Please review the following carefully to make sure this tour is a good fit for you:

Altitude, Mobility, and Stamina:  Participants should be aware of the potential effects of altitude and take steps to prepare including proper hydration.  Colorado has the highest average elevation in the United States and our birding and travel will range from roughly 4,500 feet above sea level to several brief periods about 11,000 feet.  Our overnights will be in Longmont (elevation 4,984 feet above sea level.)  Our days will be active and can include multiple walks of up to one mile on level roads or on trails with some rocky sections.  Most walks are filled with frequent pauses to observe birds.  This tour is not recommended for birders who are prone to altitude-related health issues,  have mobility issues, or who have difficulty or are unwilling to climb unassisted in and out of mini-vans (including the back seat.)  We recommend that you consult with your physician prior to committing to this trip and if you have health conditions or concerns about your ability to undertake moderate activity at higher elevations.

COVID-19:  In May 2023 the WHO (World Health Organization), the CDC (United States Centers for Disease Control) downgraded their alert level for COVID-19 and declared an end to the public health emergency. We will continue to apply commonsense procedures to keep participants as safe and healthy as possible while on tour. Please advise the leaders if you feel sick or are exhibiting sickness symptoms while on tour. Leaders will also monitor the group, and may request that a sick participant, or participant exhibiting symptoms, wear a mask while in close quarters with the group (in the van, for example). If a participant is sick while on tour, the leader has the right to ask them to stay back and rest at the hotel for a day or two if circumstances allow.

Please be aware that some travel insurance policies may not cover COVID-19-related illnesses or expenses. If a participant is unable to continue with their tour due to a COVID-related reason, all costs associated with isolating and/or later rejoining the tour are the participant’s responsibility.

Daily Schedule:  For optimal birding, we will start early each morning with at least one morning departure from the hotel at 5:30 a.m. Our full birding days will conclude by 5:00 p.m. followed by a group dinner.

Our daily schedule will vary and is subject to change. A more detailed schedule will be provided to participants.  We will travel in two regular size mini-vans; participants should be prepared to ride in any seat and will be expected to switch seat locations each day.  Depending on the number of participants, space for items such as heavy-duty tripods and large backpacks may be limited each day.  We encourage you to travel light.

Non-smoking: Smoking is not permitted during any of our group activities including van travel, group birding, or meals. The block of rooms we have reserved are all non-smoking rooms.

Food Allergies / Requirements:   We will do our best to accommodate specific food allergies but we can’t guarantee that all restaurants can meet every need.   Please notify us well in advance of specific needs or requirements so we can work with you to be prepared.

Terms & Conditions and Participation Agreement: Every participant will be required to review and electronically sign the Terms & Conditions and Participation Agreement. You can preview it here.

Colorado Birding Adventures does not discriminate in its tours or activities on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion or religious creed, disability or handicap, sex or gender, gender identity and/or expression (including a transgender identity), sexual orientation, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Based on the above description of the physical requirements of the tour, if you are concerned about whether this tour is a good fit for you please contact us and fully explain your concerns before you register and make a deposit.  To ensure a quality experience for all participants, we may be limited in our ability to make special accommodations if you have mobility, stamina, or altitude-related limitations.

Lodging: Your hotel for the nights included in the tour cost is the Fairfield Inn & Suites Boulder/Longmont. The hotel is conveniently located closed to restaurants, grocery stores, and shopping.

Your tour cost includes four nights of lodging at the Fairfield Inn. We will have you pre-registered and your room is covered by us those three nights. You will need to present a credit card to cover any incidental expenses but the basic room charge goes on our bill. If you would like to stay an extra night before or after our official tour and wish to stay at our tour headquarters hotel, please contact the Fairfield Inn directly (phone: 303-776-8050) to make your own reservation. Let them know you are with the Colorado Birding Adventures/Carl Bendorf group and ask if the same group rate is available. Please note that summer is very busy for Colorado hotels and there is no guarantee that additional nights will be available or that the group rate will be available. If you are interested, we recommend you book as early as possible.

Meals:  Breakfasts will be as provided by the hotel or simple cold breakfasts we bring along on early mornings.  To maximize our time in the field, we’ll offer simple, delicious picnic lunches on most days. Drinking lots of water is vital at high altitude and we will have a supply with us to refill your own reusable water bottles.

Dinners will be at our favorite local restaurants (no chains) in Longmont. We will be ordering from the full restaurant menu. All restaurants will offer both vegetarian and gluten-free options.  Non-alcoholic beverages will be included with your meals. We cannot offer credit or a refund for any included meals a participant chooses to skip.

Weather/Clothing:  Weather conditions in Colorado in summer can vary widely. Average summer temperatures in Denver/Longmont are highs in the lower 80sF and lows in the 50s. However, we will have at least one early morning at higher elevations in Rocky Mountain National Park where it can be quite cold and windy even in summer; a warm hat/gloves/coat may be needed. In contrast, the temperatures at the Pawnee Grassland can easily be well into the 90s! Afternoon thunderstorms are also common anywhere.  Be prepared with layers of clothing that can adapt to chilly mornings and hot, sunny afternoons. We will not be hiking in extreme rocky places and lightweight hiking boots or sturdy walking shoes will be sufficient.  A windbreaker/rain jacket is recommended as well as a hat for sun protection.  A suggested packing list will be provided to participants.

Maximum and Minimum Participants: This tour will have a maximum of ten participants and requires a minimum of eight participants. If the minimum is not met by May 1, 2025, the tour is subject to cancellation and all deposits and payments will be fully refunded.