Bird Watching Tour in Armenia

26 May - 04 Jun 2023
Small Group (2-13)
Any Date
Full Board
Age: 0+
Price:
1,935USD

The Highlights of the Tour

Observe many kinds of semi-desert, forest, high-mountain and water birds Visit the Gull Island at Lake Sevan and observe endemic Armenian Gulls Explore the ancient historical sights of Armenia Drive to the gorge of Azat River known for the special species of birds Have a trip to the highest peak of Armenia - Aragats Mount
Sevan - Azat River Gorge - bird species

ITINERARY

Introduction

Despite the fact that Armenia is a small country it has a surprisingly rich diversity of flora and fauna. About 345 bird species are recorded here! By choosing our exclusive Birding  Tour in Armenia you will have a great opportunity to take part in a 10-day journey and observe many kinds of semi-desert, forest, high-mountain and water birds. At Lake Sevan, you will visit the Gull Island and observe endemic Armenian Gulls (Larus armenicus) and various migrant waders. Moreover, you will visit various ancient attractions and get in touch with ancient times!

Day 1 - Arrival in Yerevan

Day 2 - Yerevan - Dilijan

Day 3 - Dilijan - Lake Sevan

Jermuk - Sevan - Water Pipit
The day will start with a trip to Tsaghkounyats Mountains by 4WD car. The area is known for its high-mountain bird specialists: Caucasian Black Grouse, Water Pipit (ssp. koutelii), and Horned Lark (ssp. pennicillata). After the picnic lunch you will return to Dilijan and then have a travel along the shores of Lake Sevan – one of the largest alpine freshwater lakes in the world. This area is home to the largest colonies of endemic Armenian gulls. On the Gull Island you will see Ruddy Shellducks, Great Cormorants, and various migrant waders.
Overnight: Hotel in Sevan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 - Lake Sevan - Yeghegnadzor

Day 5 - Vardenis mountains

Day 6 - Yeghegnadzor - Armash - Yerevan

Day 7 - Yerevan - Ourts Mountains - Yerevan

Day 8 - Yerevan - Garni - Geghard

Day 9 - Yerevan - Mount Aragats

Day 10 - Departure

Transfer to the hotel, departure

INCLUSIONS/EXCLUSIONS

The tour price includes

  • Private airport transfers according to your flight information
  • Accommodation for 9 nights (European class hotels, guesthouses, double rooms)
  • Comfortable air-conditioned transportation (vaccinated drivers)
  • Professional ornithologist guide service for all days (vaccinated guides)
  • Local 4x4 cars where needed to reach the birding area
  • All meals along the tour (breakfast/lunch/dinner)
  • All admission fees
  • Bottled water (1 spring 0,5 liter + 1 mineral 0,5 liter) per day

The tour price doesn't include

  • Flights (available upon request)
  • Visa Fee
  • Medical insurance
  • Additional night75 USD
  • 3* Single supplement65 USD
  • 4* upgrade p/p (dbl/twin room) (NOTE: 4* hotels are available depending on the region)64 USD

TRIP REVIEWS (3)

Nella van der Berg

I would like to thank Arara tour for organizing our bird watching tour to Armenia. We were a small group of 6 friends, who wished to travel to Armenia to see the beautiful birds of the region. Arara travel agency helped us with the arrangements of the trip. I would like to thank Ms. Tatev for her professional work and organizational skills. She has put an amazing tour itinerary which helped us to see my favorite bird Yellow Wagtail. We have seen many birds during the tour which was our main goal.
The hotels were nice 3 stars hotels. Cascade hotel was in the very center of the capital which was very nice. The regional hotels were ok.
Our driver was a very nice and humble man, he helped us with our luggage. The guide was exceptional, he knew everything about the birds and answered all our questions.
All in all, we were very happy with everything and we will surely recommend Arara to our friends.

10.08.2019
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Lenie de Boer

Dear Sati, Due to circumstances Lars is not in the office yet. I’ve taken a closer
look at the reviews and I made a small selection. I will let Lars know about the feedback as well so you can both have a
look at it for next year


Great points:


* Special country with lot’s of great and new species.
* Highlights were; jeep expeditions, Amrash fishing ponds.
* Lunch with a view of a Bearded Vulture nest
* Great guides
* Comfortable and spacious bus

Feedback:

* Hotels closer to national parks or nature reserves, so you can take
a morning walk or pre-breakfast excursion.
* The hotel at the lake was the least comfortable.
* The driver was driving fast, also in the villages.
* Local guide was a little bit shy.
* Go south for the See see Partridge

Also some feedback from our guide: All restaurants were good! Great food was served.
Program: An extra jeep excursion to see the red tailed wheatear and perhaps
add a morning excursion to see the Syrian Brown bear.

