The lake is located 260 kilometers from Tashkent, in the Jizzakh region and is a part of the Arnasay lake system. We were there at the end of November 2022. At this time in Uzbekistan, where we currently live, it’s no longer hot but still warm. This is a great time for traveling around the country.
I am subscribed to groups that organize trips from Tashkent across Uzbekistan. In one of them, they posted an announcement with photos of the lake. They impressed me, and I immediately wanted to go to this amazing place.
Coordinates: 67.488918, 40.635666
How much was spent: 370,000 UZS ($35)
We left at 05:00. The road was exhausting: the highway towards the Jizzakh region was at times broken, the car shook on bumps, so it was not possible to nap a little and compensate for this early rise. Towards the end, a small part of the journey was off-road. But in any case, it was worth it.
We started on the trek at 10:00. It was cloudy in the morning, but by the start of the journey, it cleared up to +15°C, the sun was shining. The lake exceeded all my expectations. It is truly huge and resembles the sea, and the water in it is salty.
The landscapes there are incredible. The nature is completely different from the Uzbekistan that I saw when I traveled to the Tian-Shan Mountains near Tashkent. In the area of Tuzkana, there is perfectly flat short green grass and no trees. Only stones, grass, and water. To some extent, this area is reminiscent of the north, but it feels like eternal spring here. I have never been to Iceland, but the photos I have seen seem similar to me.
This is an amazing place where besides our group of 15 people, there was not a single soul, except for sheep, horses, and cows grazing here and there.
In total, we walked 11 kilometers along the shore for 5.5 hours. Everyone moved at their own pace. We stopped for half an hour for a small picnic – we brought tea and sandwiches with us. At the end of the trail, we were picked up by a bus.
The route is simple and even a beginner can handle it. There is no need for special equipment. I sometimes go on hikes, so I had boots and poles. However, it is comfortable to hike in regular sneakers – most people in the group were wearing them. There are no difficult sections, and the ascents and descents are small – about 300-400 meters. Poles make my walking easier, but not everyone finds them convenient. For example, my husband finds them a hindrance and walks without them. In our group, only three people had poles. It’s nice to have something to sit on, such as small cushions. Some had small blankets, while others just sat on stones.
On the way back, our group stopped at a café in the city of Jizak, where they sell the famous Jizak samosas. They are gigantic, and one is enough for a full meal. Two samosas and a teapot of tea for two cost about 70,000 UZS. We returned to Tashkent around 10:00 pm.
The tour cost 300,000 UZS per person. The price included transfer and guide services. I would really like to come back to the lake in the summer, not just to enjoy the views, but also to swim.
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