Activity level:

easy/moderate walks

Eastern Europe / Hungary

Central-European Butterfly Tour
Hungary - Czech Republic – Slovakia, 15 days
 
This tour is designed to visit some of the best butterfly regions in Central-Europe. The Carpathian Mountains host many attractive mountain species while within the huge Carpathian Basin you can find an amazing variety of different habitats ranging from wet meadows, alkaline marshes, steppes through to extensive oak, beech, evergreen woods, limestone slopes and volcanic hills. No wonder that Hungary is one of the richest countries in terms of butterfly and dragonfly species in Europe with almost 200 butterfly species, about 3400 moths and 65 species of dragonflies. During the 15-day long tour we visit many national parks in Hungary: Balaton Uplands, Őrség, Bükk, Aggtelek, Hortobágy and the Carpathian Mountains of Slovakia and Moravia in the Czech Republic. The trip will be escorted by local guides.
It is possible to leave this tour earlier on the 9th day in Budapest or join the tour for the second half. Those who only sign up for the first part will complete 9 days starting and finishing in Budapest. Those who join the tour for the second half will have a 7-day holiday starting and finishing in Budapest.

Fact File
- 15 day long butterfly holiday that can also be done in a 9-day or a 7-day short version
- visiting 3 countries: Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia
- start and finish in Budapest, Hungary
- using 6 accommodations

Highlights
-visiting 6 National Parks
-wide variety of habitats, wildflowers, birds
-around 100 butterfly species on tour
-including many Hairstreaks, Coppers, Blues including 4 Maculinea species, Fritillaries, Purple and Lesser Purple Emperor, Camberwell Beauty and many more
-moth trapping on some nights

Accommodation
4 nights in Bakonybél in the Bakony Hills, Hungary
3 nights in a family hotel in Moravia, Czech Republic
1 night at Danube Bend, Hungary
2 nights at Bükk National Park, Hungary
2 nights at Aggtelek National Park, Hungary
2 nights at Hortobagy National Park, Hungary

Departure Dates
11-25 July, 2010 whole tour
11-19 July, 2010 first part
19-25 July, 2010 second part

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:
- flight to and from Budapest;
- 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 butterfly habitats; some days can be hot
There are a few days when we have couple of hours drive with stops at perfect butterfly habitats

Optional programmes
- visit to the World Famous Herend China-Factory and exhibition
- wine tasting at the Best Wine-maker of the Year at Bukk Hills
- visit one of the most amazing dripstone caves of Europe in Aggtelek
- travelling through the Hortobagy Puszta with horse-drawn carriages
- short sightseeing in the charming capital, Budapest

Itinerary

1-4	Upon arrival at Budapest Airport we head southwest towards the Bakony region above Lake Balaton. The first four days will be spent exploring the Bakony Hills featuring areas of oak and beech tree woods alternating with steppe like meadows.

5-7

We head to the easternmost foothills of the Alps. This is an area characterised by damp herb-rich meadows and sub-alpine vegetation, which we will visit en route. Afterwards we head for the White Carpathian Mountains, a UNESCO Biosphere reserve where we spend 2 days. We then head to the South and visit an the dolomite Tematinske Kopce Hills.

8	On our way back to Hungary we stop in the Small Carpathian Mountains. Re-entering Hungary, we travel to the famous Danube Bend Region and stay for one night at the foot of the Börzsöny Hills.

9-10

We leave the Börzsöny area and travel to Bükk National Park. On the way we travel through Budapest and it is possible to leave the tour at this stage or to join the group for the second part. The southern part of the park is well grazed with areas of longer grass, rocky outcrops and scrub with an abundance of wild flowers and high insect diversity.

11-12

Our journey to Aggtelek National Park takes us through the Uppony Hills, where we will visit a spectacular gorge in search of Hungarian Glider. During two days we explore a mixture of habitats ranging from dry hillsides to wet valleys.

13-14

We move on to the Zemplén Hills, which should offer us the best chance of finding Pallas’ Fritillary. Later we visit the Hortobágy region where we spend 2 nights. This part of Hungary is scenically very different to what we have experienced so far, being part of the great plain or “Puszta”.

15	We travel to Budapest for our flight home.