Bird Watching · BM-WMB1

Birding the West - Paradise for Oriental Birders

Altai Mountains, Khar Us Lake, Bird Specialties of Central Asia

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Birding the West - Paradise for Oriental Birders

Duration: 9 days; Duration
Group size: Max 4; Group size
From, per person: $1,723; From, per person

Overview

Altai Mountains, Khar Us Lake, Bird Specialties of Central Asia and Siberia

Birding the western Mongolia provides a paradise for Eastern bird enthusiasts as there are many different habitats including mountains, lakes and rivers, and desert steppes. Recently, a few bird watchers began to visit for the varied bird lives of Central Asia and Siberia besides the peculiar nomadic cultures of the various ethnic groups and sublime sceneries of the majestic Altai Mountains.

Join us for this epic journey. Visit the Khovd town, land of the different ethnic groups and bird in the trees and bushes, a home to many localized species including to Blyth’s Reed and Hume’s Leaf Warblers, Lesser Whitethroat, Rosy and Common Starlings, Masked Wagtail and Eurasian Goldfinch. Walk on the trails made by wild animals in the beautiful gorge of Jargalant Khairkhan Mountain and watch the fascinating bird species including uncommon Altai Snowcock, Chukar, Lesser Kestrel, Barred and Sulphur-bellied Warblers, and colorful Common Rock Thrush, Northern, Isabelline, Desert, and Pied Wheatears, Brown & Kozlov’s Accentors, White-winged Snowfinch, Great Rosefinch, and Godlewski’s and Grey-necked Buntings. Not only birds, but there are also some attractive wild animals such as Siberian Ibex, Argali Wild Sheep, Red Fox etc. Being a Ramsar site of international importance, Khar Us Lake National Park provides a suitable habitat to the various bird species. The highlights at the lake include White-headed Duck, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Relict and Pallas’s Gulls, Pallas’s Sandgrouse, Eurasian Skylark, Great Reed Warbler, and White-headed Yellow and Masked Wagtails.

Highlights:

The majestic Altai Mountains, bird-rich Khar Us Lake, and peculiar Gobi Desert
Khovd the land of different nomadic ethnic groups - nomadic family visit
Many attractive bird species – White-headed Duck, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Barred and Sulphur-bellied Warblers, Brown & Kozlov’s Accentors, White-headed Yellow Wagtail, White-winged Snowfinch, Great Spotted Rosefinch, Godlewski’s and Grey-necked Buntings
The iconic wild animals - Siberian Ibex and Argali Sheep

At a glance

Duration: 9 days
Group size: 4-14 Pers.
Price: from $1,723 per person
Departures: 3 - 11 JUL 2023
Physical rating: Easy/Moderate and optional hard walks for Altai Snowcock.
Trip code: BM-WMB1

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Itinerary

Day 1. Arrive in Ulaanbaatar

Our crew picks you up at the Chinggis Khaan international airport upon your arrival in Ulaanbaatar, capital of Mongolia and transfer to the reserved hotel. Optional rest for few hours at the hotel. After lunch (in case you arrive before lunch), visit Tuul river valley for introduction birding at the wetland and a beautiful mix of cherry, elm, willow and poplar. Interesting birds here include Long-tailed Rosefinch, Azure Tit, White-crowned Penduline Tit, White-cheeked Starling, Black Stork, and truly wild and uncommon Mandarin and Falcated Ducks. Welcome dinner at one of the better restaurants in Ulaanbaatar. Food: Welcome dinner. Road: Total coverage 30 km paved road (30 minutes’ drive).

Day 2. Khovd

Transfer to the Chinggis Khaan international airport for the flight to Khovd town, the land of the different nomadic ethnic groups. Upon arrival, transfer to the local hotel and check in. If time allows, go birding the trees and bushes in the town to get some lifers including Blyth’s Reed and Hume’s Leaf Warblers, Lesser Whitethroat, Rosy and Common Starlings, Masked Wagtail and Eurasian Goldfinch. Overnight in a local hotel. Food: Restaurant – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Flight: Takes 3 hours.

Day 3-4. Khar Us Lake

Early morning, depart for the famous Khar Us Lake, which is designated as a Ramsar site for its importance of internationally threatened wetland birds. Highlight species are White-headed Duck, Dalmatian Pelican, Greater Sand Plover, Relict and Pallas’s Gulls, Gull-billed Tern, Great Reed, Savi’s and Pallas’s Grasshopper Warblers, White-headed Wagtail, possibly Bluethroat, and Common and Rosy Starlings, and Pale Sand Martin (Riparia diluta). Find Pallas’s Sandgrouse and Henderson’s Ground Jay in the bushes en route the lake. Set up the camp in most scenic area near the lake. Overnight in a tented camp. Food: Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch. Road: Total coverage 60 km dust road (2 - 3 hours’ drive).

Day 5-6. Jargalant Khairkhan Mountain

The crew will escort you to the most wonderful part of the mountain and install the camp. The situation by time will be safe and peaceful. The target species in the mountain include uncommon Altai Snowcock, Chukar, Lammergeier, Lesser Kestrel, Barred and Sulphur-bellied Warblers, and colorful Common Rock Thrush, Northern, Isabelline, Desert, and Pied Wheatears, Brown & Kozlov’s Accentors, White-winged Snowfinch, Mongolian Finch, Great Rosefinch, and Godlewski’s and Grey-necked Buntings. Overnight in a tented camp. Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 30 km dust road.

