Birdingpaltours around the world
Plan your next birdwatching trip
using a local professional Birdingpal guide...
If you like guided tours, a professional Birdingpal guide can customize your tour, and you will see the birds you want.
You will enjoy the safety of travelling with a knowledgeable local, who knows where and how to get to the right habitat for all the wildlife.
You select the date for a trip to suit you, and you will not be just an other tourist: Your guide is also your travel companion, who will make sure you also experience the native people, scenery, culture, history and food, first hand.
You will enjoy the advantage of all the attention you get in a small group, for the same price or perhaps even less, than you will pay if you travel with the large tour groups from other countries.
Boosting the local economy by hiring a local guide through Birdingpaltours also promotes the importance of protecting birds and
their habitat in many countries around the world.
Remember, the next time you travel you do not have to miss the birdwatching, if your partner or travel companions are non birders; a local guide is flexible, and will easily accommodate other needs too.
Birdwatching in Iran
Iran with a total area of 1,648,195 sq km is located at the cross roads of Asia and borders with several country in the Region. Iran benefits from 8 different climatic and 14 sub-climatic regions which each creating a variety of avifauna and flora eco-systems. The country has more than 1500 mountain peaks more than 2000 meters in altitude ranging from north to south and from west to east. Some of the driest places on the earth such as Kavir Lut or Lut basins are located at the center east of the Iran. The mountainous part
of Iran covers 63 percent of the total land and a mere 2.3 percent of the country is covered by dense forests mainly situated on the shores of the Caspian sea to the north, the northern edge of Alborz mountains from west to east and the border with Azerbaijan.
Iran benefits from different climates within the yearly seasons as a main attraction for birds on their migration routes from Siberia to Africa in the fall and from Africa to Europe in the spring.
The mountainous part of the country accommodates a large number of breeding species in the hot seasons migrating from south of the country to Caspian Sea and subsequently from east part of the country to the colder areas in the west. 527 species of birds has
been recorded including 385 breeding species, making Iran an ideal place for birders in the Middle-East. Iran has 19 officially recognised permanent wetlands with an added number of 86 seasonal and small permanent lakes & swamps accommodating all breeding species throughout the year. Two endemics and four semi-endemics split with Iraq/Afghanistan/Pakistan/Azerbaijan makes the country
an interesting place for birders.
"Chukar habitat north of Teheran."
Unfortunately not much has been done in Iran regarding birding activities prior to the Islamic revolution in 1979. The Islamic revolution and the war with Iraq made it difficult for birders to visit
The reality is that Iran has its own ideal potentials for exiting birdwatching in many unexplored mountain, desert, forest, wetland and swamp areas and you will find some of the least explored places for in the Middle-East!
Electronic map of Iran
Tour I
11 day birdwatching tour to Shaadeghaan in search of warblers.
Located in the south west of Iran in the Khouzistaan Province Shaadeghaan is a large and high density reeds wetland and the biggest in Iran (511 000 Hectare) with 156 species of breeding and migratory birds throughout the year.
Birds expected in the wetland and patched islands are: Clamorous Warbler, Great Warbler, European Warbler, Mustached Warbler,
Booted Warbler and the star Basra reed Warbler which has moved down some 80 Km from Hur-Al-Azim to Shaadeghaan. Other birds to be seen Great Crested Grebe, Common Babbler, Iraq Babbler, Common Tern, Blue Billed Tern, Whiskered Tern, Little Tern, Kentish Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Collard Pratincole, Black Winged Stilt, Avocet, Purple Gallinule, Moorhen, Spotted Crake, Marsh Harrier, Blue Cheeked Bea-Eater, Pied Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, White Breasted Kingfisher, Cattle Egrets, Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Purple Heron, Little Bittern, Common Bittern, Spoonbill and Sacred Ibis.
Venues: May to August Warblers only.
September to March other species including raptors.
Itinerary
Day 1.
Arrival Teheran, meet and greet with your guide and stay over night at a two star hotel or your guide's home (upon your request at the time of your booking)
"Flamingos, Gaukhooni Marshes."
