EARLY SUMMER BUTTERFLY HOLIDAY IN BULGARIA
BUTTERFLIES OF THE RODOPI (RHODOPE) MOUNTAINS
Holiday Itinerary
Day 1: From the Bulgarian capital Sofia, we transfer east through the Sredna Gora Mountains and then across the Thracian Plain to Asenovgrad, a small historic town nestled in at the foot of the Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains. Our accommodation for the night is in a beautifully restored 19th century town house.
Day 2: Full day spent searching for butterflies in the 'Dobrostan' Prime Butterfly Area. During the course of the day we will also have the chance to visit the Bachkovo Monastery and the spectacularly sited ruins of Asenova Krepost. Butterflies which have been recorded in this region include: Orbed Red-underwing Skipper, Olive Skipper, Sandy Grizzled Skipper, Eastern Festoon, Clouded Apollo, Balkan Green-veined White, Eastern Wood White, Berger's Clouded Yellow, Eastern Short-tailed Blue, Eastern Baton Blue, Chequered Blue, Green-underside Blue, Large Blue, Ripart's Anomalous Blue, Dusky Meadow Brown, Balkan Marbled White, Tree Grayling, Freyer's Grayling, Woodland Grayling, False Grayling and Hermit.
Day 3: Leaving Asenovgrad, we head on south-east into the Eastern Rhodope (Rodopi) Mountains where we will look for butterflies in the 'Arda Valley' Prime Butterfly Area. Butterflies which have been recorded in this region include: Lulworth Skipper, Orbed Red-underwing Skipper, Eastern Festoon, Scarce Swallowtail, Swallowtail, Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow, Mountain Small White, Long-tailed Blue, Eastern Short-tailed Blue, Iolas Blue, Blue Argus, Great Banded Greyling, Freyer's Purple Emperor, Southern White Admiral, Southern Comma and Marbled Fritillary.
Day 4: A second full day searching for butterflies in the rich and varied habitats of the Eastern Rhodope (Rodopi) Mountains, this time focusing on the 'Eastern Rodopi' Prime Butterfly Area. Butterflies which have been recorded in this region include: Mallow Skipper, Oberthur's Grizzled Skipper, Scarce Swallowtail, Swallowtail, Southern Festoon, Eastern Festoon, Clouded Apollo, Eastern Wood White, Eastern Dappled White, Southern Small White, Eastern Bath White, Small Bath White, Grecian Copper, Lesser Fiery Copper, Sloe Hairstreak, Little Tiger Blue, Green-underside Blue, Anomalous Blue, Marsh Fritillary, Spotted Fritillary, Two-spot Fritillary, Balkan Marbled White and Freyer's Grayling.
Day 5: Heading west, today we make our way on into the Western Rhodope (Rodopi) Mountains where today we will be looking for butterflies in the 'Western Rodopi' Prime Butterfly Area. Butterflies which have been recorded in this region include: Silver-spotted Skipper, Tufted Marbled Skipper, Sandy Grizzled Skipper, Oberthur's Grizzled Skipper, Apollo, Scarce Swallowtail, Southern Small White, Eastern Bath White, Scarce Copper, Sooty Copper, Purple-shot Copper, Blue-spot Hairstreak, White-letter Hairstreak, Lang's Short-tailed Blue, Blue Argus, Amanda's Blue, Meleager's Blue, Nettle-tree Butterfly, Northern Wall Brown, Woodland Ringlet, Woodland Grayling, Purple Emperor, Large Tortoiseshell, Map Butterfly, Cadinal Fritillary, Dark Green Fritillary and Weaver's Fritillary.
Day 6: Continuing our journey through the Western Rhodope (Rodopi) Mountains, today we focus our attention of the 'Mursalitsa' Prime Butterfly Area. Butterflies which have been recorded in this region include: Clouded Apollo, Apollo, Mountain Small White, Sooty Copper, Balkan Copper, Chequered Blue, Alcon Blue, Mazarine Blue, False Eros Blue, Chestnut Heath, Eastern Large Heath, Dusky Meadow Brown, Large Ringlet, Woodland Ringlet, Ottoman Brassy Ringlet, Glanville Fritillary, Spotted Fritillary, Nickerl's Fritillary, Twin-spot Fritillary and Niobe Fritillary.
Day 7: A full day spent hunting for butterflies in the 'Trigrad' Prime Butterfly Area. Butterflies which have been recorded in this region include: Apollo, Mountain Small White, Purple Emperor, Southern White Admiral, Zephyr Blue, Turquoise Blue, Escher's Blue, Ripart's Anomalous Blue, Black Ringlet, Dark Green Fritillary, Spotted Fritillary, Silver-washed Fritillary, Marbled Fritillary and Pearl-bordered Fritillary.
Day 8: Return to Sofia where the tour ends