NATURAL HISTORY TOURS TO THE
TIEN-SHAN
July 2000
Organised by the Union of Hunters of
Kyrghyzstan.
The organisers
This will be the
fifth year that the Union of Hunters and Fishermen of Kyrgyzstan have organised
entomological expeditions. The first
trip was in 1996 to the Alai and Transalai ranges, in 1997 there was a trip to
the Kokshaal-Too range, in 1998 to Sary Dzhaz and last year three separate
trips were run, to Alai and Transalai, Sary Dzhaz and Baidullu and At-Bashi
ranges. The parties have comprised
entomologists from England, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Russia and
Kyrgyzstan.
The Union of Hunters
and Fishermen has considerable experience in organising international
tours. We are able to provide all
necessary services so that you will be spared any problems with accommodation,
safety, provisions, transport, permits, itineraries etc. Entomologists, ornithologists and botanists
as well as general wildlife enthusiasts are all welcome.
The expedition is
organised and managed by Sergei Toropov (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan) who is one
of the leaders of the Union of Hunters and Fishermen. Sergei collects and breeds butterflies, moths and beetles. He has
collected insects in the most far-flung parts of the Tien Shan and has an
extensive collection of local Lepidoptera and Coleoptera.
Tour programmes
There are five
separate tours available as follows, if desired, tours of different duration
and itinerary may be arranged:
1.
Alai: Alai and Transalai mountain ranges; Taldyk and Tengisbai passes;
Aram-Kungei
and Altyn-Dara gorges.
This trip will be from 10th to 30th July, the camp will
be at 3200-3600 metres.
Species found include 7 species of Parnassius
and 11 species of Colias, also the entire complex of high-mountain
butterflies, moths and other insects found in the Pamiro-Alai zoogeographic
region.
2.
Sary-Dzhaz: Kaindy-Katta and Enylcheck-Too mountain
ranges; Kaindy gorge; Sary Dzhaz river basin.
This trip will be from 1st
to 20th July, the camp will be at 2700-3200 metres.
Species found include 6 species of Parnassius,
6 species of Colias and several endemic types of Carabus and
other beetles, also species typical of butterflies, moths and other insects
found in Interior and Central Tien-Shan and contiguous territories of China.
3.
Kokshaal-Too
range: At-Bashi and Naryn
mountain ranges.
This trip will be from 1st
to 20th July, the camp will be at 3000-3400 metres.
Species found include 5 species of Parnassius
and 4 or 5 species of Colias, also the entire complex of high-mountain
butterflies, moths and other insects found in the Kokshaal-Too range and
contiguous territories of China.
4.
Kirghiz
range: Baidulla (Dolon pass), Kirghiz (Tu-Ashu pass) and
Talass (Alabel pass) mountain ranges.
This trip will be from 1st
to 20th July, accommodation will be at 3000-3200 metres.
Species found include 7 species of Parnassius and 5 species of Colias,
also the entire complex of high-mountain butterflies, moths and other insects
found in the Northern Tien-Shan.
5. Issyk-Kul
Lake: Terskei and Kungei mountain ranges, Chon-Ashu and Barskoon passes.
This trip will be from 1st to 20th of July.
Species found include 6 species of Parnassius and 5 species of Colias,
also different species of Satyrus and the entire complex of middle and
high-mountain species of butterflies, other interesting species in the desert
zone of Issyk-Kul lake.
Equipment, accommodation and
provisions
The organisers will
provide the following services:
¨
All transport
(with drivers and fuel) for both personnel and equipment.
¨
Facilities for
meetings and socialising.
¨
Consultant
entomological services.
¨
Provision of
food.
¨
Interpreter services (for an additional payment of $20
per day per group).
You will need to
bring a small backpack for use during daily excursions, a one-man tent,
sleeping bag, airbed and warm clothes.
You are responsible for all your own collecting and/or photographic
equipment. If you wish to collect at
night you should bring a portable generator and moth trapping equipment.
The expeditions are
organised for a minimum group size of two people.
Tour costs
Each
tour will be of 20 days
duration including arrival and departure days. If desired, tours of a different
duration may be arranged.
The daily rate is $US55 per person
Costs
include:
All services in Bishkek other than hotel bills (days of arrival and
departure), visa preparation, collecting and export permits, transport, meals,
guide services, payment to personnel and camping equipment.
Costs
do not include:
Transport
from your home to Bishkek and back, airport taxes, hotel fees in Bishkek
(approximately US$40-50 per day) beverages, laundry, telephone calls or any
other personal expenses.
Payment
A deposit of US$
250 per person is payable as soon as possible and not later than April 1. This
will cover preparation of visas and permits, provisions, etc. The balance is due on the first day in
Bishkek in cash only (no cheques!).
Please ask one of the contacts for deposit payment details.
Visas
Visas
are available by invitation only.
Please send one of the contacts the following information: passport
number; surname; forenames; address; date and place of birth; nationality;
occupation and next of kin. We will immediately send this information with
our official invitation by fax to the Kyrghyzian Embassy in your country for
preparation of your visa. Visa
processing usually takes two weeks (maximum three). This information should be sent no later than April 1.
Air tickets
There
are flights to Bishkek from Moscow, Istanbul and various other cities in Europe
and Asia. Please enquire for details to
one of
the contacts or travel
agents in your country.
At the
present time, the easiest way to fly to Kyrghyzstan from the West is from
Frankfurt or Hannover, Germany to Bishkek (one flight a week, on Friday from
and to Frankfurt and Tuesday from and to Hannover). Tickets can be booked from the Kyrghyzstan
Airlines representative in Frankfurt, Sergei Gruzinskyi who speaks both German
and English, his telephone number is (49) 69-49-60-224.
All enquiries about the expedition
should be addressed to one of the following contacts:
Bob Worthy, European
Manager, 10 The Hill, Church Hill, Caterham, Surrey CR3 6SD, England.
Tel & fax (44)
1883 347314. Email: BobWorthy@Csi.com
Sergei Toropov,
Director of Tours, Bld. 300, suite 9, Chokmorov Str., Bishkek 720010,
Kyrgyzstan.
Tel & fax:
996-312 257593. Email:
toropov@sentokg.bishkek.su