Day 2.
Early morning flight from Teheran to Ahwaz (1 hour 10 minutes) and drive to Shaadeghaan (1 hour 30 minutes). In the afternoon we
will visit the town and rest due to excessive heat around.
Day 3 to 7.
Early morning leave with your local guide by boat till 11 AM in search of warblers in the reeds (recordings and photographing stop over inside the wetland and late evening boat drives all based on your request without extra charges).
Day 8.
Early morning leave to Karkheh and Dez Protected Area on the Karkeh River Banks in search of Iraq Babbler, Grey Hypocolius, Mesopotamian Crow (Hooded Crow), Common Nightingale, Blue-checked Bee-Eater, Common Wood Pigeon, Egyptian Nightjar, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, European Nightjar, Great Tit, Spanish Sparrow, Menetries Warbler, Stone Curlew, and finally encounter with Iranian
Fallow Deer!
"Salt beds, Urumiya Lake."
Day 9.
Based on the required permissions (granted by the military police and Department of Environment at the time of your booking) we
enter early in the morning the vast swamps of Hur-Al-Azim on the Iraq border an intact area since the Iran-Iraq war ended in 1988.
We definitely will encounter Basra Reed Warbler in this habitat plus other species of warblers still poorly investigated.
Day 10.
Early morning drive to to the ancient city of Susa and visit to the Daniel shrine, Susa museum and (due to excessive heat in the
area and only if weather permit we will drive to the nearby Ilamite Zigurrat).
Day 11.
Early morning leave for Ahwaz and return flight to Teheran. Check in to your hotel and in afternoon, visit national museum of Iran
in Teheran. Early evening drive to northern parts of Teheran and foothills of Central Alborz mountain range. Dinner in the area. Return to your hotel and stay over night.
12 Day tour price is: 2 pax US$3360 per person. 4 pax US$3165 per person.
Included:
"White Headed Duck, Agigol Marshes."
Day 2. "Iranian Ground Jay."
Day 5. 14 Day tour price is: 2 pax US$3700 per person. 4 pax US$3530 per person.
Included:
"Iranian Jay habitat."
Day 2. "White-cheeked Flycatcher."
Day 8. "Western Rock Nuthatch."
Day 8. 16 Day tour price is: 2 pax US$4135 per person. 4 pax US$3940 per person.
"Tirdaad is not only a Birdingpal guide but also an artist. His “Plate of Iranian Birds” include a background theme of flowers with four birds in the center. Depicting the art of traditional Persian chasing and engraving with a number of different chisels and hammer. He created it to show his eagerness guiding birders in Iran."
Testimonials.
My name is Pieter Paul, I am a Biologist. I live and work in the Netherlands. This year in June I have made a journey, to watch
birds and to record their sounds in various wetlands in the Middle-East. I have visited the Shadegan Marshes in Iran and Ammiq Swamp in Lebanon and Sultan Sazligi Marshes in Turkey. My first aim was to visit the remote Shadegan Marshes in the far South-West part of Iran. The wetland is very close the Iraqi border, and formed one of the most important battlefield of the Iran-Iraq war in 1980-87.
I knew I would be totally helpless in this rural area, where hardly anyone speaks English. A guide with a good understanding of English, Persian and Arabic wouldn't be much of a luxury thing. Since the Arabs are by far the largest ethnic minority in this area. I found Tirdaad on the site of Birding Pal. From the very first moment he showed his enthusiasm and did his utmost best to arrange the necessary permits to enter this 'political sensitive' area. As soon as I arrived in Teheran all the permits and flight tickets were ready. Everything was arranged really well and the next morning we were ready to fly to Ahvaz in the South-West. We stayed
about three days in Ahvaz and about four days in Shadegan. Everyday we left very early in the morning, to reach the wetland as early as possible to avoid the scorching heat and to be ready when the birds wake up. Without Tirdaad this would be shear impossible. He arranged everything, from a good hotel, taxis to a boat with a local Arabic guide in the wetland. With the help of Tirdaad, as an outstanding translator, I was able to speak (and to have a lot of fun!) with the very hospitable local Arabs living in little villages next to the wetland. More facts about Iran. Need more information please email us.
