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Bulgaria: Autumn Migration

€810 per person

Twice a year an enormous number of birds migrate between Europe and Africa.  The second most used flyway in the old continent stretches along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Since ancient times it is called Via Pontica. Every fall over a million raptors, 400 thousand white storks, pelicans and hordes of songbirds use this migratory route. The tour’s main aim is the autumn migration along Via Pontica.  You will be able to contemplate the phenomenal nature spectacle performed by thousands of birds travelling to their wintering grounds. Your guide will take you to migration bottleneck sites that have proven over the years their efficiency for autumn birding. The itinerary also includes visits to different habitats – salt pans, lakes, coastal lagoons, riverine forests, sheer cliffs and steppes. All of them host a great variety of local species, but in autumn are also used by many birds as important stop-over stations. Expect nothing less than a great birding adventure that a few regions in Europe can ever offer.

The tour runs as private and the itinerary can be tailored to every client’s interests and preferences.

Are you a wildlife photographer? You may check out our Photography Tours.

  • Duration
    6 days
  • What is included
    accommodation in 3-star hotels on bed and breakfast basis; private transfer to/from Burgas Airport and ground transportation throughout the tour; expert English-speaking guide/driver; VAT and all local taxes.
  • What is not included
    flight tickets, insurance, other meals beside breakfast, transfers from or to other airports (Sofia, Varna or Plovdiv); personal expenses; gratuities; tour extensions, tips
  • Best period
    August - mid October
1
Day 1
You will be welcomed by your guide at Burgas Airport (transfers to the city of Burgas can be arranged from Sofia, Varna and Plovdiv airports). Overnight in a 3-star hotel in the city of Burgas will be arranged for the next three nights. If time allows you may start your acquaintance with the amazing diversity of bird species literary living in the suburbs of the city. Even if you prefer to rest after your trip to Bulgaria, you may enjoy the sight of gracefully flying flocks of Dalmatian and White Pelicans, while sitting and having a drink on your hotel's balcony.
2
Day 2
Today is the day for exploring the stunning wetlands around Burgas while keeping an eye for autumn migrants passing through this bottleneck site along Via Pontica flyway. Every wetland has different salinity, depth and bird species composition. We will move from a wetland to a wetland observing an array of water-connected birds feeding in the sparkling waters of Vaya, Mandra, Pomoriysko and Atanasovsko lakes. The direction and the rhythm of our movement will be highly dependent on the migration flow, but your experienced guide will make the most of your day. Some of the highlights of the day could be White Stork, White Pelican, Honey Buzzard, Montagu’s Harrier, Levant Sparrowhawk, Booted and Short-toed Eagles, Black Kite, Red-footed Falcon, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Marsh Sandpiper, waders, Pygmy Cormorant, Little Tern etc.
3
Day 3
The right weather conditions can yield an impressive range of species and some interesting rarities. Monitoring the intensity of the fall migration remains our main goal and this is the reason to dedicate another day to birding around Burgas. We will continue our explorations of fresh and saline habitats as well as the quiet sea coves close to the city. These life-giving waters host gulls (Mediterranean, Slender-billed, Little and Yellow-legged), several species of terns (Little, Common, Sandwich) and ducks (Shellduck, Ruddy Shellduck, Pochard, Garganey, Ferruginous Duck) These wetlands are a real paradise for the waders - Terek, Broad-billed, Marsh and Curlew Sandpipers, Red-necked Phalarope, Spotted Redshank, Temnicks Stint and many more.  If the sky is clear, we will celebrate the last sun rays making the colours of Atanasovsko salt pans and their birdlife even more vivid and photogenic. 
4
Day 4
