Kiskunság National Park, Hungary
Grand tour: Hortobágy, Transylvania, Carpathians and Danube Delta
Hungary and Romania, 15 days
3 strikingly different birding areas in Europe make this journey a GRAND TOUR! The combination of two such interesting areas as Hortobágy National Park in Hungary and Transylvania in Romania will be most rewarding. Add to this 6 days in the Danube Delta and on the Black Sea Coast, including 2 days on a luxurious Floating Hotel with en-suite facilities and you have a truly great adventure!
If you are looking for something really exciting and original, you are warmly invited to participate in this tour! During the trip you will encounter several different habitats thus your bird list will contain amazingly varied species, probably including Saker, Red-footed Falcon, White-tailed Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Common Crane, Ferruginous Duck, Pygmy Cormorant, Dotterel, Dipper, Nutcracker, Wallcreeper, Rock Bunting, Hazel Grouse, 8 species of woodpeckers with pelicans, Glossy Ibis and migration passage. You will be surprised by encountering so many different ethnic cultures, medieval monasteries, churches, castles, everyday village life, craftsmen and nomadic shepherds.
- 3 days in Hungary
- 12 days in Romania
- starting in Budapest and finishing in Bucharest, possibility of leaving or joining on the 8th day in Bucharest
- visiting the Hortobágy, Transylvania, Eastern and Southern Carpathians, Danube Delta
- using 6 accommodations
- exploring Hortobágy National Park in Hungary
- visit to the Turda Gorge in Transylvania
- 3 days in the Southern Carpathians, including bearwatching
- 2 full days in the Danube Delta
- 1 day in Histria and Vadu, one of the best birding areas in Europe
- visit to the famous Babadag Forest
- birding in the Macin Hills and Cheia Gorge
- 2 nights at the Hortobágy, Hungary
- 2 nights in Torockó, Transylvania
- 2 nights in Zarnesti, Southern Carpathians
- 1 night in Sinaia, Southern Carpathians
- 4 nights in Mamaia, a resort at the Black Sea
- 3 nights on a floating hotel in the Danube Delta
May-June and September
http://www.ecotours.hu/calendar
- 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:
- flights to and from Budapest;
- 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.
- Generally easy to moderate walks
- Some longer drives expected
Optional bearwatching in the Carpathians
Day 1-2
At Budapest Airport our English speaking guide meets us. During the afternoon we check en route for Imperial Eagle, as we travel to the famous Hortobágy National Park where we explore the marshes, fishponds and grasslands to look for Pygmy Cormorant, Ferruginous Duck, Long-legged Buzzard, Pallid Harrier and Saker Falcon. Cranes, Red-footed Falcons, Dotterels are on their staged migration grounds, Great Bustard and Stone-Curlew is also possible.
Day 3-4
Travelling towards the Romanian border we pass through the city of Debrecen where we stop to enjoy the woods that attract many species of woodpeckers. In Transylvania we visit the spectacular Turda Gorge, looking for Golden Eagle or a late Rock Thrush.
Day 5-6
We reach the Fagaras Mountains in the Southern Carpathians, where we should see Three-toed Woodpecker and Nutcracker. At Zarnesti we search for Eagle and Ural Owl, Wallcreeper and Chamois. We will have a chance of an evening visit to a bear watching hide.
Day 7
We travel to the town of Sinaia in the Bucegi Mountains where we look for Wallcreeper and Alpine Accentor. A small detour can be made to see "Dracula's Castle" near Bran.
Day 8-9
We will be birding and raptor spotting whilst travelling to Mamaia on the Black Sea coast. We drive via Bucharest and we pick up the guests joining us here. Those on the 8-day trip will leave us here as well. On the coast we visit Histria and Vadu for White and Dalmatian Pelicans, Pygmy Cormorant, Ruddy Shelduck and Paddyfield Warbler in the reeds.
Day 10-12
We head north towards the Danube Delta crossing Babadag Forest home to Levant Sparrowhawk, Booted and Lesser-Spotted Eagle and Sombre Tit. At Enisala we have another chance to enjoy the spectacle of pelicans! We arrive to our floating hotel in Tulcea and we spend 2 full days birding along the rich waterways of the Danube Delta! We expect to see Grey-headed Woodpecker, hundreds of Dalmatian and White Pelicans, Pygmy Cormorants and herons.
Day 13-14
We leave the boat and head for the Macin Hills to look for Pallid Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard and Isabelline Wheatear. We also visit Cheia Gorge to search for Pied Wheatear and raptors.
Day 15
We head for Bucharest birding en route.
