Uzbekistan Freeride Tour
Visit Uzbekistan to visit untapped ski areas where powder competition is low and the cultural immersion is high. This freeride tour covers both resort and lift-accessed backcountry terrain.
Highlights
- Visit off the beaten path ski areas where the locals have little interest in skiing and you can find powder straight off the chairlift.
- If conditions allow, there is the option to go heli skiing in a Russian Mi-8. Imagine an old school bus with rotor blades on the roof! It's the cheapest heli skiing in the world.
- Visit Tashkent, the capital, which is a delightfully wild and chaotic mess of socialist era mosaics, imposing monuments and memorials, modernist concrete patterns, meandering street markets, and richly decorated metro stations.
- Visit Samarkand, which is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Visit via a high speed train and explore ancient mosques, mausoleums and madrassas.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan lies in the heart of the Central Asian ‘Stan’ states, bordered by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. For over two millennia it has been the center of the region’s culture and part of the Silk Road that connects Europe with China. Tourism in Uzbekistan is relatively new and ski tourism is even more recent with the first ‘international’ resort opening in 2019. The other ski areas are Soviet era relics with aging communist hotels, rickety lifts and an après culture that’s limited to cheap vodka shots dished out by locals.
On this trip you’ll visit new and old ski areas, which is all part of the adventure. There’s even an opportunity to spend a day heliskiing in a Russian Mi-8.
Cities Visited
Tashkent: You will start and finish in the capital of Uzbekistan and also the largest city in Central Asia. In Tashkent, you can see both ancient monuments and modern mosques, stroll through oriental bazaars, learn about the history and culture in the capital's museums, and immerse yourself in the city's culture.
Samarkand: Founded in around 700 BC, the city is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, a crossroads of cultures and a hub of learning and trading , especially during the heyday of the ancient Silk Road which passed through the city. You'll reach the town via the high-speed Afrosiyob Express train and spend the day exploring the varied sights, including ancient mosques, mausoleums and madrassas.
Ski Areas Visited
The resorts you’ll visit are all situated in the western Tien Shan Ranges. Due to the continental location far from the ocean, the snow is dry and stable, even on steep slopes. The topography is diverse, from slightly sloping clearings to aggressive gullies and long descents that can be over 2,000 vertical meters. The local guides will make sure the descents are the best of your season, or maybe even your life.
Amirsoy Mountain Resort is the biggest ski resort in Uzbekistan and doesn’t attract many international powder seekers, so there’s no powder frenzy. The only potential crowds are of the sight-seeing variety which can easily be bypassed. There’s plenty of options for off-piste riding in the sub-alpine terrain. With a split-board set-up, the backcountry options are plentiful, with ridges and bowls just a short traverse from the gondola.
Chimgan is located at an altitude of 1,200 to 1,600 m above sea level and is surrounded by mountains. The greater Mount Chimgan (3,309 m) is the main peak and towers over the entire valley. The resort is equipped with several ski lifts and the length of the routes range from 700 to 1,000 metres.
Beldersay is situated on the slopes of Mount Kumbel. Just a 15-minute drive from the hotel, there is an archaic chairlift over 3 km long. It allows for a variety of descents near the resort and beyond its borders. Amazing views of the entire West Tien-Shan range are guaranteed.
If you have any questions and/or want to check availability you can
make a booking request.
Terrain
On this tour you will ride a combination of in-bounds resort terrain, as well as lift-accessed backcountry. At times short boot packs may be necessary. Snowshoes/ Verts are optional. Guests will need to bring their own avalanche safety equipment. No rental equipment is available for this tour.
Ability Level
The terrain you’ll ride on this tour is suitable for advanced snowboarders and skiers with prior backcountry riding experience. You should be comfortable on black diamond runs, frequently ride/ski off-piste at a resort or in the backcountry, can confidently navigate any alpine and treed terrain, and maintain a continuous rhythm and pace, even through traverses and flat sections.