Georgia and Armenia are only just beginning to attract birders, mostly from Europe, but now with this NEW tour our birding friends from the United States can visit this fascinating area with both countries having not just some great birds but also an ancient history of churches and wine. Starting in Tbilisi, the capital city of Georgia, we'll be joined by our expert local guide, Dachi Shoshitashvili, as we travel north to spectacular scenery in the Greater Caucasus Mountains. Our main targets here will be Caucasian Snowcock, Caucasian Black Grouse, and White-winged Redstart, but we'll also enjoy such varied species as Bearded Vulture, Red-billed and Yellow-billed choughs, and tiny Red-fronted Serins.
Beneath the towering Mount Kazbek we'll stop at the the 14th century Gergeti Trinity Church and then as we return to Tbilisi stop at pine forest as we search out the charming Kruper's Nuthatch. After another night in Tbilisi we continue south and cross in to Armenia, 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 Accentor's flit amongst the broken boulders. We'll then visit the Norovank Monastery, not only a masterpiece of 13th century building, but also the home of Eastern Rock Nuthatch. In the Mount Gndasar area we'll search for Caspian Snowcock, visit a winery and also see buried wine pots over 6000 years old. We finish our tour in the Armenian capital Yerevan, with day trips to the Armash Fish Ponds -- think of shorebirds, gulls, terns, and the range restricted White-headed Duck, Uranots Gorge for White-throated Robin, Persian Wheatear and Gray-necked Bunting. And, we'll also visit the gorgeous Mount Aragats, simply spectacular and rising to over 13,000 feet.
Although we will be visiting several ancient churches and monasteries during the tour, you may want to add a few days at either end to see some of the historical/cultural sights of either Tbilisi or Yerevan. Should you wish to do this, we can arrange optional city tours (at an additional cost). Just ask your tour manager!
Select the KEY INFO tab or click here for our itinerary plus space requests, status, fees, limits, and guides for any departure.