“So much to do – so little time!” Over the course of two days, we visit several nearby wetlands, which surround the oasis city of Bukhara and visit the Kyzylkum Desert.

The nearby oases can be extremely attractive to a wealth of water and marsh-loving species and we hope for plenty of Pygmy Cormorants, Dalmatian Pelicans, Glossy Ibis, an abundance of herons and egrets, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, plus perhaps scarcer finds such as Marbled Duck. Elegant White-tailed Lapwings are easily found. The extensive reed beds, and marshy and dry scrub cover here is home to many additional smaller species of interest: Menetries’s Warbler, Clamorous and Eurasian reed warblers, Rufous-tailed Bush-Robin, and Pied Bushchat and Long-tailed Shrike (the latter two at the furthest west of their Asiatic range).

A very early start must be made into the Kyzyl Kum Desert, where we expect to arrive just after dawn. This very special region is home to one of the most sought-after of all the birds that occur in Central Asia—the legendary Turkestan (Pander’s) Ground Jay. They are best located in the cool of the early morning when they can often be found along the roadside. We will return to Bukhara for lunch followed by some relaxing and more opportunities to take in some further/last sights of Bukhara, including the historic town centre with its surrounding old madrassahs, the Kalyan Minaret—a 150-foot-tall tower built in the 12th century, and also the Miri-Arab Madrasa and Trade Domes. The Ark (the fortified citadel of the Emir within the immense city walls), the Bolo-Hauz Mosque, the 10th century Ismail Samani Mausoleum and the Char Minar with its four elaborately tiled minarets.

On the second day, we will drive to Samarkand in the afternoon.

Night day 2: Comfortable Tourist Hotel in Bukhara
Night day 3: Comfortable Tourist Hotel in Samarkand

Today there are many wonders in store with a day based in and around the ancient city of Samarkand. We will commence with an early morning start, driving out of the city to rocky, scrub and bush-covered hills of the Takhtakaracha Pass lying between Samarkand and Zarafshan, where Tamerlane roamed in centuries past. (Tamerlane was a Turco-Mongol conqueror who founded the Timurid Empire in and around modern-day Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asia, becoming the first ruler of the Timurid dynasty.) High on the wanted list will be the White-throated Robin along with Eastern Orphean Warbler and the obscure Hume’s Lark. Also here are Eastern Rock Nuthatch, Turkestan and Yellow-breasted tits, Indian Paradise-Flycatcher and White-capped Bunting. Back in time for lunch, we will wander from our hotel into the quiet, small ancient city area to explore its historical treasures. The massive Bibi Khanum mosque (once the largest in Central Asia), The Registan, Timur’s Mausoleum, the Street of Tombs and the local bazaar present a stunning and memorable “visual overload” of exquisitely elaborate tiled, painted and carved buildings.

In the late afternoon, we drive to our guesthouse at the foot of Zaamin National Park.

Night: Basic hotel in Zaamin

Today, we dedicate the day to exploring Zaamin National Park, located near the Tajikistan border. We’ll ascend into the park’s juniper habitat, marking our first visit to this unique ecosystem on the tour. Above the treeline, we’ll focus on finding the highly range-restricted Blyth’s Rosefinch. While this species is usually seen on our Tajikistan tour, this is our only opportunity to spot it in Uzbekistan, making Zaamin a critical stop.

Other notable species we hope to encounter include Rufous-naped Tits, the striking Yellow-breasted Tit, and the elusive Hume’s Whitethroat.

Night: Basic hotel in Zaamin

After breakfast, we depart from Zaamin and begin our drive towards Tashkent, where we will connect with a flight to Almaty, marking the start of the main tour of our Central Asia adventure. For those who have chosen to join only the pre-tour, will remain in Tashkent and take an evening flight back home to Europe or the USA.

Night: Comfortable tourist hotel in Almaty