After breakfast, we head to the relatively undeveloped Northern Bulgarian Black Sea coast, where the steppes of Dobrudja meet the sea and the teeming with birds Durankulak and Shabla Lakes. This is also one of the best locations in Europe to witness bird migration. Raptors, shorebirds, and passerines all pass through here in the fall and in addition to passage migrants, the resident birds also offer great birding. Our time will be spent between the steppes and steep brick-red cliffs of Cape Kaliakra and the Shabla Tuzla and lake. We will be scanning the sky for flying south flocks of soaring birds at every possibility.   Highlights of the day: Slender-billed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Bee-eater, Roller, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Syrian Woodpecker, Grey Woodpecker, European Shag (Mediterranean race desmarestii), Stone Curlew, Calandra Lark, Pied Wheatear, Tawny Pipit, Alpine Swift, Red-breasted Flycatcher etc.
5
Day 5
A day will start with an exploration of the golden beach of Durankulak. While walking on the fine sand, we will be looking to the west at the vast freshwater Durankulak lake and also scoping the Black sea to the east. The lake is located in the northernmost part of Bulgaria and is famed for the wintering Red-breasted Geese, but also for exotic rarities and vagrants that have been spotted here. Our birding in the area will be concluded in the early afternoon when we will start heading back to the town of Burgas.   Highlights of the day: Pygmy Cormorant, Ferruginous Duck, Purple Heron, Little Bittern, Calandra Lark, Marsh Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Red-necked Phalarope, Roller, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Golden Oriole, Glossy Ibis, Collared Pratincole, Whiskered Tern, Caspian Tern etc.
6
Day 6
Breakfast and transfer to the airport according to your flight. Time to say good buy, but we hope that our services and the spectacle of the birds flying along the Via Pontica migratory route will leave you with unforgettable experiences and you will be longing to return next year.
7
Love to extend you extend your birdwatching holiday? Here is a 2-day suggestion
Add to days of superb birdwatching to Bulgaria: Autumn Migration tour by visiting the Sakar and Eastern Rhodopi Mountains. The Eastern Rhodopi is dubbed as the realm of the birds of prey in the Balkans and for good reason. More than 20 species of raptors breed here during summer. Some of them will be still in their breeding grounds. Others may already be gone south and their places taken by recently arrived migrants. By extending your birding holiday, you will also discover the awe-inspiring Bulgarian countryside and enjoy views of the two Bulgarian mountains. Highlights of the day: Eastern Imperial Eagle, Black Kite, Montague’s Harrier, Black stork, Griffon and Egyptian Vulture, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, Blue Rock Thrush, Red-rumped Swallow, Isabelline Wheatear, Woodchat Shrike etc.
8
Extension day 2
An active birding half day in the valley of Arda and Krumovitsa rivers and the volcanic cliffs around the huge lakes along them. We are going to visit several places, perfect for raptors and passerines. In the afternoon transfer to the airport if you are having a late flight or the town of Burgas for an extra night. Those travelling from another airport besides Burgas Airport will be transferred accordingly. Highlights of the day: Black Stork, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Egyptian and Griffon vultures, Honey Buzzard, Red-footed Falcon, Blue Rock Thrush, Crag Martin, Rock Nuthatch, Sombre Tit, Woodchat Shrike, Ortolan Bunting, Rock Bunting etc.

TOUR LOCATION

Price
  • € 1060 per person for 2 persons;
  • € 900 per person for 3 or 4 persons;
  • € 810 per person for 5 or more persons;
  • Single room supplement: € 150 per person;
  • Solo traveler supplement: € 450 per person.
The price includes
  • Accommodation: highly rated 3-star hotels with en-suite double rooms on a bed & breakfast basi;
  • Transportation: ground transport is included in the basic price. We will be travelling in one of the vehicles from Traventuria's fleet;
  • Expert English-speaking guide/driver;
  • VAT and all local taxes.
The price excluded
  • Flight tickets;
  • Insurance;
  • Other meals beside breakfast;
  • Transfers from or to other airports (Sofia, Varna or Plovdiv);
  • Personal expenses;
  • Gratuities;
  • Tour extensions;
  • Tips.
Recommended equipment and clothing
  • Binocular, Bird Guide Book, Notebook, Scope (recommended), Camera with different lenses or compact camera (recommended);
  • Warm clothes for the mountain areas, light clothes for low-land areas, hat, sun and insect guardian cosmetic, sun guarding hat, comphortable shoes (boots) for outdoor walking.

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