Bee-eater

Welcome to BirdingArmenia

Picturesque landscapes and rich flora and fauna make Armenia an attractive destination for every bird and nature lover.
Armenia's diverse landscapes contribute to an extraordinary wealth of flora and fauna within its relatively small territory. More than 350 bird species have been recorded in Armenia, of which over 240 breed within the country. Armenia is home to many Middle Eastern and Caucasian species, including endemics, while many European bird species are represented here by local subspecies.

Birdwatchers in Armenia Horned Lark Бirdwatchers' lunch break Water Pipit White-throated Robin Black-winged Stilts
  • Duration: 8 days, 7 nights
  • Group size: from 1 to 11 people
  • Start and finish in Yerevan
  • Overnight in hotels & B&Bs

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Observe a diverse array of semi-desert, woodland, montane, and wetland birds.
  • Visit the shores of Lake Sevan to observe the world's second-largest breeding colony of Armenian Gulls.
  • Embark on an expedition to Mount Aragats, the highest peak in Armenia.
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1st Day: Arrival in Yerevan

Upon arrival at Zvartnots International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Yerevan.
Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan.

2nd Day: Yerevan - Dilijan National Park

After breakfast, we head to Dilijan National Park, situated in the forested north-eastern part of Armenia and renowned for its lush natural landscapes. Our primary target species in this area include Ficedula semitorquata and Ficedula parva, Hawfinch, Green Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, and Green, Black, Great Spotted and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. We may also spot Robins, Common and Honey Buzzards, Tawny Owl, and Goshawks.
Overnight: Hotel in Dilijan.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

3rd Day: Norashen Sanctuary - Vardenyats Pass - Chiva

Today, your journey continues along the shores of Lake Sevan, one of the world's largest high-altitude freshwater lakes. A key highlight is observing the world's second-largest colony of Armenian Gulls. We will also look for Great Crested and Black-necked Grebes, Great Cormorant, Night Heron, Cattle Egret, Grey Heron, Glossy Ibis, Tadorna ferruginea, Gadwall, Shoveler, Garganey, and Ferruginous and Tufted Ducks. Raptors may include Marsh Harrier, Goshawk, and Peregrine.
Waders at the lake include Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed Plover, Northern Lapwing, and migrating parties of stints, sandpipers, Common Snipe, and Ruff. We then travel through the Vardenyats Pass into Vayots Dzor province. This pass is a regular haunt for vultures, eagles, and buzzards. In areas below the ridge, we look for Black Redstart, Rock Sparrow, Eastern Rock Nuthatch, and Crimson-winged Finch.
Overnight: B&B in Chiva.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

4th Day: Gndasar Mountains – Noravank – Chiva

Early this morning, we travel by 4WD to the Gndasar Mountains to observe the Caspian Snowcock and other high-altitude species such as the Crimson-winged Finch, Serinus pusillus, and White-winged Snowfinch. Later, we visit the scenic canyon of Noravank Monastery. This area is home to Sitta Tephronota, Chukar, Red-tailed Wheatear, and Eastern Stonechat. The cliffs are frequented by breeding raptors including Kestrel, Peregrine, Egyptian Vulture, and Long-legged Buzzard.
Overnight: B&B in Chiva.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

5th Day: Vedi Hills - Yerevan

As we return towards Yerevan, we explore the Vedi Hills. These arid territories are home to Oenanthe Finschii, Greater Short-toed Lark, and Tawny Pipit. Dry ravines and scarce water sources attract semi-desert species like Rufous Bush Robin, Irania Gutturalis, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Upcher’s and Eastern Orphean Warblers, Eastern Rock Nuthatch, Rock Sparrow, Pale Rockfinch, Trumpeter Finch, Black-headed and Grey-necked Buntings, and the occasional Desert Finch. Cinereous, Griffon, and Egyptian Vultures often patrol the hills alongside Long-legged Buzzards and Short-toed Eagles.
Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

