Falconry, recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity, represents one of the oldest and most aristocratic of field pursuits — a partnership between human and raptor refined across four thousand years of practice from the steppes of Central Asia to the desert kingdoms of the Arabian Peninsula. Today, the finest falconry experiences offer travellers an intimate encounter with these extraordinary birds of prey, combining the thrill of witnessing a peregrine's stoop or a gyrfalcon's pursuit with the meditative discipline required to earn a wild creature's trust.
Our assessments of falconry experiences evaluate the welfare standards maintained for the birds, the expertise and passion of the falconers, and the quality of the landscape in which flights take place. We consider whether experiences offer genuine education in the art — explaining jess and hood, lure and quarry, the subtleties of reading wind and terrain — or merely provide a photo opportunity with a tethered bird. Florence Consul's reviews recognise that authentic falconry demands time, patience, and respect for both the tradition and the animals at its heart.
Readers drawn to this ancient art will discover experiences ranging from morning hawk walks through English countryside to extended desert expeditions with Bedouin falconers and their saker falcons. Each recommendation promises an encounter that connects travellers with one of humanity's most enduring partnerships with the natural world — a pursuit where success is measured not in trophies but in the perfection of a single flight.