Back to Beldersay petroglyphs

At the end of June, when there is a slight decline in the flow of tourists to Uzbekistan, the Advantour travel agency team decided by tradition to have team building in nature’s lap, following the paths of one of the mountain tours offered to their adventure travelers. To this end, one of the most popular tours “To Beldersay Petroglyphs” was chosen.

It is not just a simple one-day hike, but the real adventure with an overnight stay in tents, evenings around the campfire, climbing to a height of over 2,400 meters, with soaring mountain eagles.

So, the hike. It was decided to combine business with pleasure. The staff had an opportunity to stretch the legs, breathe fresh mountain air and get filled with nature within 2 days, forgetting the bustle of the city, and the young specialists - take a tour that they offer to their customers.

On Saturday morning, all trip participants gathered in the office. At 10 a.m., distributing products and equipment, we went to meet the mountains. On our way, we all participated in intellectual games and 2 hours went too quickly. On reaching the place of the starting point, it was decided to make a memorable picture, while everybody was still cheerful and full of energy.

The day was very hot, so we were walking slowly, making frequent halts near local attractions. First, we stopped at a large waterfall on the Mramornaya (Marble) River, then at the stone "baths", which have been carved with water for millions of years, and then at a small waterfall, hidden behind huge boulders. The small waterfall was pleasantly refreshing fine spray, which flew in the air. In the end, many participants gave in and decided to take a dip. A 4-meter-high waterfall was not the only escape from the June heat, but also served as a kind of hydro-massage, as the stream of water drummed hard on the back. By the way, the water was not very cold.

After some rest at the waterfall, we were unwilling to go anywhere, but a big camp with dinner was yet to come. After a few hundred meters along the river, we came to a large tree with a stone table, arranged in its shade. An hour later, fed and rested, the Advantour staff started the hardest part of the journey of this day - ascending the Urta Kumbel pass (1820 m). For 20 minutes, slowly but surely, all of us reached the top of the pass, and, catching the breath, began to descend into the valley of the Beldersay River where it was planned to put a camp.

40 minutes later, having passed the rapid flow of the Beldersay River by stones, the trip participants came to the camp. The evening was close to come, so we set up the camp and cooked quickly dinner. After dinner, while the guys were still sitting by the fire, the guide went to the Chet Kumbel pass to snapshot Big Chimghan lit by the full moon.

Next morning, while the majority of the Advantour staff was still sleeping off, the "early birds” put already the kettle on, to make tea and coffee for breakfast. Some participants of the journey, tired the first day, were thinking about staying in the camp, but then decided that the purpose of the trip should be achieved. Left on duty in the camp, there were two members, who had already visited the petroglyphs, while the rest 10 people hit the road at 8 a.m. Walking without backpacks was easier, but the group had a long climb to 800 meters ahead of them.

The Chet-Kumbel pass greeted a beautiful panorama of the Beldersay River, with the streamhead disappearing somewhere in the slopes of Big Chimgan, rising proudly at a distance. Half an hour later the harsh climbing by loose rock ended with the beginning of a smooth trail running along an edge of the mountain. The hiking became easier, but the sun was already high, beating down mercilessly. We had to make frequent halts. All thirsty, we had to save water, because on the way from the Chet-Kumbel pass to the petroglyphs there were no springs or streams. 1.5 hours later, the road became easier- at the height, the air is not so hot and blown with constantly refreshing breeze.

So, slowly, over 3 hours, the Advantour team reached the goal – the petroglyphs. The edge of the right slope of the Beldersay River was strewn with black stones, decorated with prehistoric images of goats, wolves, a rider, camel and obscure patterns. Right at the petroglyphs we arranged a halt, and having replenished the calories by sandwiches, we had our picture taken.

The descent to the camp was much easier and took a little more than 2 hours. After dinner we began dismantling the camp. The tour program to Beldersay petroglyphs usually provides for another overnight, but we have to go back to Tashkent and to get back to work next day. We went back down the same path as in the first day, but with a slight change in the route to get the car quickly. Coming down from the Urta- Kumbel pass, some participants of the journey turned from the right path, but recollected themselves in time. Having come together, the Advantour team moved on, not losing sight of each other. After a small grove, there followed a small picturesque meadow with grazing cows. We decided to take another memorable photo there. The subsequent descent was easy and fast, and a half an hour later, the car drove the Advantour team, tired, but satisfied, back to Tashkent.

Our experience has demonstrated that the trip through the mountains proved to be well within the power of even physically unfit office workers. Of course, the tourists are even in better position, given that the goods are carried out by porters, furthermore upon climbing to petroglyphs, the program provides one more night to rest. In any case, such mountain trek for lovers of romance will stick in memory for a long time!