Tulips of the Tien Shan (organised by Greentours L
Tulips of the Tien Shan
10th – 23rd April 2010
Cost £2470
(Ground Only Cost £1970)
Korgalzhyn Steppe Extension
23rd – 27th April
Cost £1095
Leaders: Kurt Vickery and Vladimir Kolbintsev
A truly remarkable display of colourful tulips carpet Southern Kazakhstan in Spring. Chief among them are the magnificent goblets of Greig's Tulip which come in an unforgettable pageant of reds, oranges and yellows. Tulipa kaufmanniana adorns the lower slopes of the Mountains of Heaven, while swathes of multi-coloured Tulipas ostrowskiana and kolpakowskiana shine in the crystal clear air of these Central Asian Mountains. Rarities such as Tulipa borszczowii, Tulipa buhseana, Tulipa binutans and lovely Tulipa zenaidae are among sixteen species of Tulip on this tour. Fritillary-like Korolkovia severzovii and Rhinopetalum stenantherum, with their strangely-coloured bells, mix with bright yellow Anemones and a wide variety of colourful Corydalis species. By patches of snow are the white stars of Crocus alatavicus and along with half a dozen species of Iris is the many-hued Iridodictyum kolpakovskianum. Bird migration will be in full swing. Flocks of up to a thousand Demoiselle Cranes will be a fantastic sight. Sometimes we encounter Isabelline Brown Bears and more certainly we’ll see Siberian Ibex and the globally endangered Arkhar. An extension takes us to the famed Korgalzhyn steppes where Tulipa schrenkii’s predominantly yellow blooms are mixed with rose-red, pink and white forms that stretch to the horizon in an unforgettable pastiche.
Call Greentours on 01298 83563 or email enquiries@greentours.co.uk or visit www.greentours.co.uk for further information on these holidays, to receive your detailed tour itinerary, or to book a place.