6th Day: Armash Fish Farm – Urts Mountains – Yerevan

Today features a visit to the Armash Fish Farm, a haven for the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, European Roller, and a variety of waterbirds including Microcarbo Pygmaeus, Little Bittern, Purple, Squacco, and Black-crowned Night-herons. In the reedbeds, we search for Reed, Great Reed, and Paddyfield Warblers, while open waters host Marbled and Ferruginous Ducks and Red-crested Pochards. Whiskered, White-winged, Black, and Little Terns can often be seen hawking for insects over the pools. Later, we visit an arid gorge in the Urts Mountains to observe Persian Wheatears, White-throated Robins, Upcher’s and Orphean Warblers, and Short-toed Larks.
Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

7th Day: Mount Aragats - Yerevan

The day is dedicated to Mount Aragats, Armenia’s highest peak. We may find forest raptors such as the Short-toed Snake Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle, and Common Buzzard. Higher up, among mountain meadows and rock fields, we look for Skylark, Horned Lark, Water Pipit, Radde’s and Alpine Accentors, Bluethroat, and Monticola Saxatilis. Other species include Alpine Swift, Red-billed Chough, Crag Martin, Ortolan, and Rock Buntings. The raptor selection here is excellent, often including Golden, Booted, and Lesser Spotted Eagles, Black Kite, Peregrine, Hobby, and Eurasian Sparrowhawk.
Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

8th Day: Departure.

Transfer to the airport for your return flight.

TRAVELERS INFORMATION

PHYSICAL EFFORTS: You can walk up to 3 km along a dirt path, for example in Vedi Hills, Armash FF, Urts Mts. or Gndasar, at a leisurely pace.

WEATHER AND CLOTHING: The weather during the spring tours is usually pleasant and warm. May is the rainiest month, but the rain never lasts long. In the semi-deserts, temperatures can reach 35°C or higher on hot days in late spring and summer. At higher altitudes, the weather is often unpredictable, with short-lived snow and hail possible.
In general, there are no restrictions on clothing. Recommended gear includes a sun hat, a warm hat, a warm fleece jacket, a raincoat and lightweight, comfortable hiking boots.

FOOD: The food in Armenia is both healthy and delicious. For lunch, we visit local restaurants and cafés, or private homes where specially trained hosts treat tourists to local cuisine. Dinners outside Yerevan are sometimes served in hotel restaurants to provide a more relaxing atmosphere after a day of sightseeing.
The tour programme includes free evenings during which you can explore Yerevan and choose where to eat. Dinner is not included in the tour price during your stay in Yerevan. Please inform us in advance of any dietary requirements, and we will do our best to accommodate them.

GROUP SIZE: There is no minimum number of participants required for a tour. We run tours with between 1 - 11 participants per group. This ensures convenient transportation and an optimal guide-to-guest ratio.
For private tour arrangements, please contact us.

THE PRICE INCLUDES:

  • Airport transfers
  • Depending on the size of the group, transportation will be provided by minibus, minivan or/and 4WD vehicle
  • Hotel accommodation. Full board, when you're staying overnight outside of Yerevan
  • Entrance fees to paid monument sites and museums. Tatev cable car ticket. The services of a professional guide
  • Bottled water throughout the day.

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

  • Air travel tickets, travel insurance, Visa fees, excess baggage charges
  • Dinner, during your stay in Yerevan (If you would like us to, we can include full-board meals in the tour price)
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Personal expenses
  • Additional nights (available upon request).

PACKING CHECKLIST:

  • Passport
  • Special medicine or drugs in permanent use
  • Credit cards and cash: Credit cards can be used in all big cities at hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, supermarkets, etc. Bring a small amount of cash for personal expenses: as currency exchange outside of cities is not always possible.

You can find answers to all your questions about booking, prepayment and payment, tour cancellation and refunds, and much more in the TERMS AND CONDITIONS


Please submit the booking form below so we can assist you with the tour arrangements and provide answers to any of your questions.

Discovery Tours

Join us in the adventure of revealing the legends of an ancient land - fascinating, unspoiled nature, innumerable historic monuments of Paganism and Christianity, a home of ancient civilization, hospitable people and respected traditions.

Birdwatching Tours

Diverse natural conditions results in unusually rich flora and fauna on a relatively small territory of the country. Up to the present over 350 bird species have been recorded in Armenia, of which over 240 species are breeding locally.

Off-Road Tours

Fasten your seatbelt and enjoy our Off-Road Tour through stunningly beautiful mountains. Immerse into aromatic forests of aspen and pine as we climb to wildflower-carpeted high alpine meadows with views that seem to go on forever.