Transfer from the airport and drive to Dilijan, spend the rest of the day there. After checking into the hotel in Dilijan for a two-night stay, spending the late afternoon birding in the forests around the town. Here we can see Middle Spotted Woodpecker [ssp. caucasicus], Red-breasted and Semi-collared Flycatchers, Green Warbler, Chiffchaff (ssp. abietinus) and Hawfinch.

The great opportunity to bird on the slopes of Tsaghkunyats Mountains, where Caucasian Black Grouse can be found. Other possible species include Lammergeier, Water Pipit, Alpine and Radde’s Accentors, Siberian Stonechat [armenica race], Bluethroat [magna race], White-throated Dipper, Twite and Mountain Chiffchaff.

To drive along the western shore of Lake Sevan and see the largest breeding colony of Armenian Gulls in the world and also see Black-necked Grebe and Ruddy Shelduck and then drive across the 2410m Selima Pass in the Vardenis Mountains to Yeghegnadzor for a two-night stay. On way look for Lammergeier, Black-headed Wagtail, Blue and Rufous-tailed Rock Thrushes, Black-headed Bunting and Barred Warbler.

An early start for Mount Gndasar. First climb through steep, arid rocky slopes before reaching the Alpine meadows with impressive cliffs towering above them. This is the haunt of the primary target, Caspian Snowcock. To spend most of the day in the area looking for this impressive bird, together with other specialities of the mountains: Red-fronted Serin, Wallcreeper, White-winged Snowfinch and Crimson-winged Finch.

To visit the superb Armash Fishponds en route to Yerevan. Armash is simply outstanding for wetland species, attracting Pygmy Cormorant, Little Bittern, Purple and Squacco Herons and Black-crowned Night Heron. The reedbeds resound with calls of Caspian and Great Reed Warblers and the colonising Paddyfield Warbler, whilst open waters have Marbled and White-headed Ducks, as well as Ferruginous and Red-crested Pochards. Whiskered, White-winged, Black and Little Terns hawk over the pools for insects, whilst water meadows and muddy areas have nesting Glossy Ibis and White-tailed Lapwing. The pools also regularly attract migrant Terek and Curlew Sandpipers and Red-necked Phalaropes. Armash is surrounded by semi-desert with Tamarisk, Camel’s Thorn and Sagebrush bushes. This unique habitat attracts Eastern Olivaceous, Ménétries’s and Upcher’s Warblers, together with European Rollers, and European and Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters.

To visit two arid gorges in the Oorts Mountains and in outskirts of Vedi town. It will be necessary to travel by four-wheel drive but it should be well rewarded with an array of superb species. These include, Chukar, Rufous-tailed Scrub-robin, White-throated Robin, Isabelline, [Eastern] Black-eared, Finsch’s and Red-tailed [chrysopygia race] Wheatears, Eastern Orphean and Upcher’s Warblers, Eastern and Western Rock Nuthatches, Pale Rock Sparrow, Rock and Grey-necked Buntings. It will also be looking for Mongolian and Trumpeter Finches as well as for Bimaculated and Short-toed Larks.

Final full day will be spent on the slopes of Mount Aragats, to have further chances to see many of the species seen earlier on the tour. Return to Yerevan in the afternoon, to have some birding to do in one of the city parks. Amongst the hustle-bustle of city life, two more highly sought-after species can be found breeding: Levant Sparrowhawk and Syrian Woodpecker.