Hiking Big Chimgan

On a clear day, from the higher buildings of Tashkent, you can see a jagged snow-capped massif to the north-east. This is Big Chimgan, the highest point of the Chimgan range, a spur of the western Tian Shan. Its name in Uzbek is Katta Chimyon. At 3,309 metres, it rises about 2,000 metres above the Tashkent plain and dominates the resorts of Chimgan and Amirsoy.

For Tashkent climbers and hikers, Big Chimgan is a classic: the mountain most people climb first. It lies within Ugam-Chatkal National Park.

The standard route starts from Chimgan village, at about 1,600 metres, near the old chairlift. It follows a path up the valley of the Chimgansay stream, past a small waterfall, then climbs steeply up grassy and later rocky slopes towards the ridge. The final section to the summit crosses rocky terrain and scree; in places you use your hands for balance.

Elevation gain: about 1,700 metres.

Time: most fit hikers need 8–11 hours for the round trip. Start at dawn.

Difficulty: strenuous. No technical climbing skills are required on the standard route in summer, but you need good fitness, experience of mountain walking and a head for heights on the upper ridge. Some hikers split the climb, camping overnight at a high meadow.

The best time is late June to September, when the snow has melted from the route. In May and early June, snow often remains on the upper slopes, making the ascent much harder and dangerous without experience and equipment. In autumn, the weather is often clear, but days are shorter and the first snow can come in October. In winter the mountain is a serious undertaking only for experienced mountaineers with proper gear; avalanches are a real risk.

Thunderstorms can develop in the afternoon in summer: start early and turn back if the weather changes.

From the summit, the view is immense: the ridges of the western Tian Shan to the north and east, the turquoise Charvak reservoir below, the Chatkal and Pskem ranges towards Kyrgyzstan, and to the west the haze of the Tashkent plain.

Not ready for the summit? The area offers many easier options:

• Walk up the Chimgansay valley to the waterfall and back, a few hours.
• Take the chairlift at Chimgan or the gondola at Amirsoy for views without the climb.
• Hike to the Gulkam canyon or the Beldersay valley nearby, popular routes for a half or full day with a guide.
• Walk around Charvak and its villages in spring, when the hills are full of flowers.

Go with a guide if you are not an experienced mountain hiker; the path is not always clear on the upper sections. Tell someone your plans. Carry enough water (there are few sources higher up), food, a warm and waterproof layer, sun protection, a headlamp and a first-aid kit. Mobile signal is patchy. Wear proper hiking boots.

Altitude: at 3,300 metres, some people feel the effects of altitude, such as headache or breathlessness. Climb steadily and turn back if you feel unwell.

Chimgan village is about 1.5 hours by road from Tashkent. For an early start, many hikers spend the night before in Chimgan or near Charvak. We can arrange a car with driver from Tashkent and help you find a local mountain guide.