ABOUT US

For the individual, arranging a birdwatching holiday abroad can be a bewildering business: how can you be sure that you have chosen the right itinerary, are visiting the top sites, and are making the best use of your valuable time and money? With our considerable experience and wide range of personal contacts, Avian Adventures have already done all this for you, so that you can look forward to a first class birdwatching and wildlife holiday with complete peace of mind. All you have to do is choose where to go! The emphasis is on small, informal groups with a friendly atmosphere - sharing in the excitement at seeing the birds is all part of the experience. Whatever your level of expertise, and whether you are on your first or fifteenth birdwatching holiday, we will make you warmly welcome.

Our Tour Leaders …

Our tour leaders are friendly and experienced, with considerable background knowledge - often they are acknowledged experts on the birds of the country in which they are leading. They combine enthusiasm with complete professionalism, they are always on hand to help with identification and it is their aim to ensure that you enjoy your birdwatching holiday to the full. Often clients book again and again on the strength of the convivial atmosphere created by a particular leader.
Many of our trips are accompanied by expert local guides, who have an in-depth local knowledge, up-to-date information and a highly developed instinct for bird finding.

Our Groups …

We have always believed that birdwatching is more enjoyable and successful in a small group, and each of our tours has its own maximum number of participants. We often consider it appropriate for two leaders to accompany a tour, ensuring that the important personal touch is not lost. As a result, your chances of seeing the birds will not be jeopardised, and you can look forward to the company of a small group of like-minded people - perhaps making new friends in the process.

Photography …

Many of our tours offer excellent potential for wildlife and landscape photography. Some holidays are designed specifically for photography and are led by professional photographers, ensuring that their advice and experience are always on hand if required.
Bird Watching Magazine …
Our growing partnership with Bird Watching Magazine means that as usual we’re offering a wide range of tours in conjunction with this popular birdwatcher’s magazine: Costa Rica, Arizona, Oman, Extremadura & Coto Doñana.

Private Tours …

You may prefer a birdwatching tour tailored to your specific requirements, or wish to visit one of our venues at a different time of year from that shown in the brochure.
Perhaps we can help - using our extensive network of expert ground operators and guides, it is often possible for us to design individual birdwatching holidays.

Accommodation …

Your satisfaction is our first priority, and on most of our tours the accommodation chosen is comfortable and of good quality, generally with private facilities. However, since our aim is also to take you to the best locations for birds and wildlife, the best available accommodation in these areas could be simple or basic, possibly below Western standards, and on a few occasions with shared facilities. This can certainly be the case in less developed countries in Asia, Africa, Central & South America and Eastern Europe. Often the experience of birdwatching is enhanced by the accommodation in which we stay - such as the tented camps or luxury lodges on our African safaris, haciendas high in the Andes, or the delightful rainforest lodges in Central and South America.

Transport …

Transport will be either by private vehicle with Driver/Guide provided by our Ground Agents, or by minibus driven by our own Tour Leader.

Our Prices …

Unless otherwise stated, the tour price includes all flights (international and internal), all ground transportation within the particular country, accommodation (based on sharing a twin-bedded room), all meals, all relevant entrance fees, the services of Leaders and Guides and all tips (restaurants, porters, drivers, local guides, etc). Excluded are travel insurance, drinks and items of a personal nature.

Physical Exertion …

The pace of our tours is comparatively relaxed, but we continue to record an amazing number of species. As birds are more active in the early hours, we make no apology for rising early in the morning in order to see them. In hot climates, this allows us to enjoy birdwatching in cooler temperatures than the intense heat of the midday sun. A certain amount of non-strenuous walking is required on most of our tours; if you are in any doubt about the amount of physical exertion required, please ask. On some tours, there may also be alternative activities for a non-birdwatching partner.

Booking & Tour Information …

Upon receipt of your completed booking form and deposit, we will send you a formal acknowledgement, giving flight times (if known) and other relevant details. Our specially-designed Avian Adventures Tour Information Pack will be sent to you well before the departure date: this contains the latest flight information, notes on climate, clothing, finance, health, passports, visas, and other useful information, as well as your own personal tour diary and bird checklist for recording your observations.

Passports & Visas …

For all of our foreign destinations, a full passport is required. It is always advisable to have about 6 months of unexpired time on your passport before entry into a foreign country. Visas are also required for some countries. Although we are pleased to provide you with the relevant details, it is your responsibility to apply for and obtain a visa in good time before your departure date.

Tour Reports & additional information …

Following a tour, a full report and bird list is compiled by the tour leader, which is then distributed to members of the group. Copies of these reports are available to anyone who is considering a particular destination and would like more information – please feel free to ask! If you wish, we will also be happy to put you in contact with a tour leader or somebody else who has first-hand experience of the country in question.

Travel Insurance …

It is essential that you take out travel insurance. Do not rely on travel insurance to fully cover valuable items such as optical equipment and jewellery. This should be effected by suitable cover within your household policy (all risks).

Quality & Service …

Our insistence on quality and attention to detail have established Avian Adventures as one of the top tour companies of its kind, and we continue to provide the best choice of venues for the birdwatcher and photographer. We are building on the strength of past successes, and are confident that the personal service we provide is second to none. As our clients, your satisfaction and enjoyment are our main concern, so if you have any suggestions or ideas - either for future tours or for the improvement of our existing ones - we will be delighted to hear from you.