How to get from Tashkent to Chimgan and Beldersay
Car, taxi, shared ride or bus with a change in Gazalkent: we compare the ways to reach the mountains and explain how to handle the road in winter.
Chimgan and Beldersay are the closest mountains to Tashkent, and locals head there all year round: to ski in winter, and to hike and escape the heat in summer. From the city centre to the foot of Big Chimgan it is roughly 80–90 km, which takes one and a half to two hours when the road is clear. Below are all the ways to get there and what to keep in mind in each season.
Where Chimgan and Beldersay are
Both lie in Bostanlyk district, on the western spurs of the Chatkal range. The road from Tashkent runs north-east through Chirchik and Gazalkent, then climbs into the mountains along the Charvak reservoir. The village of Chimgan and the Beldersay slopes are only a few kilometres apart, so one route covers both.
- Chimgan — a village at the foot of Big Chimgan (3,309 m) with holiday resorts, a cable car and walking trails.
- Beldersay — a ski slope with a chairlift, popular with more serious skiers.
Option 1: by car
The most flexible choice. The route is Tashkent — Chirchik — Gazalkent — turn-off to Chimgan. The road is paved; the last few dozen kilometres are a winding mountain road with steep climbs. At weekends most traffic leaves between 8 and 11 in the morning and comes back on Sunday after 4 pm, so expect jams on the way back into Tashkent in the evening.
There are paid car parks next to the cable cars and resorts. In peak season they fill up by midday, so an early start saves a lot of stress.
Option 2: taxi or shared ride
A taxi from Tashkent to Chimgan costs noticeably more than a ride to Chirchik, and prices go up on winter weekends. If you arrange the return trip in advance, drivers usually ask you to pay for waiting time or the empty run back as well.
A cheaper way is to take a shared ride to Chirchik and change there. On the Tashkent — Chirchik route Yo'ldosh has plenty of trips every day: drivers travelling on their own business take passengers along, you book a seat in the app and pay only for yourself. Some drivers continue to Gazalkent or into the mountains — just ask in the chat before the trip.
Option 3: buses and minibuses
Public transport all the way to Chimgan is irregular, but you can get there with one change:
- Buses and minibuses run from Tashkent to Gazalkent, traditionally leaving from the north-east of the city, near Buyuk Ipak Yuli metro station. The ride takes about an hour and a half.
- From Gazalkent bus station, minibuses and local taxi drivers go up to Chimgan. On winter weekends the cars fill up quickly.
There is also a suburban train to Khodjikent via Chirchik and Gazalkent, but it runs rarely and you will still need a car from the station. Timetables change, so check before you go.
The road in winter
The ski season at Chimgan and Beldersay usually lasts from December to March, and longer in snowy years. A winter trip needs some preparation:
- Tyres. Climbing the winding road on summer tyres after snowfall is dangerous. If you drive yourself, you need winter tyres and, in heavy snow, chains.
- Closures. In heavy snow or ice, traffic into the mountains may be stopped for a while. Check the forecast and local news before you set off.
- Time. Allow one and a half times the usual travel time: lines of cars crawl along, and on the climbs someone always gets stuck.
- Darkness. It gets dark early in winter, and coming down a mountain road at night is unpleasant. Plan to head back before sunset.
If you would rather not drive on snow, pick a driver who goes to the mountains regularly and agree on the return time in advance.
Summer and the shoulder seasons
From May to October the road is quieter and the mountains look completely different: green slopes, wildflowers, walks through the Gulkam gorge and cable car rides for views over Charvak. In the heat Chimgan is a few degrees cooler than Tashkent, but evenings can be chilly, so bring a jumper.
In spring, in April and May, it is often wet: the trails are muddy and the weather changes quickly. September and October are the best months for walking, when the heat has gone and the snow has not yet arrived.
Practical tips
- Carry cash: card terminals are not available everywhere in the mountains, and mobile signal sometimes drops.
- Do not try to climb Big Chimgan without experience and proper gear — even in summer there is snow near the top, and the weather turns fast.
- At weekends the cable car queues are long; weekdays are much calmer.
- For hikes take water and snacks: you cannot buy them on the trails.
Comparing the options
| Option | Travel time | Cost | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Own car | 1.5–2 h | fuel and parking | high, but needs winter prep |
| Taxi | 1.5–2 h | high | high |
| Shared ride + change | 2–2.5 h | low | medium |
| Bus + minibus | 2.5–3 h | lowest | low |
Prices depend on the season, so the table gives only a rough guide — check current fares before you travel.
In short
For a day trip to the mountains, the easiest option is to drive or arrange a driver in advance. To save money, book a seat on a Tashkent — Chirchik shared ride and continue from there; other destinations are listed on the routes page. Leave early, and the mountains will greet you without traffic jams or queues.
Cover photo: Jamshid Nurkulov, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
