Ornithological Tour N1
(Ile-Alatau - National Park - Alakolsky Reserve)
Duration: 14 days (13 nights).
Season: April - May - June, September.
Accommodation: guesthouses, cottage, tents.
Meal: full board (traditional Kazakh and Russian cuisine).
Transport: minibus.
Tour description.
Day 1. Almaty-Lake Bolshoe Almatinskoe. Driving to Bolshoe Almatinskoe gorge in Ile-Alatau National Park. One hour in a falcon's nursery for watching of the open cage with Sake Falcon,Gyrfalcon, Barbary Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Goshawk, Golden Eagle and Eagle Owl.Further slope along the gorge by mountain way to Lake Bolshoe Almatinskoe (120kilometre). During the way you can see such birds as Blue Whistling Thrush, Brown Dipper, Black Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Common Mynah, Masked Wagtail, Coal Tit, Nutcracker, Woodpigeon, Tree Pipit, Golden Eagle. Then hiking along the high mountain lake and having lunch. Observation Ibisbill, Dipper, Ruddy Shelduck, Grey Goldfinch, Red-fronted Serin, Eversmann's Redstart, Black-throated Accentor, Mountain Marmot. In the evening supper and lodging for the night in the cottage and banya.
Day 2. Lake Bolshoe Almatinskoe. Breakfast in the cottage. Then slope to glade Mramornaya (1 km) and stop for three hours observing Himalayan Rubythroat, Sevetzov's Titwarbler, White-winged Grosbeak,Tian Shan Redmantled Rose Finch, Booted Eagle,Kestrel, Merlin, Wren, Rock and Tree Pipit, Raven,Treecreeper and Marmot. Later 8 kilometre rising to space station and there three hours halt for lunch. After this observation Himalayan Snow, Siberian Jay, Alpine Chough, Alpine and Brown Accentor, Brandt's Rosy Finch, Guldenstadt's Redstart and Common Raven. In the evening return to gorge, having supper annnnd lodging in the cottage.
Day 3. Lake Bolshoe Almatinskoe-Almaty-Borandasu- Tamgali-Tas-Taukumi. In the morning breakfast in the cottage and then leaving to region named Barandasu (about 160 km) The route is going through Almaty,Chilik and Masak.Near the route in saxaulnik there is artesian well. There in the watering-place we'll observe Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Pallas's Sandgrouse, Desert Finch, Red-headed Bunting, Turtle Dove, Desert Wheatear, Turkestan Red-tailed Shrike,Great Grey Shrike and Rufous Bush Robin.Then two hours stop for lunch.After lunch driving the same road which is going through Kaskelen, Samsi, Kopa and Karabastau we'll go to Tamgali-Tas (300 km) and we'll have a stop for one hour in rocks.
There observing Red-headed Bunting,Grey-necked Bunting , Nuthatch, roller, hoopoe, Chukar, Buzzard, Lawk.Here there is also an opportunity to examine petrographer gallery (the Bronze Age). Further driving 80 km to Kanshengel. Supper in Taukumi on the camel farm and lodging in the house or under canvas in accordance with one's desire.
Day 4. Taukumi-Lakes Toparskie-Zheltorangi-Taukumi. Breakfast on the camel farm then 4 kilometres to artesian well with 2 hours halt. It is the watering-place for Black-bellied Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Isabelline Wheatear, Demoiselle Crane,Ruddy Shelduck, Little Ringed and Caspian Plover, Houbara Bustard, Desert Warbler, Mongolian Trumpeter Finch, Bimaculated ,Calandra and Short-toed Larks.By the route through Kanshegel (about 100 km) going to Topar passing by saxaulnik, lakes and uneven sands.then one hour halt for lunch on lakes named Toparskie.Further observation Red-crested and white eyed Pochard, Common Shelduck, Black-winged Stilt,Coot, Grey and White Heron,Dalmatian Pelican, Black Tern, Bittern, Paddyfield Warbler, Great Reed Warbler,Cetti's Warbler.Later 30 kilometers to copse Turangovaya through Zheltorangi. Two hours stop there for observation White-winged Woodpecler, Saxaul Sparrow, Grey Tit, Yellow-eyed Stock Dove, Roller, Hoopoe, Common and Lesser Kestrel,Hobby,Hawk Shikra, Desert Finch and Semirechenski Pheasant.After visiting lake Ili (5 km) on which there is a one hour halt return to camel farm in Kanshegel. Supper and lodging.
Day 5. Taukumi-Sorbulak-Altin-Emel. After breakfast on the camel farm departure to the national park Altin-Emel (350 km) through Sorbulak, Kapchagai, Shengeldi, Kerbulak.On the bank of river Sorbulak one hour halt for lunch.Observation White and Dalmatian Pelican,Cormorant, Herring gull, Great Black-headed Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Black-winged Stilt, Ruddy Shelduck, Red-crested Pochard,Great Crested grebe, Rose coloured Starling,Calandra Lark.Across the bridge Dmitrievski we continue our way to Altin-Emel with halt on cordon named Taigak and till evening observing Chukar, Blue and Rock Thrush, Azure Tit, White-capped Bunting, Stonechat, Pied Wheataer, Sparrowhawk, Golden Eagle Black Vulture, Lesser Grey Shrike, Nightingale, Red-rumped Swallow, Crag Martin. Hothouse, supper and lodging in the house or under canvas as on desire.
