This page presents information about tour operators running holidays for naturalists to the CIS
countries. There are also three Russian organisations which offer to arrange tours, or
expeditions for serious amateurs and professional biologists; and one Kazak organisation (Tien-
Shan Astronomical Observatory) that offers interesting facilities. Other Russian/CIS
organisations are not included, since normally they would act in association with a tour
operator in the West.
Only very sketchy details are included here - enough, hopefully, to enable you to decide
whether you want to seek further information from the tour operators. I endeavour to include
latest information, but if it is out-of-date please contact the tour operator. Tour operators
are requested to send in details of their tours promptly for inclusion on this page.
This page gives details about
Arcturus Expeditions,
Dersu Uzala,
Ecologia Youth Trust,
Ecological Travels Centre,
Greentours,
Naturetrek,
Rufus Reade Tours, and
Tien-Shan Astronomical Observatory,
ARCTURUS EXPEDITIONS
| Ninestone, South Zeal, Devon EX20 2PZ, United Kingdom
tel./fax (+44) 01837 840640
e-mail fiona@arcturusexpeditions.co.uk
website www.arcturusexpeditions.co.uk
|
Arcturus is now the polar arm of Far Frontiers Travel.
Solovetski Islands and the White Sea: 6 - 19 February and 12 - 24 June 2011.
Kamchatka (dog sledging, bears, volcanoes, native people, reindeer herders, autumn colours): 19 February - 5 March and 28 February - 15 March 2011 (dog sledging & reindeer herders); 13 - 23 March 2011 (dog sledging & volcanoes); 17 - 30 June 2011 (Kamchatka from the sea); 25 July - 8 August 2011 (volcanoes & reindeer herders); 26 August - 12 September 2011 (bears, eagles, salmon, volcanoes).
Crusing the Ring of Fire (Kamchatka, Kuril Islands, Commander Islands): 16 - 28 June 2011.
Birding the Kuril Islands (Sakhalin, Kuril Islands, Kamchatka, Commander Islands): 4 - 18 June 2011.
Jewel of the Russian Far East (Kamchatka, Commander Islands, Chukotka): 5 - 25 September 2011.
'DERSU UZALA'
Ecotourism Development
Fund
| (address & telephone uncertain owing to changing location (August 2010)
tel./fax (095) 112-91-33 or 230-84-49
e-mail dersu@ecotours.ru or dersu_uz@mail.ru
website www.ecotours.ru |
This NGO is named after the main character in the eponymous book by Vladimir Arsen'ev, who
was himself an early explorer of the Sikhote-Alin' Mountains and other parts of the Russian Far East
bordering the Pacific Ocean. Information about Arsen'ev will be found in RNP's book Amur Tiger.
Environmentally responsible natural-history tours are offered in Kamchatka, Far East (Ussuriland, Amurland), Lake Baykal, Taymyr Peninsula and other parts of the Far North, Sayan Mountains, and Altay Mountains.
ECOLOGIA YOUTH TRUST
| The Park, Forres, Morayshire IV36 3TD
tel./fax +44 (0)01309 690995
e-mail info@ecologia.org.uk
website www.ecologia.org.uk |
ECOLOGICAL TRAVEL
CENTER (ETC)
| E.T.C., Leninsky prospekt 38A,
119334 Moscow
tel.(095) 939-22-89
tel +7 916 410-66-66
tel/fax +7 495 232-14-43
e-mail info@ecotravel.ru
website www.ecotravel.ru/eng/
|
GREENTOURS
| Leigh Cottage, Gauledge Lane, Longnor, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 0PA
tel./fax 01298 83563
e-mail enquiries@greentours.co.uk
website www.greentours.co.uk |
Tulips of the Tien Shan (Alpine Garden Society holiday; for tulips and other spring flowers, also mammals and migrating birds): 10-23rd(-27th) April 2010.
Tien Shan Mountains, The Mountains of Heaven (Kazakhstan, based on Aksu-Jabagly Reserve, but also taking in the Karatau Mountains, Koksai Gorge, and sites around Almaty; alpine flowers, mammals, birds, reptiles, butterflies, landscapes): 10th-27th June 2010.
Georgia, Greater & Lesser Caucasus (flowers, mammals, birds, mountain landscapes, a little culture): 9th-22nd(-28th) May 2010.
Georgia, Lesser Caucasus (autumn flowers, mammals, birds, mountain landscapes, a little culture): 16th-24th September 2010.
The principal leader in Kazakhstan is Vladimir Kolbintsev, an expert local naturalist and 'all round nice guy'.
NATURETREK
| Cheriton Mill, Cheriton, Alresford, Hants. SO24 0NG, UK
tel. 01962 733051
fax 01962 736426
e-mail info@naturetrek.co.uk
website www.naturetrek.co.uk |
'Belarus in Spring' (birds and general natural history of the primeval oak forests and wetlands of the Pripyatski Reserve): 9th - 16th May 2010.
‘Tulip meadows of Kazakhstan & the Tien Shan Mountains' (steppe & mountain flowers, with special emphasis on tulips): 10th - 25th April 2010.
‘The Tien Shan Mountains & Deserts of Kazakhstan' (birds of steppe, desert, lake and mountain, including Aksu-Jabagly Reserve): 24th April - 9th May 2010.
'Alpine Flowers of the Tien Shan' (based at the Aksu-Jabagly Reserve at the west end of the mountain chain, and mountains near Almaty): 19th June - 1st July 2010.
'Birds of Georgia's Steppes & Caucasus Mountains' (based at Kazbegi in the Greater Caucasus, and day excursions from Tbilisi): 7th - 16th May 2010.
Also 9-day birding tours to Kazakhstan (deserts, steppes, lakes and Tien Shan Mountains): 6th - 14th May and 14th - 22nd May 2010.
'Kamchatka: a Voyage around the Ring of Fire ' (seabird colonies & volcanic scenery of Kamchatka and the Kuril & Komandor Islands, including 12-night cruise terminating in Sakhalin): 20th June - 5th July 2010.
RUFUS READE TOURS
| 21 St Leonard's Lane, Edinburgh EH8 9SH, UK
tel. 0131 662 1612
fax 0131 667 6107
e-mail nomadstent@tiscali.co.uk
website www.nomadstent.co.uk |
'Armenia' (churches, culture, &c): 14th - 27th September 2010.
TIEN-SHAN
ASTRONOMICAL
OBSERVATORY
| Astrophysical Institute, Almaty, Kazakstan 480068
tel. 7 (3272) 636 634 or 636 973
fax 7 (3272) 631 207 box 157
website www.kantengri.kz
e-mail kurt@tsao.south-capital.kz |
For further information, see separate page: Tien-Shan
Observatory
