Tag 1

Landing at Sofia airport and transfer to Rodopi mountain . Accommodation at the family guest house in local village for 2 nights. Along the road we will have a few stops with good opportunities to spot Rock Bunting ,White Stork, Honey Buzzard, Hoopoe, Syrian Woodpecker, Red-backed Shrike etc.

Tag 2

After the breakfast we'll visit a magnificent gorge. The first thing that impresses the visitor are the huge cliffs towering above and the deep rocky valley, where the meandering of Trigrad river can hardly be seen. Strange trees of a local subspecies of Black Pine (Pinus nigra) grow right out of the rocks where there is no soil for their roots. All the time while we are there we cannot help but stand in awe before the nature’s grandeur. Unfortunately, this is only a poor and sketchy description of this extraordinary place with its caverns and the rumble of its waterfalls. One can hardly imagine the gorge beauty if one does not see it with one's own eyes. This exceptionally beautiful area is 1200 m above sea level. WELCOME TO THE LAND OF THE WALLCREEPER. This is simply the best and the most accessible place in Europe or maybe in the world to see this marvellous bird which reminds an enormous butterfly in flight. Lunch at the local mountain hut, with possibilities to taste the local trout. Other possible birds for the day : Black, Grey headed, Great Spotted woodpeckers, Alpine and Pallid swifts, Red rumped swallow , Crag martin , Peregrine, Nutcracker, Hobby etc.

Tag 3

After breakfast we will travel to Eastern Rodopi mountain. The road is not long but it’s very “slow”, because we are in the Rodopi Mountains. You will notice with amazement how kilometer after kilometer the mountain changes, the coniferous forests are replaced by mixed ones and afterwards by pure deciduous stands, and the trees become smaller and stunted. Then come the shrubs followed by bare rocky hills and finally the huge cliffs. The world of the large birds of prey lies before us. Accommodation for 5 nights at local hotel in Krumovgrad town. There are good opportunities to watch Black and White Storks, Spanish Sparrow, Lesser Grey Shrike, Red-rumped Swallow , Scops Owl.

Tag 4

We’ll visit different sites in the region of Krumovgrad town. Rocky gorges , small woods and shrubs , river beds . The area is of ancient volcanic origin with stony ground, huge rocks scattered around, small stunted shrubs and almost complete lack of wild-growing mature trees. This part of the Rodopi Mountains is well known as one of Europe’s most important regions for birds of prey. We will spend all four days birdwatching around and hopefully will see Golden, Imperial, Booted, Lesser spotted and Short-toed Eagles, Long-legged Buzzard, Black, Egyptian and Griffon Vultures and many species of smaller birds like Pallid Swift, Rock Nuthatch, Rock and Blue Rock Thrushes, Roller, Bee-eater, Red-rumped Swallow, Lesser Grey, Masked, Red-backed and Woodchat Shrikes, Sombre Tit, Cirl-, Black-headed- and Ortolan Buntings, Barred-, Subalpine-, Sardinian- and Orphean Warblers. Dinners and overnights in Krumovgrad town hotel. Packed lunch for all days.

Tag 5

See the day 4

Tag 6

See the day 4

Tag 7

see the day 4

Tag 8

After an early breakfast we travel to Sofia town, where our tour is over.