Russia & Mongolia From Altai Snowcocks to Henderson’s Ground Jays
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Overview
Highlights
- Visit the fascinating Altai Mountains
- Visit the border zones with Mongolia
- Drive to the mountain Tabozhok along the Tabozhok river valley.
- Have birding in the coniferous forest on the slopes of Tiyakhtii Mountain at Seminskiy
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Activities
Max Group Size
Trip includes
- Meals beginning with breakfast on Day 1 ending with dinner on Day 16.
- The fee include lodging as stated in the itinerary
- Ground transportation
- Gratuities
- Guide services provided by the tour leader and local guides
Itinerary
The tour starts with an international flight from home taking you firstly to the capital of Russia, Moscow, followed by a domestic flight which will bring you to Barnaul, the largest city in the Altai region. Clients need to be in Barnaul before June 16 - 8am! If you like to come in earlier please contact the RBT office this will gladly help you with extra hotel arrangements.
Accommodation: Wooden lodges at Seminsky.
After arriving early morning on the BarnaulAirport you will meet up with your RBT tour-leader, Elena Shnayder, who will lead you during this birdwatching holiday. We will leave Barnaul and take a long drive over the Chu...
Accommodation: Yurt camp in Tujariik.
We start with some early birding before breakfast at Seminsky where we hope to see more of the previously mentioned species. After breakfast we will depart towards Tiid-Tujariik valley located in the Chuya Steppe. Birding e...
Accommodation: Yurt camp in Tujariik.
Today we’ll have a long drive through the Chuya Steppe to the ruins at Beltir village and further into the mountains. Along the road we will make stops at several areas to watch Booted and Barred Warblers, Greater Sand Plov...
Accommodation: Yurt camp in Tujariik.
Early in the morning we’ll make drive to the mountain Tabozhok along the Tabozhok river valley. Here we could find White-winged Redstarts, Crag Martins, Brown and Himalayan Accentors, Plain and Brandt’s Mountain Finches, Gr...
Accommodation: Tent camp.
Today we transfer to the high-altitude lakeKindiiktiikul. The translation of Kindiiktiikul in the Altai language means “lake with the navel”; the lake really possesses a small island in the middle full of nests of Mongolian Gulls and W...
Accommodation: Tent camp.
Today we’ll have a walk along the Nariin-GolRiver to the three lakes situated near the BogutiiMountain range. Our aims for today are finches: PlainMountain finch, Brandt's Mountain Finch, Asian Rosy Finch and kobsensis Spotted Great Ro...
Accommodation: Tent camp.
Today we need to do our best to depart from Kindiiktiikul as early as possible to reach the border before the queue. However, the estimated time to cross the border is nearly 7 hours! There would be not so much time for birding today....
Accommodation: Tent camp.
From the dawn on we are going to scan the surroundings for the Ground Jay. In the same area we could also see big flocks of Pallas's Sandgrouses, Daurian Partridges, Greater Short-toed Larks, Barred Warblers, Isabelline- and Brown Shri...
Accommodation: Tent camp.
After early birding at the lake Achiit-Nuur we continue our journey after breakfast. Today we have to surmount 200 km of bad road and to cross the ShovergolRiver finally arriving in the evening at our destination at Lake Khar-Us-Nuur. ...
Accommodation: Tent camp.
We start with birding in the nearby hills finding Asian Desert Warblers, Isabelline Shrikes, Desert Wheatears, and the famous Kozlov's Accentor. Close to the water we could see Greater- and Lesser Sand Plovers, Terek Sandpipers and mor...
Accommodation: Tent camp.
Today will be a day of driving back towards the Mongolian-Russian border. In the best case today we would reach lake Tsagaan-Nuur – the closest lake to the border. Here we could find Arctic Loon, Whooper Swan, different ducks, Terek Sandpiper and Red-Headed Bunting.
Accommodation: Yurta camp
This day we have to do the border-crossing again. The idea is to line up at the customs as early as possible, but again it could take up to 7 hours. At the Russian side we will come back to the good old “Tujariik” yurt camping. There y...
Accommodation: Wooden lodges near Aqtash
We spend this day finding possible missed species during our previous visit. In other case we can do some birding near UzunkyolLake and Katu-Jariik pass where we can find Booted Eagle, Siberian Thrushes, Red-throated Thrushes and the mysterious Siberian Jay.
Accommodation: Wooden lodges at Seminsky.
Today we transfer back to Seminskiy pass. Our route would be the same as the one we took to get to the Chuja Steppe. On the way back we would spend more time birding at Beliy Bom looking again for Godlewski-, Meadow- an...
Accommodation: Comfortable tourist hotel
Here is the last day of our birdwatching adventure. After early morning departure from Seminskiy pass and 7-8 hours on road we will reach Barnaul in the late afternoon. Here in Barnaul we will make our last birding trip,...
In the morning we depart for the Barnaul airport where we say goodbye to each other and from where you fly home.
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Dates & Availability
Flights estimated at $ 750 from London
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Rubythroat Birding Tours.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Logistics
What's excluded
- Airfare from your home to Barnaul and return from Barnaul
- Medical Evacuation Insurance (required)
- Transfers or accommodation other and than those mentioned in the itinerary
- Alcoholic beverages
- Special gratuities
- Departure taxes
- Visa fees
- Phone calls, laundry, or items of a personal nature.
Accommodation
Cancellation penalties and refunds are based on the following schedule: if cancellation is made 120 days or more before the tour departure date, a cancellation fee in form of the deposit will be charged unless the deposit is transferred to a new registration for another RBT tour that will operate within the next 12 months. If cancellation is made fewer than 120 days before departure date, no transfer of the deposit is available. This policy and fee schedule also applies to pre-trip and post-trip extensions. We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance for your protection.
Meals beginning with breakfast on Day 1 ending with dinner on Day 16.
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