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Butterfly Holiday in Bulgaria:

Butterfly Monitoring in the Eastern Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains

This unique 8-day butterfly holiday in Bulgaria has been organized in conjunction with the NGO 'Wild Rodopi', a specialist wildlife research and conservation organization operating in the Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains. During the course of this butterfly monitoring holiday, you will not only visit some of the most outstanding Prime Butterfly Areas in Bulgaria's Eastern Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains, but also experience the excitement of exploring and surveying potential new butterfly habitats where important as yet unknown populations of rare butterfly species may be discovered. Unlike other standard butterfly holidays, on these specialized butterfly monitoring holidays you will not only enjoy the chance to observe and photograph some of the rarest and most interesting butterflies in Bulgaria, but also have an opportunity to contribute directly to butterfly conservation in Bulgaria by taking part in important butterfly surveying and monitoring projects which will help improve knowledge about the distribution and conservation of butterfly species in Bulgaria's Eastern Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains.

Key Target SpeciesSandy Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus cinarae), Southern Festoon (Zerynthia polyxena), Eastern Festoon (Allancastria cerisyi), Clouded Apollo (Parnassius mnemosyne), Mountain Small White (Pieris ergane), Krueper's Small White (Pieris krueperi), Small Bath White (Pieris chloridice), Grecian Copper (Lycaena ottomana), Lesser Fiery Copper (Lycaena thersamon), Little Tiger Blue (Tarucus balkanicus), Freyer's Purple Emperor (Apatura metis). Southern Comma (Polygonia egea), Twin-spot Fritillary (Argynnis hecate).

Eastern Rodopi Butterfly Holiday Habitats

Butterfly Holidays in Bulgaria - Eastern Festoon

Eastern Rhodope Prime Butterfly Areas

Butterfly Holiday in Bulgaria - Southern White Admiral

Best Months

The most rewarding months for this butterfly holiday are:

April, May, June

 

Land Only Prices

1 person = 1795 Euros

2 people = 995 Euros per person

3-4 people = 795 Euros per person

5-6 people = 595 Euros per person

Single supplement = 90 Euros

 

Inclusions

* 7 nights B&B accommodation in twin rooms with en suite toilet/shower

* Services of English-speaking wildlife guide and conservationist

* Services of licensed private vehicle and professional driver

NB: Unlike many other wildlife holiday companies who attempt to cut costs by making their guides have to double up as drivers, we employ separate dedicated drivers for all our trips as we believe this is not only safer but also allows our guides to concentrate fully on looking after you and finding you the wildlife!

 

Itinerary

Day 1: From the airport at Sofia, we transfer east across the Thracian Plain to a village at the northern foot of the Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains where we will spend the night. Depending on arrival times, there should be a chance to start our butterfly recording in the vicinity of the village.

Day 2: Today we journey south-east through the heart of the Eastern Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains, focusing our butterfly recording at a string of sites along the wild valley of the Borovitsa river. 

Day 3: A full day exploring the varied butterfly habitats of the remote and rarely visited Gyumyurdzhinski Snezhnik massif. Little or no butterfly recording has been carried out in this region, so any records we make during the day will be of great interest and importance, and there is a real chance of making some exciting new discoveries in what is the most southerly point of Bulgaria.

Day 4: We start the day in a rocky limestone karst region that has not yet been surveyed for its butterfly fauna. We then move on into the catchment area of the Byala Reka valley. This region is designated as a Prime Butterfly Area, and is known to be home to many interesting species. However, because of the remote location of the region, further butterfly recording is very much needed..

Day 5: A second full day exploring the beautiful valley of the Byala Reka. Because of its proximity to Greece and the influence of  the Mediterranean climate, this region should turn up some unusual and interesting new butterfly discoveries.

Day 6: Today we focus our butterfly surveys along the valley of the river Arda, another outstanding Prime Butterfly Area. The Arda valley incorporates a great variety of excellent butterfly habitats, a selection of which we will explore during what promises to be another highly rewarding day.

Day 7: In the morning, before setting off on the long transfer back to Sofia, we will spend a couple of hours recording butterflies in another limestone region that is likely to hold a rich assortment of butterflies.

Day 8: The tour finishes after breakfast at the hotel in Sofia.

Responsible Tourism Promise

This butterfly holiday in Bulgaria is being operated in conjunction with the wildlife research and conservation NGO 'Wild Rodopi'. Not only will the butterfly monitoring and research data gathered during the course of this butterfly holiday in Bulgaria contribute directly to butterfly research and conservation efforts in the the Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains, but all profits from this butterfly holiday in Bulgaria will be donated to the NGO 'Wild Rodopi' to help fund their butterfly research and monitoring projects.

Bookings & Information

If you are interested in booking this butterfly holiday in Bulgaria's Eastern Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains or would like further information, then please email us:

office@balkantrek.com