Ugam-Chatkal National Park
Set amongst the mountain peaks and lush valleys, Ugam-Chatkal National Park is an outdoor playground for any season, with numerous recreation and ecological tourism opportunities within its borders. With enough infrastructure to provide you with the facilities to explore, but not so many that it detracts from the sense of wild isolation, this is a perfect way to experience the extremes of the Western Tien-Shan.
For wildlife photographers, there are plenty of areas where you can brave the elements and chance an encounter with the Tien-Shan brown bear, red wolf, or the endangered snow leopard. For adventurers, you can test yourself with mountain rappelling, canyoneering, rock climbing, or peak expeditions.
When spring beckons the snow gives way to an explosion of colours. Ornate poppy fields bloom with crimson, while mountain peaks sprout desert candles, snowdrops, and meadows emerge filled with world-famous tulips. Venture deeper into Chatkal Valley to find hiking trails, explore the Kulosya waterfalls, or walk until you discover the ancient petroglyphs of Aksai Gorge.
Need a snack after all this outdoor activity? Wild berries, apples, pears, walnuts, and pistachios are ripe for the picking. While the mountainous areas certainly attract adventurers, there are still ways to enjoy the sweeping vistas without too much strenuous exercise, so just sit back and take it all in.
Primary contacts:
The Chatkal State Biosphere Nature Reserve
100060, Tashkent, Timur alley, 15
Tel: (371) 2336740
Ugam-Chatkal State National Nature Park:
102180, Bostandyk district, Kurgan Iskandar, Furkat str. 112
Tel: (8-274) 22-026, 28-153
Fax: (8-274) 20-114
Chatkal state biosphere reserve administration:
Mirsaidov str., 2; Parkent, 102222, Tashkent region, Uzbekistan
Tel.: (370) 7222496
Fax: (370) 7221581