Visited areas: A hotel is built in the area we’ve visited to see the
Bimaculated Lark, which is a shame. Perhaps, it’s good to look for another
location.

Guide/driver: Good driver, with a relaxing way of driving. Guide was good,
but sometimes difficult to understand. His English was not that good. Our
guide knew a few nice spots, where he had seen a lot before. However, the
initiative to stop at those places was low. Our guide knew of a Bubo Bubo
location, luckily they made a stop there.

Hotels: He recommends to pick another hotel instead of Nov Land, as their
is no atmosphere and the area around the hotel was not safe due to working
activities.
 

03.06.2019
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Mauro Bailo

The owner and manager of "Ornitour",
This has been the first birding tour I arranged in the southeasternmost tip of the Western Palearctic, where some of the most sought after birds of WP live and breed.
Well, birds are not at all as monuments and churches (some finest example of which we saw as well during this marvelous trip), and their sightings are never guaranteed. But the fabulous mix of our guide Vasil’s experience and knowledge about the country ornithofauna (but not only: for any question about reptiles, mammals, amphibians, insects, plants and flowers we got from Vasil a prompt and exhaustive answer) and the perfect organization of Arara Tours, our ground tour operator, led to an amazingly successful adventure, both from the naturalistic side of the tour and the services provided.
Hotels were carefully chosen according to their level and convenience for closeness to the main birding areas (the latter a very important aspect in a birding tour), all the people working there proved to be friendly and helpful, food was excellent.
Our driver did a great job (driving a van full of birders screaming to the appearance of this and that bird, asking to stop for a photo and for an observation is not an easy task!) and, again, Vasil was absolutely excellent. I recommend Arara Tours for any birding (and not only) tour in the fantastic land of Armenia, which I’ll sure visit again next year.
13.05.2018
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TRIP MAP

map-Bird Watching Tour in Armenia
map-Bird Watching Tour in Armenia

WHY BOOK WITH ARARA

GUIDES WITH 8+ YEAR EXPERIENCE

We work only with professional guides and guides who have experience in tourism for more than 8 years. All our guides are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

THE BEST PRICE IN THE MARKET FOR HIGH-QUALITY SERVICE

With Arara you book at first hand from a qualified local Armenian agency. Avoid surcharges applied by intermediaries and save money!

LICENSED AIR CONDITIONED TRANSPORT

We provide our tourists with comfortable air-conditioned transport. All our drivers are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Travelers on the tour mostly from the USA, UK, Australia and Canada

We host over 3,000+ tourists per year. Our clients are mostly from the USA, UK, Australia and Canada. Average age of our travelers is from 45 to 80. Our groups consist of travelers from all genders. There are solo travelers in most of our groups.

Experienced specialized ornithologist guides
Well maintained balanced itinerary

TRIP ACCOMMODATION

Old Bridge B&B (Yeghegnadzor)

Ani Central Inn Hotel (Yerevan)

B&B Guest House Armenia (Dilijan)

Lavash (Chkalovka)

Ani Plaza (Yerevan)

Tufenkian Old Dilijan Complex (Dilijan)

Tufenkian Avan Marak Tsapatagh (Sevan)

PACKING CHECKLIST

Documents:

Passport, flight ticket (printed or electronic), insurance, visa (if required)

First aid kit:

bandaids / plasters, special medicine or drugs in permanent use, antibacterial gel/wipes, antiseptic cream, lip balm

Essentials:

Moneybelt, laptop/tablet/phone, chargers, camera with extra memory cards and batteries, outlet adapter

Credit cards and cash:

Credit cards can be used in all capital/big cities at hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, supermarkets, etc. EUR, USD and GBP can be exchanged into the local currency at exchange places and banks.

Dressing:

There are no restrictions regarding clothes; scarf or shawl is advisable for churches (obligatory in Georgia for women)

Spring / Autumn:

long pants/jeans, long sleeve blouses, light raincoat, jacket, comfortable waterproof shoes, umbrella

Summer:

T-shirts, shorts, long sleeve blouses for evening, sandals, umbrella, sun protection, sun glasses, sunhat

Winter:

Warm coat, warm wool sweater, long warm trousers, long boots (waterproof), scarf, gloves

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