Birdwatching tour in Uzbekistan

Flight to Tashkent 

Arrival in Tashkent in the afternoon/evening.

Meet with your tour manager at the lobby. You will have time to discuss the tour details.

Free time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel/Take away breakfast.

Early morning bird watching in Chimgan area:

• -          Rufous-naped Tit and Yellow-breasted Tit,
• -          White-winged Woodpecker,
• -          Falcon,
• -          Black Vulture,
• -          Rugous Turtle Dove and others.

You may take a cableway ride (30 min). Leisure time.

Afternoon transfer to Tashkent.

Free time in the evening. 

Breakfast.

08.00 am Transfer to Samarkand (320 km). On the way we’ll have 2 stops for bird watching. (1-1.5 h)

Arrive in Samarkand, check-in the hotel.

Afternoon sightseeing tour of Samarkand:

• -          Gur Emir Mausoleum – a burial vault of Timur the Great and his descendants is decorated with gold ornaments and is considered as one of the most significant sights of the world;
• -          Continue to the famous Registan Square – heart of Samarkand and real masterpiece of Central Asian medieval architecture, consists of three grandiose buildings: Ulughbek Madrassa, Madrassa Sherdor and Madrassa Tilla Kori; 

Free time in the evening.Overnight in Samarkand.

Breakfast in the hotel/ Take away breakfast.

Early morning transfer to Aman – Kutan Gorge (50 km) and Takhta – Karacha mountain pass (2100 m above sea level). There are ideal natural conditions for various species of birds:

• -          Hume’s Short-toed Lark,
• -          White-throated Robin,
• -          Orphean Warbler,
• -           Red – rumped Swallow,
• -          Black Vulture.

Transfer back to Samarkand.

We’ll have some time for sightseeing tour in Samarkand:

• -          Bibi Khanim Mosque – the biggest medieval building in the city was one of the most magnificent mosques in the Islamic world in 15 Century; 
• -          Shahi Zinda Necropolis – unique complex of Mausoleums formed by standing on both sides of the cenotaph (an imaginary grave) of the Muslim saint Abbas ibn- Kussam; 
• -          Ulugbek’s Observatory – the finest astronomical centers in medieval world was built by order of Ulugbek, an outstanding scholar and astronomer.

In the afternoon

Leisure/ free time in the evening. Overnight.

05.30 Transfer to Zeravshan Natural Reserve.

Bird and nature watching in the reserve.

Tugai woods stretching along the Zeravshan river home variety of birds:

• -          Turkestan Tit,
• -          Night Heron,
• -          White-winged Woodpecker,
• -          Shikra, and others. 

Back to the hotel for breakfasCheck out the hotel, transfer to Bukhara (280 km).

Arrive in Bukhara, check-in the hotel, Free-time. Overnight in Bukhara.

05:00 transfer to Tudakul lake (south of Bukhara). Tudakul lake is surrounded with wetland reeds that make the place ideal for nesting. Bird spices to observe:

• -          small sky Lark,
• -          Ferraginous Duck,
• -           Reed Bunting,
• -          Glossy Ibis, Great Cormorant,
• -          Marbled Teal and others.

Drive back to Bukhara. Free time

Start WALKING sightseeing program in Bukhara in the afternoon:

• -  Ensemble Lyabi Hauz (Nadir Divanbegi Madrassa, Khanaka, Kukeldash Madrassa and the monument of Khodja Nasreddin);
• - Magoki Attari Mosque is one of the oldest mosques survived in Bukhara from the time before the Mongolian invasion;
• -   Abdullakhan’s Tim with numerous handicraft shops of souvenirs, ceramics, national clothes and carpets;
• -   Caravanserai Sayfuddin (the Center of Handicraft Development of Bukhara);
• - There are three trading domes or so-called covered bazaars Toki Sarrofon, Toki Telpak Furushon and Toki Zargaron preserved from the XVI century and these bazaars were the centers for trade of silk, jewelry and even for money exchange. Today as well, one can enjoy and purchase different souvenirs of a wide range, from small souvenir magnets to the famous Bukhara carpets;

Overnight in Bukhara.

Take away breakfast at the hotel
03.30-04:00 Departure for Kyzylkum desert, 150-200 km west of Bukhara for the main key bird Pander’s Ground Jay (Podoces panderi). Pander Ground Jay is one of the key birds of Uzbekistan area with natural habitat in sandy desert, afar from human settlements and big roads

Back to Bukhara. Time to have rest in the hotel.

Continue sightseeing program in Bukhara in the afternoon: 

- Visit Ulughbek and Abdulazizkhan Madrassas or so called Kosh (pare) madrassas opposite each other with distinctive style of facade ornamental decoration;

• -  Poi Kalon Square with Kalon Minaret and Mosque, Mir Arab Madrassa – the heart of Bukhara, a monumental complex impresses the imagination of every visitor;

• -    Ark Fortress – the oldest citadel dating back to I century BC where one can feel the history of the great fortress covered in legends and myths

Evening flight to Tashkent.

Arrive in Tashkent, check-in the hotel.

Overnight in Tashkent.

Breakfast. Departure from Tashkent.

End of the tour.