This is a comprehensive tour of key sites in this beautiful, mountainous and slightly mysterious country. The quality and range of birds was excellent with the bonus of a distant Brown Bear sitting with cub at one mountainous site for our group. Hasmik was a very knowledgeable and affable guide and all drivers used experienced. Accommodation was varied and of a good standard, food both interesting and varied and the people welcoming. Well organised and a recommended destination that will be fondly remembered.
P.S. Suffolk
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Armenia in Spring
Tour Code: ARM01An 11-day tour to Armenia, a hidden gem of the Caucasus region.
£3,495 (Inc flights)
£2,595
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Summary
Nestling in the snow-capped Caucasian Mountains and overlooked by Mount Ararat just over the border in Turkey, Armenia is one of the Western Palaearctic's best kept birding secrets. Despite its small size, not much bigger than Wales, and the fact that it is landlocked, this former Soviet Republic is home to over two thirds of Europe’s regularly occurring bird species including many that are rare or difficult to find elsewhere.
- Colony of Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters near Armash Fish Ponds
- Caspian Snowcock and Caucasian Grouse
- Lammergeier and Levant Sparrowhawk plus several eagle species
- Radde’s Accentor, Rock Thrush and White-winged Snowfinch
- Marbled, White-headed and Ferruginous Ducks among a host of other wetland birds
- Moustached, Great Reed, Paddyfield, Menetries’ and Upcher’s Warblers
- Look for Asian Crimson-winged Finch, Wallcreeper, Ortolan Bunting and Rose-coloured Starling
Grading
Slow-paced day walks but in this mountainous country some of the walking will inevitably be on paths of varying steepness.
Caucasian Black Grouse and Caspian Snowcock are found in the high mountains as well as a very good selection of more widespread alpine species such as White-winged Snowfinch, Eurasian Crimson-winged Finch, Alpine Accentor and Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush. Juniper scrub below the snowline holds Radde’s Accentor, Ring Ouzel and Bluethroat, (the latter like many other species in the Caucasus, a very distinctive local subspecies). Broadleaf woodland further north resounds to the song of Mountain Chiffchaff, Green Warbler and both Semi-collared and Red-breasted Flycatchers while the gorges and mountain steppe landscape nearer the Turkish border provide habitats for White-throated Robin, Finsch’s Wheatear, Menetries’ and Upchers Warblers plus many other predominantly Middle Eastern species which reach their northern limit here. The fishpond complex at Armash is renowned for its breeding populations of White-headed, Marbled and Ferruginous Ducks plus Pygmy Cormorant, White-tailed Lapwing and many others species; this area is also a magnet for migrants and is also home to a small colony of Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters.
Throughout this largely unspoilt and sparsely populated country, bird of prey populations remain healthy with several species of eagle to be expected and we have a good chance of encountering Lammergeier and Levant Sparrowhawk. Our 11-day tour covers each of the country’s main habitat types but being such a small country, with generally good infrastructure, travelling times between areas are short allowing us to maximise the amount of time spent in the field. While our primary focus is on the regional specialities of the Armenian Caucasus we are sure to see a very good cross section of more widespread European species too.
Armenia sits within the snow-capped Caucasus Mountains and is overlooked by Mount Ararat just over the border in Turkey. Despite its small size and lack of coastline, this former Soviet Republic is home to over two thirds of Europe's regularly occurring species of birds, including many that are rare or very difficult to find elsewhere. Unusually in a region where the Muslim faith predominates, Armenia is a mostly Christian country and its capital, Yerevan, bustles with a lively juxtaposition of old churches and modern buildings and a thriving jazz scene next to reminders of its Soviet past, such as Republic Square. Elsewhere, 13th century bridges and well preserved 'caravanserais' (roadside inns for traders plying the ancient silk route) serve as fascinating reminders of Armenia's long history and strategic location.
Our holiday begins with a flight to Yerevan and a night in the city. The following morning, we head towards Dilijan National Park for a 3-night stay, stopping along the way at Lake Sevan, one of the world's largest freshwater subalpine lakes. Here at a height of 1,900 metres, we will look for Armenian Gull, plus a wide range of other species including Moustached Warbler, Ferruginous Duck, Ruddy Shelduck and all three marsh terns (White-winged, Whiskered and Black Terns). The sea-buckthorn thickets may hold Caucasian Chiffchaff, Red-backed, Lesser Grey and Woodchat Shrikes.
After visiting Lake Sevan, we will complete our drive to Dilijan National Park, home to a wonderful variety of European and Caucasian forest birds, many of which are represented by local Caucasian subspecies. Our primary targets here include Middle Spotted Woodpecker, the samamisicus race of Common Redstart, Red-breasted and Semi-collared Flycatchers and Green Warbler. On one of our days we will explore the Pambak Mountain Range, where we hope to watch Caucasian Grouse at their favourite display areas, plus Red-fronted Serin, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush and perhaps a soaring Lammergeier.
