Arrival in Tbilisi; met and assisted at the airport.

Tbilisi sightseeing tour;

Tbilisi – Mtskheta – Stepantsminda; drive north towards the high peaks of the Caucasus Mountain range. En route short stop at Jvari church to give a look at Mtskheta UNESCO site. During the other stops we have chances to see wetland birds including White-winged Black and Gull billed Terns. At some of the oak and beech woods covering the lower slopes, Green Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher and perhaps Semi collared Flycatcher can be seen.

Stepantsminda; spend a day around Stepantsminda and enjoy first encounter with mountain birds as Twite, Shore Lark of the penicillate race and White-winged Snowfinch feeding alongside the road. We might see our first raptors such as Griffon Vulture, Peregrine and the mighty Lammergeier. Higher on slopes there are more chances to spot Levant Sparrowhawk, Caucasian Snowcock, ecc.

Stepantsminda; walk to Gergeti Trinity church beautifully located in a shadow of mount Kazbek 5054m. In high alpine meadows Caucasian Black Grouse, and in rocky parts Guldenstadt’s Redstart and Great Rosefinch can be found.

Stepantsminda – Gori; spend morning in Stepantsminda surroundings, where such beautiful birds as Mountain Chiffchaff, Green Warbler and a variety of migrants, including European Bee-eater, Red-backed and Lesser Grey Shrikes, Red-throated Pipit, Yellow Wagtail and Ortolan Bunting can be noticed. In the afternoon drive to Mtskheta. En route visit Ananuri Architectural coimplex.

Gori – Uplistsikhe- Akhaltsikhe-Vardzia; from Tbilisi drive to Akhaltsikhe cave town via Gori. Visit Uplistsikhe cave town, dating back to the first millennium BC. In Akhaltsikhe give a look to Rabati fortress.

Vardzia Cave town and the Mtkvari River valley; visit Vardzia Cave town of Georgian Golden age, transformed into a well defended monastery complex. The area has a number of typical east–Mediterranean species. It is possible to observe; Griffon, Egyptian and bearded vultures, golden eagle, sort–toed snake eagle, and long–legged buzzard are a common sight. Other birds of prey are Levant sparrowhawk and peregrine falcon. In Vardzia surroundings chukars are relatively common. Other birds are European bee– eater and hoopoe, crag martin, black– eared wheatear, blue rock thrush, orphean warbler, lesser whitethroat, rock nuthatch, lesser grey shrike, rose– coloured starling, rock sparrow, black– headed and ortolan buntings and other songbirds typical for semiarid landscapes.

Day trip to Khanchali Lake; the area gives an opportunity to trace corncrake, marsh and Montague’s harriers, common crane, Dalmatian and white pelicans, red– necked and black– necked grebes, white stork, squacco heron, great white egret, Eurasian spoonbill, glossy ibis marsh and terek sandpipers, more species of waders, gulls, and terns like great black– headed gulls, gull– billed terns, and white– winged black terns. Hikers climbing up the volcanic mountains of Javakheti will be rewarded with encounters of more birds. Local villages are the most important nesting sites of white stork in the Caucasus.

Vardzia-Tbilisi via picturesque Javakheti Plateau; venture across mountain grassland areas. The lakes and their surroundings support breeding populations of many bird species. This site gives a great opportunity to enjoy observing velvet scoter, ruddy shelduck, ferruginous duck, and many other duck species. During the spring migration there is big chance to see White-Headed Duck, White tailed Plover and Sociable Plower.

Day trip to David Gareja; explore David Gareja semi desert, with ancient stone carved monasteries and colourful clay hills covered with shrub and steppe- like vegetation. In Davit Gareji can be seen breeding colonies of Eurasian griffon and Egyptian vultures, breeding imperial eagles, chukar, roller, hoopoe, blue rock thrush; large aggregations of bee-eaters, rose-coloured starling, and rock dove. Other attractions for birdwatchers are long-legged buzzard, common kestrel, cinereous vulture, Eurasian sparrowhawk, short-toed snake eagle, and saker falcon. Passerines: calandra lark, crag martin, rufous tailed scrub robin, isabelline wheatear, finsch’s wheatear, pied wheatear, willow warbler, orphean warbler, lesser whitethroat, rock nuthatch, lesser grey shrike, woodchat shrike, Spanish sparrow, rock sparrow, black-headed bunting, ortolan bunting.

Departure; transfer to the airport.