Yes, you can ski in Uzbekistan, little more than an hour from Tashkent. Our guide to Amirsoy, Chimgan and Beldersay: lifts and slopes, season dates, ski pass and rental prices, getting there, where to stay and which resort suits you.
Facts, prices and schedules checked on November 4, 2026
Skiing in Uzbekistan surprises most visitors, yet it is one of the easiest winter add-ons in Central Asia. The Chatkal Range of the western Tian Shan rises just north-east of Tashkent, and within about an hour and a half of the capital there are three ski areas: Amirsoy, a modern resort with gondolas and snowmaking; Chimgan, the Soviet-era classic, now being rebuilt; and Beldersay, the steeper option for confident skiers.
This guide is written for travellers who want to ski for a day or two as part of an Uzbekistan trip, and for skiers curious about a new destination. It covers what each resort offers, when the season runs, what ski passes and rental cost, how to get there from Tashkent, where to stay and which one to choose. Prices change every season, so we give the latest published figures and tell you where to check the live ones.
Can you ski in Uzbekistan? The three resorts at a glance
You can, and the skiing is better than most people expect. Snow in the Chatkal mountains usually arrives in late November or December, and the sunny, dry climate means plenty of bluebird days.
The three ski areas, all in Bostanliq district of Tashkent Region, close to Charvak reservoir:
- Amirsoy Mountain Resort: opened in December 2019, about 65 km from Tashkent. Two gondolas, a chairlift, beginner carpets, about 15 km of groomed slopes and a vertical drop of around 650 metres. Best all-round choice and the only one with modern snowmaking.
- Chimgan: the original ski area of Soviet Tashkent, below Big Chimgan peak (3,309 m). Short, gentle slopes and simple lifts, good for beginners and families. A new four-season resort with French-built lifts is under construction here.
- Beldersay: on the slopes of Mount Kumbel, a few kilometres from Chimgan. Longer and steeper terrain, a long lift line and freeride potential, with fewer facilities.
None of these is a large Alpine resort, but for a ski day between Samarkand and the airport, or a weekend of turns with a view of snowy peaks, they work very well.
Amirsoy Mountain Resort: lifts and slopes
Amirsoy (also spelt Amirsay) covers some 900 hectares on the spurs of the Chatkal Range. It was designed and is managed with Andorran resort specialists, and it is the only ski area in Uzbekistan built to current international standards.
Lifts listed by the resort:
- Amirsoy Express: a ten-seat gondola from the lower car park on the access road up to the resort, added in December 2021. It saves the last stretch of mountain road and runs year-round.
- Prima: the main gondola from the resort base to the top station at 2,290 metres, with a mid-station on the slopes.
- Chalet Express: a chairlift of around 690 metres serving the lower slopes near the chalets.
- Beginner travelators (magic carpets) and a tubing lift in the learning area.
The slopes: Amirsoy publishes ten named runs, from the long Papa (about 3.5 km, 637 m vertical) and Charlie (about 3.4 km) to the short, gentle Oscar lanes in the beginner zone. Total groomed terrain is around 15 km, and the vertical drop is about 650 metres. Most runs are blue and red, with plenty of easy ground for beginners and a few steeper pitches. There is no long black run.
Other facilities include ski and snowboard rental with a workshop, a ski school, tubing, several restaurants including a panoramic restaurant near the top station, and the Red Rock hammam and spa. Lifts for skiers run from about 9:00 to 16:00 in winter, and pass sales stop half an hour before the last ascent.
