'Big five' birds of the Caucasus:
Caucasian Black Grouse, Caucasian Snowcock, Great Rosefinch, Güldenstadts Redstart, Caucasian Chiffchaff.
Tour Overview
We are inviting you to join our Georgia Armenia Birdwatching tour which will help you to explore unique and diverse landscape of Caucasus and their rich biodiversity. This mountainous area host wide variety of habitats from dry semi-deserts to alpine meadows and woods, which host different bird, animal and plant species. In semi-deserts one can expect Finsch’s Wheatear and Upchers Warbler, the forests are home for Semi-Collared Flycatcher and Medium Spotted Woodpecker, wetlands are hosting White-tailed Lapwing and White-headed Duck, the mountain steppes are inhabited by Radde’s Accentor and Siberian Stonechat, alpine area hosts Caucasian Snowcock and Guldenstad’s Redstart, even orchards are hosting unusual birds such as Syrian Woodpecker and Levant Sparrowhawk. Numerous rocky canyons provide nesting places for variety of raptors, such as Lammergeyer and Long-legged Buzzard. Above mentioned species make interesting but a small portion of birds that can be observed during this regional tour.
However, the Caucasus’ and Armenian highland diversity is not only limited to the wildlife. Its culture has a long-lasting history, which reminds about itself by different churches, monasteries, and fortresses, amazingly integrated in the natural landscapes, and by unique and tasty cuisine, where home-made dishes take the majority.
1200 EURO
Single room supplement of 250 EURO
DATE: May – September
DURATION: 10 days
LANGUAGE: English, Russian
GROUP SIZE: up to 10 persons + two leaders.
ACCOMMODATION: Hotel, Hostel or B&B
Tour includes:
Airport transfers
Transportation
Professional guide
Accommodation in Hotel
Meals with hot tea/coffee
All the entry fees
Tour excludes:
International airfare
Entrance Visa
Travel insurance
ITINERARY
Day 1. Tbilisi – Kazbegi
Overnight in Kazbegi.
Various bird species on the passage.
Day 2. Kazbegi – Tbilisi
Overnight in Tbilisi.
High-mountain birds.
Day 3. Tbilisi – Vashlovani National Park
Overnight in Mijniskure, Vashlovani National park
Various bird species on the passage. Badland and floodplain forest birds on destination.
Day 4. Vashlovani National Park – Dedoplistskaro
Overnight in Dedoplistskaro
Badlands, Waterbirds and raptors
Day 5. Dedoplistskaro – Chachuna Managed Reserve – Eagle’s Gorge - Sighnaghi
Overnight in Sighnaghi
Badlands, Waterbirds and raptors
Day 6. Sighnaghi – Tbilisi
Overnight in Tbilisi
Day 7. Tbilisi - Sadakhlo/Bagratashen (border) – Stepanavan Dendropark – Lake Arpi National Park
Armenia, Stepanavan Dendropark and Lake Arpi National Park. Mountain steppes, sub-alpine grasslands with lakes and wetlands.
Overnight in Arpi
Day 8. Lake Arpi National Park – Gyumri – Aparan – mount Aragats – Yerevan
Aragats Mountain, chance to see various raptor species. We will also have a cultural part by visiting Amberd – 7th century fortress, located at 2300 meters above sea level. We will finish the day in Yerevan, where you can have a city tour (optional).
Overnight in Yerevan
Day 9. Yerevan – Armash – Nravank gorge – Shatin
Armash fishponds, which is located on Ararat valley. After lunch, we will move to Noravank gorge, where will continue our birding and will combine it with a cultural part, by visiting amazing Noravank monastery (13th century).
Overnight in Shatin
Day 10. Shatin – Lichk – Sevan National Park – Dilijan – Bagratashen
Shatin - view point to observe Bezoar goats. Lichq area, where we expect to see high numbers of shorebirds. Visit Sevan national park, where the Armenian gulls’ island is located.
Dilijan National Park, where we will visit the unique Taxus grove and Haghardzin Monastery complex (13th). Afterwards we will drive you to the Bagratashen/Sadakhlo border, from where you’ll continue your way to Tbilisi.
Overnight in Tbilisi
Day 11. Departure
Transfer to Tbilisi International Airport
Accommodation and transport
We will stay during this trip at comfortable small-scale hotels and guesthouses. The accommodation is of good quality and decent, with private facilities. The meals are traditionally Georgian and Armenian: delicious and diverse. We get around in a comfortable 4x4 minivan.
Climate
During this time of the year, the weather circumstances can be diverse. This means we'll expect both sunny, warm days as wet and rather chilly days. Please dress in layers. The weather changes abruptly on the mountain. We will inform the participants on the weather conditions in advance.
Photography
During this trip there will be good possibilities for photography. Our guides have a good knowledge of digital photography.
