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Spring birdwatching package (8 days)
Although Iran is best known for its amazing thousands of years of rich cultural heritage around the world, apart from the palaces of Persepolis, the mosques of Isfahan, the bazaars and caravanserais, Iran's nature seems even more attractive. From an altitude of 5,610 meters at the summit of Damavand to the mangrove forests of the Persian Gulf, Iran offers ecotourists a great variety of habitat.
This tour begins with birdwatching on the slopes of Damavand, the highest peak in the Middle East and you will visit two of the most famous National Parks in Iran and during your trip, you will experience bird-watching in the Hyrcanian forests, the Caspian Sea coast, the Alborz Mountain Range and the central desert of Iran.
Day 1:
Arrival at Tehran International Airport.
Overnight at Tehran.
Day 2:
Early in the morning, we will move to Mazandaran province in northern Iran, and our first stop will be at an altitude of 2,500 meters in the foothills of Damavand, which is a good place to see mountainous species such as Red-fronted Serin, Crimson-winged Finch, Grey-necked Bunting, Finsch's Wheatear, Western Rock Nuthatch, Long-legged Buzzard and Golden Eagle. After crossing the Alborz Mountain Range, in the afternoon we try to find Black-headed Penduline-Tit in the verdant plain of Mazandaran.
Overnight at Babolsar.
Day 3:
Miankaleh Wildlife Refuge, a peninsula located between the Caspian Sea and the Gulf of Gorgan, is a great place to see migratory Pallid Harrier and breeding Menetries's Warbler. Migratory wader, including Caspian Plover, are also found there.
Overnight in Minudasht.
Day 4:
We will visit the Golestan National Park, one of the most prominent National Parks of Iran with an extraordinary habitat diversity with species such as Wild Sheep, Wild Goat, Goitered Gazelle and leopards. We can also observe different kinds of Wheatears such as Pied Wheatear. Red-headed Bunting, Semi-collared Flycatcher, Eurasian Black Vulture and Lammergeier are among other interesting species of this region.
Day 5:
To reach another famous Iranian National Park, we once again cross the Alborz Mountain Range to reach the breeding habitat of the only endemic bird of Iran. We search the Turan National Park until sunset to see the Iranian Ground-Jay and species such as, Macqueen's Bustard, Crowned Sandgrouse, Persian Wheatear, Variable Wheatear, Bar-tailed Lark, Asian Desert Warbler, Scrub Warbler, Eastern Rock Nuthatch and Shikra.
Overnight in Ghaleh Bala Village
Day 6:
Based on the species recorded the day before, we can spend more time in Turan National Park. At this time of year, the gardens around the park are full of migratory birds such as Green Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Turkestan Shrike and Isabelline Shrike. Also, Persian Onager and, if we are very lucky, the Asiatic Cheetah are the attractive mammals of Turan National Park to see.
Overnight in Shahrud.
Day 7:
We will spend the next two days mostly in the Alborz Mountain Range. Along the way to the destination we will stop to find White-throated Robin, Grey-necked Bunting and Plain Leaf Warbler.
Overnight in Shahmirzad.
Day 8:
Early in the morning we set out for the mountains to find four of the most attractive birds in the Alborz Mountains, Caspian Snowcock, Wallcreeper, White-winged Grosbeak and Caspian Tit. Among other attractive species of the Parvar Protected Area are Plain Leaf Warbler, White-throated Robin, Persian Wheatear, Grey-headed Goldfinch and Grey-necked Bunting. After recording the target species, we will leave for Tehran in the afternoon.
