Birdwatching Tour – North part of Iran

2nights kelardasht 1nights behshahr 1nights kharturan 1nights Shahroud 1nights Tehran

With different types of geography and climate all over the country, Iran is a paradise for nature lovers. The variety of natural habitats has created a great condition for a high diversity of birds. Therefore, it is a perfect place for you to come, watch, and admire some of the most beautiful birds in the country. If you are wondering where are the best places across Iran to watch birds, we prepared a tour for you to fulfill your desire. We invite you to bring your camera and binoculars, so we can share our knowledge and passion with you on these birding tours.

Duration

7 Days

6 Nights

Activity

Explorer

Unesco Site

  • All Accommodations 4- & 5-Stars BB
  • All Transportations
  • Tour Guide
  • Refreshments
  •  All Entrance Fee
  • Visa Process
  • Insurance Fee
  • Domestic Flights
  • All Meals
  • Local Guide
  • Tour Guide Accommodations
  • Security License code

Highlight Attraction

  1. Highland Birding in Kelardasht – Raptors, woodpeckers, owls, and diverse European passerines in pristine mountain habitats.
  2. Caspian Sea & Miankaleh Peninsula – Unique birdlife including the Black-headed Penduline Tit, waterfowl, shorebirds, and terns.
  3. Turkoman Steppes Exploration – Larks, wheatears, Rosy Starlings, and colorful buntings across vast rolling plains.
  4. Touran National Park Experience – Encounter with Iran’s endemic and rare Pleske’s Ground Jay, plus desert bird specialties.
  1. What is the best time of year for this tour?
    Spring and autumn are the best times, with high bird diversity and active migration routes.
  2. How difficult is the tour in terms of physical activity?
    Moderate. Some walks in steppes and highlands are included, but most birdwatching is done with vehicle support.
  3. Are local guides experienced in birdwatching?
    Yes, the tour is led by professional ornithologists and local birding guides familiar with habitats and species.

Itinerary

Day 01, Arrival in Tehran – Kelardasht

Your tour starts with your arrival at IKA. We immediately start the tour by heading to the northern part of Iran, the village of Kelardasht. While on the road, we will encounter some of the commoner birds of northern Iran, such as Common Kestrel, Common Swift, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, White Wagtail, Cetti’s Warbler, Eurasian Magpie, Rook, and Carrion Crow.

Day 02, Kelardasht

Our day starts early in the morning to go on an excursion around the district. We will watch different species including Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Common Pheasant (here in its native home), Common Cuckoo, European Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Wood Lark, European Robin, Common Stonechat, Common Redstart, Common Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Spotted Flycatcher, Long-tailed, Coal and Blue Tits, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Jay, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch, and Common Linnet. Other common European birds that we are likely to encounter in this area include European Honey Buzzard, Eurasian Hobby, Common Quail, Red-backed Shrike, Common Rosefinch, Black-headed and Corn Buntings, and perhaps European Scops Owl.

Day 03, Kelardasht – Mian Kaleh – Behshar

Today we head eastwards to Mian Kaleh Peninsula to watch birds at the edge of the Caspian Sea where the restricted-range Black-headed Penduline Tit can usually be found, along with Little Grebe, Little Bittern, Western Marsh Harrier, Common Moorhen, Common Kingfisher, and Moustached, Eurasian (or European) Reed, and Great Reed Warblers.

Other species we may well find in the Caspian Sea lowlands include Black-necked and Great Crested Grebes, Great Cormorant, Squacco Heron, Grey Heron, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, and Pied Avocet. Migrant shorebirds should be present in good numbers, along with Whiskered and White-winged Terns.

We will cross the southern edge of the Turkoman Steppes, the vast rolling plains to the east of the Caspian Sea, where we will be on the lookout for Lesser Kestrel, Calandra and Lesser Short-toed Larks, Isabelline Wheatear, Rosy Starling (sometimes in large swirling flocks), Eurasian Tree Sparrow and the handsome Red-headed Bunting (here at the western extremity of its range).

Later at night, we will head to Behshar, and overnight there.

Day 04, Behshahr – Turan National Park 

Today we start by traveling to Touran National Park, lies at the northeastern edge of the great Dasht-e-Kavir desert, about 150km southeast of Shahrud. Our primary target will be the highly localized Pleske’s Ground Jay, not only a member of a uniquely Central Asian group of aberrant corvids but also a species endemic to the eastern deserts of Iran.

Day 05, Delbar – Shahrud

Today we will continue as the previous day to watch as much as birds possible at the area. Will overnight in Shahrud.

Day 06, Shahrud – Tehran

Today we will drive westwards along the northern edge of the Dasht-e-Kavir to Tehran for an overnight stay. When arrived in Tehran, you will have a few hours to go around the city.

Day 07, Tehran, IKA

Today the tours end, and you should pack to go to the IKIA and have a flight back home.

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