Our journey starts in Almaty, the greenest city in Central Asia. We begin in Kaskelen Ili-Ala-Tau National Park, we find and admire the commoner species of Kazakhstan, such as Grey-crowned Goldfinch, White-crowned Penduline Tit, and Azure Tit. We also search gems like Siberian Meadow Bunting, Blue Whistling Thrush, and Blue-capped Redstart.

Night: Comfortable tourist hotel in Almaty

This morning, we depart from our hotel and journey 125 miles (200 km) east to one of Kazakhstan’s most spectacular sites – the Charyn River Gorge, known for its striking red, yellow, and black canyons. Amidst this stunning landscape, we’ll search for beautiful species such as Chukar, Rufous-tailed and Blue Rock Thrushes, Hume’s Whitethroat, and an array of buntings, including Chestnut-breasted, Grey-necked, Rock, and Red-headed.

In the Sogety Valley, our focus shifts to the elusive Asian Desert Warbler and ´brandti´ Horned Larks. We’ll also be on the lookout for a variety of raptors, including Egyptian, Himalayan Griffon, and Cinereous Vultures, as well as Long-legged Buzzards, Golden Eagles, Saker Falcons, and Lesser Kestrel. Along the way, we might encounter roadside colonies of the strikingly nomadic Rosy Starlings, with their pink-and-black plumage.

In the evening, we’ll visit a small artesian site where leaking pipes have created small puddles. Here, we’ll wait for Desert Finches to arrive and hope to spot numerous Mongolian Finches. With luck, we might also see the larger and striking Asian Crimson-winged Finches stopping by for a drink. After this captivating experience, we’ll drive to our basic guesthouse, nestled in an oasis along the Charyn River.

Night: Hunting Lodges

Our day begins with a walk on the Sogety plains, focused on ensuring that everyone gets a chance to see the elusive Pallas’s Sandgrouse. This elegant bird is notoriously difficult to spot due to its secretive nature and rarity in this part of Central Asia.

We then continue our journey southward toward the Kyrgyz border, with a lunch stop that might reward us with sightings of the charming Rock Petronia. As we ascend to higher elevations, the landscape shifts to agricultural lands, offering a chance to encounter some remarkable species, including Upland Buzzard and Saker Falcon. We may also witness large flocks of graceful Demoiselle Cranes, and if we’re exceptionally fortunate, perhaps even a rare Siberian Crane, as was observed last year.

By early evening, we arrive at our welcoming guesthouse, where a delicious dinner awaits, offering the perfect end to a day filled with birding adventures.

Night: Comfortable tourist hotel in Karakol

For 3 full days, we immerse ourselves in the awe-inspiring mountains surrounding Karakol, a city nestled on the eastern shores of Lake Yssyk Kol. Our journey takes us to remarkable altitudes, including an excursion to Chon Ashuu Pass—the highest point of our tour—reaching an impressive 3,822 meters (12,539 feet). Venturing far beyond the tree line, we search for a unique set of alpine bird species. The nearby fast-flowing river is home to both White-bellied and Brown Dippers, while Lammergeyers soar overhead.

In the lush meadows, we have a chance to spot one of the world’s most enigmatic waders—the elusive Ibisbill. Eversmann’s Redstart, along with Himalayan and Brown Accentors, are common sightings at these heights. We’ll take our time to seek out the stunning White-browed Tit-Warbler, as well as its vibrant companion, the Güldenstädt’s Redstart. In the open patches of mature, mixed deciduous and coniferous forests, we’ll find Greenish and Hume’s Warblers frequently.

In Barskoon, we dedicate a full day to exploring this majestic high-altitude landscape, rich with alpine specialists. Black-throated, Altai, and Brown Accentors, Sulphur-bellied Warbler, Red-mantled Rosefinch, White-tailed Rubythroat, White-winged Grosbeak, and the striking White-browed (Severtzov’s) Tit-Warbler are all on our target list. As we ascend higher near a gold mine, at an altitude of 10,500 feet, we’ll be on the lookout for Lammergeier, Himalayan Griffon, Red-billed and Yellow-billed Choughs, Plain Mountain-Finches, White-winged (Güldenstädt’s) Redstart, and the magnificent Himalayan Snowcock, which we have a strong chance of encountering.

