WILD ECHO

Armenia offer a unique mixture of European and Near East butterfly species and here occur healthy populations of some very rare and decreasing species. During the tour we shall visit many different habitats, situated in a spectacular natural scenery: from limestone gullies through high mountain meadows, riverbanks and forests to semi-desert habitats which will allow us to find very rare and local species, plus many other like Anatolian Fiery Copper, Turkish Fiery Copper, Caucasian Turan Copper, Romanoff's Vernal Copper, Pfeiffer's Green Hairstreak, Sovinsky's Green Hairstreak, Orange-banded Hairstreak, Hyrcanian Black Hairstreak, Odd-spot Blue, Pontic Blue, Eastern Brown Argus, Loew's Blue, Alpine Green Hairstreak, Bosnian Blue, Gerhard's Black Hairstreak, Freyer's Fritillary, Persian Fritillary, Caucasian Spotted Fritillary, Transcaucasian Fritillary, Ionian Emperor, Amasian Satyr, Great Steppe Grayling, Eastern Orange Tip, Sooty Orange Tip, Saadi's Heath, Alcides Skipper, Aegean Skipper, Inky Skipper, Persian Skipper, Mediterranean Skipper, Levantine Skipper, Tessellated Skipper, Reverdin's Marbled Skipper, False Marbled Skipper, Southern Swallowtail, Anatolian Clouded Yellow, Christoph's Clouded Yellow, Small Bath White, Bowden's White. Armenia is the oldest Christian country and has rich history with many medieval monuments and monasteries, situated in a dramatically beautiful landscape. Also, offers delicious food and the people are exceptionally friendly and hospitable. The tour allow not only to admire the beauty of the scenery, butterflies, birds, flowers and other natural wonders, but also to enjoy the extraordinary Armenian hospitality and cuisine, offering an all-round experience.

ITINERARY

Day 1 Arrival at Yerevan airport and transfer to our hotel, situated in the core of Khosrov forest state reserve for two nights. We will explore Khor Virap monastery surroundings, the valley N of Urtsadzor and core-zone of Khosrov forest state reserve. Accommodation and dinner.

Day 2 We will explore core-zone of Khosrov forest state reserve visiting river valleys, hot humid and bushy areas close to more arid slopes and sparse juniper forests searching for Anatolian Fiery Copper, Turkish Fiery Copper, Orange-banded Hairstreak, Romanoff's Vernal Copper, Christop’s Blue, Odd-spot Blue, Inky Skipper, Hungarian Skipper, Alpine Green Hairstreak, Osiris Blue, Green-underside Blue, Caucasian Zephir Blue, Niobe Fritillary, Oriental Meadow Brown, Freyer's Fritillary, Persian Fritillary, Ionian Emperor, Hungarian Glider, Southern White Admiral, Mountain Small White, Eastern Dappled White, Sooty Orange Tip.

Day 3 Long transfer to Meghri for three nights with stops on the way near Areni, Sarnakunk and Tatev monastery. Will visit also the ancient observatory of Zorats Karer. Searching for Bowden's White, Balkan Marbled White, Swallowtail, Eastern Bath White, Alcon Blue, Blue Argus, Sooty Copper, Amandas Blue, Adonis Blue, Caucasian Spotted Fritillary, Spotted Fritillary, Lesser Spotted Fritillary, Knapweed Fritillary, Brimstone and many others.

Day 4 Will explore Meghri surroundings, typical for semi-deserts of southern Armenia, but also include some species that can be found only here in Armenia. List of the species include Caucasian Turan Copper, Lesser Fiery Copper, Saadi's Heath, Alcides Skipper, Mediterranean Skipper, Hyrcanian Black Hairstreak, Little Tiger Blue, Reverdin's Marbled Skipper, Iolas Blue, Cardinal, Persian Skipper, Gerhard's Black Hairstreak, Eastern Grayling, Balkan Marbled White, Eastern Knapweed Fritillary, Southern Comma, Amasian Satyr, Anatolian Clouded Yellow, Powdered Brimstone. Birds - Black-eared Wheatear, Roller, Woodchat Shrike, Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin.

Day 5 Will explore Kuris and Agarak surroundings, stony steppe area covered by thorny Goat's Thorn bushes and scattered trees, an area under great Irano-turanian influence. Various Legumes providing wide variety of host-plants and nectar sources for the butterflies. The species include Caucasian Spotted Fritillary, Yellow-banded Hairstreak, Blue Argus, Short-tailed Blue, Eastern Brown Argus, Meleager's Blue, Eastern Wood White, Marbled Skipper, Ilex Hairstreak, Nettle-tree Butterfly, Large Tortoiseshell, Leanders’ Heath, Esper's and Balkan Marbled White, Caucasian Turan Copper, Orange Banded Hairstreak. Birds - Orphean and Upcher's Warblers, Black-headed Bunting, Pale Rock Sparrow.

Day 6  Transfer to Yeghegnadzor for four nights with stops on the way. Possible species are Pfeiffer's Green Hairstreak, False Marbled Skipper, Iolas Blue, Long-tailed Blue, Mazarine Blue, Dark Green Fritillary, High Brown Fritillary, Gerhard's Black Hairstreak. Typical birds for this zone - Stonechat, Common Rosefinch, Radde's Accentor, Ortolan Bunting.

