Charvak Reservoir 2026: Tashkent's Turquoise Lake in the Mountains
· 9 min read · Nature
Ninety minutes from Tashkent, a Soviet-era dam trapped the Chatkal river to create a 20-km turquoise reservoir ringed by mountains. It's where the capital escapes 45 °C summers. Here's how to enjoy it without falling into a tourist trap.
Charvak (also spelled Chorvoq, Charvoq) is an artificial reservoir 70 km north-east of Tashkent, built in 1970 when the Soviet Union dammed the Chatkal river with a 168-metre earth wall — one of the tallest of its kind in the world. The reservoir holds 2 km³ of glacier-fed water at 890 m altitude, surrounded by the Chatkal, Ugam and Pskem ranges. In summer the surface temperature climbs to 24 °C and Tashkenters descend en masse: it is Uzbekistan's answer to Lake Como, minus the price tag. In 2026 the shoreline has been quietly modernised with new hotels, cleaner beaches and stricter rescue services, though the wilder Soviet feel is still there if you want it.
How to get to Charvak
- Yandex Go from central Tashkent: 250,000–350,000 UZS one-way (~$20–$27), 90 minutes.
- Marshrutka (shared minibus) from Buyuk Ipak Yuli metro: 40,000 UZS per seat, leaves when full, drops at Gazalkent — then a local taxi to your specific beach for 30,000 UZS.
- Rental car: easy road, tarmac all the way, plenty of parking at the main beaches. Amirsoy road as far as the Ugam checkpoint, then follow signs to Chorvoq.
- Organised day tour from Tashkent including boat trip and lunch: $45–$65 per person.
The main beaches and what each one is like
Beach 1 — Chimgan Yer (family beach)
Cleanest sand, calmest water, best for kids. Sunbed 50,000 UZS/day, changing rooms and lifeguards. Small entry fee 20,000 UZS.
Beach 2 — Charvak Oromgohi private beach
Attached to the 4-star Chorvoq Oromgohi hotel. Non-guests can buy a day pass (250,000 UZS) that includes sunbed, umbrella, towel and pool access. The only reliably crowd-free beach on the weekend.
Beach 3 — Yusupkhona and Brichmulla side (wild beaches)
Free, no facilities, gravel not sand. Where locals go for barbecues and where the water is deepest (up to 130 m in the main channel — swim close to shore). Bring your own everything.
Beach 4 — Piramidy resort area (party beach)
Loud music, jet-skis, banana boats, cocktail bars. Fun on Friday/Saturday nights, avoid if you want a quiet swim.
Activities and 2026 prices
- Speedboat ride around the reservoir (30 min for up to 6 people): 500,000 UZS.
- Jet-ski rental: 350,000 UZS for 15 minutes.
- Parachute towed behind speedboat: 300,000 UZS for 10 minutes.
- Stand-up paddleboard rental: 120,000 UZS/hour (available at Chorvoq Oromgohi beach only).
- Fishing (carp, trout, sazan) with local guide: $50 for a half-day including rod and licence.
- Charvak dam viewing platform and zip-line across the gorge: 200,000 UZS, open 10:00–18:00.
Where to stay overnight
- Charvak Oromgohi (4-star, Soviet-era icon fully refurbished 2023): $110–$180/night, best pool complex on the lake.
- Chorvoq Aristocrat Resort (opened 2024): $180–$260/night, infinity pool over the water, best for couples.
- Guesthouses in Brichmulla village: $25–$50/night, home-cooked breakfast, 15 min drive from the shore.
- Yurt Camp Ugam (west shore): $60/person half-board, traditional yurts with real beds.
- Camping is officially allowed at the wild beaches near Yusupkhona — no fee, no facilities, bring rubbish bags.
Best time to visit
Mid-June to early September for swimming (water 22–24 °C). Weekdays are far quieter than weekends — Fridays and Saturdays the main beaches fill by 11:00. May and late September are perfect for hiking around the reservoir without the crowds; water is too cold to swim but the mountain colours peak. October–April: mostly closed, but the drive up for the dam viewpoint is spectacular in winter snow.
Safety notes people ignore
- The reservoir is 130 m deep in the centre — do not swim outside the marked buoy zones.
- Water temperature drops 5 °C for every 3 metres of depth; cramp is the number-one cause of drownings here.
- No lifeguards at wild beaches — swim with a partner.
- Do not swim within 500 m of the dam wall (currents, and it is patrolled).
- Alcohol + jet-ski is illegal and enforced with immediate confiscation of your passport until fined.
Combine with these on the same trip
- Amirsoy summer gondola (see our separate guide) — 25 min drive from Charvak.
- Great Chimgan trekking base at Chimgan village — 30 min drive.
- Brichmulla village walnut-tree groves and Sufi shrine — 20 min drive north-east.
- Ugam-Chatkal Biosphere Reserve for serious hiking — permits required, day tours from Tashkent.
Verdict
Charvak is the easiest, cheapest and most Instagrammable escape from Tashkent between June and September. Skip the party beaches, book a room at Chorvoq Oromgohi or Aristocrat Resort, spend one lazy day on the sunbed and one active day on the water. Total cost for a couple with hotel, meals, boat ride and taxis: about $250 for 48 hours — the same as a single night in a mediocre European lake hotel.
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