Thank you for considering a local Birdingpal guide for your next trip.
Convert your tour cost into your currency of choice.
Visa, Local Guide, Drivers, Boats, Boatmen, Air return tickets, Entry fees to museums, Local transports, Insurance, Vaccination (If necessary), Protected Areas entry permits, Accommodations (2 Star Hotel/Guest House) including Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Water, Juices and Soft Drinks.
Excluded:
Items of a purely personal nature.
Tour II
14 day birdwatching tour to Shaadeghaan Wetland, Golestan National Park, Touraan National Park and Urumiyah Lake.
Urumiyah Lake is the second saltiest Lake in the world after the Dead Sea. It is also the biggest inland lake of Iran and the population of birds in this brine environment comprises only of flocks of Lesser and Greater Flamingoes. It can aptly be called the biggest congregation of Greater Flamingos in the world. This 14 days birding tour takes you along the south west, central and north west part of Iran.
Venues : April to June.
Itinerary
Day 1.
Arrival Teheran, meet and greet with your guide and stay over night at a two star hotel or your guide's home (upon your request at the time of your booking)
Early morning flight to Ahwaz and drive to the Shaadeghaan wetland. Stay over night at Shaadeghan.
Day 3.
Visit Karkheh and Dez protected area and Baam Dezh wetland near Ahwaz. Late afternoon return flight to Teheran and stay over night at your hotel.
Day 4.
Early morning drive to Saari City (5 Hours) in the south part of Caspian Sea and then transfer to Golestan National Park. Stay the rest of the day at the park and transfer to your hotel for over night stay.
Early morning drive to Shaahrood City via Khosh Yeylaagh Pass to Touraan National Park. Stay over night with local accommodation.
Day 6.
Early morning drive inside the Touraan National Park in search of endemic Iranian Ground Jay, and we will encounter the last herds
of Asiatic Wild Ass in the world. Full day search for Eurasian Golden Oriole, Red-throated Pipit, Tree Pipit, Citrine Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, Egyptian Vulture, Cream-colourd Courser, Pale Rock Finch, Black Belly Sandgrouse, Desert Wheatears, Desert Warbler, Pale Rock Sparrow, Trumpeter Finch, Desert Finch, and maybe the rarity of Macqueen Houbara or Bustard. Stay over night.
Day 7.
Morning drive to Shaahrood and stay at your hotel in order to rest.
Day 8.
Early morning drive to the Parvar region and climb to a maximum 2500 meters in search of the Endemic Hyrcanian Tit. We may also encounter Radde's Accentor, Plain Leaf Warbler and Grey-necked Bunting. Afternoon return to Shahrood.
Day 9.
Morning drive to Teheran (7 Hours) upon arrival check in at your hotel and after a short rest drive towards the foothills mountains north of Teheran for dinner (if time before dark permits we can witness some local birds in the area). Return to your hotel and
stay over night at Teheran.
Day 10.
Early morning flight to Tabriz City in north west of Iran (50 Minutes flight) and drive to protected Goori Gol Wetland some 15 Km away for the city. Here we can see the endangered White-headed Duck. Return to your hotel and stay over night.
Day 11.
Early morning drive to historical village of Candavaan, with the wonderful rock houses the villagers still dwell in. Only two places in the world can we witness the dwelling rock houses and both in the Moddle East. One in Iran and the second one a village in the eastern part of Turkey.
Leaving the east part of Urumiyeh Lake we drive to protected Sahoolaan Cavern and Kurdish town of Mahaabaad.
Stay overnight at Mahaabaad.
Day 12.
Early morning drive and full day tour alongside the southern shores of Urumiyah Lake in order to encounter the local Flamingoes.
Stay over night at Mahaabaad.
Day 13.
Early morning drive to Kaani Baraazaan and Hasanloo Wetlands (1 Hour) birding along the way for local and migratory birds. Afternoon return to the wetlands and stay over night at Urumiyeh City.
Day 14.
