The large Central Asian country of Uzbekistan enjoys a landlocked and central location: it borders on all other Central Asian countries: Turkmenistan and Afghanistan to the south, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Kazakhstan to the north. Most of Uzbekistan consists of rocky desert, including the tragically shrinking Aral Sea, and the vast Kyzyl Kum Desert, both of which Uzbekistan shares with Kazakhstan. Most diversity in landscape is found in the east of Uzbekistan. Here you will find the western extremities of the Tian Shan and Pamir ranges, near the borders with Kyrgystan and Tajikistan. Uzbekistan's highest mountain is Khazret Sultan (4643 m), part of the Hisor (Gissar) Range and right on the border with Tajikistan.

The best trekking possibilities are in the northeastern Greater Chimgan Mountain area, part of the Ugam Chatkal National Park in the western foothills of the Tian Shan, about 100 km to the northeast of Tashkent. Some great canyons and gorges here, like the Koksu, Gulkam and Paltau river gorges, the Pskem, Beldersay and Chirchik river valleys and the Urungach mountain lakes. The area includes several majestic ridges such as Chimgan, Karjantau, Ugam and Chatkal.

Other options are hiking in the Zaamin National Park on the slopes of the Turkestan Range along the border with Tajikistan, or into the Amankutan gorge, part of the Zerafshan range not far from the city of Samarkand.