When: The best time for bird watching is May-June. And we would advise to come in the middle or the end of June, because otherwise it will be difficult to get to Son-Kul Lake – the kingdom of waterfowl.

Length of tour: A 13-day tour is proposed but any length can be considered

Number of guests: 4 or more

Fee: Approximately US $1145 per person, single supplement is $24 p/p.
This price includes: Accommodation as per program (in 3-star hotels - double rooms); Transport (truck); Meals FB; Ornithologist; English-speaking guide; Visa support and registration; Entrance fees for the museums and reserves; Airport tax at the airport of Bishkek; Mineral water during the trip; Rent of tents and sleeping pads.
The price does not include: Air tickets for international flights; Air ticket Almaty - Astana - Almaty (at the moment ticket costs US $280 p/p) for guests and for guide-interpreter; Sleeping bags; Cost of the visa; Any additional trips; Any additional drinks or food; Tips for the staff

Lodging:
The hotels in cities provided on our tours have necessary facilities like hot water, toilet, bathrooms in the room. Most rooms are equipped with air condition, telephone with international line, TV set. Breakfast is always included. Hotel - airport transfer normally takes about 30 minutes. Accommodation in Kurgaldzhin Natural reserve - guest house (for 10 pax) in Karazhar village. Accommodation in yurts - 4-5 persons in a yurt (Sleep on the floor (lots of mattresses and blankets) or on beds). Homestay in Bokonbaevo. 2 persons in each room. All convenience (toilet and bath-house are in the yard).

Meals:
We provide qualitative and ecologically clean food for cooking. All vegetable and meat food are always within expiry dates and cooked in a proper way. Nomadic people used to eat a lot of meat - usually mutton and beef. That's why we always ask to inform us in advance about food preferences of tourists.

• Lunch in the base camp. One main dish is cooked for lunch. Salads of fresh vegetables, pies, coffee, tea, sugar, dried milk, bread, cheese, fruits are also provided.
• Dinner. Two main dishes are cooked for dinner. Soups, garnishes, salads, sauces, deserts, tea/coffee.
• Meals in the cities. Breakfast is provided by the hotels of your stay. Lunch and Dinner we provide at the clean city cafes with good food and services.
• Lunch-boxes "on the road". For road transfers we prepare lunch-boxes. Normally on the way we find a picturesque place for a picnic. Lunch-boxes include: bread, cookies, cheese, meat or sausage, vegetables, dried fruits, sugar, tea/coffee, bottled water 1,5l/person.
• Cooks. We hire experienced cooks that are able to cook in fields conditions. Some of them speak English. Observation of the hygiene is always a must. They are able to cook vegetarian meal.

Camping:

• Tents for guests. 2-person tents with mosquito nets and ventilation windows, double layer, waterproof.
• Toilet. Field toilets in the camp. They are made of durable fabric.
• Kitchen and dining tents. They are big waterproof tents with ventilation windows and two entries. Its size is 3x5x2 m. Tables and chairs are provided.
• Helping staff.

Transportation:

• Drivers. They perfectly know local conditions, roads, technical things of the vehicles. Some of them speak a little English.
• Transport: It is difficult to use comfortable vehicles both: on asphalt and no asphalt roads. We will try to use comfortable vehicles for long distance transfers, but if impossible, we will use 4WD vehicles. For city sightseeing we use comfortable buses and vans (depending on group size).

Insurance:
You should have your own health insurance to cover all the expenses in case of an accident:

• works of the rescue party
• emergency use of helicopter for the rescue works
• hospitalization

Recommended personal equipment and clothing for tour:
Waterproof cape, sunglasses, several pair of socks, pair of warm socks, jacket/trousers made of Gore-tex type fabric, warm underwear, warm knitted cap, sunhat, trekking boots, light sport shoes, cream with SPF, head lamp, individual medicines, sleeping bag, mattress, lining.

Day 1, Tue. Arrival to Almaty.
05:30 AM Arrival to Almaty by BA.
Watching birds in the parks of Almaty.
19:00 Flight to Astana. Accommodation in a small private hotel.

