Day 1: Moscow

Arrive in Moscow. Transfer to the hotel. Leisure evening to relax and explore.

Day 2: Moscow - Vladivostok

Sightseeing tour of Moscow, visit the Red and Manezh Squares, Alexander's Garden, the Kremlin. Visit to the Paleonthological Museum is possible (the largest in the world collection of Asian dinosaurus). Lunch at the cafe in the center of Moscow. Transfer to the airport for the night flight to Vladivostok (8-hrs flight, 7 hrs time difference).

Days 3: Vladivostok

Arrive in Vladivostok. Transfer to your hotel. Sightseeing tour of the city. Visit the Arseniev's Museum of Nature History. Lunch at the restaurant. Overnight in the hotel.

Days 4: Far Eastern Marine Nature Reserve

We board our small ship for the journey to the Popov Island of the Far Eastern Marine reserve (the only marine reserve in Russia) and a chain of wonderful small islands in the Peter the Great Gulf. We observe colonies of the Spectacled Guillemot, Black-tailed gulls, two species of cormorants. In the evening, we will observe the birds which arrive to their breeding site only after sunset: the Ancient Murrelet, Rhinoceros Auklet, Streaked Shearwater, as well as the only colony in Russia of Swinhoe's Storm Petrels, which counts several thousand pairs. Overnight on the Popov island in the wooden cottages with basic facilities

Days 5: Peter the Great Gulf - Khasan Nature Park

Today we take our ship (7 hours) south through a chain of the most picturesque islands to the Khasan Nature Park. Watch Temmick's (Japanese) and great cormorants, gulls, and sea ducks. We make a stop on one of these islands with a high chance to observe the rare Island Grasshoper Warbler (Locustella pleskei). Some rare late spring-summer visitors from East Asia (ardeids, bitterns, passerines) can be occasionally met on the islands. Dinner and overnight at the guest house of the Khasan nature park with basic facilities.

Days 6-7: Khasan Nature Park

The Khasan Nature Park is presented by marshy lowlands with sandy shore flats, many lakes and hills with marvelous oak groves. It is one of the world's finest places for watching migration of shorebirds at its peak. Up to 45 species can be found there, including 10-12 species of calidrids, 8 species of Tringa sandpipers, 1 species of Phalarops, 3-4 species of snipes, 4 species of curlews and godwits, 7-8 species of plovers and lapwings, etc. There are high chances to see the Dunlin, Long-toed Stint, Black-tailed Godwit, Spotted Redshank, Wood Sandpiper, Pacific Golden Plover, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Great Knot, Red Knot, Asian Tattler and Mongolian Plover.

We watch intensive migration of the shorebirds on sandy flats (this is the best site for watching calidrids, curlews, large plovers. We will ascend the Golubiny Knoll and enjoy marvelous view to the vast Khasan plains and the boundary between Russia, Korea and China. The famous Tumangan river is near-by. On grassy flats, we shall watch Tringa sandpipers, 'shanks', snipes, godwits, ducks, a full number of reed and bush buntings (Japanese Reed, Yellow-breasted, and Grey-headed). Lunch en route. Enjoy singing Manchurian Bush Warbler and Blue Rocktrush. First reed warblers and grasshopper warblers will be arriving. On the hills covered by oak groves, we will hear and watch many local passerines, as Black-tailed Hawfinch, Meadow Bunting, different tits, some eastern flycatchers, as well as most of shrikes. Band-bellied Crake and Button-Quail return to marshes and meadows. Very likely to see are Pied Harrier, Cattle Egret, Shrenk's Bittern; Ruddy Crake is also possible. Many transient passerines will still be there, and, with a luck, Baer's Pochard and Spoonbill. In the late afternoon, we return to the guest house for dinner and overnight.

Days 8: Kedrovaya Pad' Nature Reserve

Kedrovaya Pad' is the oldest Russian Nature Reserve, established in 1925. It is the only known place in Russia which harbors breeding population of the Far Eastern Leopard. It was conceived as a "botanical Preserve" with preserved virgin groves of Manchurian Fir and Korean pine, as well as Ash, Maple, and Birch lianas forest. Presently it is a hilly "oasis" of wildlife, mostly rich in Ussurian flora and butterflies. These pristine forests grow along the valley of the Kedrovaya River. The valley is squeezed between two narrow mountain ridges and attracts many forest birds. Two rare and secret raptors, the Hodgson's Hawk Eagle and Chinese Sparrowhawk, breed in the reserve.