Amirsoy ski pass prices for 2026
Amirsoy publishes its winter tariffs shortly before the season opens, and prices have risen each year. The 2026/27 tariff had not been published at the time of writing, so here are the official 2025/26 winter prices, valid for the season that ran into spring 2026. Weekend rates apply on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
Standard ski pass, full day (9:00–16:00), weekday / weekend:
- Adults: 320,000 / 390,000 som (about US$27 / 33)
- Children 7–14: 160,000 / 190,000 som (about US$13 / 16)
- Seniors: 220,000 / 270,000 som
Standard ski pass, half day (12:00–16:00), weekday / weekend:
- Adults: 240,000 / 290,000 som (about US$20 / 24)
- Children 7–14: 120,000 / 150,000 som
Other passes and fees:
- A cheaper training pass for the beginner area: adults 190,000 / 250,000 som for a full day
- Season pass: adults 7,600,000 som, children 4,300,000 som
- Children under 7 ski free
- A reusable smart card for the pass: 65,000 som
- Sightseeing gondola tickets for non-skiers: roughly 65,000 som for children to 250,000 som for adults, depending on which lifts you ride
- Upper car park: 150,000 som on weekdays, 200,000 som at weekends (the lower car park at the Amirsoy Express gondola is free)
Dollar figures use about 11,900 som to the US dollar, the rate in November 2026. Expect the 2026/27 prices to be somewhat higher. Check the live tariff on amirsoy.com or at tickets.amirsoy.com before you go; buying online and skiing on weekdays are the easiest ways to save.
When is the ski season in Uzbekistan?
The ski season in the mountains near Tashkent usually runs from mid-December to mid-March. Exact dates depend on the winter:
- Amirsoy normally opens in December, once snowmaking and natural snow allow, and in good years runs into late March. In December 2025 the opening came after mid-month, so do not plan a ski day in the first half of December without checking. The resort says its snowmaking supports a season of up to 100 to 120 days.
- Chimgan and Beldersay depend on natural snow, so their season is shorter and less predictable, typically from late December to early March.
- January and February have the most reliable snow and the coldest temperatures. Early March brings spring snow and sunny afternoons.
Weekends and the New Year holidays are busy, with queues at the gondolas and on the road from Tashkent. On a weekday in January or February the slopes can be pleasantly quiet. The resorts post opening dates and daily conditions on their websites and social media channels.
Chimgan ski resort: the classic, now being rebuilt
Chimgan (Chimyon in Uzbek) has been Tashkent's mountain playground since Soviet times. The village sits at about 1,600 metres below the rocky summit of Big Chimgan, and on winter weekends families from the capital come up to sledge, ride horses, eat shashlik and ski.
The existing skiing is modest: short beginner and intermediate runs served by an old chairlift and drag lifts, with tickets usually sold per ride rather than as a day pass. In summer 2026 the chairlift cost 40,000 som for adults and 20,000 som for children aged 3 to 10. Equipment can be hired in the village, though quality varies.
Chimgan is changing. The French lift-maker MND is building a new four-season resort here under a contract signed in 2023. In March 2026 the company reported the project in its final phase: a ten-seat gondola due to open in autumn 2026, two four-seat chairlifts, six beginner conveyor lifts, snowmaking and, in 2027, an 80-passenger cable car to the 3,309-metre summit of Big Chimgan. Once open, it should make Chimgan a serious alternative to Amirsoy. Check the opening status before you travel this winter, since large projects often open in stages.
Beldersay: steeper slopes and freeride
Beldersay lies on the flank of Mount Kumbel, a short drive from Chimgan, and has long been the choice of local skiers who want steeper, longer runs. The main slope drops several hundred metres from the upper lift station, with steep sections that are best left to confident skiers.
For decades the area was served by a long Soviet-era chairlift and a drag lift. International lift databases now list a new ten-seat Doppelmayr gondola at Beldersay, opened in 2024, with a six-seat chairlift planned, so the lift system may look different from older reviews you read online. Grooming is limited compared with Amirsoy, and snow cover depends on natural snowfall.
What Beldersay offers:
- More challenging terrain than Amirsoy or Chimgan
- Access to off-piste and freeride slopes on Kumbel
- A quieter, more local atmosphere, with a hotel and simple cottages near the bottom station
A word on safety: the Chatkal mountains have real avalanche terrain. Off-piste skiing at Beldersay or anywhere else in the range should only be done with a qualified local mountain guide, avalanche equipment and a check of current conditions. Lift ticket prices at Beldersay are low by international standards but change often, so confirm them at the ticket office.
Amirsoy vs Chimgan vs Beldersay: which should you choose?
