General Information
Note: The information presented here is an abbreviated version of our formal General Information for Tours to Central Asia. Its purpose is solely to give readers a sense of what might be involved if they take this tour. Although we do our best to make sure that what follows here is completely accurate, it should not be used as a replacement for the formal document which will be sent to all tour registrants, and whose contents supersedes any information contained here.
TRAVEL TO LONDON: This tour is organized by our British company, Sunbird, and starts and ends in London. The cost of the group flights London-Tashkent-London is included in the tour cost. We strongly recommend that you join the tour in London, as it removes a range of possible problems that might occur if you attempt to meet the group in the tour country. You can choose, however, to make your own travel arrangements to Almaty. You would receive a corresponding discount in the tour cost should you decide to do this. Please read the Important Travel Information for Participants on Sunbird Tours.
ENTERING KAZAKHSTAN: United States citizens will need a passport valid for six months after the date of entry and a single-entry visa. WINGS will send you the necessary paperwork for obtaining a visa closer to the date of departure.
Citizens of other countries should contact their nearest embassies or consulates for details, explaining that the tour is booked through Sunbird in England and using letters of support that will be provided to you.
ENTERING UZBEKISTAN: United States citizens will need a passport valid for six months after the date of entry. Please note that Sunbird will be able to put all participants on a group visa that Sunbird will obtain in the UK, the cost of which is included in the tour price. We will send you a visa application form to complete and return to WINGS for this purpose. Do not apply for this visa on your own, as you will incur needless trouble and expense. Should you need other information, the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan is located at 1746 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036; tel (202) 887-5300 or (202) 530-7282; fax (202) 293-6804. The Uzbekistan Consulate is located at 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 327A, New York, N.Y. 10017; tel (212) 7547403 or (212) 7546178; fax (212) 8389812; e-mail: info@uzbekconsulny.org.
MAP AND COUNTRY INFORMATION: You can view maps of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in the University of Texas series here and here respectively. Click on the lower right corner of the map to adjust the size. You can review the U.S. State Department background notes on Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan here and here respectively.
HEALTH: There are no notable health problems on our tour route. Biting insects are scarce but a few day-flying mosquitoes may occur locally: insect repellent will provide adequate protection. You can review the latest CDC advisories here.
We’ll reach altitudes of around 9,500 to 10,000 feet during our time in the mountains. We spend one night at around 9,000 feet.
CLIMATE: We should experience generally uniform temperatures and weather conditions away from the mountains, but in recent years there have been some wet and cold springs. In the mountains around Almaty, the altitude alone will ensure that the nights and early mornings will be cool. However, even here the sun will very quickly raise the temperatures and if there is no cloud cover it can get very hot, even at 10,000 feet. As with any alpine environment, conditions can change quickly and you should come prepared for this. Away from the mountains we should experience dry and sunny weather with temperatures rising to the mid 80’s, or perhaps higher, in places. The hottest place will probably be the Kyzyl-Kum Desert, and a good sun hat and adequate sunscreen will be needed here. The weather can be cool in the northern steppe up at Astana, with rain a distinct possibility. You will need to be prepared for wet and cool weather almost anywhere in Kazakhstan, less so in Uzbekistan.
PACE OF TOUR AND DAILY ROUTINE: Generally this tour will not be strenuous, but participants should have a reasonable degree of fitness and be prepared for the occasional discomfort. On a few days there will be very early starts, but typically the day starts around 6:00 am. We usually finish around 6:00 pm, although there may be longer days if we have a lot of traveling to return to our hotel or if we are taking a late domestic flight. It is unlikely that we will be able to break the days up as we do on other trips, but when we have a very early start we will try not to stay out too long at the end of the day.
Central Asia is a big place, and as a result we cover a lot of ground to get to the various habitats. There are therefore some long drives, the longest from Tashkent to Samarkand and from Samarkand to Bukhara, each around fours hours in duration; the drives out east from Almaty and north into the Taukum Desert are about three hours long.
We spend two or three nights at the Almaty Observatory, at 7,381 feet, and make one short excursion up to a pass at 10,800 feet. The rest of the time we are either just around the observatory or below it around the lake. There will not be any long uphill walks, and the pace here should be reasonably relaxed.
Camping will obviously be simple (but fun); still, most people are surprised by just how comfortable the camping is. Our ground agents are extremely skilled in all aspects of camp preparation and maintenance. Tourism in Central Asia is still a relatively low-key affair away from places like Samarkand and Bukhara, and you should be prepared for the occasional hitch. In Uzbekistan there are frequent stops at traffic checkpoints. Things tend not to happen quickly, and patience is needed when dealing with things like hotel check-in and especially at the airports.
ACCOMMODATION: In Almaty, Astana, Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara, we stay in good-quality modern hotels or small guesthouses with all the usual facilities. In the mountains we stay in an astronomical observatory for two nights. Here the rooms are in three-bedroom units, with one bathroom (with hot water) in each unit. There is also a sauna. The observatory is clean but basic ,and was originally used by research workers. However, with the loss of funding from Moscow, the observatory uses its accommodation as a source of income.
We spend two nights camping in the Taukum Desert and two nights camping east of Almaty. The camps are very comfortable and use large, modern tents, each with a low camp bed and foam mattress. A sleeping bag is provided, though you can bring your own if you prefer; a sleeping bag sheet liner is a good idea. The camp has a separate kitchen and mess tent, where our excellent meals are served.
Washing facilities while camping will be basic. There are simple faucets for washing hands, brushing teeth, etc., and two shower tents. The toilets are simple earth toilets with conventional seats. We have found the camping to be surprisingly comfortable, but if you have any questions about this aspect of the tour, please contact the WINGS office.
DRESS: Dress is informal throughout.
TRANSPORT: Transportation is by bus or minibus and internal flights. There are a few long drives, broken up by stops for birdwatching.
SMOKING: Smoking is not allowed in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists, etc. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker, please do not smoke in the room. If you smoke in the field, we ask that you do so well away and downwind from the group. If any location where the group is gathered has a stricter policy than the WINGS policy, that stricter policy will prevail.
SHOPPING: We are frequently asked about this. Samarkand and especially Bukhara are rapidly becoming superb places for buying all sorts of crafts and souvenirs. Bukhara is, of course, famous the world over for its rugs. It is still possible to buy traditional Bukharan rugs of good quality that will last forever. Sizes, patterns, and materials vary, and so does the price. Haggling is essential, and it is possible to buy a really good rug at a fraction of the price it would cost in the US. Most rugs can easily be rolled up and carried home on the plane. Be sure to obtain a receipt as you may have to show this at the airport. Bukhara and Samarkand are also full of many other souvenirs, with many traditional crafts being revived. Payment for most of the souvenirs will probably be in US dollars for the more expensive items, with local currency used for the smaller things. Credit cards are not widely accepted.
GENERAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS OF WINGS & SUNBIRD TOURS: Please take a moment to read the WINGS General Information & Conditions. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours, and other information that will help you prepare for the tour.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A more complete General Information for Tours to Central Asia will be sent to each registrant on receipt of their booking. Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel addresses, etc., will be mailed about three weeks before trip departure. Other news will be communicated as necessary.
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Updated: June 2008