Kyrgyzstan is located in the north-eastern part of Central Asia and represents one of the most interesting mountain areas of our planet, the Central Tien-Shan Mountains, Located on the northern flanks of the Himalaya mountain range. It reaches 925 km from the East to the West and 453 km from the North on to the South. The total area of the Kirghiz Republic makes 198, 5 thousand sq. km.

 

 

The mountains reach over 7000 meters (Pobeda 7439m) at the north-eastern edge of the country and in the southern regions (Lenin 7134m) on the border with Tajikistan. During this tour we will make a roundtrip to all the Nature Reserves in northeast Kyrgyzstan. This trip is assured of fantastic mountain scenery and splendid birding. We will go birding, in green valleys, on high grass-plateaus, in juniper and pine forests, in alpine meadows and along Issyk Kul Lake and Son Kul Lake. This trip is especially good for photographing!!

The third day we will move to the Chon-Kemin State Park, it was established in 1997 and has a size of 126.000 hectares. Before arriving at the State Park we will stop at the Tokmok Forest here we will have change to see Shikra, White-winged Woodpecker, Azure Tits and Yellow-breasted Azure-Tits.

 

At the Chon-Kemin State Park we will spend also 2 nights. The target species here will be Yellow-breasted Azure-Tits and Ibisbill. In the gorge towards Kemin we have chance to spot Stewart’s Bunting. Turkestan Shrike, European Roller and Golden Eagle are common birds in Kemin.

 

The next day we will move on to Karakol. During this transfer to the east we will make many stops. Starting with Balykchy where we will visit a semi-desert where we will have chance to see Demoiselle Cranes, Black-bellied and Pallas's Sandgrouse! Also here we will have our first looks on the Issyk Kul Lake for spotting waterfowl. In Karakol we will spend one night. The next morning we will load our special Russian truck before leaving to the May Saz valley. During this adventure we will have to take a route over some high passes before arriving in May Saz. There is no accommodation in this part of Kyrgyzstan therefore we brought our own field camp and sleep for 2 nights in the middle of nature. Ibisbill, Red-mantled Rosefinch, Great Rosefinch, White-browed Tit Warbler, Güldenstädt’s Redstart, Sulphur-bellied Warbler and  Himalayan Rubythroat will be the sought birds.  

 

Leaving the yurt camp behind us we will move on to the region of Tamga, a little village near Issyk Kul. On our way to Tamga we will visit Jeti-Oguz for its special and fantastic scenery. We will spend the next 2 nights in a simple hotel. In the trees and bushes in the village we can see Azure Tits and Barred Warblers. We will make a trip to a small wetland near the Issyk Kul Lake; here we have change to see Curlew- and Terek Sandpipers together with Temminck's Stints. Lesser Short-toed Larks, Isabelline and Pied Wheatears but also Grey-necked Bunting is possible. In the rocky slopes we have change to see Rock Petronia, Trumpeter Finch and Crimson-winged Finch.

 

After arrival on Bishkek Airport we will transport to Ala Archa National Nature Park 35 km south of the capital. We will sleep in a guesthouse in the middle of nature for the first 2 nights. We will start with birding, around the guesthouse and down in the valley. We will encounter the first Rose-coloured Starlings, Red-headed Buntings and European Bee-eaters. The second day we will go for a visit to the fishing ponds of Bishkek. We will have chance to encounter Black-crowned Night Heron, Little Bitterns, Little and Baillon's Crakes, Collared Pratincoles, Paddyfield Warblers, Blyth's Reed Warblers and maybe even a couple of Clamorous Reed Warblers. In the agricultural areas around we will go search for Blue-cheeked Bee-eater and Little Bustard.

 

Our roundtrip to Kyrgyzstan continues by leaving the Issyk Kul Biosphere Reserve and moving to the Karatal-Jarypyk State Reserve, where we will stay again 2 nights in a traditional yurt camp at the shores of Son Kul Lake. Making several walks on this high grass-plateau where we will try to find Mongolian Plover of the pamirensis subspecie.

Most common birds are Horned Larks, Black-backed Citrine Wagtail and Northern Wheatear. In the rocky slopes we can find many Red-billed Choughs, White-winged Snowfinches and breeding Güldenstädt’s Redstarts

 

The last day of the trip we will drive back to Bishkek with of course stops along the way for birding. We will have our last dinner in the middle of the city in a typical Kyrgyz restaurant. It is a pity but the splendid birding trip to Kyrgyzstan has come to an end…

Detailed Information

 

 

Itinerary

Day 1  Arrival Bishkek, birding Kaska Suu

Day 2  Fishing ponds Bishkek

Day 3  Bishkek - Kemin

Day 4  Kemin NP

Day 5  Kemin - Karakol

Day 6  Karakol - May Saz

Day 7  May Saz

Day 8  May Saz - Tamga

Day 9  Tamga

Day 10 Tamga - Son Kul

Day 11 Son Kul

Day 12 Son Kul - Bishkek, flight home

 

Dates : 19 June till 1 July 2008

Group size : 6 till 10 persons (exclusive guides)

Transport : Comfortable luxurious Mercedes buss & 4-wheel drive cars.

Arrival : Bishkek Airport at 18 June

Departure : Bishkek Airport 1 July

Price : On request

Guide : Machiel Valkenburg

 

This trip is organised together with Globe Natuurreizen