WILDLIFE IN THE SOUTH OF RUSSIA Biodiversity – Steppes – Rare Animals This special nature route is an unforgettable trip for birdwatchers and for those who truly like wild nature in its different appearance. This vast steppeland is a home of many rare and endangered animals and birds like saiga antelope, bustard, wild horses. Southern Russian steppes are especially beautiful when blooming with tulips in spring. By the way, steppe tulips are ancestors of the famous Dutch tulips. DAY 1 Arrival to Rostov-on Don, the capital of Southern Russia. Transfer to the Hotel «Hermitage” for 1 night, with dinner in the local cafe. DAY 2 Morning sightseeing tour in Rostov-on-Don (visit Embankment, Central market and historical area). Lunch at the cafe. Departure to Orlovskiy district (to the east of Rostov region). Excursion to the Center of Rare animals (Association “Living Nature of the Steppes”) in khutor (village) Koundruchenskiy. Dinner and overnight in the hotel “Tet-a-tet” or “Tulip” in the sattlement Orlovskiy. DAY 3 Morning excursion to the visit-center of nature biosphere reserve “Rostovskiy”. Tour to the steppes, to the salt lakes, birdwatching, wilde animals: saigas, bustards, ostrich. Boat trip to the island “Vodny” where the colony of wild horses lives. Lunch at the visit center and continuation of the excursion. Dinner and overnight in the hotel “Tet-a-tet” or “Tulip”. DAY 4 Morning road across the steppe to Elista, a capital of the Kalmyk Republic. Sightseeing tour in Elista. The Kalmyks, who migrated to Russia from China in the 18th century, are Mongols and practice Tibetan Buddhism. We visit the main temple in the centre of the city, the huge Golden Temple and several stupas and monuments. Lunch in Elista. Continuation the excursion in Elista. Dinner with traditional Kalmyk cuisine. Overnight in the hotel “25th hour” or “Elista”. DAY 5 Leave Elista in the morning. Visit of the Centre for Wild Animals in Yashkul, where we can see saiga in enclosures (possibilities to take photos). Birdwatching (birds of prey and their nests), observing wild steppes, sand dunes, artesian springs. We may encounter saigas. In the afternoon - transfer to Volga Delta region. Stop at the village of Khulkhutta to see the memorial marking the Russo-German front in world war 2. Overnight in Liman in the hotel “Berezka”. DAY 6 Full day exploring Stepnoi in the wild steppes. Birdwatching (birds of prey and their nests), observing wild steppes. We may encounter saigas. Picnic lunch in steppe. Return to Liman in the evening. Overnight in Liman in the hotel “Berezka”. DAY 7 Full day exploring the Volga Delta down towards the Caspian Sea. The coach will take us to where we embark by boat for a fairly leisurely cruise through the lush maze of channels, islands and lotus fields (August, the beginning of September), home to a wide diversity of bird life. DAY 8 Morning departure to Astrakhan. City-tour in Astrakhan a former capital of the Khanate of Astrakhan. It is a pleasant city of canals and tree-lined streets as well as some lovely old traditional wooden houses. The Tatar presence is still highly visible in the faces in the streets and the many old mosques in the Tatar quarter. The old city walls are long gone, but the impressive Kremlin remains with the Cathedral of the Assumption and other buildings inside. We also visit the old merchants’ quarter and merchants’ houses. DAY 9 Transfer to the airport.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 08:38:01 +0000