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Undiscovered Azerbaijan – Batumi Birding: 20 May – 1 June 2024

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While Georgia has rapidly established its reputation as a must-visit for birders, Azerbaijan remains still rather unexplored. But there is little justification for this. The country is home to all the famous Greater Caucasus endemics, has huge coastal wetlands hosting millions of migrants, subtropic lush forests where the only Shikra of the West Palearctic breed, vast steppes populated by herds of Goitered Gazelles, and dry rocky badlands with a fabulous assembly of range-restricted species typical for the Irano-Anatolian plateau. This new tour gives you exclusive access to this spectacular country, visiting all major hotpots on a 12-day tour. Be prepared to go birding long days, walk up a mountain and cover long distances – but you will come home with a stunning list of great species!

Target species: Caucasian Snowcock, Caucasian Black Grouse, See-see Partridge, Black Francolin, all four vultures, Shikra, White-tailed Lapwing, Terek Sandpiper, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Bimaculated Lark, Western and Eastern Rock Nuthatch, Wallcreeper, Rose-coloured Starling, Güldenstadt’s Redstart, Rufous-tailed Bushchat, White-throated Robin, Blue and Red-tailed Rock Thrush, Finsch’s, Pied and Persian Wheatear, Alpine and Raddes’ Accentor, Semi-collared and Red-breasted Flycatcher, Ménétries’ Warbler, Mountain Chiffchaff, Green Warbler, Upcher’s Warbler, Pale Rock Sparrow, Red-fronted Serin, Caucasian Twite, Great Rosefinch, Crimson-winged, Trumpeter, Desert and Mongolian Finch, Grey-necked Bunting.

Travel route: Greater Caucasus, Gobustan, Shirvan National Park, Kizil Agach National Park, Talysh Mountains, Zuvand upland, Baku, Nakhchivan

Your tour guide will be Leyla Muslim and the proceeds from this tours contribute to set up the next Besh Barmag Bird Migration Count in autumn 2024.

Updated itinerary:

May, 20day 1:Arriving early morning. Driving to Candy Cane Mountains and Besh Barmag. Short Stop in Quba. Night in Nazli Bulaq.
May, 21day 2:Khinalik (Jeeps to higher altitudes into the direction Qizilqaya). Night in Nazli Bulaq.
May, 22day 3:Driving to Laza. Night again in Nazli Bulaq.
May, 23day4:Khinalik or Laza again, when weather was bad on 2nd or 3rd day otherwise driving south. Night in Kur Hotel Salyan.
May, 24day 5:Morning to noon Shirvan NP. Afternoon/evening Gobustan petroglyphs. Night in Kur Hotel Salyan.
May, 25day 6:Driving south. Stop at Lake Mahmudchala, Kizil Agach, Noon/Afternoon Shikra. Night Tabassum.
May, 26day 7:Lerik/Zuvand (Jeeps for a trip to Lerik/Mastail and later further to Mistan). Night Tabassum.
May, 27day 8:Lerik/Zuvand (Jeeps for a trip to Mistan or Piresora). Night Tabassum.
May, 28day 9:Driving to Baku afternoon, evening and night in Baku (evening dinner at Firuze Restorani or similar)
May, 29day 10:Morning flight to Nakhchivan, birding trip in the afternoon/evening.
May, 30day 11:Nakhchivan, full day birding
May, 31day 12:Nakhchivan, full day birding
June, 01day 13:morning flight home

And ultimately, enjoy the photo gallery of a previous trip with Batumi Birding and use the contact form below to make your reservation.

Price includes all accommodation with full board, transport, guides, entrance fees. We will stay in basic but clean and comfortable hotels and guesthouses with shared bathrooms.

Price includes:

  • E-visa to Azerbaijan
  • Expert birding guide – Languages: English
  • Accommodation in small hotels and guesthouses
  • All meals
  • All transportation in minibus and 4WD
  • Baku-Nakhichevan Flights
  • All entry fees

Price DOES NOT include:

  • International flights to Baku, return from Nakhichevan
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal expenses

Find all necessary information and day-by-day program on Batumi Birding’s website: https://batumibirding.com/azerbaijan-2024.

Trip report from Batumi Birding’s spring tour in 2018:

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