Morning or noon flight (depends to the availability at the time of booking) to Teheran. Visit the National museum of Iran. Stay over night at your hotel.
Convert your tour cost into your currency of choice.
Visa, Local Guide, Drivers, Boats, Boatmen, Air return tickets, Entry fees to museums, Local transports, Insurance, Vaccination (If necessary), Protected Areas entry permits, Accommodations (2 Star Hotel/Guest House) including Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Water, Juices and Soft Drinks.
Excluded:
Items of a purely personal nature.
Tour III
16 day birdwatching tour to Shaadeghaan Wetland, Miyaan Kaaleh Bird Sanctuary, Fereydoon Kenaar Wetland, Qheshm Island, Touraan National Park and Chaah Bahaar.
Miyaan Kaaleh Bird Santuary is one of the biggest bird areas in the middle-East. It accommodates birds from Europe, North Asia and Siberia on their winter migration route to Africa as well as local birds. It is situated at the best possible place in the middle of the crossroads of Central West Asia!
This birding tour takes you from north to the southwest, south central and finally southeastern parts of Iran and you will
experience the span of the migratory birds!
Venues: September to November
Itinerary
Day 1.
Arrival Teheran, meet and greet with your guide and stay over night at a two star hotel or your guide's home (upon your request at the time of your booking)
Early morning flight to Ahwaz. Visit Karkheh and Dez Protected Area and the Baam Dezh wetland. Stay over night at Ahwaz or Abadan depending on the availability of your hotel.
Day 3.
Early morning drive to Sahaadeghaan wetland in search of local winter birds mainly raptors. Boating inside the wetland till afternoon. Stay over at the Locals house.
Day 4.
Early morning flight to Teheran and drive to Saari (5 Hours by road) entering the Dashte Naaz Animals Sanctuary where we will encounter Iranian Fallow Deer. Then to Lapooye Zaaghmarz a famous bird watching site and drive back to Saari.
Stay over night at your hotel (two star accommodation hotel).
Day 5.
Early morning drive to Miyaan-Kaaleh Bird Sanctuary for a full day birdwatching. We will encounter Great Cormorant, Squacco Heron, Eurasian Teal, Black Necked Grebe, Gadwall, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Coot, Pied Avocet, Eurasian Widgeon, Black Winged Stilt,
White Winged Tern, Whiskered Tern, and with luck the Black-headed Penduline Tit and more important Siberian Cranes. Afternoon Return to Khazar Shahr for over night stay.
Day 6.
Early morning drive to Fereydoon Kenaar wetland for a full day birdwatching. In the wetland or the vicinity we may encounter Little Bittern, Black Kestrel, Lesser Kestrel, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Red-Headed Bunting, Lesser Short Toed Larks, Isabelline Wheatear,
Rosy Starling and Common Sparrow. Return drive to Teheran (5 hours).
Day 7.
Midday flight to Bandar Abbass and check in to your hotel. Visit Bandar Abbass City waterfront and outlook to Qheshm Island in the afternoon. What we looking for are Black Bellied Plover, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Terek Sandpipers, Common Sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Black Headed Tern, Lesser Crested Tern, Caspian Gull, Greater Ringed Plover, Lesser Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew and Siberian Gulls. Stay at your Hotel.
Morning drive to Ganou SPA and Ganou wildlife area.(1 Hour). If we have a luck we should encounter Graceful Prinia, White-Eared Bulbul, See-See Partridge, Blue Rock Thrush, Pallid Swift, Laughing Dove, Barn Swallow, Eurasian Collard Dove, Crested Lark, Rock Martin, Purple Sunbird, Isabelline Shrike, Bay-backed Shrike, Eastern Rock Nuthatch, Scrub Warbler, Upcher's Warbler, Long-Billed Pipit, Red-rumped Swallow, Hume's Wheatear, Brown Necked Raven, House Crow, Desert Lark and Blue Rock Thrush. Return to Bandar Abbass in the late afternoon and stay at your Hotel.
Day 9.
Early morning boating to Qheshm Island (40 Minutes) looking for local birds. Stay over night at Qheshm Island.
