All in all we really enjoyed the holiday and we were grateful for the guides' expertise, particularly Stoyen. We were privileged to have Bulgaria's premier expert on invertebrates!
J.B. Hertfordshire
Tour Itinerary and Reports
- Itinerary
- Tour report - July 2024
- Tour report - July 2023
- Tour report - July 2019
- Tour report - July 2017
- Tour report - July 2015
- Tour report - July 2014
- Tour report - July 2013
- Tour report - July 2012
- Tour report - July 2011
- Tour report - August 2009
- Tour report - August 2008
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Bulgaria in Summer
Tour Code: BGR04An 8-day wildlife holiday to Bulgaria's Pirin Mountains National Park in search of the birds, butterflies and alpine flowers of this under-visited corner of Europe.
£1,795 (Inc flights)
£1,495
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
The beautiful Pirin Mountains, in south-eastern Bulgaria, offer the naturalist an interesting variety of landscapes and scenery from alpine meadows dotted with glacial lakes, to conifer forests, dry Mediterranean habitats and rocky tree-lined river valleys. This 2-centre wildlife tour – based first in the attractive village of Melnik and then in the town of Bansko – focuses on all aspects of the natural world including birds, butterflies, dragonflies, reptiles and flowers. Wildlife walks in such areas as the Struma Valley, Kresna Gorge and Ruptie Hills may yield birds such as Rock Nuthatch, Isabelline Wheatear, Hoopoe and Bee-eater, plus butterflies including Little Tiger Blue, Violet Fritillary and many others.
- Walks in the beautiful Pirin Mountains National Park
- General wildlife tour focusing on birds, butterflies, dragonflies, plants & other wildlife
- Levant Sparrowhawk, Pallid Swift & Syrian Woodpecker amongst avian highlights
- Over 80 species of butterfly possible
- Dragonflies such as White-tailed Skimmer & Scarlet Darter
- Visit Melnik, one of Bulgaria’s most attractive villages
- Expertly led by a British Naturetrek naturalist & local guides
Grading
A/B. Easy to moderate day walks.
Bulgaria’s exceptional natural history is well known to those Naturetrek travellers who have previously joined our popular spring and autumn tours. This holiday allows us to enjoy the highlights of the equally interesting summer season, concentrating on the birds, insects and alpine flowers to be found in the beautiful Pirin Mountains. This time we will stay in just two centres and visit a contrasting range of upland habitats as our explorations take us from the drier southwestern slopes of this picturesque region to the high alpine meadows in the northeast of the Pirin range. With few long drives and most of each day spent on foot exploring the forests, meadows and rocky peaks, this is an ideal choice for those with a penchant for a general natural history tour amidst spectacular scenery.
The Pirin Mountains lie in the southwestern corner of Bulgaria, close to the border with Greece. This is a landscape of exceptional natural beauty, boasting 100 high peaks over 2,000 metres, alpine meadows dotted with glacial lakes, forested hillsides, spectacular rocky gorges and precipitous cliff faces. After flying from London to Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, we drive to the small town of Melnik where we will be based for the first three nights of the tour in the shadow of the mountains. Melnik is famous for its locally produced wines and over the years has witnessed the passage of the Thracians, Romans and Byzantines, each of which have left their mark on the town’s unique and attractive architecture.
The character and physical appearance of the mountains change significantly from the dry, Mediterranean habitats of the southwestern slopes to the wetter, pine-covered hills of the north-east. Melnik is situated in the former region and we begin our natural history walks in the Struma River Valley and Kresna Gorge, part of which is protected within the Tissata Reserve, a reserve classified as an ‘Important Bird Area’ by BirdLife International. The Mediterranean flora here is matched by a wonderful selection of butterflies and birds, including among the latter, both Lesser Grey and Woodchat Shrike, Roller, Beeeater, Red-rumped Swallow and Blackeared Wheatear, together with such typically Balkan species as Sombre Tit and Barred Warbler.
Hot thermal springs are a feature of the volcanic Rupite Hills which occupy the third day of our tour. Once again the climate and flora are predominately Mediterranean in this dry, rocky terrain which is dominated by the huge crater of the inactive volcano Kujuh. Another interesting selection of birds is in prospect with such species as Egyptian Vulture, Long-legged Buzzard, Levant Sparrowhawk and Crested Lark to look for. The sunny conditions are also likely to encourage a variety of butterflies and dragonflies to take wing and add their colour to the displays of wild flowers. Great Banded Grayling, Swallowtail, Freyer’s Purple Emperor and Hungarian Glider are just a few of the butterflies recorded from here.
Insects, and in particular dragonflies, are also well represented at our next destination, a series of small freshwater lakes and ponds in the Struma Valley. Here the aquatic influence is reflected by birds such as White Stork and Great Reed Warbler, but the patchwork of woodlands and meadows bordering the ponds also provides habitat for a wider range of birds such as Olivaceous Warbler, Hoopoe, Cirl Bunting and Spanish Sparrow. The variety of butterflies is particularly diverse with Large Copper, Lesser Spotted Fritillary, Krueper’s Small White and Bulgarian Marsh Fritillary among the attractions.