Day 2, Wed. Astana - Kurgaldzhino Nature Reserve.
Transfer to Kurgaldzhino (127 km from Astana). In Kurgaldzhino visit to museum.
After lunch transfer to Karazhar (130 km from Astana) (a settlement for the scientists of the reserve). During the trip various stops in the steppe and at reservoirs, first impressions about the rich world of birds of this location.
Accommodation in a guest house

Day 3, Thu. Karazhar
The settlement of scientists Karazhar, the steppe, fresh and salty lakes. Breakfast. During an excursion from Karazhar to different sites in the reserve (the steppe, salty lakes, saline soils and their shores). Among other things it will be possible to see eagles, curly pelicans, flamingo, white headed ducks and also large flocks of larks.
Overnight in tents.

Day 4, Fri. Karazhar - Astana - Almaty.
Drive to Astana.
Flight to Almaty.
Accommodation in a hotel**.

Day 5, Sat. Almaty - Taukum desert.
Early morning transfer to Taukum desert (220 km). This day it is expected to see Macqueen's Bustard, Greater Sand Plover, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Brown-necked Raven, Isabelline Wheatear, Great Grey and Isabelline Shrikes, Red-headed Bunting and Desert Finch along with large number of larks and raptors.
Overnight in tents.

Day 6, Sun. Taukum desert - Almaty - Bishkek.
Watching birds. After lunch transfer to Bishkek (400 km).
Accommodation in a hotel***.

Day 7, Mon. Bishkek - Kochkor village.
Drive to Kochkor village.
Watching birds on the way - Rosy starlings, Bee-eaters, Pallas's Sandgrouse, White-crowned Penduline Tit.
Homestay in Kyrgyz family.

Day 8, Tue. Kochkor village - Son-Kul Lake.
Drive to Son-Kul Lake by picturesque mountain road which is only accessible by 4WD transport. You may expect a lot of ascents and descents to/from hills. On the slopes of mountains you will see flocks of sheep and yaks, herds of horses.
Son-Kul Lake is the second by its sizes lake of Kyrgyz Republic situated at the altitude of 3016 m above sea level.
On the way some species like Golden Eagle, Lammergeier, Alpine Accentor, Plain Mountain Finch, Cinerous Vulture, Eurasian and Himalayan Griffons, Black-headed Mountain Finch, White-winged Sparrow, Long-legged Buzzard could be seen.
Overnight in the yurt - national Kyrgyz dwelling.

Day 9, Wed. Son-Kul Lake.
Son-Kul is a real kingdom of waterfowl. You will go by the lakeshore to the places where a lot of wild natatorial birds (Choughs, Ducks, Gooses) with their nestlings are swimming. This and also fact that Son-Kul is surrounded by mountains is the reason why lots of birds of prey are gathering here for hunting. The full list of Son-Kul birds you can find below.
Besides bird watching you can feel the taste of nomadic life. You will see how shepherds pasture their flocks of sheep, how traditional meals are cooked…
Overnight in yurts.

Day 10, Thu. Son-Kul - Bokonbaevo (Issyk-Kul lake)
Descent from Son-Kul Lake by "32 parrots" streamer - streamer with 32 turns. Fantastic panorama of the road.
You will descend by the fantastic by its beauty streamer. From the upper point you will see all the 32 coils of the streamer going down… And all this surrounded by high mountain ridges, which tops are covered with eternal snow. This day you have chance to explore both biggest lakes of Kyrgyz Republic.
In Bokonbaevo village you will stay at the house of local hunter with eagles. You will get acquainted with hunting eagles - big and strong birds.
Homestay in Kyrgyz family.

Day 11, Fri. Bokonbaevo - Alabash valley - Bokonbaevo
Alabash valley. Bird watching.
This is the rare opportunity to see Ibisbill.
Also great number of ducks, birds of prey and in case of luck - Black Stork.
Return to Bokonbaevo village.
Homestay. .

Day 12, Sat. Bokonbaevo - Bishkek
On the way exploration of Kentish Plover, Thrush Nightingale, Cetti's Warbler, Common Rosefinch, Black Kite, Pied Wheatear, Eurasian Penduline-Tit and other birds.
Overnight in a hotel***.

Day 13, Sun.Departure from Bishkek by BA at 6:45 AM

Here is a list of birds to serve as a sample of what you might see. This is a list from Day 9, Wed. Son-Kul Lake.