In April 2027 we begin a new birding tour to the mountains and lakes of Georgia and Armenia. We'll start in Tbilisi, the capital city of Georgia, with an ancient history of both churches and wine, and nearby forests with Kruper's Nuthatch. We'll then travel north to spectacular scenery in the Greater Caucasus Mountains and the 14th-century Gergeti Trinity Church at Mount Kazbek. Caucasian Snowcock, Caucasian Black Grouse, Red-billed and Yellow-billed choughs, and White-winged Redstart will be our target birds here. Returning to Tbilisi, we'll then continue south to the Davit Gareji Monastery, where Western Rock Nuthatches scavenge for food on the ancient walls.
Crossing into Armenia, we'll enjoy the home country of our local guide Berta Martirosyan, an excellent photographer and proud Armenian. Berta will be the perfect guide to lead us through her country, from Lake Sevan, with its waterbirds and colonies of Armenian Gulls, to the Selim Pass where locals tend their sheep and Radde's Accentors flit amongst the broken boulders. We'll then visit the Norovank Monastery, perhaps seeing Bearded Vulture and having another chance for Eastern Rock Nuthatch, and then on to Mount Gndasar for Caspian Snowcock! We'll finish our tour in the Armemian capital Yerevan, with day trips to the Armash Fish Ponds (think of shorebirds, gulls, terns, and the range restricted White-headed Duck) and the Uranots Gorge for White-throated Robin, Persian Wheatear, and Red-fronted Serin.
We'll also visit the area near gorgeous Mount Aragats, simply spectacular and rising to more than 13,000 feet. Wrapping up the tour, we'll spend a day in the Yerevan, with its historical museums and churches, before our drive back to Tbilisi and onward connections home.
Select the KEY INFO tab or click here for our itinerary plus space requests, status, fees, limits, and guides for any departure.