Activity level:

Generally easy to moderate walks

Eastern Europe / Hungary

Hungarian Butterfly and Dragonfly Tour
Hungary, 8 days

The tour is designed to visit some of the most interesting places in Hungary with using 3 bases during 8 days. We discover the North-East of Hungary that is one of the best areas in Central Europe for butterflies and dragonflies. We explore lowland lakes and rivers on the steppes of Hortobágy and the Northern Hills of Bükk and Aggtelek, visiting 3 National Parks with various habitats and possibilities for optional programmes.
The butterfly list of Hungary contains almost 200 species and there are about 3400 moth species in the country. The dragonfly list has 65 species, including some really exciting rarities such as Common Winter Damselfly, Green-eyed Hook-tailed Dragonfly, White-faced and Bulbous White-faced Darter. Visiting many different habitats will offer the chance of seeing interesting bird species such as Pygmy Cormorant, Imperial Eagle, Saker, owls and woodpeckers.

The group will be escorted by local lepidopterists, dragonfly specialists.

Fact File
- 8 days in Hungary
- start and finish in Budapest
- using 3 accommodations

Highlights
- visiting 3 National Parks for a wide variety of habitats
- around 100 butterfly species possible
- moth trapping on some nights
- long list of dragonflies including rarities
- rare birds: Pygmy Cormorant, Imperial Eagle, Saker, Great Bustard

Accommodation
2 nights in the Hortobágy
3 nights in Aggtelek NP
2 nights in a tranquil village in Bükk NP

Departure Dates
19-26 June, 2010

Price
Ask for the actual 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.

Not included:
- optional programmes to places of interest and its entrance fees
- passports and visas
- 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

Activity level
Easy walks at great habitats; some days can be hot

Optional programmes
Boat tour on Lake Tisza
Horse-drawn carriage ride and evening Puszta Party into the steppe of Hortobágy
Evening bat detection and identification
Evening moth trapping and identification
Marvellous tour into the Baradla dripstone cave system, a World Heritage Site
Cultural visit of the charming historical town of Eger
Wine tasting at the famous Thummerer cellar, wine maker of the year with famous Bull’s Blood
Short sightseeing in the charming capital of Budapest

Itinerary

1	On arrival at Budapest Airport you will be met by your English speaking guide and we head east to Hortobágy National Park. Depending on time we can stop to admire Imperial Eagle or Saker Falcon plus our first butterflies and dragonflies.

2-3

We spend two days on the great plain or “Puszta” of Hortobágy, the westernmost part of Eurasian Steppe in Europe. This area is the birders’ Mecca, but we there are great butterfly species such as Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow and Large Copper. We visit Lake Tisza on an optional boat tour to enjoy this fantastic dragonfly paradise where we can find such rarities as White-tailed Skimmer, Lesser Emperor Dragonfly, Common Winter Damselfly, Large White-faced and Bulbous White-faced Darter. Birds are also abundant here with Pygmy Cormorant, Squacco and Night Heron, Savi’s Warbler, Penduline Tit and probably even White-tailed Eagle. In the afternoon we travel north to Aggtelek National Park.

4-5

In Aggtelek National Park we explore a mixture of habitats ranging from very dry hillsides to wet valleys. These areas boast a terrific list of butterflies and we should be in for quite a treat. We expect to find such rare species as Eastern Short-tailed, Osiris, Mountain Alcon, Large, Chapman's and Anomalous Blue, Lesser Spotted and Pallas's Fritillary, Hungarian and Common Glider, Purple Emperor and Large Tortoiseshell. Aggtelek NP is a fantastic place for dragonflies as well. We will have good chances for Beautiful and Banded Demoiselle, Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly, Green-eyed Hook-tailed Dragonfly, Migrant Hawker, Emperor Dragonfly, Scarlet Skimmer and Ruddy Darter. Raptors are also widespread here including Honey Buzzard, Imperial and Short-toed Eagle.

6

In the morning we might visit the marvellous Baradla dripstone cave system or we can try to complete our list of butterfly and dragonfly species in the park. During the afternoon we drive towards Bükk National Park through Uppony Hills, where we visit a spectacular gorge in search of Hungarian Glider, White Admiral, Safflower and Orbed Red-underwing Skippers. Late afternoon we reach our family-run hotel in a tranquil village at the border of the Bükk National Park.

7

Over the course of our stay we visit a number of key sites within Bükk National Park. We explore the karst plateau for a late Clouded Apollo, Southern Small, Mountain Green-veined and Fenton’s Wood White, Alcon and Reverdin’s Blue, Twin-spot and Nickerl’s Fritillary. We will continue our quest around Répáshuta and the humid Hór Valley. Several Copper species fly in this area including Purple-shot, Scarce and Purple-edged, joined by High Brown and Niobe Fritillary, Cardinal, Poplar Admiral, Camberwell Beauty and Lesser Purple Emperor. The park is also home to dragonflies including Common Winter Damselfly, Norfolk Hawker and Vagrant Darter. During our stay in this ornithologically important region we might encounter Imperial Eagle, Ural Owl, Black, White-backed and Grey-headed Woodpecker, Collared and Red-breasted Flycatcher, Barred Warbler and Hawfinch.

8	We travel back to Budapest for our flight home. Depending on time en route we might visit a site with a significant population of Great Bustards or you can optionally choose a professional sightseeing tour of Budapest.