Day 7 Will explore Arpa Gorge, Vayk and Herher surroundings, mediterranean rocky area with bushes and scattered trees. Searching for Caucasian Vernal Copper, Anatolian Fiery Copper, Krueper's Small White, Small Bath White, Southern Swallowtail, Sovinsky's Green Hairstreak, Blue-spot Hairstreak, Eastern Brown Argus, Pontic Blue, Eastern Baton Blue, Chapman's Blue, Esper's and Balkan Marbled White, Persian Fritillary, Freyer's Fritillary, Marsh Fritillary, Amasian Satyr, Sandy Grizzled Skipper, Olive Skipper, Eastern Grayling, Powdered Brimstone, Bowden's white, Sooty Orange Tip, Clouded Apollo.

Day 8 Will explore impressive Noravank Gorge with the monastery and Arpi River valley, arid rocky area with scattered bushes. In an amazing scenery, will searching for Orange-banded Hairstreak, Romanoff's Vernal Copper, Odd-spot Blue, Anatolian Fiery Copper, Levantine Skipper, Tessellated Skipper, Yellow-banded Skipper, Sandy Grizzled Skipper, Inky Skipper, Caucasian Zephyr Blue, Swallowtail and Southern Swallowtail, Mountain Small White, White Letter Hairstreak, Bavius Blue, Osiris Blue, Green-underside Blue, Large Blue, Pontic Blue, Adonis Blue, Zephyr Blue, Persian Fritillary, Marsh Fritillary, Cardinal, Thelephassa Grayling, Great Steppe Grayling, Oriental Meadow Brown, Hungarian Glider, Ionian Emperor.

Day 9 Will spend the day in a nice river valley and high-mountain steppe area dominated by legume plants, such as Sainfoin and Goat's Thorn, and grasses. Searching for Dalmatian Ringlet, Caucasian Vernal Copper, Orange-banded Hairstreak, Hyrcanian Black Hairstreak, Romanoff's Vernal Copper, Great Steppe Grayling, Amasian Satyr, Saadi's Heath, Marsh Fritilary, Woodland Ringlet, Pfeiffer's Green Hairstreak, Pontic Blue, Christoph's Clouded Yellow, Anatolian Clouded Yellow, Berger's Clouded Yellow, Scarce Swallowtail, Swallowtail, Clouded Apollo, Persian Blue, Eastern Baton Blue, Yellow-legged Tortoiseshell, Pearly Heath, Leanders Heath, Dusky Meadow Brown, Lesser Lattice Brown, Esper's Marbled White, and some birds like Crimson-winged Finch, Snake Eagle, Chukar, Siberian Stonechat.

Day 10 Transfer for two nights to Tsapatagh, situated at Sevan Lake, with stops on the way at diverse zones of Vardenyats (Selim) pass. In an amazing scenery of oromediterranean zone will searching for Aegean Skipper, Inky Skipper, Oriental Marbled Skipper, Large Grizzled Skipper, Caucasian Vernal Copper, Anatolian Fiery Copper, Turkish Fiery Copper, Turkish Blue, Pfeiffer's Green Hairstreak, Pontic Blue, Eastern Brown Argus, Odd-spot Blue, Eastern Orange Tip, Ionian Emperor, Persian Fritillary, Pale Clouded Yellow, Anatolian Clouded Yellow, Mountain Small White, Easten Dappled White, Large Wall Brown, Southern Swallowtail, Southern Comma, Southern White Admiral.

Day 11 Will explore Tsapatagh and Jil surroundings. In a small river valley will searching for Aegean Skipper, Marbled Skipper, Olive Skipper, Yellow-banded Skipper, Osiris Blue, Purple-shot Copper, Balkan Copper, Lesser Fiery Copper, Bosnian Blue, Large Blue, Alcon Blue, Idas Blue, Caucasian Zephyr Blue, Caucasian Vernal Copper, Twin-spot Fritillary, Transcaucasian Fritillary, Freyer's Tawny Rockbrown, Eastern Orange Tip, Mountain Small White.

Day 12 Transfer to Garni for two nights, visiting Aghveran. In the fresh river valley will searching for species that may have missed so far. In nicely wooded area near Aghveran will searching for Bosnian Blue, Geranium Argus, Green Hairstreak, Alcon Blue, Mazarine Blue, Eastern Baton Blue, Lesser Lattice Brown, Marsh Fritillary, Transcaucasian Fritillary, Caucasian Spotted Fritillary, Hungarian Glider, Clouded Apollo, Eastern Orange Tip, Anatolian Clouded Yellow.

Day 13 Will explore Azat Canyon and Garni Temple of northern part of Khosrov forest state reserve searching for Pogge's Skipper, White-bordered Grayling, Anatolian Fiery Copper, Turkish Fiery Copper, Sooty Copper, Eastern Brown Argus, Loew's Blue, Sandy Grizzled Skipper, Aegean Skipper, Hungarian Skipper, Orange-banded Hairstreak, Hyrcanian Black Hairstreak, Blue-spot Hairstreak, White Letter Hairstreak, Romanoff's Vernal Copper, Silver-washed Fritillary, Queen of Spain, Nettle-tree Butterfly, Southern White Admiral, Balkan Marbled White, Freyer's Fritillary, Glanville Fritillary, Spotted Fritillary, Knapweed Fritillary, Ionian Emperor, Hungarian Glider, Eastern Orange Tip, Sooty Orange Tip, Powdered Brimstone.

Day 14 Transfer to Yerevan airport for your flight back home. We will have few stops on the way in Amberd River Valley (Orgov).