Day 10.
Early morning flight to Teheran and subsequent drive to Touran National Park via Garmsaar, Daamghaan, Shaahrood, Biryarjmand and finally Touraan National Park. What we see along the way (8 hours) are different land-systems encountering from Semi-Arid, Arid,
salt lake and finally Touraan as a biosphere reserve. Stay over night at Touraan National Park.
Day 11.
Early morning drive inside Touraan National Park in search of endemic Iranian Ground Jay and other local birds.
Leaving the east part of Urumiyeh Lake we drive to protected Sahoolaan Cavern and Kurdish town of Mahaabaad.
Stay overnight at Mahaabaad.
Day 12.
Early morning drive inside Touraan birdwatching and encountering the last herds of Asiatic Wild Ass in the world. Stay over night at Touraan National Park.
Day 13.
Morning drive to Parvar Region climbing up to 2500m in search of endemic Hyrcanian Tit. Then driving to Teheran via Shaahrood (7 Hours). Stay over night at Teheran
Day 14.
Midday flight to Chaahbahaar in southeast tip of Iran near the Pakistan border, where we will find Sind Woodpecker, Beluch Nightjar, Afghan Babbler, Indian Pond Heron, Indian Silverbill, White Eyed Buzzard, Shikra, Francolin Grey Morph, Spotted Owlet, Sand Lark , Bay-backed Shrike, Pied Bushchat, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Black-shouldered Kite, Red Wattled Lapwing, White Throated
Kingfisher, Sykes's Warbler(A Split morph), Common Mynah and other common birds in the area. Stay at your hotel for night.
Midday flight to Chaahbahaar in southeast tip of Iran near the Pakistan border, where we will find Sind Woodpecker, Beluch Nightjar, Afghan Babbler, Indian Pond Heron, Indian Silverbill, White Eyed Buzzard, Shikra, Francolin Grey Morph, Spotted Owlet, Sand Lark , Bay-backed Shrike, Pied Bushchat, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Black-shouldered Kite, Red Wattled Lapwing, White Throated
Kingfisher, Sykes's Warbler(A Split morph), Common Mynah and other common birds in the area. Stay at your hotel for night.
Day 15.
Early morning drive to the shores of Meckran in continued search of birds we missed on day 14. Stay at your hotel
Day 16.
Morning flight to Teheran. Visit the National Museum of Iran and drive to the foothill mountains north of Teheran for Dinner.
Stay over night at the hotel.
Convert your tour cost into your currency of choice.
Notes:
No alcoholic drinks are allowed in Iran and ladies should wear scarfs in public places.
If you prefer experience of stay with locals for a period of time, it can be arranged, but we must be informed at time of bookings.
Lodging would be in 2 star hotels or guest houses with showers, TVs, and full service as a 2 star accommodations in most of cities
in Iran ar comfortable and acceptable widely based on stipulations enforced by the Tourism authorities of Iran. We will organise in some cases 3 star accommodations based on the cities where we travel across.
We will use both power and row boats due to nature of the daily birding demands.
For local intercity transport we use hired cabs and an English speaking guide.
The above birding itineraries are based on what are essentially popular routes for birders. It can be shortened or extended.
All the date of itineraries include arrival and departure dates.
Minimum lead time 6 weeks.
To check availability for tours on short notice, fill out “Request for Quote” form with desirable dates.
Fitness:
To see the Hyrcanian Tit you should be fit enough for some trekkings and climbs. The rest of the itineraries requires normal fitness as a birder
Equipment:
Binoculars 8x40 or 10x50 or similar magnifications. Spotting Scopes including tripods (20-60x80 or 20-60x100 is ideal spotters
for the area).
Tour I : May to August the following should be considered: Bright thin clothes, light shoes, sun glasses, sun hat, sun lotion, a 75x75 cm or 100x100 cm cotton cloth, mosquito repellents spray or creams and a 80 lbs capacity backpack
Tour I: September to March the following should be considered: Medium coloured thick clothes including jacket, sun glasses, sun hat, sun lotion, rubber boots, light shoes, mosquito repellents spray or creams and a 100 lbs capacity Backpack.
