How to get to Charvak Reservoir from Tashkent

Charvak Reservoir is Tashkent's favourite stand-in for the sea. Turquoise water framed by mountains, beaches, holiday resorts and lakeside recreation areas draw huge crowds every summer. Charvak is about 70–80 km from Tashkent and the road itself is easy. The trouble starts at weekends: traffic jams, full car parks and the hunt for a free spot by the water. Here is how to get there without spending half the day in a car.

How the road works

The way to Charvak runs north-east from the capital:

1. Tashkent — Chirchik: about 40 km on a wide highway.
2. Chirchik — Iskandar — Gazalkent: a road along the Chirchik river through villages and orchards.
3. Past Gazalkent the road climbs towards the dam and then splits along the northern shore of the reservoir — to Yusufkhona, Bogustan and Burchmulla, as well as towards Chimgan.

Without traffic the whole trip takes 1.5–2 hours. The southern shore and gorges such as Khumsan are reached by separate turn-offs, so check the route to your particular resort in advance.

By car

A car gives you the freedom to choose a beach and leave whenever you like. But keep the weekend rhythm in mind:

• Friday evening and Saturday morning — the peak exodus from the city. Queues build up at the edge of Tashkent and near Gazalkent.
• Sunday afternoon — the peak return. A drive that took an hour and a half in the morning can stretch to three or four hours in the evening.
• Police checkpoints at the entrance to Bostanlyk district check documents, so keep your licence and vehicle papers handy.

Leave before 8 am or go on a weekday, and head back either before 2 pm or late in the evening.

Parking by the water

This is the most common summer weekend headache. Almost all convenient access points to the water belong to resorts and recreation areas, where parking is either paid or included in the entrance fee. There are free spots too, but by midday they are full.

A few rules:

• Do not leave your car on the shoulder of the mountain road — it is dangerous and blocks traffic.
• Do not drive an ordinary car down steep dirt tracks to the water: getting back up can be hard.
• If you book a resort, ask in advance whether it has its own parking.

Without a car: shared rides and minibuses

If you would rather not sit in traffic yourself, it is easier to travel as a passenger.

Shared ride. On Yo'ldosh you can find a driver on the Tashkent — Chirchik route or on Tashkent — Iskandar, then switch to a local taxi to the shore. In summer drivers often head to Charvak themselves and take passengers along: you book a seat in the app, pay only for yourself and agree on the pick-up point in advance.

Minibuses and buses. Transport to Gazalkent runs regularly from the north-east of Tashkent. From there minibuses and local taxis go to the beaches, but at weekends they are packed, and the last cars back leave early.

Direct taxi. The fastest option with no changes, but also the most expensive. The fare depends on where on the shore you are going and the day of the week, so agree on it before the trip.

Where to stay on Charvak

The shoreline is long, and the right spot depends on what you want:

• The dam area and Yusufkhona — closest to the city, with lots of resorts and recreation areas, but also the biggest crowds.
• Bogustan and around — the northern shore, a little quieter, with good mountain views.
• Burchmulla — the eastern end, where the mountain rivers flow in; a handy base for trips into the gorges.

You cannot stop or swim right by the hydroelectric dam: it is a guarded facility, and it is best not to photograph it either.

When to go

The swimming season is short: the water warms up by July and stays pleasant until roughly early September. In June it is still cool, although you can swim on a sunny day. In spring and autumn the reservoir is especially beautiful, but the beaches are empty and many cafes are closed.

The best days are weekdays in July and August. At weekends plan an overnight stay: book a room for Saturday and leave early on Sunday morning, before the flow of cars heads back to the city.

What to bring

• Cash: many resorts and cafes on the shore accept nothing else.
• Sunscreen and a hat — the mountain sun is harsher than in the city.
• Water shoes: the shore is rocky in many places.
• A warm layer for the evening — it gets noticeably colder by the water after sunset.
• Rubbish bags. The shore stays beautiful only as long as nobody turns it into a dump.

Safety on the water

Charvak is deep, and the water near the bottom is cold even in August. Do not swim far out, do not jump off cliffs, keep an eye on children and never swim after a big meal with drinks. On boats and jet skis always wear a life jacket.

Your plan

For a day trip, pick a weekday and leave early. If you go at the weekend, book a place to stay overnight. Without a car the easiest way is to travel as a passenger: look at trips on Tashkent — Chirchik and Tashkent — Iskandar, and find other destinations on the routes page.

Cover photo: 26D, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.