The Tulip Meadows of Kazakhstan's Steppes & Tien Shan Mountains

Tour Code: KAZ04

A 13-day botany tour to the steppes and Tien Shan Mountains of Kazakhstan, with particular emphasis on the wonderful spring display of wild tulips.

13 days from
£4,995
Land only price from
£4,495
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Highlights

Summary

Summary

This tour is set against the breathtaking backdrop of the snow-capped Tien Shan Mountains of eastern Kazakhstan. Within this dramatic landscape of mountains, steppe, meadows, lakes and rocky gorges we will go in search of central Asia's varied and colourful flora, including up to ten species of wild tulip growing in their ancestral homeland. Around Almaty, Kazakhstan's former capital, we will look for, amongst others, Tulipa buhseana and Tulipa behmiana, before heading west to the Merke Gorge for a 2-night stay, where we hope to find the endemic Zinaida's Tulip and a variety of birds. Moving on, we spend four nights in the fabulous Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve, home to over 1,400 species of plant, including carpets of Tulipa greigi and the rare Fritillaria sewerzowii. Following a night in the historic city of Turkistan, our tour ends with three nights back in Almaty from where will take day trips to the Charyn and Kaskelen Gorges, in which grow both Tulipa ostrowskiana and Tulipa tetraphylla.

  • Up to 10 species of wild tulips in their homeland
  • Superb displays of tulips blooming in meadows & mountains
  • Abundant flora – over 6,000 species, including rare plants & endemics
  • Magnificent montane scenery & Central Asian steppe
  • Outstanding birdlife
  • At the heart of the Old Silk Road
  • Led by an expert botanical guide

Grading

Grade B. Easy/moderate day walks only. 

Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Fly Almaty
Day 2
Almaty area
Day 3/4
Merke and Merke Gorge
Day 5/8
Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve, Tien Shan Mountains
Day 9
Kyzylkol Lake
Day 10
Turkistan; Fly to Almaty
Day 11
Charyn Canyon and Bartogay Lake
Day 12
Kaskelen Gorge
Day 13
Fly London
What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation:

    We stay in a comfortable hotel in Almaty and simple guesthouses when off the beaten track.

  • Food:

    All meals are included in the price.

Reviews
Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2027

Departures Availability Cost
Sun 11th Apr – Fri 23rd Apr SPACES £4,995
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Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£4,495
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£645
Tour Leaders:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Jessica Turner, Erik Jansen
Jessica Turner

Tour Leader: Jessica Turner

Jessica claims she started her lifelong love of plants through having a field guide as a favourite picture book at an early age! She went on to study Botany at Cambridge University, specialising in ecology and pollen analysis, and has been involved in a variety of botanical survey projects for the National Trust and a local Wildlife Trust. Jessica is based in Oxford where she now works as a hospital chaplain. However, plants remain a passion, together with birds, butterflies and other aspects of natural history. She loves sharing her enthusiasms with others, and has travelled with Naturetrek over a number of years, first as a client and now a leader.

Erik Jansen

Tour Leader: Erik Jansen

Erik’s passion for wildlife-watching began in his childhood in the Netherlands and has since taken him across the globe. He has been actively involved with Batumi Raptor Count since 2019, where he monitors raptor migration in the Caucasus, coordinates counts, and co-authors research on spring migration patterns in Georgia. His diverse experience includes working as a ranger at an RSPB reserve in the UK, contributing to a Macqueen’s Bustard project on the Kazakh steppes, and conducting breeding bird surveys in the Dutch dunes. Erik is always eager to share his extensive knowledge with fellow enthusiasts and can engage in endless conversations about birds.

In addition to his ornithological work, Erik has searched for wildlife in various east and southeast Asian countries, including Thailand, Indonesia, and Taiwan. When not wildlife-watching, he enjoys studying languages, exploring new cuisines, and learning about the broader world of fauna and flora.

Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

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Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!

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