Uzbekistan is becoming a must-visit spot for adventure lovers. With everything from winter sports to desert treks, it’s quickly rivaling its neighbors in offering diverse and exciting outdoor experiences. This is a new article by our author Sophie Ibbotson. You can find her previous piece about traveling to Uzbekistan in winter via the link.
Sophie Ibbotson, Uzbekistan Tourism Ambassador to the UK, @uzambassador
Which is the best adventure destination in Central Asia? Answering this question quickly, most travellers and tour operators would say “Kyrgyzstan” or “Tajikistan” because both those destinations have focused heavily on adventure travel in their tourism marketing. But having established itself as the region’s premier cultural destination, Uzbekistan is now moving in on the adventure market, too, leveraging its spectacular natural resources and combining them with superior infrastructure and services, giving its neighbours a run for their money. Whether you want to ski and snowboard, hike, cycle, swim, or horse ride, you can do it in Uzbekistan!
Skiing and Snowboarding: Amirsoy Mountain Resort and Beyond
Uzbekistan’s winter sports destinations are concentrated in Tashkent Region, within easy reach of the capital, though there are also basic ski facilities in Jizzakh’s Zaamin National Park. For beginners, I recommend Amirsoy Mountain Resort, which has modern infrastructure, good quality rental equipment, and well trained staff, including in the ski school. You can stay on site at the luxurious Le Chalet by Amirsoy, or find cheaper accommodation in nearby Chimgan. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, you can ride the gondola as a pedestrian to admire the views, ride a quad bike or snowmobile, go snow tubing, and even try snowshoeing. After a day of exertion on the mountainside, the resort's restaurants, hammam and spa are a welcome treat, readying you for another day of exploring.
Hiking and Community-Based Tourism in the Nuratau Mountains
Anywhere there are mountains and hills in Uzbekistan has good potential for hiking, but the ease of access and level of infrastructure varies from place to place. For that reason, I’m a big fan of the Nuratau Mountains, which are conveniently close to Samarkand and Bukhara and are developing fast as the centre of Uzbekistan’s community-based tourism industry. Base yourself in the tourism village of Hayat or Sentob, staying in a family-run guest house or homestay and using the services of local guides. Nuratau Travel is the specialist here, they offer a great selection of hiking and homestay tours, organised to support local communities.
Off-Road Adventures: Exploring Uzbekistan by 4x4
In the south of Uzbekistan, Mysterious Uzbekistan has been pioneering hiking trails and climbing routes amongst the valleys, canyons, and peaks of Surkhandarya. Their weekend trips from Tashkent are increasingly popular and an easy way to add a wild adventure into your itinerary. I had a great time discovering Kaptarhona — Pigeon Canyon, Kyzyl Canyon, and the waterfalls at Sangardak, and was also able to do some off-road driving in a Soviet-era 4x4.
Talking of 4x4s, if you want to adventure beyond the highways, there are now some fantastic jeep tours in Uzbekistan. To explore Karakalpakstan’s dramatic Ustyurt Plateau and get up to the Aral Sea region, including the Barsakelmes salt flats, book a trip with Aral Sea Discoveries: you’ll be in safe hands with their experienced drivers and well-maintained vehicles. Other, generally less remote routes are suitable for self-driving as long as you have a suitable vehicle. Peopletravel has several self-driving tours I can recommend in central and southern Uzbekistan, which include car rental and insurance. Their 10-day itinerary takes in some gorgeous parts of Surkhandarya — including Baysun and the Buddhist sites around Termez — and Kashkadarya, and is a good reminder of the freedom which having your own vehicle gives you to roam far and wide.
Cycling Through Uzbekistan: A Journey for Bike Enthusiasts
For cycling in Uzbekistan, your options depend on whether or not you have brought your own bike. Marakanda Travel is the local expert in bike tourism and can supply both road bikes and mountain bikes, including e-bikes. Their group tours are a fantastic way to meet other cycling fanatics and see off-the-beaten-track locations. The most intriguing itinerary — though I sadly lack the stamina to ride it — includes 900 km of riding over 24 days. In addition to the usual cultural highlights of Khiva, Samarkand, and Bukhara, you will also ride through Karakalpakstan, Surkhandarya, and the Fergana Valley. I love the idea of cycling from Kokand via Rishtan and Fergana to Margilan, admiring the scenery and having full justification for gorging myself each mealtime on some of the best food in Uzbekistan.
Camel Safaris and Horse Riding in the Desert
There are several places in Uzbekistan where you can ride camels: Aydarkul in Navoi Region is the most popular, and there is certainly something very romantic about bobbing up and down through the desert. The camels are well behaved and well cared for, although their ancestors might have been beasts of burden, these pampered creatures are much more like pets. The cool thing here is that the camels are based at the Kyzylkum Yurt Camp, so you can combine a short camel safari with stargazing and a night in a traditional yurt. It is a Silk Road fantasy come true!
Aydarkul is close to the Nuratau Mountains, which in my view is the best place for horse riding in Uzbekistan. The network of tourism villages is conveniently spread so that you can ride comfortably from Ashraf to Hayat, then to Majerum, and onto Sentob over four days. No day in the saddle is too long, and the journey can be broken up with home-cooked meals with local families, incredible views, and small cultural sites such as shrines and petroglyphs. If you are lucky, you can spot wildlife here, too: the mountains are part of the Nuratau-Kyzylkum Biosphere Reserve, which is known for its birdlife and the highly endangered Severtzov's wild sheep. It is advisable to book your horse trek with an experienced local company: the aforementioned Nuratau Travel organises horse riding on two- to six-day trips and will transport your luggage by road, leaving you to enjoy the ride.
Whether you want a soft adventure holiday or to try something rather more extreme, you will find a suitable trip in Uzbekistan. I have listed just a fraction of the active travel options here, not even touching on the likes of rock climbing, caving, paragliding, kayaking, or rafting! If there is something you would like to try, get in touch with a local tour operator who can curate tailored adventure experiences for you, and be sure to follow me on social media for more Uzbekistan travel ideas.
