Eight Day Birdwatching Tour

(includes also Butterfly observations)

Day 1 Arrival. Itinerary for this day depends on the time of your arrival.

Day 2 We leave Yerevan and drive to Armash Fishponds en route to Yeghegnadzor. Armash simply is outstanding for wetland species, attracting Pygmy Cormorants, Little Bitterns, Purple and Squacco Herons and Black-crowned Night-Herons. The reedbeds resound with calls of Reed, Great Reed and Paddyfield Warbler, whilst open waters have Marbled and Ferruginous Ducks and Red-crested Pochards. Whiskered, White-winged, Black and Little Terns hawk over the pools for insects, while water meadows and muddy areas have nesting Glossy Ibis and White-tailed Lapwing. The pools also regularly attract migrant Terek and Curlew Sandpipers. Armash is surrounded by semi-desert with Tamarisk, Camel's Thorn and Sagebrush bushes. This unique habitat attracts Eastern Olivaceous and Ménétries's Warblers. Also we would have an opportunity to see European Rollers, and European and Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters. The lunchboxes will be provided for the open picnic. After we drive to Yeghegnadzor, where the night will be spent.

Day 3 We will leave hotel in morning and visit the Noravank Gorge, where we can see Eastern and Western Rock Nuthatches, White-throated Robins, Chukars, and Upcher's Warblers. The Noravank monastery13 th century We will have a lunch in a spectacular cafe in natural cave. After lunch, we will drive through Selim Pass, where not only birds like Long-legged Buzzard, Rock Sparrow and Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush can be observed, but also we would see old caravan saray built in 12th century, used by travelers of the Silk Way. After the Pass we will reach a southern coast of the Lake Sevan, where will see the largest breeding colony of Armenian Gulls in the world and also see Ruddy Shelducks and then drive to our destination in Avan Marak Tsapatagh Hotel where we will spend most comfortable two nights.

Day 4 We will have hike through gorge near the traditional village of Tsapatagh. The sides of the gorge are covered by Juniper and Barberry. This area is rich in Siberian Stonechats, Rock Thrushes, Ring Ouzels, Black-headed Buntings, and Long-legged Buzzards. This area also is a special place for butterflies from Lycaenidae and Satiridae family. A field lunch be provided or we will go back to the hotel for lunch. Afternoon is free, and you can use the time to enjoy the hotel utilities, like pool, sauna, etc.

Day 5 We travel in the morning to Dilijan, stopping on the way to watch for and observe Raptors. Lunch will be in the Tufenkian Dilijan Resort. We then travel to forest-surrounded Parzlich Lake to see Green and Middle Spotted Woodpeckers, Red-breasted and Semi-collared Flycatchers and Green Warbler. After birding we will travel toward our destination in Dzoraget Hotel, for two nights.

Day 6 We travel in the Debet River Gorge, where we have should see Griffon, Bearded, and Egyptian Vultures, Booted Eagles, and also some cliff nesters, like Blue Rock-thrush. Also we will visit 10th century Sanahin monastery and a museum of famous Armenian writer Hovanes Tumanian.

Day 7 We travel from Dzoraget to Amberd Fortress on Mount Aragats, where we will look for bsemi-desert and mountain steppe birds, including Isabelline Wheatear, and Bimaculated larks, Common Stonechat, Bluethroat, and Radde's Accentors as well as many species of forest raptors, including Snake-Eagle Eagles, Lesser Spotted Eagles, and Common Buzzards,. We will take lunch in the field. We return to Yerevan in the evening.

Day 8 Departure in the morning

Tour rate includes:
20% VAT
Accommodation in Tufenkian Heritage Hotels
Transportation
Airport pick-up and transfer
Entry fees for museums / memorial places
Meals 3 times a day (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Professional guide/scientist from Acopian centre of Environment
All necessary equipment for the tour