Bulgaria’s culture and birds

This typical birdwatching tour will show you the best of Bulgaria’s birdlife, as well as some of the most representative cultural sites of our still little known culture. All nine Bulgarian (7 cultural and 2 natural sites) Unesco World Heritage List sites are included in this tour. All the cultural sites, with one exception, are in areas which provide excellent opportunities for birdwatching.

The tour starts on the 28 May

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival at the Sofia Airport and transfer to the hotel Kremikovtzi (less than hour) on the Vitosha mountain. Short local evening walk trying to find the Nutcracker, Water Pipit, woodpeckers. Dinner in the hotel’s restaurant.

Day 2

In the morning short birding in the area. After it we will visit in the Boyana Tzarkva church, situated on the slopes of the Vitosha Mountain. The eastern church building has been constructed in 10th century AD, and another one in the 13th century. The mural paintings are dating back to 1259 and are an extraordinary treasure of the East European medieval art.

Afterwards we continue to our next spot – the Rila Monastery. This world famous heritage is the most visited historical and cultural landmark of Bulgaria. It is established in 10th century AD by the hermit Ivan Rilski who has been later acknowledged and proclaimed a saint by the Orthodox Church. For several centuries of Ottoman rule the monastery has been a spiritual and cultural center of Bulgaria, with its rich library of more than 16 00 volumes and 134 manuscripts. Here you will see marvelous mural paintings, woodcarving and icons. Overnight accommodation in a nearby hotel or in the very monastery. Birding in the area will bring Pallid Swift, woodpeckers.

Day 3

Early in the morning we move to south and look for Sub-alpine, Orphean, Olivaceous and Barred warblers. Also Egyptian Vulture, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Nuthatch, Rock Partridge, Rock Sparrow, Peregrine. We continue to the town of Melnik and after the lunch and siesta we go for Levant Sparrowhawk, Long-legged Buzzard, Masked Shrike, Black-eared Wheatear, Black Stork and many more species. If we are lucky, we can see Eleonora’s Falcon. Overnight in Melnik.

Day 4

In the mourning we make a long transfer to the famous Trigrad gorge with several stops for birdwatching. You will see that this place is attractive because of many reasons, but we come here for the Wallcreeper. Other birds are swifts, Peregrine, Dipper. Overnight in the village of Trigrad.

Day 5

In the morning we head off to the Trakyiska Grobnitza in Kazanlak. This is a Thracian tomb discovered in 1944 and dated back to 4th century BC. Several stops on the way and picnic – Isabelline Wheatear, Hoopoe, Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting, Long-legged Buzzard, and Sousliks. In the afternoon we arrive in the city of Kazanlak and the tomb. Inside we will see beautiful mural paintings describing the Thracian burial rituals and culture. Hotel accommodation in Kazanlak.

Day 6

Transfer to Nesebar, on the Bulgarian seaside, with one stop for birding – Imperial Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, Isabelline Wheatear, Sousliks.
In the afternoon we reach Burgas and we will spend couple of hours around the Atanasovsko Lake. Most of the area is a complex of saltpans with smaller settling pools for salt extraction. Smaller freshwater marshes, as well as a system of canals overgrown with marsh vegetation surround the lake. The lake is a very important migration site for storks, raptors, waterfowl and wintering geese and ducks. Birds to observe here are: Dalmatian Pelican, Ferruginous Duck, Collared Pratincole, Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Penduline and Bearded tits and many migrating waders.

In the evening we will visit the town of Nesebar, where we will see it’s Old Town. The town has been established as a Thracian settlement more than 3000 years ago, and later evolved as an ancient Greek colony on the Black Sea coast. A total of 13 churches are discovered until now, together with other historical remnants. Being destructed several times in the past, now the town is full of wooden houses, most of them built in 19th century AD. Evening free program and hotel accommodation (for two nights).

Day 7

After breakfast we make a trip round the Mandra lake - a semi-saline coastal lagoon with an outlet to the sea. It is surrounded by wet meadows, marshes and hills.
In the afternoon a trip round the Vaya lake – a shallow semi-saline coastal lake with a belt of reeds along its northern , western and southern shores.
This day we enjoy viewing White Pelican, Pygmy Cormorant, Red-crested Pochard, Ferruginous Duck, Little Bittern, Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, White-tailed Eagle, Mediterranean Gull, Purple Heron, Night Heron etc.

