lazy.

Which car to choose

Summer is perfect for a compact crossover: the Chevrolet Tracker 2 is economical and climbs the inclines without complaining, and the Chevrolet Equinox adds space and quieter cabin. If you travel as a family or want to detour onto the gravel near the waterfalls, the Hyundai Tucson gives you more clearance and luggage room. In winter — especially after fresh snow — we point people at the Toyota Prado 120: a body-on-frame proper 4x4, which behaves completely differently from a crossover on a snowy switchback. All of these are in the Rentz.uz Tashkent fleet and can be rented for a single day.