Uzbekistan in Summer: How to Handle the Heat and Where to Go

Summer in Uzbekistan is the season of sun, fruit and heat. In July and August most cities see +35 to +42 C by day, and the desert and south can be hotter still. That is no reason to cancel a trip, but it is a reason to change your rhythm: get up early, hide in the shade by day and come alive in the evening. Here is how to live comfortably in the heat and where to go for cool air.

How a hot day works

Locals worked out a routine long ago that is worth borrowing:

• 5:30 to 10:00. The most pleasant hours. Sightseeing, walks, photos.
• 10:00 to 16:00. Peak heat. Rest indoors, lunch, a shower, a nap, rides in an air-conditioned car.
• 16:00 to 21:00. The heat eases, evening markets and cafes open, and the streets fill up.
• After sunset. Strolls on lit squares, dinner outdoors, tea.

Plan the same way: one or two sights in the morning, lunch, rest, then the evening.

How to protect yourself

1. Drink plenty of water. In small sips and regularly. Carry a bottle, and it is worth adding salted water or ready electrolyte drinks.
2. Headwear. A wide-brimmed hat, scarf or cap. It matters more than it seems.
3. Clothing. Light, pale, loose cotton or linen with long sleeves. It protects skin from the sun better than bare skin.
4. Sunscreen. SPF 30 to 50, reapplied every two hours.
5. Shoes. Closed and comfortable; paving heats up and burns.
6. Watch how you feel. Dizziness, headache and nausea are signs of overheating. Move into shade, drink water and seek help if it does not pass.
7. Food. Light: vegetables, fruit, lagman, shurpa. Plov is heavy in peak heat.

Where to go for cooler air

Mountains around Tashkent

The Western Tien Shan mountains, an hour or two from the capital, offer coolness even in July: Chimgan, Beldersay and the Charvak reservoir. Temperatures are 10 to 15 degrees lower than in the city. You can hike, ride a cable car, swim in the lake at Charvak or just sit by a river. For more on the satellite town see the page for Tashkent to Chirchik: Chirchik lies northeast of the capital, about 30 to 40 km away, and the road toward Charvak and Gazalkent passes through it.

Zaamin and Nurata mountains

Zaamin National Park and the Nurata range attract with pine forests, mountain streams and cold nights. For a trip from Tashkent the Tashkent to Jizzakh route is convenient, about 190 km along the highway toward Samarkand, after which comes the climb into the hills. Check the road and season before leaving.

The Aral region and Khorezm

This is the hottest zone of the country, and in summer it is best to go there only if you must. If you go, plan travel for morning and evening.

What to do in the desert in summer

In summer the desert is not for strolling under the midday sun. If a yurt camp or a Kyzylkum trip is in your plans:

• set out at dawn or toward evening;
• carry at least a day's worth of water, better twice that;
• do not leave a car idle in the sun, and never lock children or animals inside;
• tell someone your route;
• desert nights are noticeably cooler, so sleeping in a yurt in summer is pleasant.

Sunset and sunrise over the dunes are the best time to see the desert at its most beautiful.

Water and reservoirs

Lakes and reservoirs suit a rest by the water: Charvak, Aydarkul, Tudakul. Swimming in rivers and canals is unsafe: currents, cold water and rubbish. Swim where there are lifeguards and organised beaches. Never leave children unsupervised.

Fruit and food

Summer is the season for melons, watermelons, apricots, peaches, grapes and cherries. Cold melon and fresh berries are the best remedy for heat. Drink tea, green or black, which quenches thirst better than cold fizzy drinks.

Getting around in the heat

Travel between cities in the heat is tiring unless you prepare. Travel in the morning and evening hours, carry water and check the air conditioning. In the Yo'ldosh app you can choose the departure time ahead, for example early morning before it gets hot, and view the driver's profile. Day trips to the mountains and lakes on the routes from Tashkent to Chirchik and Jizzakh work well.

Practical tips

• Book lodging with air conditioning and check reviews, especially in desert cities.
• Do not leave electronics and medication in a car in the sun.
• Bring sunglasses and wet wipes.
• Fill up the tank in advance and check tyres: heat affects pressure.
• If you are sensitive to heat, choose May, June or the mountains.

Bottom line

You can live through Uzbek summer comfortably if you adapt to the local rhythm, head for the mountains and look after yourself. Choose your route on the pages for Tashkent to Chirchik and Tashkent to Jizzakh, and you will find coolness even in July.

Cover photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.