Birdwatching in Iran

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Birdwatching Tour in Iran, this tour includes visiting Darband mountainside, and the wildlife of Golestan National Park, Khosh Yellagh Reserve, Touran Wildlife Refuge & Biosphere, Parvar Game Reserve, and stopping for the sight of Iran’s highest peak of Mt Damavand.

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    All about the Birdwatching in Iran.

    Birdwatching in Iran

    This tour package is suitable for both experienced ornithologists and novice birdwatchers, and Iran is, in fact, an ideal ecosystem for birds. The country has rare and endemic birds and species of special interest.

    More than 527 species have been reported in Iran. Although large areas of the country are arid or semi-arid, Iran possesses a diverse and very rich bird fauna.

    Two important factors can explain this diversity; the wide range of habitats, from cold mountains to arid deserts and from dense forests in the north to palm trees and mangroves in the south—and the position of Iran is at a crossroad between three major faunal regions.

    About Tour

    This tour includes visiting Darband mountainside, and the wildlife of Golestan National Park, Khosh Yellagh Reserve, Touran Wildlife Refuge & Biosphere, Parvar Game Reserve, and stopping for the sight of Iran’s highest peak of Mt Damavand.

    1. Day 1 Arrival in Tehran

      Day 1: Arrival in Tehran – hotel check-in and the afternoon is yours to explore. After a trip orientation session, we finish the day with dinner in the Darband Mountainside.

    2. Day 2 Golestan National Park

      Day 2: Driving past Sari and Golestan National Park – Driving past the city of Sari in the early morning to the southern region of the Caspian Sea to one of Iran’s largest national parks.

      Goitered Gazelles, Iranian Ibex, Mouflon, Wild Boar, Brown Bear, Various types of Sparrow, Woodpecker, Buzzard, Hawk, Blackbird, Robin, Cuckoo, Thrush, Restart, Linnet, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Coal, Whitethroat, and Blue Tit, Hyrcanian Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch.

    3. Day 3 Khosh Yellagh Reserve

      Day 3: Khosh Yellagh Reserve- Leaving the park in the early morning, visiting the nearby Khosh Yellagh Reserve.

      Common Swift, Wild Boar, Red Urial, Iranian Ibex, Eurasian Hoopoe, Tawny Pipit, Bimaculated and Horned Larks, Northern and Finsch’s Wheatears, Ortolan Bunting, Eurasian Tree Sparrow.

    4. Day 4-5 Turan Wildlife Refuge & Biosphere

      Day 4-5: Turan Wildlife Refuge & Biosphere -Located in the desert, this refuge is an important habitat for the region’s rarest species of birds and fauna.

      Leopard, Cheetah, Iranian Ground Jay, Persian Gazelle, Asiatic Wild Ass, Eurasian Golden Oriole, , Tree Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Citrine Wagtail, Egyptian Vulture, Yellow Wagtail, Pale Rock Finch and Sparrow, Cream-coloured Courser, Back Belly Sandgrouse, , Desert Warbler,Desert Wheatears and Finch, Trumpeter Finch,  Macqueen Bustard.

    5. Day 6 Parvar Wildlife Reserve

      Day 6: Parvar Wildlife Reserve – Early morning drive to Parvar, trekking up the forested mountains in search of the Hyrcanian Tit, Wild Boar, Red Urial, Iranian Ibex, Radde’s Accentor, Plain Leaf Warbler, Rufous-tailed Wheatear, , Caspian Snowcock, Eurasian Crag Martin, Grey-necked Bunting White-throated Robin, and Black Redstart.

    6. Day 7 Mount Damavand

      Day 7: Tehran – On the way back to Tehran stopping along the way for seeing the view of Iran’s highest peak, Mount Damavand.

    7. Day 8 Departure

      Day 8: Tehran / Departure

    Accommodation

    Accommodation Types

    Finding a proper place to stay during your trip is one of the most important preparations before traveling which should be carefully examined from different aspects. Because in case the traveler is not satisfied with the quality of accommodation a bad memory would remain in his/her mind. Stay while traveling means to reside for one or more days in a place other than our own house. One of the primery features of this accommodation is security. In other words the place of stay must have enough security that the tourists could easily relax and put their belongings in that residence. In addition, other facilities such as restaurant, dry-cleaning and the like are some of the necessities of a good accommodation. Therefore, various types of accommodations based on the amenities exist all over the world which the tourists can choose based on the need or the budget they have for their place to stay. These are some types of accommodation:

    Hostel

    This sort of accommodation doesn’t have an age limit for reception, and is suitable for those who have a low budget for traveling. There are even single rooms with the minimum facilities required for a residence. Some of these hostels provide hot meals for the guests.

