China: Borderlands
Starting with Schrenck's Bittern and Jankowski's Bunting in the plains and wetlands of the northeast, we pass swamps holding the legendary Swinhoe's Rail and Band-bellied Crake. These are surrounded by boreal forests with Great Grey Owl plus a wealth of Siberian passerines. Then crossing to the far west of the country in search of the beautiful Xinjiang Ground Jay and Tarim Babbler along the edge of the vast Taklamakan Desert. We cover a massive expanse of China aiming to target so many of the truly out-of-the-way specialties which this incredibly diverse country has to offer.
Next Dates
3 June - 14 June 2027 (12 days)
Leaders:
Joachim Bertrands
Group Size Limit:
7
Single Room Supplement: $
500 USD
Deposit: $
750 USD
Price: $
5200 USD
Add a Title
Leaders:
Joachim Bertrands
Group Size Limit:
Add a Title
Single Room Supplement: $
TBD
Deposit: $
TBD
Price: $
TBD
Add a Title
3 June - 14 June 2028 (12 days)
Leaders:
Joshua Bergmark
Group Size Limit:
7
Single Room Supplement: $
500 USD
Deposit: $
750 USD
Price: $
5500 USD
Add a Title
Leaders:
Joshua Bergmark
Group Size Limit:
Add a Title
Single Room Supplement: $
TBD
Deposit: $
TBD
Price: $
TBD
Add a Title
VISA FREE TRAVEL: Citizens of more than thirty countries can now travel to China without a visa for holidays shorter than 30 days. This makes it easier than ever to join this tour! Valid for passport holders in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom.
If you are from the US, or any other country not on this list, a visa is still relatively straightforward to obtain, but you must visit one of the Chinese consulates or embassies in your home country. Please contact us if you would like any further advice.
Accommodation:
Comfortable throughout.
Walking difficulty:
Easy throughout. Note that there are no high altitudes involved on this tour, which skirts the edge of the Tibetan Plateau during the second half.
Tour cost includes:
All accommodation, main meals, drinking water, internal flights (as stated in itinerary), overland transport, tips to local drivers and guides, travel permits, entrance fees, and guide fees.
Tour cost excludes:
Flights before and after the tour start/end, visa, travel insurance, tips to tour leaders, laundry, drinks, and other items of a personal nature.
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Day 1: The tour starts this evening at our hotel near Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). Overnight in Beijing.
Day 2: We will go on a morning excursion through Beijing, focusing on two areas which should give us our first chance of Schrenck's Bittern and Reed Parrotbill, but also Silver-throated Bushtit and Chinese Grosbeak. Afterwards, we will fly northwards to Ulanhot. Night in Kezuo Zhongqi.
Day 3: Today we will be birding a series of lightly wooded hills in search of the Endangered near-endemic Jankowski's Bunting, plus Daurian Partridge, Chinese Grey Shrike, Chinese Penduline Tit and more common birds like Indian Cuckoo, Meadow Bunting, Pallas's Bunting and more. Overnight in Kezuo Zhongqi.
Day 4: Back-up morning for any of the targets mentioned above before driving north to Qiqihar. Along the way, we should see the huge nests of Oriental Stork atop electrical pylons. At some excellent wetlands we will have our second chance for Schrenck's Bittern and Reed Parrotbill, but also look for Asian Dowitcher, Red-crowned Crane, Marsh Grassbird, and perhaps the scarce Ochre-rumped Bunting. Other more widespread species could include Falcated Duck, Black-browed Reed Warbler, Oriental Reed Warbler, and Common Reed Bunting.
Day 5: Whole morning birding again in the Qiqihar wetlands before transferring to Wuerqihan for three nights. Nights in Wuerqihan.
Day 6-7-8: We will have three full days to explore the sprawling boreal forests, swamps, and grasslands which surround Wuerqihan, made famous recently by the discovery of breeding grounds for Swinhoe's Rail. We will put in a lot of effort to get good looks at this tiny but legendary species! The region is also great for specialties like Band-bellied Crake, Mandarin Duck, Hazel Grouse, Japanese Quail, Great Grey Owl, Ural Owl, Grey Nightjar, Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker, White-backed Woodpecker, and a wealth of superb Siberian passerines like Pallas's Grasshoper Warbler, Lanceolated Warbler, Baikal Bush Warbler, Chinese Bush Warbler, Pale-legged Leaf Warbler, Two-barred Warbler, Ashy Minivet, Long-tailed Rosefinch, Yellow-breasted Bunting, Chestnut Bunting and many more. Nights in Wuerqihan.
Day 9: We will have most of the morning birding at Wuerqihan, before transferring to Hulunbuir for an evening flight back to Beijing. Night in Beijing.
Day 10-11-12: After an early morning flight to Korla in the far west of China, we will transit to Luntai and spend our time birding at the edge of the vast Taklamakan Desert. These shifting dunes visible from space are home to the beautiful Xinjiang Ground Jay, which is our primary target and best found along road verges cutting through the stark landscape. Nearby scrub may hold other species like White-winged Woodpecker, Tarim Babbler, Azure Tit, and Saxaul Sparrow. On the evening of Day 12 we will take a direct flight back to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) where the tour ends.
NOTE: Anyone wishing to link this tour back-to-back with China: Tibetan Plateau (which begins the following day) will be flown directly from Korla to Chengdu. Since this replaces the included flight back to Beijing, your ticket will be booked by us and free of charge. Completing both tours makes your stay in China exactly 29 days, thus still within the 30 day visa free limit.