Hi ,

I for one, know how difficult it can be to plan a holiday with my non-birding spouse. She would not enjoy my longer two-three week birding trips on which it is nothing but birds 24/7. Yet, we have done several shorter trips on which I get to watch birds (she usually joins me if it is not very early in the morning) and we also do many other things together. The other things may be trying to see some iconic mammals (she loves cats for instance) or visit some cultural must-see sites. 

In fact, many of the trips on the 7WB website have been designed in a way that it includes experiences that non-birding spouses would enjoy. Yet, they are birding trips. For the birders who want to maximize the time in the field, there are no enforced siestas, and we will also do owling or herping a night when possible. 

In this newsletter, I first of all, want to highlight a couple of recently confirmed birding trips which are also suitable for non-birding spouses or beginner birders.  The common denominator is that they are quite short trips and have elements common on bucket lists for muggles. 

I shall mention some longer birding trips as well as a few personal updates - which may, or may not, interest you. 
The purpose of including personal stuff, is to make it... well.... more personal ....and perhaps more interesting to you, even if you are not planning to take a birding trip soon. 

Let's jump right in.... 

Peru

Peru is a great destination to bring your non-birding partner or newbie birder friend. Who has not heard of Machu Picchu and the Inca Culture? The Inca culture is only the tip of the iceberg. There are also the impressive pre-Inca cultures of Tiwanaku, Paracas, Nazca, and Wari cultures in the south, and Moche, Chimu, and Chachapoyas cultures in the north. All have left important archeological sites well worth a visit when birding in these areas.

Peru also has some of the best cuisines in South America. Additionally, feeding stations for hummingbirds a new comfortable eco-lodges are popping up all over the place. 

I think too many birders cave into their non-birding spouses' demands and go to Peru just on an overall cultural tour, when in fact there are many ways, birds can be included without the culture left aside.

Below are a couple of tours that are confirmed that have cultural elements included. If these dates don't fit you, look at the itineraries and then just reply to this email with the dates you would like to come to Peru. Chances are that others want to do the same. 

Short 6-day Northern Peru with Marvelous Spatuletail, Kuelap and Gocta Falls. May 13-19, 2022.

This is our very popular short North Peru 40 Hummingbirds tour visiting Waqanki, Owlet Lodge, and Huembo Lodge, but with one more day added so there is time to see the impressive Gocta Falls in the distance - there is a good birding on this road too - and the impressive Kuelap fortress of the Chachapoyas culture. 
Click the button below to get the complete itinerary and sign-up if you like.

11-day Northern Peru with Leymebamba and Kuelap. June 21-1 July. 
We shall do a slightly different itinerary compared to our regular 10-day itinerary including Cajamarca, Celendin the upper Marañon valley, and Leymebamba.  
Indeed, the itinerary has more in common with our long 16-day itinerary, but this one is reduced to just 11 days. 

The tour gives a transect of the best birds in Northern Peru, starting at Chiclayo on the Pacific coast with Peruvian Plantcutter and White-winged Guan, continuing through Cajamarca with Grey-bellied Comet into the Marañon valley to reach Leymebamba and the Chachapoyas culture museum, the Kuelap fortress and on to  Huembo with Marvelous Spatuletail.
 

Further east, passing Abra Patricia with Long-whiskered Owlet and Royal Sunangel, making a visit to the Hummingbird gardens of Waqanki in Moyobamba, finalizing the tour in Tarapoto. 

At the time of writing this itinerary is confirmed with just one person. Cost is just below $4000, staying at the nicest place- if two more people sign up. Let me know if interested in this tour by replying to this email. 
 

Machu Picchu and birding. June 5 and 26. Nov 19 and 26.

It goes without saying. If there is anything that can lure your non-birding partner to Peru, it is a visit to Machu Picchu. 

We run the general 5-day birding tour that includes Machu Picchu a lot, but there is also a 5-day birding and culture itinerary that puts more focus on the archeological sites in the Sacred Valley and Cusco, but regardless gets you most of the endemic and special birds in this itinerary. 

Finally, there is a deluxe version where we are staying at very nice lodges, which also gives the best bird photography experience. 

The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu on June 29 or June 30. 

We don't organize the Inca Trail ourselves. Although the birding along the train can be very good, the trail is highly regulated with little flexibility for specific birding and hiking.  However, the Inca Trail is a very popular item on bucket lists.
One should not attempt to do the Inca Trail straight from sea level, so Kolibri has the perfect adaptation itinerary that also includes the best birding in the area, and which will prepare you both altitude-wise and birding-wise before your hike, 
We run the Inca Trail altitude prep birding trip June 26-28 for some clients who are doing the Inca Trail. Check it out!

The Southern Circuit. 
A couple of people have shown interest this year in doing what is perhaps the most well adapted longer Peru birding trip you can take, that also gives as much cultural aspects and food experiences as it gives birding. I am talking about the Peru Southern Circuit, which follows the same route of the muggles, and visit the same places, although we are birding at the same time. This is the ultimate win-win for both birder and non-birding spouse. 
We can adapt lodgings and services to your budget as tiered pricing is available. Check it out and decide when you want to go.

