Uzbekistan is a Central Asian country on the “Silk Road,” the ancient overland trading hub between west and east. These days many in Western Europe would struggle to find Uzbekistan on a world map (it lies to the east of the Caspian Sea), and even fewer travel there. But this landlocked country is cradle of culture stretching back two millennia, and its mountains and deserts hold some thrilling wildlife in jaw-dropping settings.
Our Uzbekistan Specialist Recommends
"Our spring birding watching tour to Uzbekistan combines birding in the mountains and desert in search of a number of local specialities with some time exploring the culture of the Silk Road cities of Tashkent, Bukhara and Samarkand."
Alison Steel - Operations Manager
Naturetrek Tours to Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is indeed a west-east hub, combining a pleasing mix of species familiar from Europe with those of a more exotic provenance – so, for example, Greenfinches and Spotted Flycatchers live cheek-by-jowl with White-capped Buntings and Rufous-naped Tits. The mountains of Ugam Chatkal National Park boast gems such as Blue Whistling-Thrush, Turkestan Shrike, Lammergeier and Eastern Rock Nuthatch, while the biggest draw of the Kyzyl Kum Desert is the extraordinary, and very localised Pander’s Ground-Jay. There are a range of interesting reptiles (e.g. Agamas) and mammals (e.g. Ground-Squirrels) too.
Some highlights include
Vultures and raptors, including Griffon Vulture, Eastern Imperial and Booted Eagle
Variety of habitats from desert to reed beds and juniper forests
Possibility of Goitered Gazelle and Kulan
Explore the towns of the Silk Road
