Activity level:

easy/moderate walks, some longer drives expected

Eastern Europe / Bulgaria

Vultures and pelicans
Bulgaria in spring 9 days

Do you want to see pelicans, vultures, eagles and Eastern Mediterranean passerines on just one tour? Then come with us to Bulgaria to experience beautiful landscapes, fantastic bird species and friendly people. Our round trip takes you to the best places in the country from the Eastern Rhodope Mountains to the Black Sea Coast.
The Eastern Rhodope Mountains are famous for its breeding vultures and feeding tables. The Sakar and Strandja Mountains along the Turkish border are a paradise for raptors and have an extraordinary biodiversity of fauna and flora. The Black Sea Coast is characterized by shallow lakes, coastal sand dunes, huge grasslands and beautiful riverine forests.

We can also design longer itineraries including Vitosha Mountain to see Ring Ouzel, Nutcracker, Common Crossbill, Water Pipit, Alpine Accentor and Shore Lark, Central Balkan National Park for Ural Owl and Red-breasted Flycatcher, or the Western Rhodope Mountains to observe Wallcreeper.

Fact File
- 9 days in Bulgaria
- start and finish in Varna, or start in Varna and finish in Sofia
- visiting the Black Sea Coast, the Eastern Rhodope, Strandja and Sakar Mountains
- using 3 accommodations

Highlights
- exploring steppe and coastal cliffs at Cape Kaliakra and Yailata
- visiting Durankulak and Shabla Lake
- discovering Kamchia Reserve
- 2 days in the Bourgas lakes region
- exploring the mountains of Southern Bulgaria
- superb scenery, rare bird species

Accommodation
3 nights in Durankulak on the Black Sea Coast
2 nights close to Nesebar on the Black Sea Coast
3 nights close to Madjarovo in the Eastern Rhodope Mountains

Departure Dates
15-23 May, 2010

Price
Our price includes:
- all travel as noted in the itinerary;
- all accommodation based on shared rooms (most rooms are twin bedded), at most locations there are single rooms as well for extra charge (Please ask for a single room at the time of booking!);
- 3 meals per day, generally breakfast at the accommodation, packed lunch, dinner (consists of at least two courses);
- services of the leader(s);
- trip materials.

The all inclusive land price of this tour: 
9 days at 946 GBP + 130 GBP single room supplement

Not included:
- flights to and from Bulgaria;
- optional programmes to places of interest and entrance fees involved;
- airport and other departure taxes, tips;
- food beyond generally 3 meals/day mentioned in the itineraries;
- excess baggage charges;
- telephone calls;
- alcoholic beverages;
- compulsory personal insurance.
If you have questions about the inclusion of any cost item, please contact us.

Optional extensions
Extra days in the Western Rhodope Mountains, Central Balkan National Park and Vitosha Mountain

Itinerary

1-3

After arrival to Varna Airport we drive to Kavarna. We visit the coast for European Shag, Yelkouan Shearwater and Arctic Skua. We explore the steppe at Yailata and Cape Kaliakra for Levant Sparrowhawk, Pied and Isabelline Wheatear and Rosy Starling. We discover the famous Durankulak and Shabla Lakes to see Glossy Ibis, Pygmy Cormorant, Ruddy Shelduck, Ferruginous Duck and Paddyfield Warbler. Accommodation: Kavarna

4-5

We drive south stopping at the Kamchia Reserve to look for Lesser Spotted and White-tailed Eagle, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Semi-collared Flycatcher, Sombre Tit and Woodchat Shrike. We spend two days in the region of Bourgas exploring Bourgas Lake to see flocks of Dalmatian and White Pelicans, Atanasovsko and Pomorie for Broad-billed and Marsh Sandpiper, Slender-billed Gull and Gull-billed Tern, Mandra Lake to observe Citrine Wagtail, White-winged and Whiskered Tern. Accommodation: Nesebar

6-8

We head west driving through the Strandja Mountains that is a stronghold for Booted Eagle, Olive-tree Warbler and Black-headed Bunting. We stop in the Sakar Mountains where Imperial Eagle, Sombre Tit and Masked Shrike inhabit the hills and valleys. We spend 2 full days in the Eastern Rhodope Mountains visiting the feeding tables for Griffon, Egyptian and European Black Vulture. Other species include Chukar, Pallid Swift, Red-rumped Swallow, Rock Thrush, Western Rock Nuthatch. Accommodation: Madjarovo in the Eastern Rhodope Mountains

9	Leaving the Eastern Rhodope Mountains we drive back to Varna or alternatively to Sofia to catch our plane back to London.