Frequently Asked Questions

None at all. Every trip welcomes complete beginners right alongside women who've been birding for years, and both get the same guide, the same pace, and the same warm welcome. If you've never picked up binoculars before, you'll pick them up on day one, right alongside everyone else.

Completely normal, and it fades fast. Your lead bird guide will help you get steady behind the binoculars in the first outing or two, and the group settles into its own quiet rhythm within a day. Nobody's watching to see who spots the bird first.

Both. Most mornings begin with a short briefing from your lead bird guide on what to expect and listen for, then the outing is yours to move through at your own pace while they help with calls, field marks, and the spotting scope. Most evenings, the group gathers to go through the day's checklist together.

Yes. Your lead bird guide sets up the scope so everyone gets a proper look, and if you miss a sighting, just let them know; they'll do what they can to help you find it again before the group moves on.

No, we provide binoculars for you to use for the whole trip, so there's nothing extra to pack or buy beforehand. If you already have a pair you love using, feel free to bring it along instead. Your guide also carries a spotting scope for the whole group to share.

Your guide will move the outing to a covered or sheltered spot, or shift it to another time of day; birds tend to have their own opinions about weather too. It doesn't affect the rest of your trip.

We can't promise it. Birds are wild, and sightings depend on season, weather, and migration timing as much as anything else. What we can promise is a guide who knows exactly where and how to look, giving you the best possible chance. A missed sighting isn't a shortfall in the trip; it's just birding.

Avienne trips are designed for curious, nature-minded women who like the idea of slowing down enough to really look at a place, and the life in it. They're flexible, open-minded, and happy to make a few new friends along the way.

We're not too fussy about age. If you've read the itinerary and the destination speaks to you, and you feel up to the pace of the days, you'll fit right in.

Avienne trips are set at a gentle, walking pace rather than an adventure-travel one, but there's still a fair amount of time on your feet: some early starts (the best birding often happens at dawn), and a few uneven or muddy surfaces in reserves and natural areas. None of it is designed to be competitive; the group moves at its own pace. Unfortunately these trips aren't currently suited to guests requiring walking aids, given some of the terrain involved.

No, our trips are designed so you'll make friends and find your flock every step of the way.

Avienne is a women-only community, and our trips are built around the shared birdwatching experience, so we're not able to accommodate a companion of any kind who isn't joining the trip as a registered guest.

With the twin share option, you can be matched with a roommate or travel with your own companion. If you'd rather have your own space, you can reserve the private room; availability and pricing vary by trip and are shown on each trip's page.

The group size is up to 12 women per journey. Groups of up to 8 travel with one lead bird guide; groups of 9 to 12 have a second qualified guide or host. Check the specific trip you're interested in for confirmation.

Yes, feel free to reach out with any requests. We're always looking into new destinations.

We believe strongly in sustainable, respectful travel, and that extends to the birds and wild places we visit as much as the people and communities. Our guides and local partners are properly trained, certified where relevant, and fairly paid in their local context; be wary of a trip that's suspiciously cheap, since this is usually the first place a less reputable operator cuts corners. If you ever have a concern about the environmental or cultural impact of something we've arranged, please raise it with us. We take it seriously.

We aim never to steer you toward shops where you'll feel pressured, and to always put your interests first. If you fall in love with something and want help negotiating a fair price, we're happy to help. Most guests do enjoy browsing the markets and bazaars along the way, we just do our best to make sure it never feels uncomfortable.

A deposit secures your spot (the specific amount is shown on the trip page), with the remaining balance due at least 120 days before departure. That timeline isn't for our benefit, our own suppliers require advance payment to guarantee availability. You can pay by major credit card (fees apply) or bank transfer, get in touch to arrange the latter. Note: before your final balance is paid, the price may shift slightly if there's significant movement in exchange rates. Full detail is in our Terms and Conditions.

You can book directly online by selecting your trip and dates, or get in touch with us first if you'd like to chat before committing.

All prices are shown in USD.

No. As tour operators rather than travel agents, we're not licensed to sell flights. We'd recommend a trusted travel agent if you'd like help booking yours.

No. Wherever possible, activities are already included in your trip price, and any add-ons are kept as reasonable as we can make them.

Tipping is a standard part of travel in the destinations we visit. For each departure, we organise a shared tip kitty with a suggested contribution, covering your lead bird guide (and second guide, on larger group departures) and local support staff along the way.