Moving on, we will spend three nights in the Arpa River Valley, from where we will visit the Selim Pass which lies at 2,410 metres and is an excellent spot to scan for raptors. In the nearby open juniper forest and scrub we will search for Chukar, Eastern and Western Rock Nuthatches and Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, whilst orchards around the villages are home to Levant Sparrowhawk and Eastern Olivaceous Warbler. Higher up in the Karkatar Mountains we will look for Caspian Snowcock and, if fortunate, may even find a European Brown Bear foraging on a distant slope. The spectacular Norovank Monastery sits in a scenic rocky valley and its surroundings are home to such avian delights as White-throated Robin, Red-tailed Wheatear and Upcher's Warbler, whilst on the nearby Syunik Plateau we will look for Lesser Kestrel, Asian Crimson-winged Finch and Ortolan Bunting.
Next, we change the mountains for wetlands as we explore the Armash Fishponds, Armenia's premier site for waterbirds. We will be based in the town of Chiva for one night as we explore this wonderful patchwork of lakes and marshland which teems with birds including Pygmy Cormorant, White-headed and Ferruginous Ducks, White-tailed Lapwing, White-winged Tern and such passerines as Moustached, Great Reed and Paddyfield Warblers. Meanwhile, the surrounding dry countryside holds Menetries' and Upcher's Warblers, as well as a small colony of exotic-looking Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters.
Our tour of Armenia concludes with two further nights based in the capital, Yerevan, from where we will explore the nearby Vedi Hills and areas close to the Khosrov Reserve. Here, within a landscape of steppe and semi-desert, we will hope to encounter an exciting range of open-country birds such as Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin, Pale Rockfinch, Trumpeter Finch, Rock and Grey-necked Buntings and the occasional Desert Finch. On our final day we will visit the volcanic slopes of Mount Aragats, an isolated four-peaked volcanic massif, one of which at 4,090 metres is the highest peak in the country. We will wander Mount Aragats' foothills, woodlands, orchards and open habitats in search of European Bee-eater, Roller, Bimaculated, Crested and Greater Short-toed Larks, Isabelline and Finsch's Wheatears, Rock Sparrow, Snowfinch, Twite and Crimson-winged Finch. A wonderful variety of raptors can be seen here too, including all four breeding European vultures (Griffon, Egyptian, Cinereous and Lammergeier), plus Golden, Lesser Spotted, Booted and Short-toed Eagles, Black Kite, Long-legged and Honey Buzzards, Hobby and Goshawk! Such a 'raptor spectacular' will be a fitting finale to our time in this fascinating, and bird-rich, country before we return to Yerevan's international airport for our flight home.
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
Comfortable tourist hotels, each room with private facilities.
- Food:
All food is included in the tour from breakfast on Day 2 to breakfast on Day 11.
Reviews
Dates & Prices
2025
Tour Leader: Vasil Ananian
Vasil Ananian is a conservationist and freelance ornithologist living and working in Armenia. He is an avid birder and co-organized and guided the first birding tours in the country, with over 25-years of guiding experience. His other nature interests include mammal, herp and Odonata faunae of Armenia.
Tour Leader: Vasil Ananian
Vasil Ananian is a conservationist and freelance ornithologist living and working in Armenia. He is an avid birder and co-organized and guided the first birding tours in the country, with over 25-years of guiding experience. His other nature interests include mammal, herp and Odonata faunae of Armenia.
2026
Tour Leader: Vasil Ananian
Vasil Ananian is a conservationist and freelance ornithologist living and working in Armenia. He is an avid birder and co-organized and guided the first birding tours in the country, with over 25-years of guiding experience. His other nature interests include mammal, herp and Odonata faunae of Armenia.
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Our bargain birdwatching tours suit keen birders who want an active, fast-paced birding holiday with a dedicated focus on searching for birds rather than on looking at the area’s other wildlife or cultural highlights.
We offer a wide selection of long-haul holidays to many destinations in South America, Africa, Asia, Australia and elsewhere.
What can I expect?
- An expert English-speaking local ornithologist leader
- Outstanding value for money
- Dawn-to-dusk birding with limited time for rest, relaxation and outside interests
- Enviable bird lists
- Focused searches for endemics and regional specialities
Who are these tours best suited to?
- Keen & active birders – whether expert or making their first visit to a country or continent
- People looking for an action-packed bird-focused tour
Where can I go?
Naturetrek's selection of birdwatching holidays includes many South and Central American countries including Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela and Panama.
In Africa our selection includes Malawi, Ethiopia and South Africa, while in India and Nepal we offer a choice of 17 bargain birdwatching tours! Here are a few more choices:
- Endemics of Western Australia
- Argentina's Mar Chiquita
- Birds of Brazils Atlantic rainforest
- Colombia – home to the world’s richest avifauna
- Sri Lanka’s endemic birds
Our specialist recommends...
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
All Bargain birdwatching Tours
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The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.
Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:
- Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
- The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
- Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
- Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
- Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
- Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar
Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
Our specialist recommends...
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
EnquireWhy Naturetrek?
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