Night: Comfortable tourist hotel in Karakol

As we bird our way back to Almaty, we spend the day journeying through the breathtaking landscapes of Kazakhstan. This is primarily a transfer day, offering plenty of time to admire the scenery from the comfort of our bus. Along the way, we’ll make a stop in one of the small villages, where we might encounter Red-rumped Swallows, Indian Golden Orioles, Lesser Gray Shrikes, Long-tailed Shrikes, Greenish Warblers, and the charming Laughing Doves. By late afternoon, we’ll arrive at our excellent hotel in Almaty, where a refreshing shower will be a welcome treat after a day on the road.

Night: Comfortable tourist hotel in Almaty

For the next three days, we embark on an exhilarating adventure through the Taukum Desert, navigating fields of vibrant poppies and wildflowers with the majestic, snow-capped Tien Shan Mountains as our constant backdrop. As dawn breaks over this remote desert, we’ll likely witness the mesmerizing courtship displays of McQueen’s Bustards just outside our camp. Nearby, Caspian Plovers nest, and sightings of wolves and Persian Gazelles are possible—all before we’ve even had breakfast!

Our journey will then take us along narrow back roads that wind through a variety of steppe and desert habitats, leading us to the unique Turanga woodlands. With a bit of luck, we’ll encounter such desert specialities as the Turkestan Tit, Saxaul Sparrow, White-winged Woodpecker, and the elusive Pale-backed Pigeon (also known as Eversmann’s or Yellow-eyed Dove). If fortune smiles upon us, we may even spot the rare Pallid Scops-Owl. Along the way, we’ll be treated to the sights and sounds of numerous larks—Greater Short-toed, Lesser Short-toed, and Calandra—as well as Isabelline Wheatears and Isabelline (Rufous-tailed) Shrikes, where we’ll carefully scan for the distinctive Steppe Gray Shrike. Other possible sightings include Pied and Desert Wheatears, Rock Petronia, Spanish Sparrow, the stunning Azure Tit, and the charming Black-headed Penduline-Tit.

Each night, we will retreat to our private yurt camp nestled in the heart of the Taukum Desert—a comfortable tented camp that echoes the nomadic traditions of the local people in this beautiful and wild landscape.

Night days 9 and 10: Private Rubythroat Yurt Camp

Night day 11: Comfortable tourist hotel in Almaty

We begin this part of our journey with a morning flight to the capital of Kazakhstan, where a futuristic city has risen amidst the vast steppes. The surrounding area, characterized by seemingly endless steppe and marshlands interspersed with immense reed beds, is teeming with waterbirds. Here, we’ll have our first encounters with Paddyfield, Cetti’s, Moustached, Grasshopper, and Savi’s Warblers, as well as Bluethroats, Citrine Wagtails, and various colourful races of Western Yellow Wagtail.

The highlight of our visit to this region is the Korgalzhyn National State Reserve, a hidden gem in Kazakhstan that remains surprisingly unknown, even to many locals. This vast wetland area, a blend of virgin steppe and lakes, is not only home to wolves, marmots, and the endangered saiga antelope but is also a haven for birdlife. Located at the crossroads of two major migration routes, the wetlands act as a crucial stopover for millions of birds, with Lake Tengiz alone capable of sustaining up to 15 million birds. The area is largely protected as a ‘Zapovednik’ (national nature reserve) and hosts the world’s northernmost population of Greater Flamingo, among over 300 bird species. The reserve boasts one of the largest wildfowl populations in Asia, with pelicans, cranes, and various birds of prey among the notable residents.

Our primary target in this vast landscape is the globally endangered Sociable Lapwing, with nesting groups expertly located by our local guide. But the attractions don’t stop there—roadside colonies of Black-winged Pratincoles and White-winged Black Terns, both in stunning breeding plumage, should be interspersed with migrant shorebirds such as Red-necked Phalaropes, Spotted Redshanks, Terek Sandpipers, Ruffs displaying in full splendour, and Little and Temminck’s Stints. The numerous wetlands and lakes are also home to breeding Dalmatian Pelicans, Great Bitterns, White-headed Ducks, Red-necked and Eared Grebes, Whooper Swans, Greylag Geese, Red-crested Pochards, and Caspian Terns.

Perhaps even more remarkable are the close colonies of majestic Great Black-headed Gulls, accompanied by Steppe and Slender-billed Gulls.

The damp, grassy steppe is the domain of the graceful Demoiselle Cranes, while scattered scrub holds the potential for sightings of Booted Warblers, Pallid Harriers, and striking Red-footed Falcons. Among the most special birds we aim to find are the Black and White-winged Larks—often abundant along the roadside, these species are unique to the Central Asian steppes.

Nights days 12 and 14: Comfortable tourist hotel in Astana.
Night day 13: Basic guesthouse Korgalzhyn