Armenia - Butterflies of the Caucasus

Armenia's appeal extends far beyond its butterflies. This ancient Christian nation, nestled within the southern Caucasus between the Black and Caspian Seas, offers a rich cultural heritage, spectacular mountain scenery and warm hospitality. Our route takes us through dramatic basalt gorges, lush deciduous forests, remote mountain villages and high-altitude grasslands, whilst visits to places such as Garni Gorge and the magnificent monastery at Noravank provide memorable cultural highlights. Based in Yerevan as well as a selection of rural towns and villages, we will gain a rewarding insight into both Armenia's landscapes and its people.

A wealth of other wildlife can also be expected. The country's diverse habitats support an excellent range of birds, dragonflies and day-flying moths, and we will keep a particular eye open for such avian specialities as Upcher's Warbler, Green Warbler, Semi-collared Flycatcher, White-throated Robin, Radde's Accentor and the magnificent Lammergeier. With the possibility of recording 80 or more butterfly species during the week, combined with some of the Caucasus' finest scenery and wildlife, this promises to be a truly rewarding exploration of one of the Western Palearctic's most exciting and under-appreciated natural history destinations.