A quick comparison to help you decide:
- Best for a first ski day in Uzbekistan: Amirsoy. Reliable lifts, groomed slopes, snowmaking, rental, ski school and restaurants all in one place.
- Best for beginners and young children: Amirsoy's learning area and travelators, or Chimgan's gentle slopes once the new lifts are running.
- Best for strong skiers and freeriders: Beldersay, with a guide for anything off-piste.
- Best for non-skiers: Amirsoy, for the gondola ride to 2,290 metres, the views, tubing and the spa; or Chimgan for horse rides, sledging and village life.
- Best value: Chimgan and Beldersay, where lift tickets cost a fraction of Amirsoy's prices.
- Best for a short weekend with comfort: Amirsoy, with its chalets on the slopes.
For most visitors combining skiing with a Silk Road tour, one day at Amirsoy is the simplest plan. Strong skiers with more time can add a day at Beldersay.
How to get to Amirsoy and Chimgan from Tashkent
All three ski areas are reached by the same road: north-east from Tashkent through Gazalkent and up towards Charvak reservoir, then into the mountains. Amirsoy is about 65 km from the city, Chimgan and Beldersay slightly further, and the drive takes roughly 1.5 to 2 hours depending on traffic and snow.
Your options:
- Private car with driver. The most comfortable way, with door-to-door pick-up and a driver who knows the mountain road. It is also what we can arrange for you. Typical prices in 2026 depend on the vehicle and whether the driver waits all day; pre-booked one-way sedan transfers are listed by agencies at around US$150, and a car shared by four for the day costs less per person.
- Taxi app. Yandex Go works between Tashkent and the resorts. It is cheaper but return rides from the mountains can be harder to find late in the day.
- Self-drive. Possible, but in winter you need a car with winter tyres and some experience of mountain roads. Snow and ice are common on the last section.
- Group day trips. Local operators and Tashkent hiking clubs run minibus trips on winter weekends, which are cheap but fixed in timing.
At Amirsoy you can leave the car at the free lower car park and ride the Amirsoy Express gondola up to the resort, avoiding the steepest part of the road. Leave Tashkent by 8:00 at weekends to beat the traffic.
Ski and snowboard rental and lessons
You do not need to bring equipment. Amirsoy has a well-stocked rental centre with skis, snowboards, boots, helmets and clothing. Official rental prices (weekday / weekend):
- Full set (skis or snowboard, boots, poles, helmet), adults 14+: 345,000 / 425,000 som
- Full set, children 3–14: 200,000 / 225,000 som
- Skis or snowboard only, adults: 150,000 / 170,000 som
- Jacket or trousers, adults: 65,000 / 85,000 som each
- Helmet, adults: 50,000 som
You need an identity document to rent. Rental shops in Tashkent and in the villages on the way to the resorts are cheaper, though quality varies. Bring your own gloves, goggles, a warm hat and sunscreen; the sun is strong at 2,000 metres.
Amirsoy's ski school offers group and private lessons for adults and children. Prices and availability of English-speaking instructors vary, so book in advance, especially at weekends.
Where to stay: hotels at the ski resorts
Most visitors ski as a day trip from Tashkent, but staying in the mountains makes for an easier, more relaxed day.
- At Amirsoy, Le Chalet by Amirsoy is a village of wooden chalets on the slopes, from deluxe chalets for two to multi-bedroom suites, all with breakfast. They are the only true ski-in, ski-out accommodation in Uzbekistan and are expensive by local standards, especially at weekends and over New Year.
- At Beldersay, a resort hotel and cottages stand near the bottom lift station.
- Around Chimgan and the shores of Charvak reservoir there is a wide choice of guesthouses, cottages and resort hotels, from simple village rooms to large lakeside complexes. Many are built for summer, so check that heating is included and the road is cleared in winter.
If you stay in Tashkent instead, the ski day fits easily between the end of a Silk Road tour and your flight home.
Skiing with TourEast
We can add a ski or snow day at Amirsoy, Chimgan or Beldersay to a winter tour, with a private car and driver from Tashkent, help with rental and lift tickets, and a guide for non-skiers. A private itinerary can easily combine the Registan and Bukhara with a day or two in the mountains.
