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dossier
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This
program is the property of Kan Tengri LTD Company.
If you find this program on any other web page it's copied illegally. |
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| Duration: |
16 days |
| Period: |
May - June |
| Dates: |
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| Grade: |
Mild |
| Min.group: |
6 pax |
| Weather conditions: |
In the desert area: day-time air temperature +22…+30? C (max
+41 ? C), and night-time +8…+16? C. Rains are rare. In the highlands:
daytime air temperature +18…+24? C (max +34 ? C), night-time
+3…+11? C (ground frost occur). Rains are short and lavish. |
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Day 1
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Arrive Almaty and transfer to Hotel Otrar.
After breakfast drive to the Observatory.
Night in Observatory. |
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Day 2
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We'll be staying in the Almaty Astronomical Observatory.
Once we clear the tree line we'll find ourselves in a crystal
clear landscape of dense juniper bushes, flower-strewn alpine
meadows, and snow-capped peaks.and after lunch we'll drive even
higher to a breathtaking pass where handsome Guldenstadt's Redstarts
nest and both Red-billed and Alpine Choughs wheel overhead.
We'll also be looking for some of the mighty Lammergeiers and
dainty Altai Accentors that inhabit this mountain wilderness.
Night in the Observatory. |
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Day 3
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Continue birding in the morning for Himalayan Snowcock which
will be heard echoing around the valley and careful searching
should reveal these impressive birds. The juniper will be
alive with the song of Himalayan Rubythroats, Hume's Yellow-browed
Warblers, Brown and Black-throated Accentors, Red-mantled
and Common Rosefinches, Plain Mountain Finches, and Spot-winged
Grosbeaks. The beautifully marked Severtzov's Tit-Warbler
can also be found in this habitat, along with the skulking
Sulphur-bellied Warbler. After lunch we'll drive back to Almaty,
taking time to search the spruce forests and streams for Brown
Dipper, Eversmann's and Blue-headed Redstarts, and Songar
Tit.
Night in Almaty.
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Day 4-5
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Early flight to Astana to spend two days in the steppe, with
its vast grasslands and lakes of fresh and salt water. From
this new city we will venture out into the ancient steppe where
bird song will fill the air and the sense of space will be exhilarating.
We'll search the grasslands for Dalmatian Pelican, White-headed
Duck, Pallid Harrier, Red-footed Falcon, Demoiselle Crane, Great
Black-headed, Caspian, Little and Slender-billed Gulls, and
a range of waders including breeding Black-winged Pratincoles
and Sociable Plovers, hordes of migrant Red-necked Phalaropes,
and handsome Ruffs in full breeding plumage. Passerines should
include Citrine Wagtail and two splendid larks - White-winged
and Black - steppe birds par excellence. The marshes will be
alive with clouds of White-winged Black Terns and displaying
Marsh Sandpipers, while Paddyfield Warblers creep around the
reedbeds and monotone Booted Warblers and showy Bluethroats
sing from the bush tops. Nights in Astana. |
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Day 6-7
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Early flight back to Almaty and then drive north to Taukum
Desert, a vast area of undulating hills and wormwood covered
grasslands. We'll stop at the Tamgaly-Tas
petroglyphs, an ancient collection of bizarre rock carvings,
where we will search the surrounding hills for Eastern Rock
Nuthatch, Desert Finch, and Grey-necked Bunting. The plains
will be alive with Calandra and Bimaculated Larks and numerous
Long-legged Buzzards will be using roadside telegraph poles
as lookouts. European Rollers and Lesser Grey Shrikes will line
the roadside wires and we are sure to see vast numbers of Rose-coloured
Starlings. Our camp will be by an artesian well that, at dawn,
will be visited by flocks of Black-bellied Sandgrouse and perhaps
some of the scarce resident Greater Sandplovers or handsome
Caspian Plovers in full breeding plumage. This open desert is
also home to McQueen's (Houbara) Bustard and we stand a good
chance of finding a pair close to our camp. Further north lies
the delta of the Ili River, a strange
area of sand dunes interspersed with marshy pools and stands
of turanga trees, and it is here that
three of the region's very special birds; Yellow-eyed Stock
Dove, White-winged Woodpecker, and the beautiful Saxaul Sparrow,
are all easy to see. |
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Day 8
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Drive back to Almaty, stopping at a small lake where we can
marvel at a colony of around 5000 pairs of Rose-coloured Starlings.