Day 8

We continue our tour with a transfer from Burgas to the town of Kavarna (about 160km). We make several stops for birding in interesting places. This day we shall enjoy visit to an woodland where we can see Semi-collared Flycatcher, Great Spotted, Middle Spotted, Lesser Spotted, White-backed (if lucky enough), Green, Grey-headed and Black woodpeckers, as well as Short-toed Treecreeper.
We arrive in Kavarna in the afternoon. After accommodation in our hotel we have several excellent opportunities for walking and birding. We expect to see Shag, Levant Sparrowhawk, Calandra Lark, Short-toed lark, Pied Wheatear, Stone Curlew, Black-headed Bunting and other birds. In some years the site is occupied by a large number of Rose-collared starlings.
In the evening we go to the Bolata valley where, if we have luck, we can see a pair of Eagle Owls in their nesting site. Overnight in Kavarna for two nights.

Day 9

In the morning we travel to the Durankulak Lake – a natural freshwater basin with reeds, surrounded by arable land. The lake is located near the Black Sea coast. We have an easy walk along the shoreline. In the afternoon a trip to the Shablenska tuzla – a hyper-saline lake separated from the Black Sea by a sand stripe. This day we enjoy viewing species like Paddyfield Warbler, Little Bittern, Ferruginous Duck, Squacco Heron, Purple Heron, Red-footed Falcon, Bearded Tit, Collared Pratincole and many other species.

Day 10

We head for Madara. Near the town the famous Madarski Konnik (Madara horse rider) is located. It is the only rock relief in Europe. Even though the monument is in reconstruction at the moment, the bas-relief carved in the 100 meter high rocks featuring a rider who has pierced a lion with his pike, is an impressive view. A picnic is following up on the mountain plateau. Here we can see Egyptian Vulture, Peregrine.
In the afternoon we depart for the Royal Thracian Tomb near the village of Sveshtari. Discovered in 1982, the tomb is unique architectural monument of the rich culture of Ghetti, one of the numerous Thracian tribes inhabiting this area in the ancient past and culturally influenced by the Greek civilization.
Overnight in the town of Isperih.

Day 11

We continue our trip to the Srebarna Lake – a hyper-eutrophic freshwater lake with emergent vegetation, located on the Danube river bank – an UNESCO World Heritage Site. This day we have the opportunity to watch Dalmatian Pelican – a breeding colony, Pygmy Cormorant, Bittern, Night Heron, Penduline Tit, Squacco Heron, Black-necked, Little and Great-crested grebes.
Overnight in the nearest village of Vetren.

Day 12

In the morning a visit to Ivanovski Skalni Tzarkvi (Ivanovo Rock Churches). Hollowed out in the rocks of the picturesque valley of the Roussenski Lom river by still unknown hermit monks in the 14th century, these churches are the most significant landmark of the Bulgarian medieval art. After it we will visit the Roussenski Lom Nature Park to see Roller, Ortolan Bunting, Long-legged Buzzard, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Egyptian Vulture, Ruddy Shelduck and other species.
Overnight accommodation in a private house located in the nearby village of Cherven.

Day 13

Long transfer ( about 3.5 hours ) to the Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park (70 km north of Sofia) where we are going to visit Birds of Prey Protection Society’s feeding place. With some luck we can expect Griffon Vulture. Also Egyptian Vulture, Long-legged Buzzard, swifts. Overnight in the town of Varshetz.

Day 14

Leaving for Sofia, with several stops for birding on the way depending on your departure time. Arrival in Sofia. Departures.

Group size: 4-14 persons + leaders

Price: 1160 EUR per person

Individuals: 1-3 persons + leader

Price: 1280 EUR per person

Single supplement: 130 EUR

Price includes: All ground transportation (a comfortable mini-bus), all meals - full board (with packed lunches when necessary), accommodation in hotels, guide, entrance fees for all nature reserves.

The price does not include: airfares, travel insurance, hard drinks and all items for personal use.

Official language for the tour: English. German and French speaking guides are also available.

We can also offer you a great variety of customized tours according to your preferences.
Should you have any questions or special requirements, please do not hesitate to contact us.