Southern Spain. April 22-28. 
The cultural setting in Andalucia in Southern Spain makes for a perfect short birding and culture trip. 
I have mentioned this tour in previous emails It is still running despite only one person booked so far. The vehicle is booked now, so there would only be room for one or two more people. 

To make it less expensive for my confirmed client who is flying in from the US, the trip will start in Madrid, and from there drive to Ubeda which will be our base to visit Andujar, Cazorla, and Sierra Magina. We shall pass the night of April 21 in the cultural highlight of Toledo just south of Madrid.  
The other cultural highlights include a visit to Alhambra and the Mezquita of Cordoba.

But it is the magnificent raptors such as Lammergeier and Spanish Imperial Eagle, and the chance to see an Iberian Lynx, which will be the highlight for the nature-lover, plus an abundance of wild mountain flowers. 

I mentioned in the last newsletter, that I started my guiding career 35 years ago, in Southern Spain. I am very much looking forward to going down memory lane on this trip. As I really would like to celebrate my 35 years as a nature guide with more people I am extending the special discount.  Use the DISCOUNT CODE. 

Uganda - Gorilla, Chimps and Shoebill. July 21-30.
Another trip I have mentioned in previous newsletters is the confirmed trip to Uganda that 7 Wonders Birding organizes together with a top birding outfitter and expert local guides. 
There are no historical sites on this trip, but well a good taste of Africa and the experience of close up encounters with our nearest relatives in the natural world - Gorillas and Chimpanzees are a once in a lifetime experience that should not be missed by anyone. 

Add some birdwatching with many endemics, plus the bizarre Shoebill and lots of other wildlife, there is plenty for the birdwatcher here. 
 

The original itinerary, which is the one that we shall run next year, was only 7 days, but since everyone who had signed up so far had some more time and are keen birders, we have added three more days, to have a better chance of covering most of the Albertine Rift Valley endemics.  I have just updated the 2022 Uganda itinerary, take a look.

Remember: If you want to join us, we can take a max of four more people. Also, note that the Gorilla permits are limited, so one needs to book ASAP. 

Pantanal, Brazil. July 3 or Oct 23.  

Again a trip that doesn't contain many cultural aspects for the non-birding spouse, except for the Brazilian Cowboys - Vaqueiros. But the wildlife is second to none. Pantanal has become the place on earth to spot a JAGUAR. Who would not like to see such a kitty?

There are also a bunch of other larger animals usually associated with the Amazon, but much easier to see here. We frequently see Giant Otter, Tapir, Giant Anteater, Capybara, Howler monkeys, and deers. Even Ocelot at times. 
The birds are big and colorful including the largest parrot on earth - Hyacinth Macaw, as well as Jabiru, Sunbittern, Plumbeous Ibis, and Bare-faced Curassow. 
I'd say, that the Pantanal is probably one of the best places on earth to get your spouse and kids into birding. 

Check out the itinerary. Note that we are likely making some small changes in the lodges used, as we have been recommended a new lodge close to Puerto Jofre. 

Angkor Wat, Cambodia, and threatened Ibises. October 5. 
This short trip to Cambodia can be taken only by taking five days off from work. Angkor Wat is world famous temple citadel and one of the 10 most wanted places to visit for anyone not interested in birds.  Combine this with a search for some of the most endangered birds in Asia, and there is something for both the birder and the non-birder. 
The booked clients are planning to combine their Cambodia trip with some easy beach time in Thailand before or after the trip. 
If you are a hard-core birder going on your own, you'd appreciate a four-day extension trek in the Aural Mountains for the Cambodian endemics. But perhaps not something your non-birding spouse will enjoy... Be careful!

More trips in the pipeline. 
You can always find additional trip ideas on our websites 7 Wonders Birding and Kolibri Expeditions.

I am very close to uploading the complete itinerary for Madagascar which runs in late November. Also, the Namibia itineraries must come up. 

I shall likely offer our Aardvark program in South Africa the first week of September because it is likely I will be in South Africa anyway running the Comrades Marathon - an ultramarathon of 90 km from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on Aug 28. I will also offer an inexpensive recce of sites close to Durban before the race if anyone wants to join (you don't have to run!). 
I did not win the ballot of the London Marathon in September so I am looking for other challenges. 

India and Bhutan are planned for the end of the year. Both are very suitable for non-birding spouses, 

Kilimanjaro summit, Tanzania has been postponed to Oct 2023 and already has four perhaps six takers. It shall likely run with a Usambaras pre trip and a Serengeti/Ngorongoro post-trip.

So don't miss our coming newsletter where these trips will be presented. 

Saludos

Gunnar

PS. Are any bird photographers/birders interested in Machu Picchu-Abra Malaga, Peru June 27-31 and Manu road 1-5 July? A bird photographer from Sweden is keen for these dates, and would like to other punters to get a better price.