October 9-16 2004 @ £599 + October 8-15 2005 @ £639
Autumn is a special season at the famous Great Hungarian Plain, the most Western piece of the Asian Steppe, the Hortobagy "Puszta". Most of this extensive plain is protected by Hungary's first National Park and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. No wonder, it has very diverse habitats and unique species along the banks of the River Tisza and at the huge fishpond systems.These have special interest for both botanists and birders.
Among tens of thousands of Greylag, Bean and White-fronted Geese we look for Lesser White-fronts and probably the first Red-breasted Geese. There are always plenty of interesting birds at the fishponds such as Ferruginous Duck, Pygmy Cormorant and numerous other waders and waterfowl. Although all recorded Hungarian raptor species occur here, Long-legged Buzzard, Rough-legged Buzzard, White-tailed Eagle, Peregrine and Saker Falcons are the highlights hunting over the area. Dotterel and Lapland Bunting are also typical at traditional migration/wintering spots.
Beside wildlife we can also look at some traditional Hungarian domestic animals. We have time to discover other parts of Hortobagy, Hungary's No.1 birding paradise and some nearby special spots such as the Bustard Rehabilitation Centre at Devavanya. The evenings will be highlighted by the arrival of waves of ten thousands of trumpeting Cranes flying low overhead. It will be an unforgettable experience!
In the Bukk hills, protected by the Bukk National Park, we will aim to find some of the real highlights of the area, such as Ural Owl, Eagle Owl, Wallcreeper, Alpine Accentor, which are all regular at this time of the year. The latter usually gives us a great photo opportunity, as on wintering, these birds are particularly friendly, allowing approach as close as 5-6 metres.
The Bukk Plateau is a most characteristic part of the region surrounded by craggy peaks. This is typified by huge beech woods and open limestone meadows with all the different karst-forms produced by erosion. The crystal-clear waters of the Szalajka spring, the "Fatyol" cascade, the special beauty of Hamori Lake, the world-famous prehistoric archeological findings in the caves of Szeleta, Istallosko and Suba-hole, these are all unique to this magical part of Hungary. Tiny, quaint traditional villages, old fortresses and splendid palaces will colour the picture of the area during our way. The region is also a perfect area for birding, where above the valleys we will encounter several types of raptors , the dense deciduous woods being ideal habitat for the woodland species of Hungary. Woodpeckers are represented by Black, White-backed, Grey-headed, Green, Great Spotted, Middle Spotted, Lesser Spotted and Syrian, plus Wryneck. The mountains are very good for observation of raptors. Imperial Eagle is the most likely, Short-toed Eagle and Booted Eagle also occur, Raven are common. This region gives us a chance for species, such as Marsh Tit, Firecrest, Crossbill, possibly Dipper too.
We might visit one of the key sites of the Bukk National Park on a 5-mile-long walking tour in one of the most intact primary beech woods of Hungary, unique of this type, which will give us a chance to see some attractive species, including the rare White-backed Woodpeckers. This forest holds the greatest population of the species within our borders. Middle Spotted Woodpecker is also common in this area.. On this tour we will enjoy an unparalleled atmosphere of the "last forest of the past centuries" with hundred years old beeches, ghost trees still standing and on the ground ferns and dense moss. Probably this is THE FOREST what you will have never seen before, an unforgettable experience!
The evenings will be spent in typical regional restaurants, serving local traditional cuisine, whilst having the opportunity to taste the most famous Hungarian wines!
Other Options: Instead of Bukk you might choose either Aggtelek NP, or Zemplen mountains (NP), as they are similar habitats, but each with its specialties.
Autumn is a special season at the famous Great Hungarian Plain, the most Western piece of the Asian Steppe, the Hortobagy "Puszta". Most of this extensive plain is protected by Hungary's first National Park and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. No wonder, it has very diverse habitats and unique species along the banks of the River Tisza and at the huge fishpond systems.These have special interest for both botanists and birders.
Among tens of thousands of Greylag, Bean and White-fronted Geese we look for Lesser White-fronts and probably the first Red-breasted Geese. There are always plenty of interesting birds at the fishponds such as Ferruginous Duck, Pygmy Cormorant and numerous other waders and waterfowl. Although all recorded Hungarian raptor species occur here, Long-legged Buzzard, Rough-legged Buzzard, White-tailed Eagle, Peregrine and Saker Falcons are the highlights hunting over the area. 
Dotterel and Lapland Bunting are also typical at traditional migration/wintering spots.
In the Bukk hills, protected by the Bukk National Park, we will aim to find some of the real highlights of the area, such as Ural Owl, Eagle Owl, Wallcreeper, Alpine Accentor, which are all regular at this time of the year. The latter usually gives us a great photo opportunity, as on wintering, these birds are particularly friendly, allowing approach as close as 5-6 metres. 
The region is also a perfect area for birding, where above the valleys we will encounter several types of raptors , the dense deciduous woods being ideal habitat for the woodland species of Hungary. Woodpeckers are represented by Black, White-backed, Grey-headed, Green, Great Spotted, Middle Spotted, Lesser Spotted and Syrian, plus Wryneck. The mountains are very good for observation of raptors. Imperial Eagle is the most likely, Short-toed Eagle and Booted Eagle also occur, Raven are common. This region gives us a chance for species, such as Marsh Tit, Firecrest, Crossbill, possibly Dipper too. 
We might visit one of the key sites of the Bukk National Park on a 5-mile-long walking tour in one of the most intact primary beech woods of Hungary, unique of this type, which will give us a chance to see some attractive species, including the rare White-backed Woodpeckers. This forest holds the greatest population of the species within our borders. Middle Spotted Woodpecker is also common in this area.. On this tour we will enjoy an unparalleled atmosphere of the "last forest of the past centuries" with hundred years old beeches, ghost trees still standing and on the ground ferns and dense moss. Probably this is THE FOREST what you will have never seen before, an unforgettable experience!