Caucasus Georgia

Short-toed Snake-Eagle © PavlovaSvetlana/Shutterstock

A multi-themed tour offering stunning vistas and historic landmarks, while more than a million birds of prey migrate along the coast and grapes are being harvested for winemaking; accompanied by the Georgian Supra feasting tradition and ancient polyphonic chants.

The ancient nation of Georgia in the South Caucasus is legendary for its copious “feast and wine” hospitality, its otherworldly chanting traditions, and for one of the most prominent bottlenecks for migratory birds on the planet. The Republic of Georgia lies in a region with a diversity of habitats ranging from semi-deserts to subtropical forests, cradled by rugged mountain ranges between the Black and Caspian Seas, offering rich natural history and cultural experiences.

During the fall season, when grapes are harvested in the valleys and the year’s vintage is drawn from earthen “qvevri,” more than a million birds of prey are counted along the coast. Georgia offers a broad assortment of Eurasian species, regional specialties, and others found nowhere else. It is also a place of endemic language and culture, with a bountiful musical heritage deeply seated in the past. This departure is designed for those interested in experiencing stunning landscapes, a spectacular migration, and plenty of food and beverage in a rustic and welcoming setting.

The tour starts on the slopes of Adjara, along the Black Sea. We will visit sites near Batumi where numerous Short-toed, Booted, Steppe, and both spotted eagles are tallied. These are fantastic sites for birds of prey in general including kites and harriers, while the surrounding region consistently turns up a diversity of shorebirds such as Sociable Lapwing and Black-winged Pratincole. The possibilities for songbirds include Thrush Nightingale, and Moustached, Blyth’s, and Paddyfield warblers.

Continuing into the highlands, we will visit Svaneti where mountains shelter fortified hamlets with clusters of medieval towers. We will be treated to a rich and energetic chanting tradition that echoes the daunting terrain. Historians wrote of ancient Greek armies arriving to western Georgia, the “Land of the Golden Fleece,” and shivering at haunting chants from Caucasian warriors resonating down the gorges. Svaneti long served as protectorate for Georgian treasures, and still to this day relics dating back to the ninth century can be found there.

We will spend time in the Greater and Lesser Caucasus ranges, surrounded by stunning snow-covered peaks and dramatic vistas, in search of both Caucasian and Caspian snowcocks, the endemic Caucasian Grouse, Güldenstadt’s Redstart, Alpine Accentor, and Lammergeier. Mountain passes may grant us Green Warbler, Mountain Chiffchaff, Kruper’s Nuthatch, and Fire-fronted Serin. Lakes and wetlands may host Great White and Dalmatian pelicans and large numbers of waterfowl including Velvet Scoter. To the south and east, landscapes will grow increasingly drier. Carved out of the cliffs, the medieval cave settlements of Vardzia and Gareji will blend into the semi-desert as we look for Western Rock Nuthatch, Calandra Lark, Tawny Pipit, Pied Wheatear, Egyptian Vulture, and Imperial Eagle.

Time and again during this tour, we will enjoy the renowned Georgian table tradition, treated to a variety of authentic dishes and the best of regional wines, hosted by a toastmaster and accompanied by song and dance. By combining birds, music, and the rich cultural heritage of Georgia, this multi-themed program assures a travel experience unlike any other.

A combination of ancient settlements, remote wilderness regions through a wide diversity of habitats, and a cosmopolitan capital city; surprisingly comfortable conditions throughout, with accommodations in good hotels and guesthouses; food and wine excellent; travel by 4x4 vehicles; physical demands from light to moderately strenuous; weather varies from mild and dry to cold and rainy.

Svaneti © John Graham