    Hotel

    The word hotel has a wide spectrum of meaning. Hotels based on their rate offer special amenities such as room services, laundry, and etc to their customers. In addition to meeting the needs of tourists, hotels have specific facilities for the families.

    Capsule hotels

    The idea of this type of hotel came from Japan in 1979 and today they exist in China and Singapore. This sort of accommodation is built of plastic or fiberglass in a singular size and is arranged on other cells like beehives. Each of these capsules is equipped with facilities such as a TV set and is a very good and proper choice and also a cheap accommodation for one night stay.

    Bed and Breakfast

    By staying in this type of accommodation which is common in the USA you go to local houses of each area and rent only one room from the whole building. This accommodation is economical and therefore is very common. The rooms are very similar to hotel rooms but they offer facilities at a lower price and you feel at home. The guests can even meet other people on breakfast table and start a conversation with them at the place.

    Motel

    A motel is another type of accommodation which is formed from the combination of two words “Motor” and “Hotel”. This kind of accommodation was first built for motor vehicle riders. The rooms are close to each other and there is a vast space for the parking lot and of course it is cheaper than a hotel.

    Guest House

    This word has a wide spectrum of meaning and has different interpretations throughout the world. In some regions it has the same meaning as hostel, bed & breakfast, or caravan. In some regions they are similar to hotels but at a cheaper price. In some countries, it is said to rental houses which are given to the tourists privately. In this case, the owner lives at a separate place but near the guest house.

    Resort

    This type of accommodation is built near tourist attractions like beach, desert, national parks, ski sites, and so on and is suitable for tourists who want complete relaxation and refreshment during their stay. These resorts have distinguished facilities such as swimming pool, gulf field, tennis court and etc. In some cases the area of the resorts cover several hectares of land.

    Timeshare

    This kind of accommodation is said to an estate which is rented and shared by several individuals and is used by them alternatively in different periods of time. The right to rent, use or the possession in a determined time period is clear for each person. Meanwhile, cleaning and protecting the estate in each time period is obliged to the person owning the place at that period.

    Hospitality Exchange

    This type is one of the most interesting types of accommodation while traveling in which the tourist must personally contact the related organization or institute to make the necessary coordination with a local or volunteer individual to stay at that person’s place. This kind of accommodation has a low cost and is the best option for people who travel on a low budget.

    Caravan

    Caravan is said to a small container vehicle which has all the necessary facilities for traveling and is attached to the vehicle. Caravan provides the possibility of residence and movement simultaneously. Some caravans even have the capacity of several people to stay.

    Camping

    It is the most popular and low-expense type of accommodation among young people in which the tourists tent, sleeping bag and other necessary tools are carried by the person and he/she ventures into the unknown.

    Cottage/Villa Cottage

    Cottage/Villa Cottage is an appropriate option for families who seek relaxation away from the crowd. It is so much bigger comparing to the hotel rooms and four people can stay there at the same time. Regarding facilities they have a kitchen, dining room, bed rooms, and etc and are more comfortable comparing to hotels or other options.

    Dude Ranch

    In the United States dude ranches are considered as seasonal accommodations in which you can experience the rural culture. During your stay you can even ride a horse in the wide pastures or go hunting in the forest or other areas along with the local guide.

    Vacation Rental

    Another economical type of accommodation for holidays is renting an apartment or villa. Most people travel in groups or by their family and tend to stay together. Therefore, renting an apartment or villa for a short time is so appropriate to these people.

    House Sitting

    The length of stay depends on the agreement between the landlord and the guest and he/she can stay for free based on the agreement and acceptance of part of the house keeping activities such as cleaning, gardening, pet keeping, and so on.

     

    Not for all nationalities, unless you are a US citizen. Iranian visa for US passport holders is subject to particular regulations. At present the Iranian Foreign Ministry will only issue visas for US citizens to travel to Iran as part of a pre-booked, guided tour. That means US citizens cannot travel to Iran individually and they must be accompanied by a tour guide or a relative who can take full responsibility. Before the trip, you must send the itinerary in advance and follow it exactly. Due to these requirements, we recommend that it is better to apply 10 weeks before the travel date.