After three full days in the south of the mountains we drive 120 kilometres to Bansko, a town that nestles in a valley on the north-eastern slopes of the range. We will be based in Bansko for a further three nights and will follow a similar programme of day walks and excursions into the surrounding mountains in order to best appreciate the diversity of the various habitats. Bansko is the gateway to the huge Pirin Mountains National Park which straddles the highest peaks in the range, reaching a maximum elevation of over 2,900 metres. Here we find ourselves in a completely different landscape to the south as we walk amid lush pine forests and high alpine meadows, venturing into the subalpine zone, framed by a myriad of rugged peaks and ridges. The avifauna and flora is as exciting as the scenery and some of the birds we hope to see in this northern sector include Golden Eagle, Crag Martin, Alpine Accentor, Firecrest and Grey-headed Woodpecker. Butterflies also abound in these high altitude meadows with the striking Apollo one of the most impressive species.
All too soon it will be time to take our leave of the Pirin Mountains and return to Sofia for our flight to London, but like many before us we will doubtless have been captivated by the unspoilt beauty and abundant natural history of this wonderful region.
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
We stay in simple but comfortable hotels with private facilities.
- Food:
All meals are included in the price.
Reviews
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Stoyan was an excellent leader - his knowledge of butterflies and dragonflies excellent; he was also helpful, patient and able to impart his knowledge in a second language. He has an excellent command of English.
L.J. Conwy -
Very pleasant guides. Excellent birders (UK and Bulgarian) and butterfly expert. Highlight was the unexpected wonderful lunch on our penultimate day, following a walk from our Bansko Hotel. Great food, atmosphere and location. Lovely group of people. Never hurried (sometimes pace was a bit too slow for me!) Beautiful scenery. Niko had amusing tales and interesting local information to relate.
S.N. Leicestershire -
A very enjoyable trip with excellent leaders, all experts in their own fields, and an excellent driver.
S.B. Bedfordshire -
Alan is a super leader and would definitely go on another trip with him. Very patient and very entertaining! Very widespread knowledge - amazing!
J.G. Bedfordshire -
Everything well organised. The minibus and bus driver were excellent; a very good driver in whom I think we all had full confidence. Alan Outen was a very knowledgeable naturalist. Assen Ignatov was very good on local knowledge and knowledge of bird behaviour, calls etc. He was also very friendly and helpful on other aspects.
A.B. Gloucestershire -
Driver was first class. Bus was spotless. Leader and guide could not have been more knowledgeable or helpful. I did enjoy my holiday greatly. The guides and the others in the group made it memorable.
M.R. Buckinghamshire -
The guides were clearly expert in their various fields. They took considerable pains to show us whatever was around and tried to ensure that all of the group had a view. This meant we did see a lot of birds, butterflies, dragonflies etc. Overall we enjoyed the holiday - there was lots to be interested in and everyone was very friendly.
J.E. Yorkshire
Dates & Prices
2025
2026
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The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.
Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:
- Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
- The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
- Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
- Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
- Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
- Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar
Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
Our specialist recommends...
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
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Butterfly Watching Holidays Led by Expert Naturalists
Who can fail to be delighted by butterflies – the intensity and variety of their colours, their delicate beauty and fascinating life cycles? Our tours allow butterfly-watching enthusiasts to observe marvellous species all around the world. Sadly, butterflies are in decline in many regions. To help prevent the loss of these beautiful creatures, our butterfly holidays make a direct contribution to their conservation.
Naturetrek Butterfly Tours
- We offer an excellent range of dedicated butterfly holidays
- All tours are led by a Naturetrek butterfly-watching expert
- Although butterflies are the main focus of our butterfly tours, we also take time to observe other wildlife
- By booking one of our dedicated butterfly holidays you will automatically be making a contribution to their conservation.
Here’s a selection of our dedicated butterfly tours:
Although we include butterfly-watching in many of our holidays, we offer a wide selection of dedicated butterfly tours, including:
- The Cevennes – we look for butterflies in the Massif Central
- Butterflies in Normandy – we go in search of some of Normandy’s 160 species of butterfly
- Sweden's Butterflies & Dragonflies – Sweden is home to Large Blue, Apollo, Scarce Copper and many more species
- Butterflies of the Dolomites – we explore sheltered valleys and butterfly hot-spots in the Italian Dolomites
- Sri Lanka - A Butterfly Tour – seeking Sri Lanka’s dazzling tropical species
- Butterflies of Morocco's High Atlas Mountains – a search for the butterflies of the High Atlas Mountains, with a wealth of other wildlife and mountain walks in spectacular scenery.
Naturetrek & Butterfly Conservation
As a top category ‘Gold’ corporate sponsor of Butterfly Conservation (BC), we donate around £1,500 annually to the charity. As well as this, since 2002 we have donated 10% of all income generated by our annual programme of butterfly tours that we run in partnership with BC, and give BC membership to all non-members joining the tours.
Our specialist recommends...
Tom Brereton - Operations Manager
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
EnquireTour Reports
- Tour report - July 2024
- Tour report - July 2023
- Tour report - July 2019
- Tour report - July 2017
- Tour report - July 2015
- Tour report - July 2014
- Tour report - July 2013
- Tour report - July 2012
- Tour report - July 2011
- Tour report - August 2009
- Tour report - August 2008
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Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!