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Poland in Summer
Tour Code: POL09An 8-day holiday to north-eastern Poland focusing on the butterflies, dragonflies and other wildlife of the Biebrza National Park and the Bialoweiza Forest.
£2,495 (Inc flights)
£2,245
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
Poland is famous as one of Europe’s top countries for watching birds and mammals. However, it is also excellent for butterflies and dragonflies, although these have received less attention until now. On this 8-day, high summer, tour we will visit two famous areas: Biebrza National Park and the unique Bialowieza Forest. More than 100 species of butterflies have been recorded at both sites, and we will look for such gems as Poplar Admiral (one of the continent’s most sought-after butterflies), Moorland Clouded Yellow, Cranberry Fritillary and Violet Copper. In the rich wetlands a huge range of dragonflies and damselflies occurs, with an eclectic mixture of boreal and continental species. We will also be hoping to see some of the area's larger wildlife, including mammals and birds such as a European Bison, Greater Spotted Eagle and Black Woodpecker.
- Visiting unspoilt regions of Poland, rich in all wildlife
- Four nights near superb Biebrza National Park, 600km2 of protected wetland and woodland
- Superb assemblage of dragonflies and damselflies
- 100 species of butterflies have been recorded at both centres
- Potential for Aquatic Warbler sightings
- Three nights near incomparable Bialowieza, unique relict ancient primeval forest
- Butterflies include Poplar Admiral, Geranium Argus
- Chance of European Bison
Poland was one of the first countries in eastern Europe to open its doors to birdwatchers and we have been running tours here in search of Aquatic Warblers, Great Snipe and woodpeckers for over 25 years! Although much has changed over the past quarter of a century, the pace of change has been slowest in Poland’s peaceful north-eastern corner. Pristine primeval forests – some of the last in Europe – and extensive wetlands stand as a final refuge for wildlife that has been squeezed out of much of the rest of the continent. Fortunately, farming in this region has yet to fully embrace the intensification that has blighted much of the land further west and this habitat-rich patchwork of traditional agricultural land, forests, wetlands and meadows is home to, not only the rich diversity of birds we have enjoyed over so many years, but a wonderful variety of butterflies and dragonflies too.
As spring turns to summer, a colourful mix of butterflies and dragonflies take to the wing. Northeastern Poland is a melting pot of boreal, continental and Siberian lepidoptera. Over 100 species have been recorded in the forests of Bialoweiza and a similar number live in the riverine habitats along the Biebrza River. This tour focuses on these two wildlife havens and, in particular, on the region’s butterflies and dragonflies. We start with a flight into Warsaw, Poland’s capital, before transferring to the ancient forests of Bialoweiza, close to the Belarus border, for the first three nights of the tour. After exploring the primeval woodlands in the ‘Strict Reserve’, we will go in search of Poplar Admiral, Moorland Clouded Yellow and Geranium Argos. Birds include White-backed Woodpecker, and we may even catch sight of one of Europe’s last remaining European Bison. Moving on, we will conclude our tour in Biebrza National Park in which the Biebrza River meanders through 600 square kilometres of protected wetlands and woodlands. We will be based for four nights in the small town of Goniadz, from where we will look for Scarce, Nickerl’s and Cranberry Fritillaries, plus Large, Sooty, Scarce and Violet Coppers. A variety of dragonflies will be hawking for insects – over 60 species have been recorded in north-eastern Poland – whilst for added variety we hope to see Elk and Aquatic Warbler, before we need to return to Warsaw to catch our flight home.
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
All accommodation is included in the holiday cost. We will stay in comfortable, rural guesthouses
- Food:
All meals are included.
Dates & Prices
2025
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[description] => 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...
"I'd recommend Naturetrek's Butterflies of South Africa holiday. On this butterfly holiday we look for butterflies in the Wajkkerstrom (montane grassland), which supports a wonderful diversity of species. Closer to home I'd suggest our Butterflies of Hungary tour, or Butterflies of Croatia for unspoilt landscapes and a density of butterfly-life rarely seen in western Europe now."
Tom Brereton - Operations Manager
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Dragonflies are certainly not for the faint-hearted! They are fearsome insects – if you are their size or smaller! They are also dazzlingly beautiful, with a wide array of hues and forms. Our dragonfly tours take you to some of Europe’s top habitats where we have the best chances of witnessing a range of species and their behaviour.
Naturetrek Dragonfly Tours
We like to respond to your specific wildlife interests and, in recent years, we have had an increasing number of requests for dedicated dragonfly holidays. We are pleased to be able to offer a selection of tours which focus on exploring habitats where some of Europe’s most diverse and spectacular dragonfly species are found.
All of our dragonfly tours are accompanied by at least one specialist leader. On some tours there may be a second leader with a different area of natural history expertise. Some highlights of our dragonfly holidays may include: observing clouds of damselflies as they emerge in late spring from pools, watching them hover over a lake or stretch of grassland, or witnessing a fight to the death between territorial males.
We’re equally comfortable providing opportunities for the dedicated enthusiast to debate the finer points of identification with our expert guide, or to simply enjoy their beautiful display of colours and forms.
Our specialist recommends...
"I’d recommend our Sardinia’s Dragonflies tour – it has about 35 species, most of which are not found in the UK, and its proximity to Africa means it hosts some rather exotic species such as Banded Groundlings. Island Bluetail will interest the real enthusiast, whereas Copper Demoiselles are a bit easier to find."
David Smallshire - Tour Leader
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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.
Enquire
Tour Reports
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!
