The high-speed Afrosiyob train makes Samarkand a feasible — if intense — day trip from Tashkent: two hours each way, a long day on your feet between Registan, Bibi-Khanym, and Shah-i-Zinda, and back to Tashkent for dinner. Most people give it a longer stay, but the day-trip version works if you are short on time.
The Chimgan mountains, about 90 minutes east of the city by car, are the easiest natural escape from the heat. In summer there are hiking trails and a chairlift up to a ridge for views of the Chatkal range; in winter the area is Tashkent's modest ski resort, with snow from December to March.
Charvak Reservoir, on the route to Chimgan, is a turquoise lake set in the foothills — a popular summer weekend swim and boat destination. Hire a taxi for the day or join a tour.
