Brown Bear Viewing Tour
The Brown Bear viewing is not just a touch to real nature but a lifetime experience! We offer you an exciting tour dedicated to observing wild Brown Bears in their hunting territories, without fences, without human interference and what is most important - in the heart of the most virgin area of the Rodopi Mountains…
Viewing Brown Bears is rather thrilling experience as there is no guarantee in nature what will happen and if being on the Bears track would be successful. However for this tour we use local rangers that are fully aware of the behaviour of the Brown Bears and the wildlife in their territory in general. We give 90% guarantee of observing wild Brown Bear if you come during the best period for that: April-May (after the winter hibernation) and September-November (before the winter hibernation).
During summer the chance is smaller as food sources are abundant and bears are difficult to be attracted to certain areas appropriate for viewing from a short distance. And last but not least this tour gives 100% guarantee of watching the Balkans subspecies of the Chamois - the Balkan Chamois (Rupicapra Balcanica) as well as another hidden animal - the Capercaillie. Tracking displaying males of Capercaillie in April requires very early morning walks in the snow and keeping absolute silence by their displaying grounds. En-route we may see also Hazel Grouse, Wild Boar etc. Although we have encountered packs of wolves with our previous groups they still remain a matter of great luck.
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Details |
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Price Includes |
(WN-9659-P) |
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accommodation in lodge |
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all meals |
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transfer to/from Sofia or Plovdiv airport |
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other transfers as per program |
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English-speaking guide & local ranger |
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VAT and all local taxes |
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bear tracking during the day |
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Price Excludes |
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maps (could be requested in advance when booking the tour), additional excursions during the days (hiking or cycling in the area), entrance fees, tips, alcohol drinks and other personal expenses. |
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Suitability / Level |
NA |
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Max Group Size |
6 |
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Itinerary
& Highlights |
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Departure dates: April-May & September-November - every day (try to arrange your departure around the full moon periods)
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival at Sofia Airport and transfer to the lodge in Rodopi Mountains (about 2,5 hrs drive). For transfers from other airports please ask for separate quotation.
Days 2-4. The program includes morning hikes (attempts for watching Chamois and Deers) and attempts for watching Brown Bear. We use hides that are specially arranged for watching Brown Bears, which can accommodate up to 3 people (normally 2). This is where we spend few hours after sunset and before sunrise or a whole night waiting for the bear to appear, keeping silence all the time. If lucky we may enjoy a mother with cubs or solitary males and other nocturnal wildlife too. The bears are usually seen from 30-50 meters. However a close-up view is not excluded and this is really something that remains for life. Attempts for watching Balkan Chamois are also made until we see them. As the search of Brown Bear is done best at dusk or at dawn, daytime could be spent on many other activities depending on your wish (some of them subject to extra payment): - birdwatching (target species in the area are Black, White-backed and Three-toed Woodpeckers, Nutcracker, Hazel Grouse or we can make sessions for listening Tengmalm's Owl or if lucky even Pygmy Owl; one-day trips along Maritsa River for Long-legged Buzzard, Levant Sparrowhawk, Roler, Masked Shrike, Black-headed Bunting, Woodchat Shrike, Calandra Lark, Isabelline Wheatear, Golden Oriole etc.) (to be purchased and paid at least 2 weeks in advance; appr. 150 Euro/car); - hiking (Rodopi Mountains with their rounded hills and loads of trails are perfect for walking excursions) – no additional payment outside the fuel costs and entrance fees; - sightseeing (there are numerous cultural and historical sites in the area of the Rodopi Mountains that could be visited as daily trips – Plovdiv, Bachkovo Monastery, Shiroka Luka, Trigrad Gorge etc.) – no additional payment outside the fuel costs and entrance fees; - horseriding with local breed horses (to be paid additionally on the spot according to the standard price list of the lodge).
Day 5: Transfer to the airport for departure.
Highlights:
• Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia, with a population of 343,662.It is the administrative centre of Plovdiv Province in southern Bulgaria, as well as the largest and most important city of the historical region of Upper (or Northern)Thrace, famous for its ancient and diverse culture and millennial history.
• The valley of Tumrash River - Some of the loveliest Rodopean spruce forests are in the Tamrash reserve area.
• Yagodina Cave is among the longest caves in Bulgaria (more than 10 000m mapped so far), considered to be one of the most beautiful in Europe with its outstanding stalactites, stalagmites, columns, ponds and cave pearls in them.
• The Devil's Throat Cave has its name from the fact that if you let something flow in the cave river it never comes out again. There is a cave waterfall - one of the highest underground waterfalls in Europe, 42 m high.
• Rodopi Mountains -The Rodopi Mountains (highest peak: Golyam Perelik (2191m a.s.l.) are the oldest mountains on the Balkan Peninsula.
• Bachkovo Monastery is the second largest Bulgarian monastery.
FOR LOWCOST FLIGHTS TO BULGARIA please check: Wizz Air; Sky Europe; Easy Jet; Germanwings; My Air; Flubulgarien; Norwegian Air Shuttle. CONNECTING THE TOUR: in summer time there are loads of opportunities to book a cheap flight to Bourgas or Varna Airport instead of landing at Sofia Airport. We can arrange for you public transport tickets or private transfer to the starting point of the tour. |
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Accommodation
& Centre Details |
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We stay in a lodge in double rooms. WC/shower is available on the floor. Full board is included (three meals per day; lunches can be made as picnics when outside in the woods). The food is prepared by the local cook and includes tasty local delicacies. |
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Holidays
Extras |
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We have provided a little
section of extra travel needs that you may need
and to make life easier for our customers. We aim
to provide all the extras you would need; flights,
hotels, insurance, car hire and airport parking.
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