All transport. All accommodations in twin rooming. All meals. All permits and national park entrances. The floating hides and low angle hides of Hoki. Please note: Drinks, tips, possible visas and items of a personal nature including travel insurance, are not included. Clients will need to bring their own waders or drysuit, thermal underwear and beanie-gloves-scarf.

Throughout the tour, we will stay in a basic guesthouse located in the village of Korgalzhyn. This accommodation, while basic, offers an authentic experience of Kazakh hospitality, with warm and welcoming hosts who prepare tasty local meals that showcase the simple flavors of the region. Please note that the rooms are simple yet comfortable, with shared bathroom facilities, reflecting the traditional and communal living style of the area. Despite the modest amenities, the unique experience of staying in a local guesthouse allows you to immerse yourself in the culture and daily life of this fascinating region, making your stay both memorable and enriching.

The tour is designed for fanatical photographers who take their hobby seriously.

We advise clients to bring ne Telephoto lens, minimum 400mm, a Wide-angle lens (optional), Teleconverters, and Tripod or monopod, according to taste, and head for low-angle situations, we recommend a tripod that can spread flat, a ground pod or a bean bag to get as low as possible.

International flights are not included in the pricing. Please connect with the RBT office to find out your best connection to Central Asia.

As we journey through Central Asia’s diverse landscapes, it’s important to pack a versatile wardrobe that can handle the varying climates and activities. For the hot steppe and desert regions, lightweight, easily washable, and quick-drying clothes are essential, along with a wide-brimmed sun hat and sunglasses for sun protection. Mornings can be chilly, especially with the wind, so be sure to bring lightweight but warm layers, including a warm hat, fleece, and light gloves. A light waterproof jacket is recommended for unexpected rain showers, keeping you dry and comfortable.

For footwear, choose light yet sturdy walking boots suitable for the diverse terrains we’ll encounter. Additionally, for our time spent in and around water, thermal clothing is necessary to stay warm during extended periods. Don’t forget to bring waders or a dry suit to ensure you remain comfortable and protected in colder conditions.

Our working location, in the buffer zone of Korgalzhyn State Reserve, is ideally located to offer a variety of photography situations. We have three main lakes nearby, each different in terms of habitat and thus bird species.

Flamingo Lake is very shallow. It is also quite sheltered from the wind, which means the surface will remain flat like a mirror even when the other lakes are troubled by waves. The iconic species here is the Greater Flamingo, but it’s a shy one. More accommodating are the Common Shelduck, the Little Stint, the Curlew Sandpiper, the Terek Sandpiper, the Dunlin and the Red-necked Phalarope. Because Flamingo Lake is so shallow, it’s very complicated to tread with a floating hide. We prefer to lie down on the shore, either in a hide or under a camouflage net, and let the birds come to us.
The Grebe Lake is the largest in the area, and also the deepest. It’s the realm of Black-necked Grebes, Whooper Swans and Red-necked Phalaropes. The shore attracts many waders, including Black-winged Pratincoles, terns and gulls. The banks have quite a gentle slope underwater, so it’s possible to take the floating hide to the water there. When the wind blows, the waters become choppy; then, the best strategy is often to strand the hide on the shore and wait for birds to come close. On dry ground, a colony of Collared Sand Martins offers more opportunities.
The Tern Pond is smaller but also richer in bird life. It’s a hunting ground for Red-necked Phalaropes, White-winged Terns and Pallas’s Gulls. The sandy and muddy shores attract stints, Ruffs and Marsh Sandpipers, along with Caspian and Gull-billed Terns. The reedbed offers rare but precious possibilities to shoot Paddyfield Warbler and Great Bittern. The creek that leads into the Tern Pond hosts Terek Sandpiper, Red-necked Grebe and Black-tailed Godwit.

The water there is very shallow (rarely more than a meter), making it an ideal location to work with waders in a floating hideThe surrounding steppe areas are also rich with stunning species, such as the common Black Lark or the elegant Pallid Harrier. Western Yellow Wagtails (breeding beema or migrating thunbergi) and Bobak Marmots can also be exciting targets. In this open habitat, we will patiently stand, sit or lie down in a tent or under a camouflage net, to photograph without being seen.
The village offers yet more photography opportunities: there may be Common Cuckoos on migration, Oriental Turtle Doves in the trees, Booted Warblers in the shrubs or Lesser Kestrels breeding in a ruined building.

With so many possibilities, we strive to remain flexible and allow everyone to get a taste of all situations. With a whole week of shooting, we get to choose who does what on a bi-daily basis, as a group. Wildlife photography, and floating hide photography in particular, is an exhausting activity – it’s totally ok to take it easy sometimes, to skip a session or stop early and come back to the bus to rest.