Difficulty: Challenging ★★★★☆
Distance: 3 + 5 km (total)
Elevation gain/loss: Day 1 +250 m / -250 m ; Day 2 +200 m / -200 m
Available: May – September
The two-day hiking tour to Yangiabad is a fantastic mountain adventure for those who are sure-footed and love waterfalls. The Yangiabad Mountains differ from the more popular Chimgan Mountains, which lie closer to Tashkent. Yangiabad is dominated by porphyry and porphyrites, rich in iron, which gives the rocks their red colour. In places, the mountain slopes are strewn with large and small fragments of stone that can shift underfoot. Over millions of years, water flowing down from the peaks of the Chatkal Range has carved its way through the rocks, creating picturesque waterfalls.
The journey begins with a drive from Tashkent south-east to the town of Yangiabad, which during the Soviet era was one of the most restricted towns in the region due to uranium mining. Don’t worry: there is no radiation, and all the mines have been decommissioned. Today, Yangiabad is a popular mountain resort. Upon arrival at the Yangiabad holiday camp, you’ll have time to relax and have lunch before setting off on your first hike – to Pigeon Gorge and its waterfall. The route is short, but the climb is quite steep. On the second day, you’ll head to the Chilten River in another gorge of the Yangiabad Mountains. Here, the route along the riverbed is gentler, although your feet may get wet.
A tour to the Yangiabad Mountains is a great way to escape the bustle of the city and visit picturesque gorges that have not yet been overrun by mass tourism. Check out the route details and treat yourself to a fantastic mountain weekend in Yangiabad!
Tour itinerary:
09:30 – 13:00: Transfer from Tashkent via the towns of Angren and Yangiabad to the Yangiabad tourist base (120 km, 2 hours). These are mining towns: coal is still mined in Angren, while Yangiabad was once home to silver and uranium mines. Check in at the campsite and rest after the journey.
13:00 – 14:00: Lunch at the campsite restaurant.
14:00–16:00: Hike to Pigeon Gorge, located near the tourist base. The route is 1.5 km long with an elevation gain of 250 metres. Most of the route follows a winding path and a dirt track. The final 300 metres involve climbing a steep slope with red rocks. Here, you need to walk slowly and carefully, watching out for loose rocks that may slip from under your feet. The reward for this hike is the waterfall in Pigeon Gorge, which is particularly beautiful in spring and early summer. A short rest and time for souvenir photos.
16:00–17:30: Return along the same path to the mountain lodge.
17:30–20:00: Free time. Dinner at the lodge restaurant.
9:00–10:00: Packing up and leaving the hotel with luggage.
10.00–11.00: Transfer to the starting point of the second hike – the confluence of the Alatanga and Chilten rivers. The journey is only 8 km, but takes about 45 minutes due to the poor road conditions.
11:00 – 13:00: Walk upstream along the Chilten riverbed to its pools and waterfalls. Along the way, there will be two fords across the Chilten, which has a fairly strong flow in May and June. From mid-July onwards, it is usually possible to cross without getting your feet wet. Picnic lunch by the waterfall.
13:00 – 14:00: Descent along the same route (2.5 km). Return to the starting point, where the car will be waiting.
14:00 – 17:00: Transfer to Tashkent. End of the hiking tour to the Yangiabad Mountains.
Attention! Please inform us in advance if you have any musculoskeletal issues (knee or joint problems), cardiovascular or respiratory conditions (high blood pressure, asthma, implants), or if you have undergone surgery within the last 2 years. Please also specify any food allergies or dietary preferences (vegetarianism, etc.).
Your safety is our priority: if a participant's health condition poses a risk, the guide reserves the right to modify or terminate the route.
Important information:
- In case of bad weather, guides reserve the right to modify the route;
Equipment:
- In hot and sunny weather: a panama hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, long-sleeved outerwear, trousers (shorts are not suitable due to thorny bushes along the path), trekking boots or sneakers. Lightweight gloves (such as cycling gloves) will also be a plus.
- Flip-flops or sandals for the crossing. For those who want to swim: a swimsuit and a towel.
- Part of the route has an incline of up to 30 degrees, reaching 40 degrees at certain points. Trekking poles are highly recommended (we provide them).
- In cold weather: a jacket or a windbreaker.
Price includes:
- Transportation to/from Yangiabad Tourist Lodge;
- Experienced local, English-speaking guide for the hike;
- Packed lunch on Day 2;
- Trekking poles;
- 1 night’s accommodation at the tourist lodge, with full board.
Price doesn't include:
- Travel insurance.
Prices, per person
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Yangiabad Mountains Reviews
As for the picnic near the river, we felt like two queens in such a beautiful scenery.
