Ornithological Tour N2
(Ile-Alatau, Altyn-Emel National Parks - Aksu-Dzhabagly Reserve)
Tour's code: ORNIT-2.
Duration: 14 days (13 nights).
Season: April-May-June, September.
Accommodation: guesthouses, 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 (20 km) 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 of 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. Hiking 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. 8 kilometers rising to the space station, having lunch and observation of Himalayan Snow, Siberian Jay, Alpine Chough, Alpine and Brown Accentor, Brandt's Rosy Finch, Guldenstadt's Redstart and Common Raven. In the evening returning to the gorge, having supper and lodging in the cottage.
Day 3. Lake Bolshoe Almatinskoe-Almaty-Borandasu- Tamgali-Tas-Taukumi. In the morning - breakfast in the cottage and then leaving for Barandasu (about 160 km). The route is going through Almaty, Chilik and Masak. The itinerary goes along the saxaulnik, where there is an artesian well. The well attracts a lot of birds such as: 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 see a petrography 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 kilometers drive to artesian well with 2 hours and break. 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 stop for lunch on lakes named Toparskie. Further observation of 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. 30 kilometers drive to copse Turangovaya throug Zheltorangi. Two hours stop there for observation of 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 visit to lake Ili (5 km) on which there is a one hour stop 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 the river Sorbulak one hour halt for lunch. Observation of 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 by steppe road to Singing Barkhan along the Kapchagai water reservoir and through the cordon named Minbulak. On the way observation of 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. Observation of 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 for cordon Kzillaus moving on the steppe road (about 100 km). On arrival to the point there will be three hours stop for observing of 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. Lunch. Then 50 km drive to cordon Taigak and observation of different kinds of birds. At the end of the day supper and lodging for the night.
Day 8. Altyn-Emel-Almaty. The day begins with breakfast on the cordon named Taigak whereupon return to Almaty (about 150 km). After a littler rest there will be dinner in one of the city restaurants. Then excursion to the Zoo and Botanical garden. In the evening by train going as far as the station Tyulkubas which is in Chimkent region (about 750 km). Lunch-packets or as a variant meal in a restaurant. Then by car going to the preserve Aksu-Dzhabagly with the lodging for the night on the river Chu or in the mountains near the town Taraz.
Day 9. National park Aksu-Dzhabagly. Arrival to the central farmstead of the preserve. Then dinner whereupon excursion to the mountains Karatau (about 50 km) with 2 hours stop and observation of birds such as Short-toed Eagle, Egyptian Vulture, White Stork, Chukar, Eastern Rock Nuthatch, Pied Wheataer, Isabelline Wheataer, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Bee-eater, Orphea Warbler, Hume's Lesser Whitethroat. After that the trip to the isolated terrain feature named Berkara (about 50 km). There will be 3 hours stop (lunch-packets) for observation of Paradise and Spotted Flycatchers, Golden Oriole, Black-headed Penduline Tit, Blackbird, Lesser Grey Shrike, Long-tailed Shrike, Indian Sparrow, Masked Wagtail, Turtle Dove, Collared and Laughing Doves. Later return to the preserve central farmstead, evening meal and spending the night in the house.
Days 10-12. Aksu-Dzhabagly. Breakfast on the central farmstead. Horsebacks riding up to the Kshi-Kaindy pass (about 10 km). Stop in the peasant's log hut. Then walk in the nearest environs the duration of which is two days. By walking observing of Red-headed and Rock Buntings, Tawny Pipit, Yellow-breasted Azure Tit, Raven, White-winged Grosbeak, Whitethroat, Brown Dipper, Dipper, Himalayan Snow Cock, Grey Partridge, Chukar, Lammergeier, Black Vulture, Golden Eagle, Hobby, Alpine Chough, Brown Accentor, Himalayan Accentor, Black-throated Accentor, Guldenstadt's Redstart, Blue-headed Redstart, Grey Goldfinch, Tian-Shan Redmantled Rose Finch, Red-fronted Serin, Hodgson's Rosy Finch, Brandt's Rosy Finch, Mountain Goats, Bears, Marmots. Dinner and supper, lodging for the night, breakfast and dinner in the peasant's log hut on the pass. In the evening hauling down to the central farmstead, evening meal and spending the night in the house.
Day 12. Aksu-Dzhabagly. Breakfast on the central preserve farmstead. Then driving to the steppe lake Chushkakol (about 250 km) There will be a stop for the whole day, lunch-packets, supper and spending the night in tents or in the huntsman's house. Observation of birds such as White-tailed Plover, Collared Pratincole, Black-winged Stilt, Stone Curlew, Marsh Sandpiper, Demoiselle Crane, Montagus and Pallid Harriers, Steppe Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, Roller, Hoopoe, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Wagtail, Tawny Pipit, Richard's Pipit, Larks.
Day 13. Aksu-Dzhabagly. Breakfast on the lake bank Chushkakol and again observation of birds. Later back to the central preserve farmstead (about 250 km). Lunch-packets. Supper and by evening train back to Almaty from Tyulkubas station or by car spending the night not far from the town Taraz.
Day 14. Driving to Almaty, accommodation in a guesthouse, breakfast. 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.