Duration: 2-2.5 h.
The best time for the tour:
In the morning: from 07:00 to 09:00 (spring & autumn – from 08:00 to 10:00)
In the evening: from 17:00 to 19:00 (spring & autumn – from 16:00 to 18:00)
For a tour unlike any other, head out to the Jeyran Ecocenter for a quick day-trip from Bukhara. The ecocenter holds animals that represent the native animals found in Uzbekistan, including Persian gazelles, Przhevalski’s horses, kulans, Bukhara urials, white-tailed eagles, ospreys, desert monitor lizards, and and Brandt’s hedgehogs. Many of these species are endangered or threatened, making a trip to the ecocenter extra special. The second part of the tour takes you to a group of saline lakes, where you can see some of these same animals in their native habitats.
Tour itinerary:
Day 1: Bukhara – Open-air cage complex – Lakes
Transfer from Bukhara to Ecocentre “Jeyran” (42 km., 40-45 min.). Tour in the open-air cage complex of the ecocenter. You will learn about the mission of the complex and its inhabitants. Many species are on the verge of extinction and included in the Red Book.
Continue the tour on the vast territory of the ecocentre. Walk through the sandy desert (1250 m.) to salty lakes. On the way, you will see the black saxaul, astragals and other desert flora. The area is home to desert lacertas and monitor lizards, Central Asian tortoises, kulans, Persian gazelles and Przevalsky's horses.
Visit the lakes complex that has four small lakes: Small saline, Beautiful, Duck and Big saline. All four lakes have different salinity and depth level. On the Small saline lake, you will see the watering point, which attracts black-bellied sandgrouses, kulans, Persian gazelles and Przevalsky's horses.
Banks of the Small saline and Duck lakes are favourite nest area of white-tailed lapwings, stilts and little ringed plovers. You might meet residents of the lakes: kingfishers, duck hawks, bald-coots, ducks, gannets and herons. Moreover, here you may even notice badgers, nutrias and muskrats.
Transfer to Bukhara. End of the tour.
Price includes:
- Bukhara – ecocentre – Bukhara transfer, a car to travel inside the ecocenter;
- English/Russian speaking interpreter from Bukhara;
- Entrance fees.
Price does not include:
- Tips are not included, but would be appreciated;
- Meals.