Night in Almaty. |
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Day 9
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Drive east from Almaty to the Charyn Canyon. Here we'll explore
secluded valleys for Chukar, Pied Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush,
and Rock and White-capped Buntings while all the time keeping
an eye open for Sakers, Golden, Imperial and Steppe Eagles and
Griffon Vultures. The plains at first sight can appear barren
and devoid of life but careful searching should reveal Lesser
Kestrel, Shore and Lesser Short-toed Larks, Desert Warbler,
Rock Sparrow and hopefully Mongolian Trumpeter Finch. We'll
be staying at an old hunting lodge surrounded by trees that
can be a real magnet for migrants as well as being home to a
pair of Scops Owls. A short drive to an artesian well should
give us our best views of Pallas's
Sandgrouse as they come to drink. Night at Ash Tree Grove
Lodge. |
| Day 10 |
Return to Almaty. Stop along the way to look at a colony of
Pale Martins and also to search for White-capped Penduline Tit
at a regular breeding site.
Night in Almaty. |
| Day 11 |
Return to the lower slopes of the Tien Shan mountains to look
for any species we may have previously missed.
Night in Almaty. |
| Day 12 |
We'll leave Kazakstan on an early morning flight to Tashkent,
the capital of Uzbekistan and set out straight away on the ancient
silk route for Samarkand. We'll stop along the way to look for
Variable Wheatear and should arrive in time to explore this
fascinating city.
Night in Samarkand. |
| Day 13 |
To the south of the town lie the Zeravshan Hills where we'll
stroll along a path alive with Red-headed Buntings and White-throated
Robins. The little-known Hume's Short-toed Lark feeds among
the rocky outcrops, as do Orphean Warblers and Isabelline Shrikes,
and at all times we'll keep a watchful eye on the skies above
for Black Vultures. Striking Asian Paradise Flycatchers live
here, as well as a few pairs of Yellow-breasted Tits and those
interested in plants or butterflies will find much to occupy
them.
Night in Samarkand. |
| Day 14 |
Continuing along the silk road we come to Bukhara, a city
even more richly endowed with historic sites than Samarkand.
The true splendour of this magical place has to seen to be believed.
The turquoise blue domes, towering minarets and covered bazaars,
bustling with numerous shops selling spices, jewellery and famous
Bukhara rugs, are guaranteed to transport you back to the days
when this was one of the most important cities on the Silk Road.
Night in Bukhara. |
| Day 15 |
Within reach of Bukhara can be found some extensive wetland
habitats. We'll explore reedbeds alive with Clamorous, Savi's
and Moustached Warblers as well as the Caspian race of Reed
Warbler, and Bearded Tit. White-tailed Plovers, all in smart
breeding plumage, are common here and Marbled Duck can usually
be found with ease. Flights of Pygmy Cormorants skim the water
and the roadside wires are dotted with Pied Bushchats and Long-tailed
Shrikes. The bushes surrounding some of the massive lakes are
home to the rama race of Booted Warbler, sometimes considered
a separate species, Sykes's Warbler. Collared Pratincoles nest
on the lake shore along with Oriental Skylarks, and Rufous Bush
Robins sing from exposed perches. Night in Bukhara. |
| Day 16 |
In contrast to these rich wetlands we'll venture deep into
the dry Kyzyl-Kum Desert to search for the handsome Pander's
Ground Jay, one of the really special birds of Central Asia,
as well as Streaked Scrub and Upcher's Warblers, before returning
to Bukhara to take an evening flight back to Tashkent, and connect
with a flight, via Frankfurt, to London where the tour ends
on Day 17. |
WHAT TO BRING:
We recommend the following:
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Comfortable sport clothes & shoes
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Shorts & T-shirts for hot weather
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Water proofs for rainy days
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Warm jacket for cool days
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Mat & sleeping bag
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Sun-glasses & hat for sun protection
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Thick socks or house slippers (no shoes allowed
in the tent)
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Camera: still & video
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Binocular
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Your favorite strong drinks and cigarettes
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Flash light
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Anti-mosquito lotion
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Sun care cream
THE TOUR COST COVERS:
- Invitation and visa support
- Meeting and seeing off at the Almaty Airport
- All transfers
- Guide-ornithologist
- Interpreter's service
- Support team service
- Accommodation at Almaty Hotel on double basis
- Sightseeing in Almaty
- Registration in the local police office
- Insurance of local staff
- Permits
- Ecological duties
- Trekking tent ( 2,15 m high) for 2 persons at camp site
- Field bed and mattresses
- Three meals a day (hot breakfast and dinner, lunch box)
- Mess-tent with tables and chairs
- Kitchen-tent
- Shower and toilet- tents
- Evacuation of debris from camps
- Medical box
- Radio communication with Almaty office
- Reconfirmation of tickets
THE TOUR COST DOES NOT COVER:
- Rescue works (a copy of insurance policy required)
- Changing of date of departure from Almaty by international airlines
- Additional meal and night in a hotel of Almaty
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Kan Tengri LTD
10 Kasteyev street,
480100, Almaty Kazakhstan
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Tel: +7 (3272) 910200, 910880
Fax: +7 (3272) 912010
E-mail: kazbek@kantengri.almaty.kz |
Copyright© KanTengri LTD |
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