In the early morning, we travel by bus to 'Kedrovaya Pad' Nature Reserve through the inner part of the Khasan area (4 hours). After lunch, we have a short hiking excursion to the Far-Eastern Leopard site. Though it is very difficult to see the leopard itself, we can watch its habitat, walk along its trail, see its claw marks on the tree trunks, as well as enjoy singing of many Eastern Asian forest birds. Optional birdwatching excursion (by bus) to see Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Manjurian Bush Warbler, Short-tailed Bush Warbler, Siberian Shrike, Azure-winged Magpie, Long-tailed Rose Finch, migrating northern passerines. Most of the forest passerine birds will be in their breeding grounds, including Blue-and-White and Tricolor Flycatcher, Broad-billed Roller, Little Cuckoo. Some "tropical" bird species will be arriving. Forest is beautiful this time - blossoming trees in young foliage, multi-colored flower carpet on the ground. Large diurnal butterflies, as Papilio maakii, can be observed everywhere, and diverse nocturnal butterflies can be attracted by lamp. By night, we will have a chance to listen Collared Scops Owl, Eastern Scops Owl, as well as the 'ultrasound' song of Short-tailed Bush Warbler. We overnight at the village close to the Nature Reserve, or at the Reserve's guest house. Lodging is very simple, and may be with host families.

Days 9: Kedrovaya Pad' Nature Reserve

In the early morning, we have an excursion along the beautiful valley through different types of pristine Ussurian forests up to the top of the hill (6,5 km) from where we can see panorama of the hills and the entire bay. Lunch on the hill. Enjoy early spring flowers. Make acquaintance with different types of 'lianas' forests. Grey-backed Thrush, Pale Trush, Yellow-throated and Black-faced Bunting, Uragus sibiricus will be actively singing. Broad-billed Roller and White-eye are very likely, too. After lunch, bus transfer to Vladivostok. Dinner at the restaurant. Take an evening train to the Ussuriland, the city of Luchegorsk (8-9 hours). Night in the train.

Ornithological excursions in the Borgoi area. The largest accumulations of ruddy sheldducks (about 4-7 thousands of birds) and gray cranes (up to 4 thousand) can be found there. You can come across the individuals or small groups of demoiselle cranes and whooper swans. There is also a great variety of ducks: 10-15 species in flocks of 3-5 thousand of birds ( gadwall, mallard, garganey, green-winged teal, northern pintail, northern shoveler, common (European) pochard, tufted duck, common goldeneye, common shelduck). In September, there are still flocks of coots, black-necked (eared) grebes, shorebirds (lapwing, wood sandpiper, green sandpiper, spotted redshank and some others). Small flocks of bean goose stay there. From time to time, Bewick's swan, Baikal teal, swan goose can be seen. Birds of prey are numerous, as white-tailed sea eagle, tawny eagle, imperial eagle, greater spotted eagle, saker falcon, upland buzzard, even black vulture. Hen harrier, kestrel, European hobby can be observed ( in the period throughout the end of September ). You will even get a chance to see great bustard - this is the last place in Pribaikalie (including Irkutsk region and Buriatia) where it used to inhabit. Last registration of this species are dated to 1998. Mongolian larks and pipits are rather numerous. Red-billed choughs can be seen even in the villages. Fauna of steppe mammals is the richest in Pribaikalie. In the autumn time ''prints'' of Daurian pika can be clearly seen. You can see the holes of tarbogan marmot, if you are lucky - you can meet tolai hare, corsac fox, and even Pallas' cat. In some places, Chinese vole is very numerous. In Russia, this species is found in Russia only in the steppes of the Southern Buratia.

Days 10: Luchegorsk - Bikin River

The Bikin river had always been for Russian naturalists as an Amazon or equatorial Africa for the Westerners. It is a major stronghold of the virgin Ussuriland forests, providing breeding grounds for such mighty animals as Amur Tiger and Himalayan Black Bear, as well as Chinese Trionix and a great diversity of marvellous tropic-like birds and butterflies. It is a key-point of the Far Eastern wilderness and rare bird species. More than 200 species of birds breed here, twelve of which belong to the categories of Globally Threatened. Among them are: Blakiston's Fish Owl (Ketupa blakistoni), Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), Scaly-sided Merganser (Mergus squamosus), Hooded Crane (Grus monachus), Oriental White Stork (Ciconia boyciana), Far-Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagaskariensis), Siberian Spruce Grouse (Falcipennis falcipennis) and others. The Bikins' populations of the Hooded Crane, Blakiston's Fish Owl and Scaly-sided Merganser are the largest in the Far East.

There are impenetrable thickets of Manchurian trees, bushes and ferns, with giant poplars, elms and Korean cedar-pines. The world of the lianas and tree fungus, ginseng, eleutherococcus and their relatives. It is also a major area of the small indigenous nations, Udege and Nanai, many of which still follow the traditional way of life as hunters and trappers.

Upon arrival to the Bikin river, we shall have hiking excursions to explore Manchurian oak and mixed Cedar Pine-broad-leaved forests. Enjoy beautiful view from the hilltop to the Bikin River valley (river branches between islands of subtropical forest) and the Sikhote-Alin ridge. Make acquaintance with typical subtropical forest bird complex. Forest Wagtail, Gray-capped Woodpecker, the White-eye, White-throated Rock Trush, Masked Hawfinch, Pale Thrush and Dollarbird are very likely. Home-made dinner and overnight in the private houses in the village of Udehe and Nanai in the middle Bikin.