Tour II: April to June the following should be considered: Bright thin clothes including jacket, light front closed shoes, rubber boots, sun glasses, sun hat, sun lotion, a 75x75 cm or 100x100 cm cotton cloth, mosquito repellent either spray or creams, sleeping bag is recommended and a 80 lbs capacity backpack.
Tour III: September to November the following should be considered: Medium coloured thick & thin clothes including jacket, light front closed shoes, rubber boots, a 75x75 cm or 100x100 cm cotton cloth, mosquito repellent either spray or creams, sleeping bag is recommended and a 80 lbs capacity backpack. To see as manny birds as posible, we recommended to stay in the area and an sleeping bag is a plus! In such cases we will coordinate the number of stay at a two/three star hotel for the same night as a deduction and subsequently a refund to you!
Should you only need a guide for a day or two please contact us for details.
Abbass Yeganeh-Majd, your local Birdingpal guide
Abbass (also known as Tirdaad) is 39 years old and born in Teheran, Iran. An officially recognized tour leader by Department of Cultural Heritage, Hand Crafts and Tourism of Iran in both Cultural and Green tour leaderships in Iran with years of experience in the incoming and outgoing tours. He holds both intermediary and senior level First Aid Certificates from Red Crescent Society of Iran.
Added to being a qualified tour leader, he holds highest recognized certificates of craftsmanship in Art on Persian Hand Engravings and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry.
With years of experience living overseas and past experience of living in southern deserts of Iran he welcomes you as your leader in all Iranian green and adventure tours throughout the country (Nomads Rural tours and Tribes, Natural Sceneries, Desert life and Mammals of Iran, Birding and Astronomical event tours in Iran). I have also been a leader in Southern African rural life as well as birding tours in Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa & Mozambique.
I guess I realized it even more afterwards: how difficult this would have been to do this on my own. Because of all his efforts I have been able to see a lot of birds and to make many beautiful recordings. Among them there is the song of the 'Basrah Reed
Warbler' (acrocephalus Griseldus) a very rare, endemic breeder in this area. But Tirdaad gave me much more than only solutions for hundreds of practical problems. In the afternoon and early evening, when it was very hot to go outside we spent all the time talking about Iran. He made me see the beautiful things and the moderate sides of this country. He knows a lot, and I couldn't imagine getting a better introduction to this beautiful and interesting country. I had a great time in Iran with Tirdaad, and I am very grateful for all his efforts that made my project successful.
Pieter Paul Pothoven, The Netherlands. pieterpaulpothoven(AT)gmail.com
Some facts about Iran.
Government: Islamic Republic Of Iran estbalished in 1979.
Number Of Provinces: 31.
Capital: Teheran.
Population: 78,000,000 Census 2006.
Religions: Islam (Shi-ite) 92%, Islam (Sunnite) 6%, Christianity 0.4%, Judaism 0.3%, Zoroastrians 0.8%, Mannakaism 0.2%. Other faiths Hinduism, Sikhism, Budist 0.2%.
Language: 14 major Languages including Persian 51% widely spokenand 35 different dialects throughout the country.
Calendar: Solar & Hejri Calendars both officially recognised.
Current: 220 Volt AC 50 MHz 1 Amp two pin plugs only.
Time: -2 behind greenwich mean time.
Currency: IrRls (Iran Rials) 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 20000 and 50000 IrRls Bank Notes. 50,100, 250 and 500 IrRls Coins.
Visa Requirements: Visas are given for one week at the point of arrivals to citizens of 25 countries. Other nationals should posses an invitation for entry visa. The duration of visa can be extended on request. Consult Iranian Embassies or Consulates overseas.
Guide books and CD’s recommended:
Birds of the Middle East (Princeton Field Guides Series) by R. F. Porter, S. Christensen and P. Schiermacker-Hansen (Illustrator).
Find lowest prices here
Note: To ascertain tour/seat availability and best pricing, select a week for departure date. e.g. Sep 01 - 07