    Guns and ammunition, alcoholic drinks, narcotics, , all horticultural and agricultural goods including seeds and soil; aerial photo cameras, transmitter-receiver apparatus, pornography, most films, cassettes, CDs and videos and any kind of fashion magazine. Of course, hunters who are travelling to Iran for hunting can get necessary permits for carrying their guns and ammunition via their travel agents beforehand.

    Each trip is unique, and for determining what to bring it is better to consult the travel agency. However, these items are generally included: Clothes, phone charger, hair brush, camera, necessary pills, shampoo, towel, tooth brush and tooth paste, ear buds, nail clipper, map, and the like.

    If your group wants to take some adventure on the trip linked to the activities or destinations in which we operate, please do not hesitate to communicate with us and we will try to create exactly what you desire. We are keen to help you in this way, as we have done in the past, this has pushed us forward towards making permanent tours based on your interests.

    It is easy and simple. Just follow the four-step instruction:

    • Step One: choose your destination

    If you are ready to begin your trip to Iran, we are ready to help. It is really important to do some research and decide where do you want to go and what you want to do according to your age and interest. Our travel specialists are ready to provide you with the information you need to make your decision. A variety of catalogs of trips to different cities with destinations and purposes are also available on our website.

    • Step Two: Send us a request

    Tour packages are presented in four main categories: Cultural tours, Eco tours, Adventure tours, and Event tours. These packages have various destinations, duration and purpose to serve different interests. Just take an overall look at the travel packages and choose your tour. Remember that the prices can be modified according to the chosen standards of hotels and transportation. If you didn’t find the package that interest you, contact and inform us about cities that you are interested in and the sites you want to visit (see tailor-made tours). We can make your dream trip come true.

    • Step Three: book your tour

    After choosing your ideal package and specifying the number of travelers who come with you just set a date for it so that we can inform you of the required price of the package. Then a contract will be sent to you. Please print the contract, read it carefully, sign it and send us an image of the signed contract and images of the passports and of the tour participants via e-mail. Payment procedure will be announced at the time of booking.

    • Step Four: get a visa

    We have made this process easy for you. An information form will be sent to you by the agency. Return the filled form with an image of your passport attached to it. Leave the rest to us. You can get your visa in 10 working days. Your visa fee is 35 USD.

    For more information take a look at our Visa page

    Two different payments are required. One is the visa application fee which you send off with your visa application form. The other is the payment for collecting the visa from the Iranian embassy in order to get the visa stamped into your passport. If you post your passport to the embassy there will be an extra charge to post it back to you by recorded delivery. Its cost is not fixed and varies in different parts. It’s better to call the Embassy in your country.

    Yes, there are several newspapers in English. Most of the times, there are available at hotel lobbies.

    Iranian visa for US passport holders is subject to particular regulations. In a way that US passport holders cannot travel to Iran independently. US citizens are required to travel on escorted tours; either as part of a group, or on a tailor-made individual tour. An exact itinerary, to which you must follow is needed to be submitted in advance. So, make your travel arrangements at least 10 weeks before your planned travel date.

    Those who have been to Iran know about the quality and variety of Persian kebabs and stews. There are different types of restaurants. You can find new spices and herbs you haven’t seen before, but Iranian dishes are not as spicy as the Indian foods. A moderate amount of them is added to the food just to make it more delicious. As there are not genetically modified vegetables and fruits in Iran, they taste the old flavors. The meat served in the restaurants is usually chicken, fish, lamb, and veal. Of course, you can find quail, turkey, and shrimp too, but no frog, pork, snake, dog or other sorts. It is prohibited to eat them in Islam and this is observed everywhere. The vegetarians can find cooked or raw vegetables at hotels and in restaurants. However, it is better to inform your tour guide about this matter so he could arrange it for you.

    Overall Rating
    4/5
    Glendedd
    Reviewed On 15/02/2020
    4/5

    The guide was Shahrzad. She was excellent and got us on nearly all the birds we wanted to see. Her knowledge of birds of this region was phenomenal and added to the enjoyment. A tour you don't want to miss, 4 stars out of 5

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