Day 6. Altin Emel. In the morning there is breakfast on cordon named Taigak and later driving 100 km steppe road to Singing Barkhan along the Kapchagai storage pond and through the cordon named Minbulak. On the way observation Turkestan Red-tailed Shrike, Great Grey Shrike, Tawny Pipit, Buzzard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Pallas's Sandgrouse, White-tailed Eagle, Grey and White Heron, Avocet, Ruddy Shelduck, Common Shelduck, Herring Gull, White Pelican, Dzeiran and Kulan. There is a one hour stop on the cordon named Minbulak to have lunch. After lunch trip to Singing Barkhan and river Ili (20 km) where there is a halt for two hours. Observations Chukar, Desert Warbler, Isabelline Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, Semirechenski Pheasant, Lesser Kestrel, Black Vulture, Grey Tit, Masked Wagtail, Hare and Dzeiran.Then back to cordon Minbulak. Supper and lodging in the house or tents.
Day 7. Altin-Emel. In the morning there's breakfast on the cordon Minbulak and then leaving to cordon Kzillaus moving on the steppe road (about 100 km).On arrival to the point there will be three hours halt for observing Grey Wagtail, Swift, Alpine Swift, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Thrush,Golden Eagle,Griffon Vulture, Lammergeier, Short-toed Eagle, Saker Falkon,Egyptian Vulture, Himalayan Griffon, Common Buzzard, Raven and Mountain Goat and for lunch. Then 50 km to cordon Taigak and observation different kinds of birds. At the end of the day supper and lodging for the night.
Day 8. Altin-Emel-Village Ucharal. Breakfast. Then passage from national park to preserve Alakolskii via Toldykorgan town and Ucharal village (450 km) There will be a stop for one hour in dry mountains of Arharli for observingChukar, Eastern Rock Nuthatch, Grey-nected Bunting and Red-headed Bunting,Pied Wheatear.Then dinner on the small reservoir bank which is situated between Toldykorgan town and Kizilagash villadge. Visitation of preserve central farmstead and the museum of nature.In the evening there will be a removal to the western bank of the lake Alakol (40 km) ,supper and lodging for the night in tents.
Day 9. Preserve Alakolskii. Breakfast. After breakfast outing on motor boat which can accomodate 4 people to sandy islands named Chubur-Tyubek which are situated 15-20 km from the camp for observation nesting colonies of White Pelican and Dalmatian Pelican, Cormorant, Yellow-legged Herring Gull, Great Black-headed Gull, Caspian Tern, Gull-billed Tern, Little Tern, Collared Pratincole, there also exists an opportunity to meet Relict Gull. Then dinner. In the evening supper and lodging for the night in the camp on the lake bank.
Day 10. Preserve Alakolskii. Breakfast. Then trip to lake Kashkarkol 35 km and to the cape Araltobe,it is the eastern bank of the lake Sasykkol (35 km), for the observations Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, spoonbill, Red-crested Pochard, Ducks, Stints, Gulls. After that excursion on stony height Araltobe Dinner. Return to the camp on the lake bank Alakol Evening meal and lodging for the night in tents.
Day 11. Preserve Alakolskii.Breakfast.Removal to the eastern part of the lake Sasykkol (70 km). Excursion on the forest near lake Tentek and observation birds on the flood of the artesian chink. Making camp near huntsman cordon named Karamoiyn. Dinner and then kayak excursion (by turns) escorted by skillful ranger along the lake and reed jungles of the river Tentek delta. Observation White-eyed Pochard, White-headed Duck, Little Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, White-winged Black Tern, Whiskered Tern,Little Bittern,Red-crested Pochard, Mute Swan, Bearded Tit, Thick-billed Penduline Tit. Evening meal and lodging for the night in tents.
Day 12. Preserve Alakolskii. Breakfast. Again observation reed birds. Dinner. Later trip to the desert Sasykkol-Ucharal-Andreevka-Kolbai-Lensy on the asphaltroad (250 km). Then excursion in barkhans after that dinner. In the evening there will be a stop for lodging in desert mountains not far from the villadge Kokterek which is situated in gorge Taldybulak on the spring. Observation Calandra Lark, Bimaculated Lark, Red-headed Bunting, Lesser Kestrel, Saker Falkon, Steppe Eagle, Rock Thrush, Raven and it is possible to meet Arhar. Evening meal round bonfire and lodging for the night in tents.
Day 13. Taldybulak-Almaty. Breakfast. After breakfast excursion in tygais along the river Lepsy. Further trip will be across the desert moving from Lepsy station to the town Taldykorgan (200 kilometers). On the way to the town observation Bee-eater, Roller, Buzzard, Pheasant, Black-winged Stilt, Great Grey Shrike, Desert Warbler. Then dinner on the reservoir bank with observation of water birds. After this 250 kilometers trip back to Almaty.
Day 14. Accommodation in a guesthouse. City tour. Rest. Farewell supper. Sauna. Transfer to the airport.
Cost of the tour includes:
VISA support, accommodation in guesthouses, food during the tour, vehicles with drivers, the ecological taxes on the territory of National Parks. rental payment of the sport and kitchen equipment. guide-interpreter, cook. city tour.