Days 11-12: Bikin river

Hiking excursion through different forest of taiga-type along the Bikin valley. We will encounter many forest birds; there is a chance to see Horsfield's Hawk-cuckoo, Mugimaki Flycatcher, Oriental Bullfinch, Radde's Bush Warbler, Pale-legged Warbler, Siberian Thrush. With our Udege guides, we will board motor-boats for the journey down the Bikin river (60-70 km). The Bikin here is divided into numerous channels separated by islets with willow, alder and pristine riparian broad-leaved forests. Mature elms, poplars, Manchurian welt-nuts, Amur Velvet Tree and many other trees and bushes form a tropic-like gallery along the Bikin course. Watch Mandarin Duck, Gray Heron, Dollarbird, White-throated Needle-tail, small hawks, Gray Wagtail, Kingfisher, Osprey, Little Ringed Plover. Black Stork, Long-billed Plover and Chinese Merganser are possible. Short stops in riparian forests to observe various flycatchers, leaf-warblers, robins, thrushes, buntings, long-tailed rosefinches, minivet, White-eye. Lunch on the pebble spit. In the evening, we take a bus to Luchegorsk for the train to Khabarovsk (6 hours).

Day 13: Khabarovsk - Blagoveshchensk

After a short sightseeing tour of Khabarovsk and lunch at the restaurant, we take a local flight to the city of Blagoveshchensk. Bus transfer to the Headquarters of the Muravievka Crane Park (65 km, 1,5 hr).

The Muraviovka Crane Park is the first Russian privately operated territory of sustainable land use. It includes the Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention). The territory is presented by vast wetlands and grasslands in the Amur River valley, as well as croplands on river terraces, small forest islands, and small rivers, forming many shallow lakes. 215 species of birds were registered in the Park. This area is a key breeding ground and stopover for many birds, especially for cranes, storks, waterfowl, raptors and songbirds. The Park has high density of breeding populations of two endangered species: Red-crowned and White-napped Crane.

Dinner and overnight at the headquarters (there are seven double occupancy guestrooms). Light is provided by generator and solar panels. There are showers with hot water and outdoor toilets.

Day 14-15: Muraviovka Park

Excursions to the forest and meadows of the park. Watch Amur Red-footed Falcon, Azure-winged Magpie, Gray Starling, Richard's Pipit, Skylark, Azure Tit, Black-faced Bunting, Siberian Rubythroat, Thick-billed Warbler, Dusky Warbler, Thick-billed Reed Warbler, Chinese Bush Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Chinese Bush Warbler, Narcissus Flycatcher, Long-tailed Rose Finch, Black-faced Oriole, Barn Swallow, Rufous Turtle Dove, Purple Heron, Oriental White Stork, Red-crowned Crane, Spotbill Duck, Garganey, Shrenk's Little Bittern, Water Rail, Bailon's Crake, Pechora Pipit, Wryneck, Siberian Rubithroat, Stonechat, Lanceolated Grasshopper Warbler, Black-browed Reed Warbler, Pallas' Grasshopper Warbler, Radde's Bush Warbler, Yellow -breasted Bunting, Black-naped Oriole, Carrion Crow. In the evening, we take a bus to Ivchenkin Bugor to see rarest Red-crowned and White-naped Cranes, Oriental White Stork, and to enjoy beautiful scenery. Dinner and overnights at the Headquarters.

Days 16: Khabarovsk

Early in the morning, bus transfer to Blagoveshchensk for the flight to Khabarovsk. Sightseeing, dinner at the restaurant, overnight at the hotel.

Days 17: Amur

Transfer by hydrofoil down the magnificent Amur river (about 14 hours - the longest hydrofoil route in Russia!). Then we will take a motor boat to the Lake Udyl' of the Amur delta. Overnight in Russian family houses.

Days 18-19: Udyl' lake

The huge Udyl' lake is known for the highest breeding density of Steller's Sea Eagles (its range include only few parts of the Russian Far East and Japan). This lake is also an important breeding area for the White-tailed Sea Eagles and the Swan Goose. Here we may see the Garganey, Falcated Duck, Wigeon, Harleguin Duck, Common Goldeneye, Swinhoe's Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Siberian Spruce Grouse, Slaty-Backed Gull, Little Tern, Pacific Swift, Dusky Warbler, Japanese Waxwing, Swinhoe's Robin, Dusky and Pallas' Warblers, Mugimaki Flycatcher, Red-flanked Bluetail, Black-faced and Chestnut Bunting, Needle-tailed Swift, Spotted Nutcracker, Siberian Accentor, Far Eastern Bullfinch.

Overnight - homestay with Russian families.

Days 20:

Full day transfer by hydrofoil back to Khabarovsk. Overnight at the hotel.

Days 21: Departure

Transfer to the airport for the homeward bound flight

Notes

1. According to your wishes, this itinerary can be changed or extended with a visit to the other nature areas

2. You can arrive to Vladivostok via Moscow or directly from the USA and other countries.

Please contact us for the descriptions of the areas involved, bird lists and detailed information about the trip!