Day 7. Khovd Town

Drive back to the hotel and optional visit to a nomadic family. Have refreshment after the several days of camping in the field. If time allows, go birding in the town get the missing species. Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 80 km dust road (3-4 hours’ drive).

Day 8. Fly to Ulaanbaatar

Return flight to Ulaanbaatar. Optional shopping and city tour available. Overnight in a hotel. Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Farewell Dinner. Flight: Takes about 3 hours.

Day 9. Departure

Transfer to Chinggis Khaan International Airport will be the end of our services in Mongolia.

Trip details

Physical rating: Easy/Moderate and optional hard walks for Altai Snowcock.

The price includes: Price is per person, double occupancy. For a single room, add USD 350. Price includes all transports and accommodations within Mongolia, and meals, expert bird guide, drinking water, nomad family visit, entrance fees to all national parks, and road tolls.

Trip Information

Date & Duration: This tour will run in July 2023. And it continues for 9 days including arrival and departure date in Mongolia.

Group Limit: 8-14 participants, plus guides

Accommodation: Please note that the hotels you are staying at are below the average of international hotels, but those are clean, comfortable, and has en suite rooms.

No tented camping during this trip. You will stay overnights in permanent tourist ger camps, which have gers (yurts) for accommodation, and separate blocks with European style toilets and shower rooms, as well as a restaurant. Each ger is equipped with small wood or coal-burning stove, which fired by a worker of the camp. Deluxe en suite gers are also possible in some sites, but it charges a little bit higher than the standard ones.

Meals: All main meals are included in the price. The breakfasts will be very simple. We will have bread/toast, cheese, butter, jam, eggs, sausage and cereals for breakfast. Depending on the time possibilities, we will have picnic lunches packaged from the tourist ger camps or restaurants. Sometimes we will have lunches in local restaurants. Evening meals will be well prepared Mongolian and European-style dishes served in the hotel restaurants and at the ger camps. Food is generally good, it may lack a variety (e.g. meat, vegetables, rice, French fries).

Payment: The deposit 30% of all cost per person should be paid by wire transfer or by visa cards before 3 months. Be sure that you have read our terms & condition on our website before you make payment. If you pay it through our website, our collaboration with Golomt Bank has been taken care of the transfer security.

Includes:

Accommodation (2 nights’ hotel in Ulaanbaatar city; 2-night hotel in Khovd town; 4 nights’ tourist ger lodges)
Transport (Ground transportations by 4WD vehicles, including petrol; Two-way domestic flight between Ulaanbaatar city and Khovd town)
Meals -9 breakfast, 8 lunch; 8 dinner
Entrance fees to all National Parks and road tolls
English speaking bird guide
Drinking water will be provided. It will be appreciated if you could bring your refillable bottle.

Excludes:

Last dinner on 10 July (It will be your free choice)
International transportation
All types of insurance
Visas
Departure tax
Alcoholic drinks and items of personal nature
Binoculars, telescopes and tripods
Extra luggage
Optional tours

We cannot warranty:

Occasional flight delays or cancellations
Poor road conditions
Items of personal nature
Adverse weather conditions

Physical Rating: The tour is suitable for every bird watcher with different levels of skills and ages. Our experienced guide will do his/her best to explain everything about birds, wildlife, culture etc.

We will do easy and moderate walks during this trip. There will be optional hard walks in the mountains.

Road and Transport: We will mostly drive on the paved road during this trip. The longest drive will cover 60 – 80 km a day, which will take about 3-4 hours with short stops. Mitsubishi Delica or Russian Furgon or County Bus will be employed depending on the number of participants and their interests. 3-4 clients will occupy a car in case we do not hire a county bus. Our experienced and skilful drivers will drive safely on the occasion of the off-road journey.

Weather: Temperature is generally warm or hot during days in early and mid-July, mostly being 24-28 degrees Celsius. In the boreal forest, it is likely to sunny during this period. You can check the weather forecast on http://www.tsag-agaar.gov.mn/eng while you are packing or staying at the hotels in Mongolia where it is possible.

Money: You can change your US Dollar or Euro and other foreign currency into Mongolian tugriks (MNT) at the Chinggis Khaan International Airport just after your arrival. Alternatively, you can ask your guide and drivers to stop for changing money at any bank or official currency exchange offices in Ulaanbaatar. Remember it might be a problem if you try to change them outside of Ulaanbaatar as the banks there could have a limited amount of foreign currency. You can change the money only for your need for beers or any other alcoholic drinks, snacks, and personal items. A fine bottle of beer costs about 4000 -6000 MNT at the restaurants of tourist ger camps, but in the supermarkets, it will be cheaper. The official currency rate can be found at https://www.mongolbank.mn/eng/default.aspx.

Destinations on this trip: Khar Us Lake National Park, Jargalant Khairkhan Mountain, Ulaanbaatar, Khovd Town